Capt. Dan helped us learn our own boat

As I sailed past the East end of Anacapa Island at 7 knots I prepared for my tack back to the Channel Islands Marina. One hour and twenty-five minutes later I reached the breakwater - an average speed of 7.7 knots! There's nothing like knowing your machine, what it can do and then doing it. Full Blast.

That was the best and fastest sail of my life and my first solo in Gailey's Galley, our brand new Hunter 33.

It's feelings and memories of experiences like these that seem to define ones life.

But to experience stuff like this, one has to know his stuff and the boat's stuff. Since I hadn't sailed for 20 years, I needed help.

Thank you Capt. Dan!

My wife and I sailed with Capt. Dan only a few times, but that's all it took to get us up to speed. As he said, "Your hands don't forget."

Though the basic skills came back rapidly, there was an encyclopedia of new topics - mostly electronics - that we needed to learn.

We finished all that on what felt like a graduation exercise, sailing completely around Santa Cruz, over to Anacapa's south shore and back to the Channel Islands in a 2 1/2 day, 93 nautical mile adventure.

We learned a lot about cruising with clear skies and winds that ranged from 3 to 28 knots. We also got some very practical radar nav experience when the fog dropped to the deck on the third day.

With these lessons and experiences I feel very confident in my boat and in my own skills. That comfort level, along with a healthy respect for the power of nature, will allow my wife and I to experience a lifetime of adventures that will keep us smiling for the remainder of our lives.

I've sailed before, my wife never had.

And we've both thought Captain Dan and Sail Channel Islands are fantastic. Whether I wanted to push hard through sections or to take it slow and easy, Captain Dan was there to support me.

I trust him and his abilities. My wife and I both have enjoyed his company and his kindness, as well as his knowledge and mastery of sailing. He also knows people, and how to relate to them. In this day and age, all those things combined are a rare find, and a treasured one.

We fully recommend him for any chartering or sailing lessons you may want.

–-Topher