A San Diego native, I've been sailing as long as I can remember. Not only were my parents lifetime members of San Diego Yacht Club, my father was the Base Commanding Officer of the Naval Base Coronado and an avid and celebrated sailor. I was tossed out of the crib and into a cockpit with a lifejacket that barely fit. I was in the Jr's program as soon as I was old enough. I mostly sailed Sabots & Lasers, as this was prior to the club having a team presence. My first big boy boat was a Hobie 16, called Tequila Sunrise. I'd take that boat out alone and scream out of the harbor till the sun went down. When I wasn’t fine-tuning my skills during the summer on the Hobie 16, I was cruising with my family on our Ericson 38 to Catalina and Mexico.
I didn't sail very much while at University of California Berkeley, I picked up cycling, joined the team and ended up with a box of ribbons and a national championship which I hardly remember anymore! From UCB I had a series of high end advertising careers which left me land locked until I made an about-face, and took a career with Princess Cruises. A 10 year contract deal, I toured 9 times around the world. Had the experiences of a lifetime. Match race sailing in the Caribbean on retired cup yachts in the winters, and cruising ancient mariner’s woodies off the Italian coast in the summers. I later was picked up by the Austin, Texas based LIVESTRONG Cancer Foundation, where I planned all of their outdoor activities and events for the kids in remission. I taught cycling and sailing to the recovering kids for a very rewarding nine years. We partnered with the Austin Yacht Club on Lake Travis and we primarily sailed 420s, CFJs, Sabots, Optis and the occasional Hobie 14. I returned to San Diego after the foundation hit some rough spots and we all lost our positions. I regained my relationship with North Sails One Design primarily in production primarily, but crossed into service and customer care as well.
After North Sails closed up shop in San Diego in 2017, I sold my "box on land" and purchased a floating home. After decades of crewing on other skipper's race boats, I own a 2018 Beneteau Oceanis 41.1 performance cruiser and call her home. I have long list of scheduled events on Lucca for 2018, including the current 10 week Cortez Racing Series and the Beneteau Owners Annual Rendezvous cruising regatta in Catalina.