"Derek was amazing. I tend to ask a lot of questions and Derek never made me feel like I was asking too much. Captain Derek was patient, thorough, and took the time to explain everything in amazing detail. You can tell from the start Derek enjoys teaching. My entire experience with Captain Derek was not only enjoyable but very educational. I highly recommend Captain Derek to anyone looking for a professional and supportive captain. Thank you Derek!"

Kole Peloquin

"Smart, professional, honest and insightful. Highly recommend if you want a true yacht consultant with real world experience."

Roger S

"I have been sailing for 2 years, and took both ASA and US sailing classes, and I have experienced many captains. Among them, Derek is the best for me! My goal is to sail around the world, together with my mathematics background, I like to ask many technical and practical questions, and demand rationales behind the best practices. Derek did great jobs meeting my demand. He also has great interpersonal skills, so I feel quite comfortable with him even after 4 days of Catalina island trip. So do other crew members. Highly recommend!"

Zus Zheng

"Captain Derek was an incredible instructor for our first sail to Avalon on a Beneteau 38.1. His detailed instruction has given us the confidence at sea we were looking for. Derek went above and beyond in his training, with practical tips and helpful industry knowledge, literally answering our every question (and there were many)! We would highly recommend Derek for all your sailing needs!"

Kim S.

"Derek was a very engaged and experienced captain. He customized the course specifically to our needs. We certainly learned a lot. Thank you for sharing your expertise."

Kathy Dunderdale

"Derek is the best, best captain I have ever had. He is very knowledgeable, knows what each unique trainee needs, very nice as well. I would recommend him each and every time."

Louis Dong