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At J/World, we pride ourselves in our instructional staff.
Boundless sailing experience is only one of the strengths necessary
to be accepted into the J World instructor training program. The
ability to teach, as well as a passion for sharing the joy of
sailing is prerequisite for every one of our team members. J World has been repeatedly selected "The Best Sailing School in
America” for good reason: the qualification of our instructors,
great boats, beautiful locations, and the proven strength of our teaching method.
We Teach Our Teachers
At J/World, each instructor trainee spends an extensive period as a
"student". US Sailing certified instructors and US Coast Guard
licensed master captains are just the beginning. Once joining
J/World, our staff development program sharpens the trainee's
observational and listening skills while educating them to J World's
teaching method.
J/World's Teaching Method
Lots of time on the
water is backed up with highly challenging and engaging classroom
time. Our curriculum and the capabilities of our instructors
to convey sailing information is world
renowned. Over the past 25 years, our courses have been
consistently updated and improved. With locations around the
country, we employ the most impressive team of professionals ever
assembled, and are able to share technique and material developed by
the best-of-the-best. This means that our students benefit not
only from the
sailing experience of our instructors, but also their expertise in
teaching the latest sailing techniques.
Our Coaches
J World has assembled an impressive team of full-time, year-round,
professional sailing instructors. This means that you get real
pros, not some fly-by-night production of part time sailors.
These coaches are the best in the business. Let us take a minute
to introduce you to some of our team....
Barry Demak
J World is pleased to welcome Bay Area
sailor Barry Demak to the team as General Manager. Barry comes to us
from the world of enterprise software and technology consulting, and
is an accomplished racer and offshore sailor to boot. Barry has been
actively involved in several high profile offshore and "big boat"
campaigns, including numerous winning efforts in the Pacific Cup,
Transpac, Rolex Big Boat Series and Mexico races. Barry has also
competed in the intensely competitive J/105 and Farr 40 fleets.
His business experience coupled with his extensive and diverse
offshore racing, buoy racing and ocean delivery experiences make him
a great addition to our team.
Britta Fjelstrom
Britta has an extremely wide
range of talents. From Santana 22s to 90 foot gaff rigged
schooners, Britta has a wide range of professional experience.
On her own boat, she has cruised the West Coast from San Francisco
to Mexico. She has six years of experience as a sailing
instructor, and both an exceptional attitude AND ability for
conveying her knowledge of the sport.
Travis Lund
A Michigan native, Travis has been sailing the Great Lakes since
before most of us could ride a bike. Taking his first trip to
Mackinaw Island at the age of six on his parents Cal 25, Travis
continued to develop his sailing skills, and by 19 was helming a T35
on his second Chicago-Mac Race and teaching windsurfing.
Having done every major distance race in the Great Lakes numerous
times on a variety of boats, Travis also raced for the Michigan
State University Sailing Team. An accomplished seaman, working
as a deckhand for a freight company on a 1000 foot ship and
skippering many deliveries, Travis continues to love the water and
came to the West Coast in 2006 to see what the Pacific has to offer.
A wide range of knowledge, experience with numerous boats, and his
drive to win make him an excellent coach and instructor for whatever
type of sailing you aspire to do.
Eugenie Russell
Eugenie began sailing when
she was seven years old in Brittany, off the coast of her native
France, and she's never stopped. From the Caribbean to the
South Pacific, Eugenie has sailed many ocean miles on a huge
diversity of sailing vessels. She spent seven years in San
Francisco working with sailors and J Boats before joining the J
World team in 2005. Her racing
experience ranges from her collegiate sailing team dinghy background
to large offshore yachts, and she is the frequent skipper of our
cruising courses. She is fluent in French, English, and
Spanish. Eugenie is a seasoned
instructor, and has a passion for the sport which is infectious!
Christopher Tibbe
Chris has been working with J
World since 1992. A Michigan native, Chris has been sailing
passionately his entire life. He worked with our San Diego school for
many years, and
is now a regular in San Francisco. Chris' extensive knowledge of
boat systems, rigging, construction, and design bring special
qualities to any class he is a part of. A rigger, a captain, a coach.
A cruiser, a racer. A true sailing enthusiast, with a
tremendous amount of experience and knowledge, and the rare ability
to teach which is so crucial.
Wayne
Zittel
Wayne is the President of J
World San Francisco and Puerto Vallarta. Wayne grew up sailing in
the San Diego area.
Youth years were spent racing dinghies around the country, and in
college he began the transition to keelboats, both large and small.
With an extensive racing background covering every type of boat
imaginable (from small catamarans to offshore maxis) and having
worked every position aboard (from bowman to helmsman), Wayne has
developed a thorough understanding of sailing techniques and team
dynamics, contributing to his success as a coach and team manager.
Additionally, his offshore cruising experience totaling many
thousands of miles has given Wayne has the depth of knowledge that
makes all of our J World staff so exceptional.
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Eugenie Russell
Wayne Zittel |
