My name is Darren. Some call me Skipper D.

After about a 30 year career in IT, I took sailing lessons and fell in love with the experience of being on a boat powered by the wind and all that it entailed. I immediately joined the local sailing club and steadily progressed through certifications, clinics, and classes.

All of my initial experiences were lake sailing, but during my ASA 104, I had the opportunity to do a 6-day round-trip coastal and offshore passage of 400 nautical miles from Myrtle Beach to Hilton Head, South Carolina. It was my first time getting seasick, my first time night sailing, and my first time living aboard. Other than the seasickness, I loved it!

After this experience, I was even more determined to increase my skills and work towards a complete set of certifications and the dream of doing a trans-Atlantic passage from the United States to Norway. This is a few years off, but I have a lot to look forward to.

In the meantime, I was nominated to become a sailing instructor by my local sailing club. I’m currently in the process of instructor training.

Special thanks to Lanier Sailing Academy and Myrtle Beach Sailing School for the excellent training I’ve received from both schools.