Stefan Leader

USCG 50 Ton Master

ASA Certified Instructor

One of Stefan’s first sailing memories is of being towed back to a Bahamas resort beach in a rented sailboat by a motor launch called the Idiot Retriever.  He had been having a great time sailing downwind but could not get back because he had not yet learned to sail upwind.  That was in the late 1960’s. 

A few years later he bought a 14 foot dinghy and taught himself to sail both upwind and downwind on Lake Cayuga in upstate New York.  In the years since, he has owned a half dozen boats, sailed most of the US East coast between Florida and Maine, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Tonga and the Galapagos in the Pacific, and Croatia in the Med. Since earning his Merchant Marine Master’s license in 1990, he has operated passenger vessels on the Potomac, captained charters on the Chesapeake and delivered yachts up and down the East Coast.  He has sailed the Chesapeake for thirty years and spends most weekends cruising on his Catalina 380 Diva II.  

He retired in January 2010 and is looking forward to doing some long cruises with wife Andrea and boat cat Tigger, and sharing his sailing expertise with others.

David Sabourin

USCG Captain
ASA Instructor

Originally hailing from Jamestown, Rhode Island, Captain David is a long-time sailboat owner. He has extensive cruising experience on the east coast from the US/Canada border to South Florida. 

Captain David currently cruises his 40' yacht in the Chesapeake Bay when he's not teaching sailing or playing hockey. Students enjoy his wealth of knowledge that goes far beyond our course curriculum.  One student recently said of him:

"David is by all accounts the best sailing instructor I've ever had. While his knowledge of sailing has a depth and breadth that is remarkable what makes him a truly unique

teacher is his calm and secure approach to teaching. No matter what the situation is

David always seems in control and conveys a sense of peaceful confdence which is

invaluable to a student struggling to master (or at times barely execute) a particular

maneuver. David truly loves sailing and his enthusiasm is contagious making you wish

the sail will last forever."                         -Alejandro

Angie Wilson

USCG Captain

ASA Instructor

Angie left her southern roots to pursue her dream of blue water sailing.  She taught herself to sail Lasers before graduating up thru keel boats to the Pearson Triton she now skippers and plans to go cruising aboard.  Besides teaching, she also goes on deliveries throughout the Chesapeake Bay region.  Angie enjoys sharing her passion for sailing and her enthusiasm is infectious.

Charley Sabatier

ASA Certified Instructor

Professor Sabatier's primary career is teaching physics. He understands stuff about boats that none of the rest of us can quite figure out! During the summer months, when school is not in session, he trades in his cardigan for a life jacket and teaches sailing in the sun.

Charley has served as the Waterfront Director for Planet Hope's youth program but also is certified by the American Sailing Association to teach Keelboat Sailing. Charley is also an avid keelboat racer and can be found on the race course most Wednesday evenings calmly guiding his crew to victory. 

Andrea Heintzelman

ASA Instructor
 

Andrea’s first sailing experience began at the tender age of 12 when her parents purchased their first boat, a 31 foot wood cutter named Pinafore, which they kept in Marblehead, MA.  When she was 15, her father took the entire family (three other daughters and wife) on a 15 month cruise from Nova Scotia, Canada to the West Indies and back without once spending a night ashore.  It was a life changing experience and she still loves to tell stories about that trip.  Young as she was, Andrea longed to be captain of her own boat, and learned to sail dinghies and other small boats in New England harbors when she was 13 years old. 

Now, some 50 sailing years later and more enthusiastic than ever about sailing and all it has to offer, she sails the Chesapeake and the Eastern seaboard on a Catalina 380 sloop, DIVA II, with her husband Stefan and their tabby cat, Tigger.   Andrea’s passion for sailing has extended to chartering in Croatia and more recently in Greece.    Having recently retired, Andrea plans to do extensive sailing on her own boat as well as teach and share the same passion with anyone with the will and desire to experience the freedom, exhilaration and challenges sailing has to offer. 

Jeffrey K Bowen

USCG 100 Ton

Master

ASA Instructor

Captain Jeff started sailing in his early teen years and began teaching sailing during summers while in college. His sailing experience includes boats ranging from windsurfers to large crusing boats. Jeff lived aboard a 44' Catamaran for 3 years with his wife and 5 children. As a family, they cruised between the Chesapeake Bay and the Bahamas. If you want tips on sailing with children, he is definately the one to talk with! As a family, they are back on land for a while but are dreaming of new adventures.

Captain Jeff also started a non-profit sailing organization to mentor at-risk teens through the sport of sailing. Planet Hope has been impacting the lives of young people for over 10 years. He has worked with young people through his church and other non-profit organizations in some capacity for over 25 years, and brings this passion for young people to our Youth Sailing Camps.

Captain Jeff holds his 100 Ton Master's license, is an ordained minister, but he will tell you that his most important title is "dad".  He is also the founder of The Sailing Academy. He would rather be sailing than sitting in the office, so he activly teaches all levels of sailing.

Kenneth Jacks

USCG Master Captain

ASA Instructor

Captain Ken has cruised extensively from Maine to the Bahamas. His other cruising grounds include the Florida Keys and the Virgin Islands. Ken lived aboard a 40' sailboat for five years while cruising.

Captain Ken is a very sought after instructor and currently teaches for several sailing schools, we are glad to have him as part of our team once in a while when we can convince him to leave Annapolis.