John Melko
Built 10' wooden sailboat with a teenage girlfriend… fiberglassed the seams… rebuilt an old boat trailer to carry it… read a book on how to sail… launched it… sheeted in the sail… felt the boat heel and then start moving with no noise or vibration… Fell in love with sailing… and the girl.
Still loves sailing and the girl...
Moved to San Francisco… started sailing on the bay in 1978… used sailing as something special to attract and entertain buyers and clients. Joined Club Nautique in the mid-eighties while still on the Oakland estuary. Became an instructor in 1991. Helped develop the racing clinic, spinnaker clinic, asymmetrical spinnaker clinic, catamaran clinic, big boat motoring clinic, all three trawler clinics, man-overboard clinic with real people in the water.
Raced on several big-name racing boats on the bay and offshore. Became helmsman and skipper on several of those races.
Also found out he loves teaching and seeing his students do well as sailors, racers, and even becoming certified sailing instructors. In 1994, he was voted instructor of the year at Club Nautique by his fellow instructors - a great honor coming from his peers.
2000 - Team Partagas Award for coaching a Club Nautique racing team
2001- Team Sailing Sportsman Award
2002 - Aurthur B. Hanson Award for saving a life on San Francisco Bay
2004-5 - Substitute skipper on Club Nautique sponsored race boat in Corintian Yacht Club race series
Certifications include: Merchant Marine Master 100 ton Inshore & Offshore - inspected vessels - both power vessels and sail vessels - with towing addendum.
US Sailing instructor certified in BK, BC, BBC, CoNav, BPBC, IPBC and PB-Night OPS. ASA Instructor certified in BKB, CON, BCC, BBC, and CCM.
SPECIALS
"Basic Cruising Skippers Course"
Special Package
Basic Keelboat Certification = $895
Basic Cruising Certification = $1095
Bay Cruising Workshop = $75
On year US SAILING Membership = $60
Plus! Rugged West Marine
Foul Weather Gear! = $238*
PLUS! Membership Included! = $695
Total Package Value = $3200!
ONLY $1,595!
Offer good through 3/31/2012