Bill has been sailing since his family joined a club in South Carolina back in the mid-1970s. While growing up, he spent his summers sailing a Sunfish and the club 420s. During college, he won many trophies sailing a Hobie 16 in regattas throughout the southeast. And after graduation he crewed for a 3-time national champion in the Annapolis area. Upon moving to the Great Lakes area, he obtained a USCG Master's license, founded an ASA-affiliated sailing school and has been having a blast teaching people how to sail ever since. During the summers he operates his ASA-affiliated school on the Great Lakes. During the winters, he runs ASA classes and charters for Southwest Florida Yachts. Bill is certified through ASA to teach 101, 103, 104, 105, 114 and 118 and is a recipient of ASA's Outstanding Instructor Award.

 

“It's difficult to learn to sail by reading books or watching videos. My teaching style is to guide students through the basic processes and allow sailing to teach itself. Little by little, students gain the skill and confidence to master a boat. Rather than having to think through the process of sailing, you learn to do it by feel. There is a lot to learn in ASA certification courses, and it may be intimidating initially. But after doing it, students pick everything up very naturally. It's always a ton of fun.”

Captain Chuck St Romain brings over 20 years of maritime experience to his role as Operations Manager at SWFY in Southwest Florida. Originally from Hawaii, where he ran a successful family-owned business specializing in fishing tours, yacht charters, dinner cruises, and glass-bottom boat excursions, Captain Chuck relocated to SWFL in 2020.

 

In addition to his professional achievements, Captain Chuck is passionate about his cat Lilly, football, and occasionally indulging in whiskey (not necessarily in that order). He is also dedicated to teaching courses such as P101-3, covering powerboat handling and offshore navigation, reflecting his commitment to sharing his expertise with others.

 

Captain Chuck holds a 100-ton US Coast Guard license since 2003 and maintains all required licenses and credentials, including advanced training in firefighting, first aid, and CPR. His blend of experience, dedication to safety, and love for his hobbies make him a respected figure in the maritime community.

For more than 40 years Captain Lee Collins has been teaching in the air and on the seas. He began both his boating and flying pursuits at a very young age, learning basic boating and navigation skills while still in school and attaining his pilot’s license at 19.

During his lifelong career as an airline pilot, Captain Collins maintained his maritime skills all the while teaching both powerboating and sailing courses on inland waterways and in both coastal and near coastal waters.

Since retiring as an airline Captain in 2020, Lee has been teaching in and cruising the waters around Florida and the Keys. Having grown up as a young boy in the waters of southwest Florida, he brings a unique understanding of our local area and its cruising waters.

Captain Collins is a highly skilled navigator and enjoys teaching at every level the skills which build a strong sailor or maritime professional. With an unwavering focused approach to safety, vessel management and risk mitigation while at sea; Lee combines the fun of boating with the goal of making each student the very best they can be. 

During his spare time Captain Collins still teaches flying and specializes in advanced training of aspiring airline pilots who are moving to the next level. He and his wife Michelle live in Southwest Florida and enjoy travelling, sailing the Florida Keys and most of all spending time with their beloved French Bulldog Winston. 

Captain Ted Evans brings over 40 years of boating experience to his passion for exploring the waters. His journey began on the serene lakes of Michigan and Minnesota, where he honed his skills navigating the intricate waterways of these island-dotted landscapes. Over the years, Ted has expanded his maritime adventures to include the vast and storied Great Lakes of the north.

 

For the past two decades, Ted has also embraced the vibrant waters of Southwest Florida and the enchanting Florida Keys. Alongside his partner Lynn, they have adopted the Snowbird lifestyle, dividing their time between the scenic tranquility of Cape Coral during the winter months and the nostalgic charm of Michigan in summer. Both locales offer unique boating experiences that Ted and Lynn enthusiastically embrace.

 

Ted's dedication to the boating community is evident through his membership in the American Great Loop Cruisers Association (AGLCA) and his USCG Master Captain's License. His expertise extends to yacht brokerage in Florida, where he operates under Curtis Stokes, ensuring others can embark on their own maritime dreams with confidence.