Testimonials

J/World has been the top rated sailing school for 35 years. We have taught many thousands of people to sail, and to be better sailors. As a result of our attention to detail, we receive accolades all the time. But don’t just take our word for it. Ask around. Search the web. The more research you do, the more good things you will hear about us and the more likely you will come to J/World.

Learn to Sail, July 2023 – Jeff P.

I don’t know the best email address to provide you feedback at but I wanted to let you know how incredible it has been sailing with Chuck twice this summer. My son and I took the Basic Keelboat class with him in May and then an Advanced Boathandling class this past weekend. Chuck has been the perfect combination of encouraging and authoritative/instructive in helping my son and I continue our journey of learning this sport. His knowledge in the domain of sailing is clearly vast but he presents the information in a very approachable way. He has also greatly customized the classes to fit our needs and help strengthen our weaknesses, which makes these times all the more valuable. You have a gem in Chuck and we are very thankful for having the opportunity to sail with him and plan to do so a number of more times in the future.

Learn to Sail, April 2023 – Matthew B.

Rachel and I just wanted to reach out and thank you and your team for the awesome experience. You clearly have a professional there, we learned a lot and it exceeded our expectations.  We came down to push ourselves sailing a performance boat under the eye of a highly experienced instructor and we were not disappointed. Chuck was a great instructor, extremely knowledgeable and he was very adept at tailoring his instruction on the fly to instruct a team with varying degrees of experience, expectations and commitment. He is a natural leader who has the patience of a saint and is an all around great guy who is fun to be around.

Pacific Cup 2022 – Jim G.

Aloha!  I know you are probably running boats back home, but I am going to send this now anyway before my vacation buzz wears off. 🙂

After spending a bit more time relaxing in Hawaii with my wife post-race, we got back yesterday.  So I wanted to let you know how much I appreciated the experience on Cazan during the 2022 PacCup.  Somewhere in my top 10 life experiences, maybe even top 5! It was a privilege to be aboard with David, Collin and Austin — they are hands-down the best sailors I’ve ever sailed with and, just as important, simply great folks to hang out with.  I would go sailing again with any of them any time for any reason!

Even if they hadn’t said a thing to me the entire trip, I would have learned a ton just by watching them handle the boat — particularly the downwind spinnaker reaching on the waves!  Of course they were not silent, but instead were constantly teaching and helping us get better at trimming, steering and grinding . . . and more.   And they handled all my questions — both the good ones and the sort of stupid ones — with clear answers and good natured patience.

All of them were natural communicators and their love of sailing was infectious.  We amateurs all got noticeably better.  Our speed and handling improved every day throughout the race and we pushed the performance to the point of covering over 300 miles in 24 hours!  That may or may not be a record for CaZan, but it was certainly some fantastic racing!

In addition to the great J/World crew, I’d add that Cazan is an impressive boat.   Sturdy as hell, fairly dry, reasonably comfortable (for a raceboat!) and yet still speedy.   We used most of the sail inventory and got a lot of out of those kites!  A great boat for the trip and a positive part of the package was learning about the sails and systems on a veteran ocean raceboat.

Finally, I am not a particularly nervous sailor, but I am generally cautious and try to be prepared for the conditions — so I had a few concerns about sailing the open ocean in places I had never sailed before.  However, even when the wind and weather conditions got a bit more challenging (or “sporty”) sailing with the Cazan team, I never felt like we were unsafe or unready.  Any of the worries I might have had about wandering 2000+ miles out over the Pacific simply disappeared as we worked together.  I realized when we finished that your team gave me all of that the confidence by improving my sailing competence in rougher conditions — yet another benefit from the amazing trip.

At bottom, my Pac Cup experience was truly awesome and I wanted to let you know that I appreciate the care and preparation that you and your J/World colleagues put into making it that way.  I would happily recommend you all to anybody looking to get offshore experience — feel free to use me as a reference or quote me on the website!

Take care and I’ll figure out how to sail with you all again down the road.

Transpac 2021 – Randy B.

I didn’t have a chance to talk with you at the end of the race so I wanted to send you a quick e-mail to say thank you! The Transpac was a very memorable experience for me and truly did check the bucket list box..  I believe I told you that my dad sailed it in 1951 and always talked about what a great race it was.  Now I understand what he meant!  As a dinghy boat sailor getting to sail downwind in those classic pacific Tradewinds surfing conditions was something I will never forget.   Dave, Chris and Collin are exceptional sailors, great teachers and were professional the whole time with everyone onboard….probably the reason you selected them.  I will also say that offshore skipper role Dave showed leadership skills well beyond his years. Oh yeah and Chris’ sense of humor had me laughing most of the time.  I now see why your turnkey offshore program is so highly regarded and I’m glad I had a chance to participate in it. Thanks again!

Learn to Sail, October 2020 – Paul J.

I wanted to say thank you for the outstanding week of sailing earlier this month. Our instruction was outstanding both in the classroom and sailboat. [Our instructor] is obviously a competent and skillful sailor and instructor but more importantly, he represented J-World Sailing with the highest level of professionalism anyone could ask of their staff. The class surpassed my expectations and I look forward to returning next year for additional instruction.

MEXORC Regatta, March 2018 – Jenny T.

It was truly a privilege to learn from such accomplished sailors as your team.  It takes a special person to be both a phenomenal sailor and a great instructor, and you are indeed both!

The MexORC week far exceeded my expectations on all counts. It was exciting to experience racing in a world class regatta, and every day I learned new things.  We are definitely planning on continuing our sailing education with you – we just need to figure out which J/World opportunity we would like to pursue next!

Transpac Race, 2017 – Derek D.

I wanted formally thank you for the amazing experience aboard Hula Girl on this year’s Transpac.

Although I definitely had the least offshore experience among the group onboard, all three of you put me at ease before, during, and after the race.  Other than the vertigo issue that I had on a couple of the cloudy/moonless nights when I was steering (thank you Patrick for bailing me out!), I felt relatively comfortable at the wheel (for fear of a wipeout of epic proportions).  I must say that Patrick’s demeanor as my Watch Captain helped me build that confidence over the duration of the 2225 nm.

Watching all three of you going about your business onboard was a treat and demonstrated that all three of you are real pros!  Whether it was Patrick at the bow, Wayne at the wheel or nav station, or Paul at the wheel, all three of you made it look so easy!  Knowing that the boat was well-prepared in advance of the start also showed a level of professionalism that I haven’t seen.  I greatly enjoyed the consistent communication of expectations prior to the experience occurring which helped keep surprises to a minimum.  In short, this was not your first rodeo (unlike me) which helped allay any fears.

Although the Team Philosophy wasn’t a “win at all costs” one, the fact that you were able to coalesce a disparate group with varying levels of sailing and offshore experience was truly remarkable.  To me, one of the more satisfying things was that we earned a podium finish in an extremely competitive division of SC50s and SC52s.  However, I’m still contemplating all the ways we could have done better to make up the 5 minutes of corrected time on Deception.  Regardless, I know that my goals prior to the race were to sail safely, fast, and fun!  Mission accomplished!

Again, I thank you for providing me with this tremendous opportunity of sailing in this year’s edition of Transpac!  Don’t be surprised if I decide to do something else with J World again whether it’s around the buoys or another offshore opportunity (e.g. Mexico or Hawaii races).  I’m still smiling about the overall experience that I had and it’s certainly among my top sailing highlights, let alone one of the overall highlights in my 52 years.

Hawaii to California Offshore Passage, 2017 – Richard B.

I also wanted to make a serious comment on your teaching and leadership style.  I have sailed with many captains and closely watched leadership during my military career.  I want to complement your style and how you kept our crew working together

Offshore Racing Seminar, September 2016 – Marc C.

I just wanted to thank you guys again for the training last week… I got a lot out of it an feel  more ready for future adventures.  On the way back, we went through how to get [our boat] set up for buoy and coastal racing. Next step is going to be building a team. I’ll keep you posted.  As always, I was very impressed with all your knowledge and the way you made a large amount of information relevant and accessible.  Looking forward to my next training with you. Please keep up the great work. I’ll for sure keep recommending J/World to my sailing friends.

Learn to Sail Class, August 1999 – Dave B.

It is now very easy for me to see why J/World has been rated at the top of all sailing schools in the country. I felt this was the best value of any course I’ve ever taken. Keep up the great work!

Offshore Cruising Course – Unsolicited Facebook posting

To anyone reading this post, and considering doing this trip, I have three words for you: JUST DO IT! This trip will change your life! You will sail one of the longest stretches of ocean in the world, with a world-class skipper, aboard a world-class boat. You will experience the beauty of the “Blue Planet” like you never thought possible. When you first ponder the magnitude of this trip you will realize how vast the planet is, but upon your return you will understand how small it really is. Each day the sunrise and the sunset will be the best you have ever seen, until the next day. You will sail at night by the moonlight and you will see the moon rise and set like you never have before. You will see the stars and the planets and if you reach up with your hands you may be able to grab them… and if you are lucky one morning, you might sail through a lone rain shower as the sun is rising in front of you, and when you sail out of the cloud and when the warm and gentle rain stops and parts like a curtain in front of you, don’t forget to look BACK from where you came, and you might be greeted by the most spectacular double rainbow you have ever seen in your life, projected on the rain you just sailed through. I am sure every trip on the Hula Girl is different, and every trip is magical in its own way… Take this trip and discover your own magical moments! I did this trip a couple years ago and I would do it again in a heartbeat! JUST DO IT!!!     – Jorge

Learn-to-Sail Course, May 2013 – P.M.

Just a quick note to say that the “Basic Keelboat” beginning sailing course I completed last week here in Vallarta was a fantastic experience. [Our instructor], an obviously very competent and experienced sailor, conducted the course professionally and, perhaps more to the point, made the entire experience very enjoyable and fulfilling. It’s also clear that the class of sailboat (J80) we used is highly desirable and very engaging for hands-on training.

As someone who had virtually no knowledge of sailing, after completing your course, I feel empowered and encouraged to take the next steps in this exciting endeavor. Now equipped with some first hand experience, I’m just beginning to comprehend why so many are so passionate about the sport.

Thanks again for your collective efforts. I look forward to the opportunity to meet you in person here in Vallarta and continuing with my sailing certifications with J World.

Private Cruising Charter, June 2011 – B.P.

Dave and I just came back home yesterday. We had a great time in California. The highlight of the vacation was definitely the weekend we spent with you! Thanks so much for making this such an awesome 50th birthday for Dave. This was a very special time that Dave will never forget; from the surprise of meeting you in San Francisco, the moment we walked into the J/World office, the moment he stepped on the J/160 and held the wheel, the entire time on the water and off the water with you and all the hours in the following days I heard about how amazing the J/160 really is (including numerous searches on the web to look for the best deal!)…. it was truly EPIC ! THANK YOU SO MUCH !!!

Thanks for putting together such a great weekend. I certainly appreciate your patience with all the preparations and my questions leading to the weekend. Your attention to the details all the way to stocking the boat with all the appropriate brands was great. It was a pleasure sailing with both of you for the weekend. It was great to get your guidance, insight and perspective about sailing on the West Coast. We certainly won’t hesitate to recommend JWorld San Francisco and who knows where we’ll spend Dave’s next birthday… Mexico sounds pretty good!

Transpac, July 2015 – Steve B.

Perhaps a little late, but I finally have a little time here as I take the train home from work, wishing again for open skies, waves off the bow, and the wind at my back. I wanted to say first congratulations and secondly, thank you to you and your team for putting together such a first class event.  Sailing with you gents on Hula Girl was an education, a privilege, and a ton of fun…  and one I would recommend to any sailor with a dream of some offshore experience.

Racing Clinic November 2011 – J.P.

Just a short note to thank J World for such a fun and productive sail yesterday. I was a bit nervous getting back to racing after so many years out of the sport, but your coach made the experience very enjoyable and I got a lot out of it. I hope I can retain until January all the tips you gave us us, and I can’t wait to take the helm in our next race. And thanks for putting up with an old sea dog that needs to relearn his old tricks as well as pick up a lot of new ones. [Our J World coach was] a natural teacher, which is a real talent. He was able to teach and correct without being harsh, insulting or overbearing. I know all of us on the boat appreciated his steady, reliable and very professional demeanor. It added immensely to the learning experience, to say nothing of enabling all of us to have a really great time. So again thanks and I’ll see you in January.

Learn to Sail Course, September 2007 – D & A

We had a fantastic time and achieved one of my life long goals – learning to sail. The Instructors were great and we appreciated their very professional and friendly teaching style. We’ll be back for sure! Please send our regards to everyone….

J/105 Racing Clinic, April 2003 – Frank Slootman

I learned more about racing in these three days than being on the water the past three years.

2017 Transpac – Andreas K.

I just wanted to spend the time to thank you again for all the training I got from you guys during the Transpac. Wayne, you are one of the best skippers I ever sailed with, and Patrick you are probably the best coach I have met so far.

You kept encouraging me to take over helm over and over again, and really helped me both overcome one of the biggest shortcomings I saw in my skill set. Everyone on the boat had his chance. You guys were there for everyone who wanted to rise to the next level… and once we hit the channel I was able to handle the breeze and the swell, which surprised me as much as some of the other guys!

I just wanted to let you guys know how much I appreciate what I took with me from this trip. You guys rock…

Performance Cruising Course, July 2008 – J.K.

Just wanted to say thanks for a great week taking the Performance Cruising class at J World. Sailing the J80 was mucho fun and that J105 is a rocket! Both of my instructors are super talented and I learned more in that one week than I have in quite a while. I’ll be in touch…

Pacific Cup, 2008 – M.C.

I wanted to thank you for a wonderful trip and the experience of a lifetime. I was and remain extremely impressed with all the preparation and hard work that you put in to make this trip a success for the students. I took from this experience not only a great deal of knowledge on ocean sailing, but also increased confidence in my ability as a sailor.

Learn to Sail Class, August 1997 – Melissa P.

I did not think I would enjoy sailing at all. And after the course I enjoyed it immensely and want to continue with the courses and with sailing. It was a blast!

Learn to Sail Course, December 2013 – R & K O’Brien

As someone who’s been teaching and evaluating teachers for a quarter of a century, I’m writing to tell your instructor is one of the best I’ve seen. He’s tremendously skilled at communicating knowledge and also has the rare talent of being able to tell what his students do and don’t understand. A few months ago, my wife Katherine and I decided to do something special for my fifty-fifth birthday. Because “charter a sailboat ” has long been on my bucket list, we decided to take the first step toward that goal by signing up for your Puerto Vallarta “Learn to Sail” course. The course seemed perfect for my wife, but I was a bit worried that—because I had some (long ago) sailing experience—parts of it would bore me. That never even came close to happening because [our J/World coach] explained everything in a way that kept me fully engaged. Each moment I spent under his tutelage was immensely rewarding. Because of [his] superb teaching, Katherine and I are now both eager to take the next steps toward cruising.  I’m extremely grateful to him. We couldn’t have had a better experience.

Advanced Boathandling Weekend Course, June 2013 – Elisa W.

A big thumbs up and five stars to [our instructor] for his Advanced Boat Handling training today. I think I’m a perfect candidate for the class – a moderately experienced sailor who has a great deal more to learn. He covered A LOT in the 7 hours. He gave great feedback and instruction on sail trim.   I had time on the helm with lots of tacks and gybes… we did a dozen or so gybes with the asymmetrical spinnaker with each of us at the helm.  He was terrific at explaining things and answering questions. Give my thanks to him, and congrats to the J-World team for being smart enough to hire him.

Private Instruction, August 2012 – O.D.

I went out for a sail with J/World while I was in town from Chicago. With {our instructor’s] quiet confidence and easy going manner, I knew it was going to be a great sail. I really appreciated him sharing his knowledge regarding spinnaker sailing as well. The entire session was filled with so many awesome sailing tips.  I had an amazing time out on the water and I would recommend anyone, at any skill level heading out with you.  [Our coach] has a lifetime of sailing knowledge to share and it was a true privilege to be on the water with him.  While de-rigging the J/80 after the sail, he showed me how to tie a 3 second bowline.  Definitely an unexpected bonus, ending a fantastic session.  Thank you J World.  I will be back!

Race Week, January 2013 – J. & S. R.

We all want to thank you for a great week in Nuevo Vallarta learning more about sailing and how to be effective fast sailors.  Both [our coaches] were amazing teachers and as always your lectures and insights were great and inspirational.  We came to J/World to learn how to handle an Asymmetrical Spinnaker in preparation for getting our new boat.  We were successful meeting our goals.  We returned home charged up and impatient to get our boat in the water and to teach our friends and crew members many of he things we learned. Being alumni of J/World is a great badge on our resumes and we will certainly return again.  Also, Lynne and Ayla enjoyed Paradise Village.  They had a wonderful vacation and also got out to doing some sailing and some learning.  Thank you for everything.  Please pass our thanks along to your team.

Learn to Sail Class, January 2013 – P.L.

I would like to add a couple of comments about [our instructor].  He  did a superb job of meeting the needs of both my wife and I.  Jodi was interested in learning the basics of sailing.  I was interested in learning the more technical aspects.  Rick tailored his instruction for the week so that both of our needs were met.  He did an incredible job of ensuring that we both had a positive experience.  I have been an educator for almost 30 years.  Currently I am Superintendent of Schools for a jurisdiction of over 10,000 students with 1050 staff.  I can assure you that [our J/World instructor] is a natural teacher with a broad range of skills.

Race Week & Private Coaching, August, 2008 – B.W.

I just wanted to take a minute to express my appreciation for this week’s class, and to let you know I was really impressed with my [instructors] as sailors, and as instructors. You have a really great team there! I certainly got everything I’d hoped for and more. The J/80 was a blast, and the time on my own boat was invaluable. The Friday race was the perfect end to a really good week — Our coach really knows how to make a boat go, even a heavy old cruiser like mine! And now I do, too!

Private Coaching, September 2008 – O.A.

Yesterday was our first regatta since I sailed with you in the Bay. I was at the bow this time. With a short-handed crew and winds between 5-15 Knots we scored 2-1-1 in three races with an overall 1st in the end! We did put in practice many of the things I learnt from [J World] last weekend; and it obviously worked well!

2017 Transpac – Derek D.

I know that I had the chance to thank each of you personally while I was in Hawaii, but I wanted formally thank you as group for the amazing experience aboard Hula Girl on this year’s Transpac.

Although I definitely had the least offshore experience among the group on board, all three of you put me at ease before, during, and after the race. Other than the vertigo issue that I had on a couple of the cloudy/moonless nights when I was steering (thank you Patrick for bailing me out!), I felt relatively comfortable at the wheel (for fear of a wipe-out of epic proportions). I must say that Patrick’s demeanor as my Watch Captain helped me build that confidence over the duration of the 2225 nm.

Watching all three of you going about your business onboard was a treat and demonstrated that all three of you are real pros! Whether it was Patrick at the bow, Wayne at the wheel or nav station, or Paul at the wheel, all three of you made it look so easy! Knowing that the boat was well-prepared in advance of the start also showed a level of professionalism that I haven’t seen. I greatly enjoyed the consistent communication of expectations prior to the experience occurring which helped keep surprises to a minimum. In short, this was not your first rodeo (unlike me) which helped allay any fears.

Although the Team Philosophy wasn’t a “win at all costs” one, the fact that you were able to coalesce a disparate group with varying levels of sailing and offshore experience was truly remarkable. To me, one of the more satisfying things was that we earned a podium finish in an extremely competitive division of SC50s and SC52s. However, I’m still contemplating all the ways we could have done better to make up the 5 minutes of corrected time on Deception, or the several hours that Horizon finished ahead of us. Regardless, I know that my goals prior to the race were to sail safely, fast, and fun! Mission accomplished!

Again, I thank you for providing me with this tremendous opportunity of sailing in this year’s edition of Transpac! Don’t be surprised if I decide to do something else with J World again whether it’s around the buoys or another offshore opportunity. I’m still smiling about the overall experience that I had and it’s certainly among my top sailing highlights, let alone one of the overall highlights in my 52 years.

Take care for now! Please keep in touch.

Learn to Sail, October 2008 – H.H.

First of all, I wanted to thank you guys for my awesome learn-to-sail class last week. Going back to work this week was *very* hard! Both [instructors] were great and I hope to see them again!

Learn to Sail Course, May 2005 – Anonymous course evaluation

For a non-sailor, this was the best introduction to the sport I can imagine. I learned a tremendous amount from [my instructors], and as an added bonus, had a tremendous amount of fun!

Offshore Cruising Course – Unsolicited Facebook posting

Thank you to the J World staff for getting us back home to SF in style aboard Hula Girl! The 2013 Transback is DONE! You guys rock! My summer vacations will never be the same. Guess I will just have to keep doing this every year. Now to let the wife know.

If your reading this and thinking of learning to sail, or looking to improve you skills; stop thinking and pick up the phone and make the call to J World!!!! BEST THING I EVER DID!  I learned more on this two week trip than I learned going through my ASA Basic, Coastal or Bareboat certifications. These guys are TOP NOTCH, and will provide you education and skills that will last a lifetime.

When is the last time you learned to sail a boat backwards, swam in the ocean 1000nm offshore in five mile deep water, operated a chart plotter at sea, mastered AIS, operated a SSB marine radio, saw the inter workings of a diesel marine engine, plotted your position on a chart in the Pacific Ocean using dead reckoning, learned in depth about sail dynamics and wind angles, rocketed along in Mexico on a J-80 or sailed from Hawaii to San Francisco at the helm of a Santa Cruz 50 going faster than wind? I have, thanks to Wayne and the team at J World! – Dave

Advanced Boathandling Weekend, August 2005 – Anonymous course evaluation

Excellent! Boats were great: modern, fast, well-equipped. Lots of time on the water was great. Instruction was a good mix of theory and practice. Our instructors were terrific: lots of knowledge and skills, with a great attitude to teach it all.

Learn to Sail Class – July 1999 – Anonymous course evaluation

My experience was all and more than I had hoped for! You replaced fear and uncertainty with confidence and joy!

Intro to Racing, March 1999 – Steve Gillispie

Absolutely exceeded my expectations in every dimension. The boats were exceptional… new modern and in good shape. The instructors were awesome. It was hard to believe you could get that level of experience and accomplishment and at the same time have great teachers.

Advanced Racing, March 1998 – Alex Esquibel

For all those who sail in black and white; J World teaches you to sail in Technicolor!

Advanced Racing, March 2000 – John Gillis

Excellent course, great way to prepare for the season. See you next year!

Sailing Fundamentals, February 2002 – Anonymous  course evaluation

Our instructor explained things very clearly, made sure I understood and had a logical way of explaining so it is easy to remember. Lots of good, practical information and hands on experience!

Seven Day Liveaboard Cruising Course, June 2000 – David Shames

Fantastic. I would recommend this course to any serious sailor.

Racing Week, June, 2003 – Marv Toland

Your class must of worked… the week after, we took 1st in class.

Learn to Sail Class, August 2004 – Anonymous  course evaluation

Very beneficial! Even my wife will sail with me now!

Learn to Sail Course, August 1997 – Donna Abely

The only part I didn’t like was leaving!

Performance Cruising and Intro to Racing, May 1999 – Scott Elliott

Learned a lot, while enjoying it, weather was great as were the instructors. After 12 days straight of sailing all I can say is I’m ready for more.

Performance Cruising, January 2000 – Becky Berger

I felt so good after the end of the week, physically and mentally. Instructors were educated, experienced and serious about what they teach. I’d do it again!

Five Day Liveaboard Cruising Course, May 2005 – Art Sanders

The experience was great, even though my wife and I are at different skill levels we both gained good knowledge and practical experience. We look forward to our next visit.

Five Day Liveaboard, August 2000 – Scott McMillen

A pleasant stay and a good sail- a perfect way to spend a week sharpening sailing skills. Perfect blend of instruction and fun sailing!

Intro to Racing, June 8 2000 – Ron Avisa

My confidence soared since the course. I look forward to joining you again for more advanced courses

Advanced Boathandling Weekend Course, October 1997 – Chris Jordan

Two day weekend wasn’t long enough!

Intermediate Sailing Weekend, January 2000 – Judd Blunk

I could not have had a better experience! Great combo of calm/fresh/wow!

Intermediate Weekend, April 2005 – John Gallagher

We had a great time and learned a lot. Look forward to our next opportunity to take a course.

Advanced Boathandling, February 2000 – Jim Conaty

Great fun and superb learning experience, staff made the course

Spinnaker and Race Boat Handling, February 2003 – Yves Morrissette

I had a wonderful time and can’t wait to come back”

Racing Week, June 2003 – Jim Posluns

Just wanted to let you know that what I learned at your course has been a great help on the course… we have really improved downwind, responding to puffs and lulls and really keeping the boat moving, especially in the lighter stuff. I am able to communicate with my jib trimmer much more efficiently… Thanks again for a great course.

Practical Sailor Review of Sailing Schools