NICE TO MEET YOU

I'm Luke 

A professional seafarer from Bunbury, Western Australia, below I explain a little bit more about my maritime journey. From pearling lugger deckhand to chief officer on superyachts, I've sailed global waters, restored my own sailboat, and now share the nautical wisdom on marine maintenance, teaching techniques, and vessel operation. 

My Story

At 16, I was handed the ropes – quite literally – when my folks threw us into the deep end of boating with the purchase of a 40ft sailing catamaran. That moment ignited a passion for boating that has guided my entire career.

Our Families 40ft Catamaran -Easy Tiger 

Post-high school, I traded my textbooks for the pearling industry, working alongside my uncle, who was also my first captain, as a deckhand on a commercial pearling vessel in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia.

My First Job at Sea, Pearling. 

After the financial crisis brought a halt to my pearling career in 2008, I found myself teaching sailing and windsurfing on Hayman Island, a luxury private resort in the Whitsunday Island Group in Queensland, Australia.

It was here that I began molding my passion for the sea into a knack for teaching. I earned my scuba diving instructor license and worked as deck crew on the ferries bringing guests to the island, all while building my seatime for my first captain's license.

Hayman Island 2009 Scuba Instructor, Sailing Instrcutor, Deck Crew

Over the years, I've worn many maritime hats – from scuba instructor to chief officer on superyachts, crisscrossing the globe's most stunning waters, popular yachting havens, and remote oceans.

I had a 10+ year career on superyachts of various shapes and sizes!

Yet, the real joy for me has been in teaching and helping others find their sea legs.

Inspired by sailing videos and my parents living the dream on their catamaran, I decided to take a risk and purchase my own sailing yacht. Enter Alice, my 1979 39ft cutter-rigged sloop. She became my home, a personal restoration project, and a floating classroom for me. The trials, errors, and lessons learned during her restoration and cruising seasons were some of the main building blocks of my teaching philosophy.

"Alice" my 1979 Pilothouse Cutter Rigged "home"

While sailing my boat along the Australian coast, I continued my superyacht work, but my passion for teaching took center stage. One night ashore while working aboard a yacht cruising through San Diego, California, I met my wife Molly, and fast forward a few years and some great sailing trips back in Australia together, we married and now have a young crew member, Liam, and have decided to give full-time land life a go.

Since settling in California, I've immersed myself in boat maintenance management, using my experience to guide new yacht owners in operation and maintenance requirements. The real satisfaction for me comes from helping these individuals grow in their confidence to operate their vessels and empowering them to safely explore over the horizon. Positive outcomes and glowing testimonials have fueled my commitment to teaching to the point where I now want to increase my reach online.

This website is more than just a digital logbook of my adventures; it's a platform to share the ins and outs of marine maintenance, the art of safely operating a boat, and the skills required to navigate to new destinations.

So, whether you're a seasoned sailor or a newbie to the nautical world, join me on this educational voyage. Together, let's navigate the waters of boating with knowledge and confidence! Cheers to fair winds and smooth sailing!

Why I Do It

My motivation for doing what I do goes beyond the joy of teaching and enhancing the boating experience for others. Transitioning my courses online is not just a professional move; it's a step towards supporting my growing family, including my wife Molly and our son Liam. By sharing knowledge digitally, I hope to empower boaters while creating a flexible and fulfilling life for my loved ones ashore. Join us on this shared journey, where a passion for boating meets the  possibilities of the online world. Cheers to navigating the waters together!