Meet NauticEd Instructor Dave Mortell
“The world is wider from the deck of a boat.”
Tell us a little bit about yourself?
Dreamt of sailing the world since I first cracked open a National Geographic about French Polynesia back in the 70’s. Ever since that moment, it seems I worked toward that goal of sailing the world. Now almost 12,000 nm in, I can say not only did we accomplish the goal of sailing the South Pacific, but we’ve gained so much knowledge and experience. Now I’d like to share it with you. Not only will I teach you to sail a catamaran, I’ll also discuss what cruising the world is like (if it interests you of course).
Favorite Type of Boating?
Sailing.
What’s your “style” of boating?
Adventure (new destinations & experiences).
Favorite “type” of boating?
Deep Blue and Beyond.
What got you into Boating?
While seeing the National Geographic on French Polynesia got me excited about travel, it was reading books like Maiden Voyage and Sailing with Sariphan, that got me excited to sail the world.
What does boating do (or has done) for you?
Boating allows us to see the world in ways you can’t by any other type of travel means. Meeting new cultures. Seeing pristine and unspoiled things.
Most memorable boating experience?
Crossing from Galapagos to the Marquesas. It took us 21 days. It was a perfect sail. And coming into the Marquesas and stepping foot in French Polynesia for the first time felt like we had accomplished a huge goal of mine.
What are a couple of your favorite boating spots?
The Tuamotus, 3 days from Tahiti. Unspoiled., Unique. And zero people. You need to be smart to be able to sail here, as the charts are not perfect.
What’s your favorite part about teaching boating students?
Sharing my passion with others. So many of us have goals that we never achieve. When we start out it feels too big. Too overwhelming. I like to normalize that and show that the student CAN do this. It takes time and patience.
What advice would you give a new student about boating? An experienced boater?
While it is critical to take the right instruction. It is also critical to get time on the water. Instruction gets you out there. Time on the water makes you better.
What is a random fact about yourself?
Retired from corporate life at 51. Not because I was wealthy, but because I wanted to be fulfilled. Sailing gave me far more than any job could have. Teaching is about sharing that passion for sailing and for fulfillment.
What’s on your boating ‘bucket list’?
Sailing the Northwest Passage!
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NauticEd is a fully recognized education and certification platform for sailing students combining online and on-the-water real instruction (and now VR). NauticEd offers +24 online courses, a free sailor's toolkit that includes 2 free courses, and six ranks of certification – all integrated into NauticEd’s proprietary platform. The USCG and NASBLA recognize NauticEd as having met the established American National Standards. Learn more at www.nauticed.org.
The NauticEd Vacations team are Expert Global Yacht Charter Agents – when you book a sailing vacation or bareboat charter through NauticEd, we don’t charge you a fee – we often save you money since we can compare prices from all yacht charter companies. PLUS, we can give you advice on which destination or charter company will suit your needs best. Inquire about a Sailing Vacation or Charter.
