Meet NauticEd Instructor Patrick Jirou-Najou
“Sailing is my passion, and I love passing the bug to as many people as I can.”
Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I was born and raised at Brest, Brittany. Birth place of some of the greatest sailors. Since a very young age I was attracted to the sea, and I started sailing at 6 years old on an Optimist, still around after all these years.
Then I progressed through the ranks at “Les Glenans” the French sailing “academy”. I was one of the first in France on these weird planks with a sail coming from California, better known as windsurf. I did a lot of cruising in the Atlantic and quite a bit of racing on my “470 Morin”. I then moved to Southern California in my late 20’s to be chief instructor at California Sailing Academy introducing UCLA students to the joy of sailing on Solings.
Later on I did a few deliveries across the Pacific, and then worked at Club Med Turks and Caicos in charge of all their water sports. This is I discovered my love for the Caribbean and decided to stay and teach sailing and powerboating at Tortola, BVI, for the past 8 years. Well, in so many words, sailing is my passion and I love passing the bug to as many people as I can.
Favorite Type of Boating?
Both!
What’s your “style” of boating?
Cruiser (chill).
Favorite “type” of boating?
Coastal / Excursions.
What got you into Boating?
Excellent question, hard to answer. I guess it was in my blood from the beginning.
What does boating do (or has done) for you?
It is a great way to find yourself.
Most memorable boating experience?
So many. Greece, South Pacific, storms in the North Atlantic…But nothing beats an early morning watch alone in the cockpit, with the stars above and bio-phosphorescence behind the boat, the wind in the sails and the sound of the hull cutting through the water.
What are a couple of your favorite boating spots?
The British Virgin Island or French Polynesia.
What’s your favorite part about teaching boating students?
My favorite part is to see the quick progression from “I don’t know if it’s for me” to “I can believe I waited so long to start”.
What advice would you give a new student about boating? An experienced boater?
For a beginner, it’s much easier than you think. And for an experienced boater, there is always something new to learn regardless of the level.
What is a random fact about yourself?
Well, I’m French….enough said!
What’s on your boating ‘bucket list’?
I haven’t sailed the Indian ocean yet and would love too.
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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.
