New Owner Training
A month-long, 1330nm, zero-to-hero experience.
“Working with Captain Ben was an absolute delight and worth every penny. Though half my age, he is incredibly skilled and knowledgeable. He quickly familiarized himself with my boat—a challenging vessel to sail—and confidently taught me how to handle it in all conditions, from drifting at sea with no wind to facing 46 knots of apparent wind and 7-meter seas. He guided me through the intricacies of entering marinas, docking at fuel stations, navigating dangerous narrows, and anchoring.”
Anders Dupen, Owner, SV QUEST.
Location: The Pacific Northwest (USA, CANADA)
Vessel: SV QUEST, 1983 61’ C&C Custom Pilot Salon Ketch
Crew: Captain Ben Soofer, Mate Shyah Miller, Owner, +2 crew & 2 dogs
Mission(s):
1) To train a new owner in seam’nship and cruising skills on his 61’ sailing yacht’s maiden voyage.
2) Deliver the vessel from Anacortes, WA to San Francisco, including initial commissioning and a circumnavigation of Vancouver Island.
3) Get the owner enough experience and training to allow QUEST to be insured without a hired captain aboard.
Notable Challenges:
45k apparent winds, 7m seas for 18 hours off Northern California
Navigating Canada’s inside passage, including the Discovery Passage and Johnstone Stright.
Mid-ocean engine failure
Crew Dynamics
Edit: We just got word that Mr. Dupen was greenlighted by his insurance! Happy Sailing, Mr. Dupen! Bon Voyage, QUEST!
Full Testimonial:
“I recently purchased a 1972 C&C 61-foot sailing ketch. As a first-time sailboat owner, I had the pleasure of meeting Captain Ben Soofer during my Cruiser’s Academy CA-1 sailing course at Lake Tahoe, California, where he was an instructor at the time. About a year later, I became the proud owner of my own sailing vessel and hired Ben to assist with moving it from Anacortes, Washington, where I purchased it, to San Francisco Bay, where I am currently based. Due to my lack of documented sailing experience and the size of my vessel, which exceeds 60 feet and is classified as a ship, my insurance required me to have a licensed captain aboard if I were to navigate it myself.”
“I hired Captain Ben Soofer as both a coach and captain, and together we sailed my ship through the Inner Passage of Vancouver Island and then took a 775-nautical-mile offshore route to San Francisco Bay, covering a total of 1,318 nautical miles and spending 36 days at the helm.”
“Working with Captain Ben was an absolute delight and worth every penny. Though half my age, he is incredibly skilled and knowledgeable. He quickly familiarized himself with my boat—a challenging vessel to sail—and confidently taught me how to handle it in all conditions, from drifting at sea with no wind to facing 46 knots of apparent wind and 7-meter seas. He guided me through the intricacies of entering marinas, docking at fuel stations, navigating dangerous narrows, and anchoring.”
“In addition to his technical expertise, Ben demonstrated exceptional skill in managing team dynamics. I had recruited a crew of four, and he showed us how to live and work together effectively in a small space. His calm and composed demeanor in extreme conditions instilled confidence in all of us. We faced numerous challenges, and thanks to his leadership, we overcame them all.”
“Captain Ben Soofer is an outstanding teacher and captain, and I wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone needing similar coaching or vessel delivery services.”
“Together, we familiarized ourselves with an unfamiliar ship and its systems and successfully sailed it from Washington through Canada to California. I am now fully confident in all aspects of sailing my 1972 C&C 61 ketch, and I am immensely grateful to Ben for his guidance as both my coach and captain. I have made a friend for life and look forward to seeing him again, wherever possible, as I now live aboard my ship with no possessions on land and plan to cruise indefinitely. I’m loving this new life!”
“Thank you so much, Ben!”
Sincerely,
Anders Dupen
Owner/Captain, SV Quest