Instructor
Andrea began her sailing journey on Lac Neuchâtel in Switzerland where she co-owned a Beneteau Class 8. Having gained experience sailing the Lac, the ocean called to her, motivating her to obtain her yacht master’s certificate through the Swiss Cruising Club. Andrea soon expanded her horizons, sailing the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, English Channel and Channel Islands, North and Baltic Sea, Kattegat and Skagerrak.
After relocating to the San Francisco Bay in 1996, Andrea continued her passion for sailing. Together with her husband she purchased a Classic Folkboat, and a few years later, upgraded
to a Hallberg Rassy 38. Before having children, Andrea raced on the Bay on Folkboats and a Cal29, and on the ocean on a C&C 40.
Ocean cruising is what makes Andrea's heart sing the most. In 2003, with their 2 and 4 year old boys, her family sailed from San Francisco to the Sea of Cortez and back. It was an amazing experience for the family. It was after helping a friend sail his boat back from San Carlos, Mexico, that Andrea decided to start a career as a professional mariner and obtained her USCG 100-Ton Master's License. Until the pandemic hit, she worked on ferries, Bay cruise boats, and yacht deliveries up the coast to Seattle. During the pandemic, she crewed on yacht deliveries up the coast to Seattle and Alaska.
Andrea started her sailing instructor career in the Junior Program at Richmond Yacht Club, where she taught for 4 years. She is excited to expand her love of teaching to adults and especially women. Andrea is passionate about empowering women to gain confidence and take on the helm.
As a crew member on an epic sailing adventure from San Francisco to Hawaii to Alaska, Andrea appeared in the pages of Latitude 38! See pages 62 to 65 of the January 2023 issue.
When not teaching sailing, Andrea operates a private high-speed commuter ferry and works on Bay cruise boats. Andrea is most happy when she can spend her days on the water. It shows in her Instagram feed, a bounty of San Francisco Bay and sailing scenery!
