Yacht Training

I am a career Marine Officer. A Marine Officer’s primary responsibility is to teach our Marines everything they need to know to be good at what they do. So I taught daily during my career, and went on to be selected for the Instructor Group at The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico Va. where I taught literally everything to pertains to the USMC. History, leadership, night ambush patrols, maintenance of the 50 caliber machine gun, etc. Further I went on to become a pilot and taught flying the entire rest of my career. In those assignments I became responsible for not only the course material but also as a senior officer - responsible for our instructors, both at TBS, and out in our fleet squadrons as a Senior Marine. So I have seen a lot of people give instruction, and understand a fairly wide variety of teaching methods. With that background I can say that Kevin Klinges is an exceptional teacher and blessed in his ability to impart knowledge and teach good technique and habits (seamanship). His knowledge base is without peer when it comes to matters pertaining to sailing and boats - both standing and running rigging as well as equipment. He has an exceptional depth of experience doing boat deliveries across oceans and coastal. He is a survivor of one of most harrowing deep ocean mishaps I have ever heard. His fortitude and determination to survive speak volumes to this man’s character, and as a Marine of 21 years experience I have known no few men of great character. Ask him to tell you the story, and then go read it. It’s really an amazing story - which unsurprisingly he doesn’t talk about much. Kevin is a real pleasure to work with, learn from, and just laugh and have a good time with. He pushed us hard in the ASA-104 course, and forced me to maneuver a boat in situations that weren’t comfortable based on my experience, but which gave me confidence in handling so when the time came, as it always does, when I needed those skills - I had them! He had us do several drills where we saw just how the boat handled and performed under extremes. Hard maneuvering, coming to a fast stop from speed, and how a boat moves in constrained areas. He has several techniques pertaining to all aspects of sailing that I use today and were both common sense and good seamanship. The last time we were out in Charleston, I had a couple of less knowledgable friends out with me, and as Kevin helped around the boat he was quietly teaching and showing my friends - because that’s just what he does! He was such a pleasure to have aboard that one friend asked if we could take him out again because she so much enjoyed what she learned from him and his manner while teaching. Kevin is a great father, a friend, and the finest Sailing Instructor I have had the pleasure to work with. Were I still in Charleston (I’m not) I would have him out again to pick up a few more pointers. I couldn’t have been more pleased with the results of retaining him.