OUR INSTRUCTORS
Captain James Ashton
CAPTAIN, SATORI SAILING
Founder, Sailing Instructor
My lifelong passion for sailing began 40 years ago as a toddler on our family's 40' sloop on Long Island Sound. It was then I discovered my passion and natural aptitude for sailing. Throughout high school and college, I was a very competitive sailor, racing small one design boats and eventually competing on the national level. After college, I was drawn to coastal cruising and long distance blue water sailing. I have been fortunate to sail throughout New England, as well as Australia, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean. I have found there to be so many aspects to the sport and there is always something new to learn. In 2011, after a 20 year career in the corporate world, I made the jump to being an entrepreneur which was also a time that I felt motivated to explore sailing professionally. I obtained a US Coast Guard Captain's License and became certified by the American Sailing Association to teach Basic Keelboat Sailing. As a part-time adult instructor, I became aware of my talent for teaching sailing. As a result, I have been teaching for eight years in New York City, Boston and more recently her on Boston's North Shore. In 2016, I was honored to be recognized as an Outstanding Sailing Instructor by the American Sailing Association (ranking in top 2% of instructors nationwide by customer ratings). With Satori, my mission is to create affordable access to Salem Sound, to the sport of sailing and to the healing influence of the ocean. I am so grateful to be living in a place like Marblehead and feel inspired to offer access to the water for residents and visitors who want to see this wonderful town from the sea.
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
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Licensed Captain, USCG OUPV since 2009
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Level V Bareboat Charter Master Rank Chief Instructor/Assessor
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​SLC Instructor/Assessor
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US Sailing, Basic Keelboat Certified Instructor
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2016 Outstanding Sailing Instructor, American Sailing Association
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Adult teaching as an ASA Certified Instructor since 2011
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Sailing for 40 years including dinghy, big boat racing, coastal and offshore cruising
Captain Graham Sharp
CAPTAIN, SATORI SAILING
Managing Partner, Sailing Instructor
Graham has been sailing for 50 years, growing up dinghy racing in Boston in the UK as a young Boy Scout. Through his career in technology, he has lived and sailed (both cruised and raced) in Europe, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the Caribbean and the US.For the last 10 years he has delivered boats north and south from New England to the Caribbean and has thousands of miles of offshore experience on different boats, in all kinds of weather conditions.He races on Ursa, an Express 37, out of Jubilee Yacht Club Beverly and was part of the winning crew of the 2023 Marblehead to Halifax offshore race, when Ursa won first in class and first in the PHRF fleet.He also races on Terrapin Station, a Frere’s 30 out of Kittery Point Yacht Club in Portsmouth and was part of the winning crew of the 2023 seasons PSA Commodores Cup.
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
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Commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster offshore
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STCW 10 safety at sea
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VHF and Radar operator’s license
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Certified ASA Instructor for the following courses:
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ASA 101 Basic Keelboat
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ASA 102 Advanced Keelboat
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ASA 103 Coastal Cruising
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ASA 104 Bareboat Chartering
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ASA 105 Coastal Navigation
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ASA 106 Advanced Coastal Cruising
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ASA 111 Sailing Review
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ASA 114 Catamaran Cruising
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ASA 118 Docking Endorsement
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Certified Nauticed Instructor to the following levels:
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​Level V Captain Rank Qualified Sailing Instructor / Assessor
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Powerboat Instructor / Assessor
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American National Standards Instructor/Assessor
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SLC Instructor/Assessor - Sail
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Catamaran Instructor/Assessor
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HE ALSO TEACHES
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Marine Diesel engine basics
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Marine Electrical systems
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Marine Electronics & networking basics
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Winterization and Commissioning
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Weather basics
Captain Ed Gunning
CAPTAIN, SATORI SAILING
Sailing Instructor
Captain Ed has spent most of his life aboard recreational boats and as a career naval aviator. After retiring from the Navy, he taught high school on Broad Street in Philadelphia and Washington Heights in Manhattan. Ed has been teaching sailing in Newport and Manhattan for more than a decade. He has sailed and raced on an array of boats from Norfolk to Newport and the San Juan Islands in Washington State.
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Ed is a licensed Captain and certified sailing instructor who cherishes the opportunity to share the redemptive and rejuvenating qualities of harnessing the power of the wind and escaping on the water.
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
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Licensed Captain, USCG OUPV
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Naval Station Newport Basic Keelboat Instructor since 2011
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US Sailing, ASA, and NauticEd Basic Keelboat Certified Instructor
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BS United States Naval Academy, MA Naval Post Graduate School, and MA CCNY
Captain Mistral Dodson
CAPTAIN, SATORI SAILING
Sailing Instructor
Hey there! I'm Mistral, a USCG Licensed Captain who's been sailing through life since day one. Growing up on a homemade sailboat, I learned the ropes of independence and resilience. I was fortunate to experience being homeschooled as we traveled the coastline from Maine to Florida and then down into the British Virgin Islands. ​ In my mid-twenties, I helped start an organization called New England Science & Sailing. We combined sailing and marine science into a fun, engaging, and experiential learning experience for adults and kids. Getting young girls and women onto the water quickly became a passion of mine when I realized how few people truly had access to and a connection with the ocean. I am passionate about the ocean and I am passionate about creating life-changing experiences on the water. Life is a beautiful place, but if you haven’t experienced the wind through your hair as you glide across the water, now is the time to check that off your bucket list! ​ See you out on the water! Mistral
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
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Licensed Captain, USCG OUPV 50 ton since 2010)
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US Sailing, Level 3
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ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising Certification
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US Sailing Powerboating Instruction
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Sailing for 40 years including dinghy, big boat racing, coastal and offshore cruising
Capt. Tyler Jupp
CAPTAIN, SATORI SAILING
Sailing and Powerboat Instructor
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Tyler began sailing as a youngster sailing small boats on Cape Cod. Working as a windsurfing and Hobiecat instructor during high school sparked his passion for the ocean. He continued on this path with a marine education in Florida at FIT. Upon returning to the Northeast he worked for Seacoast Marine as a broker for Hunter sailboats outfitting marine communication systems, rigging and delivering yachts. Delivery included teaching new owners about their vessels with his top to bottom in depth knowledge. Captain Tyler also began doing private deliveries on both power and sailboats along the East Coast, Bahamas and Caribbean. Continuing with his love for all things Nautical he works as a mate aboard the 122’ Tall Ship Lynx on seasonal transit voyages. He also captains for Seatow Boston always ready to assist mariners to safety. He has just returned from his second passage as crew/instructor aboard the Arctic schooner Bowdoin. During these semesters at sea Tyler was part of the team supporting Maine Maritime Academy students to become knowledgeable sailors while completing course work. The 2024 passage included crossing the Arctic Circle adding blue nose sailor to his accomplishments. Racing his own 34’ sloop and volunteering for the Jubilee Yacht Club race committee allows him to exercise his competitive edge
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
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Licensed Captain USCG 100 GT Master near coastal since 1987
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Aux. Sail
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Assistance towing
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MMC Ordinary seaman
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STCW Safety at sea
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TWIC