California Sailing Academy's Staff

STAFF PROFILES

Paul J. Miller, Director

Paul J. Miller began his nautical career among the class of 1958 at the United States Naval Academy Annapolis. During summers, Midshipman Miller represented the Naval Academy in racing that had him sailing and navigating in waters all over the world. Following graduation in the top of his class and four years at sea, P.J. returned to Annapolis as a Naval Officer to teach chemistry and to coach the sailing team.

Later, P.J. obtained a Masters degree from George Washington University, writing his thesis on "The Techniques of Teaching Sailing." During the period of his graduate study he carefully researched and developed innovative techniques for teaching sailing and navigation.

Paul started in the civilian business of sailing instruction in 1962. Since then he and his well qualified staff at the California Sailing Academy have taught thousands of students, from the beginners to seasoned sailors, the techniques and skills of sailing and navigation.

Author of the book Latitude and Longitude at Noon and many articles on sailing and navigation, Miller has served as a lecturer at the Planetarium at Griffith Observatory, teaching Celestial Navigation. He also teaches Sailing and Astrophysics. P.J. raced his 40' cutter Zeus to Hawaii in the Transpacific Race, and sailed Zeus to the Societies and Marquesas spending 11 years in the Pacific .

Miller now spends his time lecturing, teaching Sailing and Coast Guard courses at CSA and teaching offshore classes on his boat, ZEUS along with leading charters in various parts of the world when he is not working at the school.

INSTRUCTORS:

Jeanne

Jeanne is not only the overall manager of the school she is also a regular instructor. She has sailed the Hawaiian Islands extensively and the Pacific Rim. She is the Co-Captain on all the Offshore Classes. She holds a United States Coast Guard Masters License for 100 Tons. She gets the job done both on the water and at sea.

Danny

Danny began sailing in Marina del Rey in 1969 and has had his own sailboats since 1978. In addition to being an avid sailor and racer, he is a certified PADI scuba diving instructor and also teaches Medic First Aid/CPR classes for CSA. He lives aboard s/v Sir Thomas More, a beautiful 40' Seawolf ketch in the
marina. He holds a
United States Coast

Guard Masters License for 50 Tons. When he is not teaching sailing he is cruising the local islands, and has sailed from San Francisco to Baja, as well as the Caribbean. When not on or under the water, Danny works in the entertainment and technology industries.

Thom

Thom is a long time sailor and cowboy. He has spent a lifetime sailing and enjoying the sea. When the student performs the sailing exercise properly, you will see this big broad smile and otherwise he is the tough taskmaster bringing out the best of each and every student.

He started sailing when just 4 years old as his father decided it was time to go to sea.

Richard

Richard has been teaching at CSA for many years. He met his wife here when she was a student and now proudly speaks of his nineyear old daughter. When he is not writing music for the Industry he is teaching. He has just returned to the boats as a break from a one and one half year, seven day a week stint making music.

He is an excellent sailor and teacher. We are very pleased to have him back on board.

Lindsey

Lindsey started teaching sailing here at CSA in 1998 on a part-time basis and then in 2002 retired from his profession as a Civil Engineer at the world's largest water district, to take up teaching sailing as his avocation. Having sailed in such varied waters as the English Channel off Plymouth near where he was born, in the East of the Caribbean and in New York, Northerly in Alaska, and Westerly in Southern California, as well as sailing offshore from California to Hawaii and from Southern Baja to Northern California. He recently obtained US Citizenship "so that I can vote" and he teaches part of our Coastguard License courses, our navigation courses and of course, basic boating skills required for certification to ASA's Basic Coastal Cruising level. Lindsey is also a dedicated volunteer tallship sailor and rigger.

FRANK

Frank is a new comer to Southern California, moving here from Rochester, NY 4 years ago. Frank sailed extensively on Lake Ontario and the Thousand Islands, St Lawrence River beginning in 1974, on his own boats and as race crew. He has chartered in the Caribbean. On one bareboat charter he and his wife Carol were married on St. Kitts. He was an instructor in the local United States Power Squadrons, Iroquois Squadron for over 20 years.

Frank has embarked on a career change after being a purchasing professional for Xerox and Eastman Kodak. He is a current holder of a US Coast Guard MASTERS LICENSE with Sailing and Towing endorsement obtained through the California Sailing Academy USCG program. He completed the 100 ton Master upgrade course through CSA and is the holder of a 50 ton Mates license. As well as an instructor for CSA Frank works as a captain in training on work/utility boats up to 100 gross ton for SoCal Ship Services, Ports of Long Beach/LA.

"The best you can do is go out and come back...Its what happens in-between that defines your seamanship"

FIDDLERS GREEN
When sailors take that last long journey they go to a place known as Fiddlers Green.

	This is a place where sailors of all ages and all oceans frozen in time gather on the mossy beach surrounded by rolling blue seas. Weeping willows line the beaches with their limber branches easing their leaves to the ground. One old timer with a heavy beard and cup of grog is laying paint onto an overturned dinghy as he takes long puffs on his pipe. The shimmering paint gathers in the seams of the lap strake hull as a group of sailors spin their yarns in the shade of the weaving willows. Aye matey now that's a story of the sea let me tell you mine.
---"I well remember rounding the horn in a square rigger --- rail down -- with a bone in her teeth and the seas spilling up and around her bow. There were many white horses as you looked out to weather as the ocean attempted to resist the movement of the huge waves searching for a craft to raise on a crest and drop into a trough. The sun burned through the haze of the spume filled sky as the gallant old hooker drove down each wave. The lady on the sprit seemed to smile as she dove into the rising sea and we would climb the next wave. I lay in the net under the sprit facing the sea daring each passing wave to sweep me off the bow. The dolphins would swim beneath me rolling over to one side and then the other so as to look me square in the eye. They would tell of their journeys and proudly display scars of their ventures with sharks and shoals." "I was one with the sea. I would become a rolling wave, then the wind as it shrieked through the rigging, and the dolphin as it surfed on the bow wake. I was all that was excitement and adventure, only to be ripped from my thoughts as the boatswain called away the watch and I knew it was time for a trick at the wheel." p. j. miller

Bobby Doyle
Bobby was with us all the way back to the 70's. He was the Crocodile Dundee of Sailing. We loved and admired him as both a sailor and friend. Coming from a father who was a boatswains mate, he could teach like no other, tie any knot known to man, draw awesome boats on the board as he taught and spun yarns. When asked where various sailing terms came from, we would all reply, "ask Bobby". If he does not know, he could make up something that sounds right. Being fond of the sauce and smoke, lung cancer took him out to sea and we will forever miss him.

Herb Schick
Herb was with us for many years. He had a following, which was endless. As both and outstanding sailor and teacher he was always in high demand. He carried a canvas bag, which contained all the necessary items for a sailor to survive the savage sea. It was always entertaining to watch he and his students trundling down to the docks with their identical bags and instep with the master. He was also the man who directed and produced many of the CSA movies such as Man Overboard. Lung Cancer also took him out to sea. We will always remember him and I still carry his wonderful canvas bag as I go down to the sea in ships.

Eric Mounsey
Eric was our Maintainence Man and loved both the sea and flying. He and his childhood sweetheart, Kate worked at CSA. When Kate was not managing our office she could be found cutting our staffs hair in the small classroom. He left us to become a pilot in the Army Helicopters and was piloting one of the Helos over Iran that was accidentally shot down by our own planes due to misidentification. In that he was shot down by friendly fire, he was not eligible for much. My friend and classmate, John Mc Cain was responsible for his posthumously receiving of the Purple Heart and his remains being buried in a local park along with a formal military ceremony rather than resting in far away Arlington Cemetery.

Craig Sirohan
Craig was as salty as they come. He maintained our fleet of craft and entertained us constantly with sea stories. He had been dishonorably discharged from the Navy for taking a young lady to sea on a Navy Ship. The amazing part of the story was that he had been hiding her in after steering for nearly a year as they sailed the Pacific Rim and visited many ports. She would wonder on and off the ship dressed as a sailor. When the ship met with a serious hurricane and was in possible grave danger he found it necessary to confess to the Captain. Needless to say there were many red faces as the Captain had to request permission to sail the ship to Hawaii to disembark their long term resident. I am sure he is also wandering around Fiddlers Green spinning yarns and telling the stories behind his many tattoos.
p. j. Miller