KEITH DAHLIN
​A UCSC graduate in Marine Biology, Keith holds a 100 ton USCG Capt. License and is both an ASA certified sailing instructor and a US Sailing Certified Instructor.
Keith taught sailing for 25 years through Pacific Yachting and Sailing in Santa Cruz, CA and was instrumental in the creation of the O’Neill Sea Odyssey Program which provides a hands-on educational experience to encourage the protection and preservation of our living sea and communities.  With the move of his family to Port Angeles he has brought his deep experience to the area and teaches adult sailing as well as coaches the Junior Sailing Program.
He shares his passion for our ocean ecology and sailing with his three sons by cruising as a family whenever possible and looks forward to exploring the Puget Sound further on the families Sweden 41.

STEVE SPEIDEL
Steve has experienced the joys of sailing from the early age of 10 on Gravelly Lake in Tacoma, WA. By High School he was building a Sunfish in shop class. After serving a four-year tour in the US Navy, he worked as crew delivering sailboats on the West Coast and through the Caribbean Sea to Mexico. After gaining a degree in Environmental Design, Steve moved back to Seattle and immediately purchased an 18 foot daysailer. He and his wife Terri later settled on a Catalina 22 pop-top, (which they still have today).
After retiring from his “day job”, Steve has rescued several sailboats from neglect and made them available to non-profit organizations. His current passion is cruising on an Ericson 36 RH with his grandsons and passing the pleasures of sailing on to the next generation.  Steve sits on the Ship Committee for Port Angeles Sea Scout Ship 1212 and holds a Merchant Marine US Coast Guard license for operating 50 and 100 ton vessels with a Sailing Endorsement.

ERIC LESCH
Eric holds a bachelors degree in Biology and holds a US Coast Guard Six Pack License. Working as a Fisheries Observer, Eric spent two full years of his life at sea, including five winters in the Bering Sea. His time as an Observer allowed him to experience the power and beauty of the ocean at its wildest. Eric always had a passion for sailing, and in 2010, he bought his own boat, a Tartan 30.  He regularly sailed the windy Columbia River, first near Portland and later out of Astoria where he had access to the Pacific through the Columbia River Bar. Eric moved to the Peninsula from Astoria in 2018, sailing his Tartan 30 up the coast to take advantage of the amazing cruising on the Salish Sea. His favorite cruising destinations include Port Townsend, Victoria, and Matia Island.
Eric became involved with the Community Boating Program in 2020 and coaches the Port Angeles High School Sailing Team. He also organizes regular sailboat races for the Port Angeles sailing community. Eric finds purpose in empowering others to experience the joys of sailing and to explore the ocean around them.

ERIN WALTERS
Erin learned to sail in college in Georgia and learned to race in Florida, where she moved for her first job. In Florida, she built her sailing skills and her self-confidence through J-24 and 420 one-design racing, eventually leading women's and co-ed racing teams. As she learned more about sailing, boating, and the maritime world, she knew she wanted to become more involved. To increase her time on the water, she bought a Pearson 35, which she lived aboard for seven years. To facilitate sharing the joys of sailing, she obtained her USCG captain’s license, became a US Sailing certified instructor, and began teaching sailing in her spare time. With her recreational time on the water maxed out, she realized her pesky microelectronics day job was keeping her land bound during the week, so she changed careers to ocean engineering and began looking for maritime jobs. The first job took her to Massachusetts, and the second brought her out here to the Olympic Peninsula.
 
Erin holds a 50 Ton USCG captain’s license and a master’s degree in Ocean Engineering. During her day job, she operates research vessels and marine autonomous vehicles, leads marine field deployments, performs scientific diving, and supports research and development of marine energy technology. Although she no longer lives aboard, she and her partner now own a West Wight Potter 15, a fun little trailer sailor perfect for day-sailing and quick overnight adventures around the Pacific Northwest. Erin loves teaching sailing in her spare time and is excited to get out on the water with you!