Credentials

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Mark has been a licensed Captain for over 27 years and currently holds a US Coastguard 100 Ton Masters License with Offshore Sailing Endorsement.  He  has been a licensed EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) for over 30 years.  Mark has worked in wilderness programming for over 40 years. He has spent over 1000 days leading wilderness trips with groups of all ages and has directed three wilderness programs.  He has owned three sailboats and sailed over 25,000 miles on the Great Lakes and on the Atlantic Ocean including  crossing the Atlantic. 

Katya is a lifetime outdoorswoman with a career leading canoeing, backpacking, and snowshoeing expeditions all over North America for adolesents and adults of all ages and abilities.  She is a facilitator and trainer for Restorative Justice practices nationwide.  She is also the author of two books and a regular newspaper column, a radio show host, and volunteer Minnesota Coordinator for the Citizens' Climate Lobby and an amazing sailor with thousands of miles under her belt. 

 Amicus II is our custom built, 40' steel cutter. She meets or exceeds all Coast Guard safety requirements. An all-oceans sailboat, she weighs 30,000 lbs.  has  a 12' beam and a 5.5' draft, carries 100 gallons of water,  70 gallons of diesel fuel and is equipped with a 54 hp. Perkins engine.  Because of her heavy full keel and stout rig she is extremely stable and moves easily through large waves.  Her hard dodger and deep cockpit provide shelter from the elements. She sleeps eight and  carries an EPIRB and an inspected life-raft.  She has a composting head (toilet), a diesel cabin heater, and a propane two-burner stove.  Solar panels and a wind generator provide electric energy and allow us to sail with total self-sufficiency far from civilization. In all,  Amicus II embodies our priorities:  safety, self-sufficiency, simplicity, and sailing comfort.