The Skipper's Dream

The dream that wouldn't go away...  While sailing those little dinghies that I built as a kid, I often dreamed of sailing away to far away places where the water was warm and the natives wore flowers in their hair...
In the late eighties, I realized that dream. After selling all our earthly possessions and taking my three delightful daughters out of school, together with my wife, Jeannie, this intrepid sailor bid farewell to life as we know it and followed the "Coconut Milk Run" through USA, Mexico, French Polynesia, and Hawaii. We lived aboard the boat for one and a half years and sailed over twenty-five thousand miles. We caught fish, swam with sharks, ate coconuts, dove for pearls, danced with natives, and fought storms at sea. The finest family adventure imaginable. Today, a dozen or more years later, we still dream of warm winds, calm seas and blue skies. And, yes, the natives had flowers in their hair.

Qualifications

CYA ADVANCED QUALIFICATION

CYA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR FOR BASIC AND INTERMEDIATE CRUISING

N.A.U.I. SCUBA & SPECIALTY DIVER

BRONZE MEDALLION SWIMMER

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE FIRST AID

ST JOHN AMBULANCE CPR

CERTIFIED PCOC INSTRUCTOR

30,000 OFFSHORE MILES

I took both my Basic Cruising and Intermediate Cruising from Dave Deeks. The instruction was hands on for us students but always with thorough preparation so you knew what to do and what to expect. Dave was always there with a word or two of calm advice while allowing us to keep at it. In addition, we had lots of fun and adventure on both trips. I plan to do more sailing with Dave and have no hesitation in giving him a great recommendation.

T.R.

Meet Your Skipper

Skipper Dave was born and raised in Victoria, BC. He began messing around with boats as a small boy and was building his own sailboats by the time he was ten years old. He actively sailed his creations in and around the Oak Bay area of Victoria. Dave fought the fierce tides and explored the myriad islands, beaches, and kelp beds that are common in the area. It scared his mom half to death. At seventeen, with sixty bucks in his pocket and his guitar under his arm, he headed off hitchhiking to seek his fortune.

In San Francisco, after starving on the streets, he joined the "Norwegian Merchant Marine" and headed off to sea on a freighter heading back north to Canada. Numerous trips up and down the west coast fueled a deeper desire to, one day, simply "sail away". Sensing their directionless son needed a little guidance, Dave's folks encouraged him become a responsible citizen and to join the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He served with the RCMP in Northern Alberta for eight years. The lure of the sea brought him back to the west coast in the mid seventies where he instantly returned to boating.

In addition to sailing, Dave also enjoys fishing, skiing, art, and playing boisterous Irish songs on "Jenny", his 12 string guitar, or  his miniature banjo, "Rosie".  Naturally, a little harmonica playin' and foot tappin' tambourine often become part of the fun.

Racing sailboats, helping disabled sailors,  maintaining "Canada Goose" and volunteering at regattas take up the balance of his spare time.

Skippers Quote
"Something must be wrong with me...I've been sailing all my life...I've sailed half way around the world and back, and yet, when I go to bed at night, all I can dream about is sailing"

Sailing Experience

I have been messing around in boats for nearly six decades. I have built several boats, including a 53' Bruce Roberts designed steel cutter. Sailing off into parts unknown, my family decided to name that vessel "Canada Goose". We chose that name because of the noble qualities of the bird, including its feistiness, its loyalty, and its desire to "head south" in winter. That nameserved us well as we traveled down the west coast of North America, crossed over three thousand miles to the fabulous Marquesas in French Polynesia. These are the most remote group of islands on the planet. We crossed that vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean in twenty eight days.

After cruising the islands of Hiva Oa, Nuka Hiva, and Oua Pu, we departed for the Tuamoutu Islands where we enjoyed the villagers on the islands of Manihi and Ahe. We then headed south to Tahati, Moorea, Huahini, and Bora Bora. Our crew finished grades 7, 9, and 11 while leaning to speak Spanish and French. In addition to "book learning" they learned from the Polynesian people...how to open coconuts, catch crabs and lobster, pick breadfruit, dive for pearls and dance the exotic, fiery dances of Tahiti. After spending our maximum alloted time in the South Pacific, we sailed north to Hawaii.

Fighting the seas of Hurricane Delilia, we struggled north for three weeks until the wonderful sight of Diamond Head appeared. We languished in the Hawaiian Islands for a month or two before finally heading home to Canada. The trip of a lifetime was over. Despite some gear failure and a few tropical disease problems, we were in great spirits. Three weeks later we sailed into our home port of Victoria into the welcoming arms of friends and family. Before we knew it, fifteen thousand miles of water has passed under our keel.

Skipper Dave's family decided that he had the talent, desire, and passion to teach others to love the sailing life and so supported him as he worked and challenged his way through the "system" to become a sailing instructor. He shares a desire with other instructors to help students learn to sail well and sail safely. Then they too can go on and follow their dreams.