Richard Jepsen - CEO
On Board Since June 1980
OCSC: Why do you sail?
RJ: Sailing is a rare blend of social interaction, sensual enjoyment and intellectual challenge. Easy and fun to do on a basic level, very complicated and rewarding at an advanced level. I love an evening sail with some friends, watching the sunset; I love sitting at anchor in the tropics with a cool drink after a day of sailing and snorkeling; I love the excitement of racing sailboats full speed within feet of each other and the bonding with my crew from the competition and challenge.
OCSC: What do you enjoy about working at OCSC?
RJ: I love creating a fertile learning environment for staff and members that is also fun and socially stimulating. I love watching students come in from passing their sailing tests so full of joy and sense of accomplishment. I love my mentoring role as CEO and am very proud that many employees who started out fixing boats or answering phones are in leadership positions in the company.
OCSC: What's your sailing background?
RJ: I learned to sail from my father as a child, sailing small dinghies all over Hingham Bay in Massachusetts throughout my childhood. I took a job teaching sailing part time at Annapolis Sailing School while in the Air Force, falling in love with teaching sailing as a result. When I came to California, I hooked up with Anthony and OCSC as an instructor. We instantly bonded and I threw in with him, quitting college to come on board full time. I started seriously racing sailboats in 1985, finally winning the season championship in 2004 for J/24s. I have sailed in charter boats all over the world, from the South Pacific to the Mediterranean.
OCSC: When you're not sailing, what can we find you doing?
RJ: My secret addiction is golf, another social/sensual/challenge filled activity. In sailing, everything is dynamic, moving, changing; in golf, despite the fact the ball doesn't move while you are trying to hit it, it's challenging. Golf and sailing are great complements for one another.
OCSC: What are your top five sailing books of all time?
RJ: Sailing Alone Around the World, by Joshua Slocum, Moby Dick, by Herman Melville; Billy Budd, by Herman Melville; The Incredible Voyage, by Tristan Jones; Understanding the Racing Rules, by Dave Perry.