Peter Moorhead
On Board Since
OCSC: Why do I sail?
PM: I sail because my father began a love affair with sailing the bay, sharing his passion and teaching his son to sail. This planted a seed that would grow for me into a maritime profession and hobby that I still enjoy 40+ years later, still sailing on that little boat (24’ Gladiator) with my children! I sail to share the sport with new students, friends and family and continue to find personal challenge and enjoyment and new adventures on the water, experiencing the natural beauty of the bay and beyond…
OCSC: What do you enjoy about working at OCSC?
PM: I know it sounds like a cliché, but it really is true – it’s about the people! Those who manage the company and those who work here and the interesting group of students and fellow sailors I meet while teaching.
OCSC: What’s your sailing background?
PM: I started sailing when I was eight. My dad kept his boat at Coyote Pt. Marina, down in the south bay near the airport, but frequently taking weekend trips up to the Corinthian YC in Tiburon. I first began teaching sailing in 1980 in Redwood City which eventually led to getting my first Coast Guard License in 1982. After working at Lake Tahoe as a captain of a tour boat, I left for the British Virgin Islands where I worked for the Moorings as a charter boat captain on 50-60 ft. vessels. I returned to the US after 3 years, worked on tug boats and continued to sail a variety of boats on the bay and offshore. This included a few coastal delivery trips, a couple of races to Hawaii/Mexico and working as a charter boat skipper on the bay. I was employed as a Harbormaster in SF and Sausalito for 15 years that also included more experience on the water with both sail and power vessels.
OCSC: When you’re not sailing, what can we find you doing?
PM: Hanging out with my kids, hiking the trails of Marin, mountain biking, playing tennis, mostly outdoor activities mixed with a good dose of time enjoying the cultural attractions of the region.
OCSC: What are the top five sailing books of all time?
PM: Sailing Alone (J. Slocum), Two Years Before The Mast (R. Dana), The Long Way
(B. Moitessier), Dove (R. Graham) and Ship Killer (J. Scott)