Captain’s Log
Captain Bill Apker
Bill Apker, ASA certified sailing instructor and US Coast Guard Certified Merchant Marine Captain, is a lifelong boater. Captain Bill began sailing in 1991, and has taught ASA classes since 2010. He spends his free time cruising and racing his sailboats throughout the country, with extensive experience in the Gulf of Mexico. Favorite sailing spots include Biloxi, Mississippi, and the Gulf Coast of Florida, as well as Galveston Bay, Texas. With his wife, he has explored the Exuma Cays of the Bahamas on a charter adventure!
Over the years, Captain Bill has proudly watched as his students have become accomplished racers, learning sail trim, boat safety, navigation rules and boat handling, continuing to grow in their sailing abilities. Many former students have embraced the sailor’s life and become live-aboards on their own boats!
“Captain Bill is an amazing skipper, who really cares about each crew member. He tests your knowledge and skill level every step of the way.”
— Sara M. ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing
“The hands on learning you give to each student is fantastic and allows everyone to get familiar with the boat. Highly recommend to anyone interested in learning about sailing to work with Captain Bill!”
- Katie M. ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing
Captain Craig Walker
Craig Walker has been sailing for more than 50 years. He started sailing a Sunfish on Folsom Lake in Northern California in the late
60’s. After graduating from college in Arizona, Craig moved to Silicon Valley and took basic keelboat lessons from a charter club
in Redwood City, CA on San Francisco Bay. This started Craig’s bareboat chartering experience, sailing in such places as the San
Juan Islands, the British Virgin Islands, the Channel Islands,Tahiti and Greece. Craig joined several racing crews, the first on
a Yankee 38 in the IOR A Division, then on a Catalina 30, and finally on his own Cal 2-29. Craig has raced in two Pacific Cup
races from San Francisco to Hawaii. In 1994, he won the Pacific Cup Navigators Trophy, using celestial navigation aboard a Valiant
40. Craig has owned several boats including a Cal 2-29, Ranger 33,and a Hans Christian 43, sailing the waters from Ensenada Mexico
to the San Francisco Bay area. Craig is a U.S. Coast Guard licensed master with a 50 ton Near Coastal credential and is
certified as an American Sailing Association (ASA) Instructor and Instructor Evaluator through Offshore Passage-Making and
Celestial Navigation levels. Craig is also certified for all levels of Recreational Power-Boating courses through the ASA. Craig
teaches part-time as he is employed full-time as a Talent Acquisition professional. In his spare time he enjoys playing the
guitar and singing as a semi-professional musician, and spending time with his wife on Hudson Lake in Pryor, Oklahoma.