Voted an ASA "Outstanding School of 2007, 2008 & 2011"
Capt. Pete voted an ASA "Outstanding Instructor of 2007, 2008 & 2010"
About Us
Reef Runner Sailing School voted an ASA "Outstanding School of 2007 & 2008"
Reef Runner,
established in 1999, is a growing organization based in Panama City, Florida, at
the
St. Andrews Marina complex,
and in Key Largo, Florida, at
Gilbert's Marina. We
are dedicated to offering our clients a variety of saltwater experiences and
have affiliates in
key locations of the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and the Greek Isles.
Reef Runner Sailing offers ASA certified sailing instruction, day cruises, sunset sailing, custom saltwater cruises, and inshore and offshore fishing. In Key Largo, we offer educational eco-tours in the Florida Keys as well as snorkeling and dive packages. We are proud to be an ASA "Outstanding School of 2007, 2008 and 2011" and doubly honored that Capt. Pete is an ASA "Outstanding Instructor of 2007, 2008 and 2010."
In 2007, we launched Reef Runner Boating, which specializes in boater safety courses and powerboat instruction. Click here to learn more about what Reef Runner Boating has to offer.
We also have experience in the acquisition, refurbishment, and resale of cruising sailboats. Please contact us for more information.
To learn even more about us, meet some of
our people:
Capt. Pete, at the age of 12, stepped into his first sailboat, a borrowed Sunfish, and sailed in his first race on a lake in upper New Jersey. Since then he has never been without some form of water craft. Back in the 90’s he left the pressures of Corporate America, moved onto his 42’ Fountaine Pajot catamaran, Against the Wind, and cruised the Bahamas and Caribbean. Pete is the founder of Reef Runner Sailing and Reef Runner Boating. He holds a USCG 100GT Masters license and ASA teaching certifications. He is honored to be named an ASA "Outstanding Instructor" for 2007, 2008 and 2010. Pete has over 30 years experience in the Gulf waters around Panama City and is well qualified to be the cornerstone of the Reef Runner instructor team.
Capt.
Anderson
is a USCG captain and ASA certified instructor who grew up on boats. His
enthusiasm is contagious and his love of the water translates to his students.
Anderson started his teaching career at the locally renowned St. Andrews Bay
Yacht Club in Panama City teaching young sailors the love of dinghy racing. He
has delivered and crewed on vessels up to 75' in length plowing the waters of
the entire eastern US coast. Anderson is a seasoned inshore and offshore
sailor whose abilities you will both appreciate and enjoy.
Capt David first learned to sail on the lakes of Texas where he was raised. He soon learned that water was in his blood and so pursued his career of sailing and diving by moving to the coast and then to the Cayman Islands. In the Caymans, David spent his time as a PADI Scuba Instructor and running dive boats. Plenty of Catamaran sailing and then on to larger sailboats got him ready for his ASA Instructor certification. He moved to Key Largo to head up our ASA branch operation and enjoy some of the best diving the US has to offer. David lives just a few short miles from John Pennekamp State Park, dive and snorkeling capital of the Keys. He would love to teach you to sail and guide you on your exploration of the park and the Florida Keys.
Capt.
Valerie has been on the water in some form or another her entire
life. She is an experienced sailor who holds a USCG Master's License and is an
ASA sailing instructor. Valerie has sailed extensively in the Caribbean
including the British Virgin Islands, Grenadine Chain, Trinidad and Tobago as
well as Greece and the Florida coast. Valerie runs Custom Sailing Ltd.
which provides our custom sailing vacations in Greece and the Caribbean. Valerie would enjoy sharing her enthusiasm,
knowledge, and love of sailing with you on your next sailing adventure.
Capt. Rick began his passion for sailing in 1988 on a Caribbean cruise vacation on a 248' four masted, tall ship. It inspired him to read and learn everything he could about sailing. Rick is an ASA certified instructor and USCG Captain who sails extensively in the Panama City area in St. Andrews Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. He also bareboats in the French West Indies and has racing experience in the Sint Maarten Regatta and the Big Lagoon Regatta in Pensacola.
Tish,
Reef Runner's
Vice President, worked in the travel industry virtually her
entire career. Her passion for the water motivated her to leave the traditional
agency world behind to run
Reef Runner Sailing
and
Reef Runner Boating.
Tish spent six months living on a boat in the Bahamas, so is very
familiar with the boating lifestyle. While busy with strategic
planning, marketing, maintaining the web sites, and processing the ASA
examinations and certifications, Tish enjoys getting out on the water every chance she gets.