Professional Captains

Mitch has explored the waters of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines and has sailed both coasts of the U.S. He has a friendly, attentive style that fits well in both the charter and instruction environment. As a full-time professional mariner, Mitch provides instruction and charter captain services on a large variety of both power and sail vessels. He has previously served as a partner in a private equity firm and was a consultant at a major firm in Chicago. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Growing up on Long Island Sound, Rich was drawn to offshore sailing. It was this great enthusiasm for the sea that led him to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and later to serve with the Coast Guard. A twenty-year corporate career followed, and now in addition to his commitment to Pinnacle Yachts, Rich is a dedicated middle-school math teacher and athletic coach. He owns a fine sailboat in Chicago, vacations on his second boat in Florida, and frequently sails the blue waters of the Caribbean. Rich holds a BS in Ocean Engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, an MS in Education from Lewis University, and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

Friendly and energetic, Pam pilots and teaches yachting with confidence and finesse. She is known for her ability to use varying techniques to match the unique learning needs of her students, which makes her a very popular among people new to boating. Enjoys piloting charters whether it is a business/client event or a family outing. Pam is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison with a Bachelor degree in Science.

Dave has been following his passion for connecting people with the water by working in the charter and tour boat industry for more than twenty years. He has held USCG Captain’s positions with some of the most prestigious large ships in Chicago and Key West including both of those city’s flagships. A very thorough and patient instructor and former docent, Dave is also known for using his love of Chicago architecture and history to create informative and memorable on-the-water experiences. With more than 10 Chicago Mac races to his credit Dave hopes to one day achieve Island Goat status. Dave holds a BS in Financial Management from DePaul University.

Russ was born with a love of the water. As a boy he wandered the harbors of Chicago and built his first sailboat at age twelve. He has since honed his skills and has emerged as a highly sought-after racing and cruising skipper. Russ is an “Island Goat” with over 30 successful Chicago Mac Races to his credit. He is passionate about the importance of lifelong learning with teamwork. This attitude is manifest in his yachting, musical and distinguished civic service endeavors. Russ holds a BS in Business Administration from Western Illinois University.

Dave has a true passion for travel, adventure, and education. Raised near the shores of Lake Michigan, he became involved with boating at a young age. These days he spends his free time on powerboats and racing his sailboat. Dave is an educator at heart, he teaches high school and college aerospace courses. He also teaches sailing and powerboat classes at Pinnacle Yachts and is a US Sailing/Powerboating Instructor. When not on the water he can be found in the air as a commercial pilot and flight instructor. Dave holds a BS in Aeronautics from the University of North Dakota and graduate degrees in Education from Eastern Illinois University and Concordia University.

Leo, an avid sailor, developed a healthy respect for the sea wherever he sailed, owning several power boats before being smitten with sailing over 45 years ago, owning a 38Ft sailboat. He’s crewed for several Mac Races, chartered sailboats and trawlers on the East and West coasts of the US, the Caribbean, Chesapeake, and captained a 72 ft Hatteras on the Gulf of Mexico. He delivered large sailboats to the Caribbean from Maine via Bermuda. As a US Sailing member, he’s trained in safety, rescue and support. In addition to his USCG 100 Ton Masters’s License with sailing and towing endorsements, he is trained in safe powerboat handling. He served 3 years Active duty in the U.S. Navy. He holds a BA in Economics from UW, Madison. Leo subscribes to the belief of “always know where you are, so you always know how to get home – and mind the weather!”

Marty’s nautical expertise, calm demeanor and professionalism make him a favorite among sailing clients for chartering and instruction. Marty has over 35 years sailing in Great Lakes, U.S. coastal, Caribbean waters, scores of deliveries all over Lake Michigan on big sailboats, 27 Chicago to Mackinac Island races. His passion for sailing is matched by passion for teaching; as Sea Scout Skipper for 18 years, he mentored coed teens in big boat sailing, racing, safety and service. Marty is Adjunct Faculty at DePaul University and Columbia College. He is a working professional in cinema production and editing, holds a BA in Film Production.

David is eclectic, adaptable and sincere. Life motto is ‘Carpe Diem’. Captaining US Coast Guard vessels, the Amistad, private yacht charters, commercial charters, in the Great Lakes, Atlantic, and Virgin Islands for nearly 20 years. Professional works include engineer, adjunct professor, ski instructor, tennis instructor, adaptive scuba diving instructor, lobbyist, mentor, and business owner. Born in Chicago and a man of the world, he enjoys sharing his love for aquatics and respect for boating. David is a fun loving, outgoing, friendly spirit who gravitates to young and old alike. He holds a BS from IIT and an MS from Grantham University.

Captain Ben, a Tri-Coastal sailor began sailing as a child in California then in Rhode Island, and now is enjoying Lake Michigan (the 3rd coast). Captain Ben White holds a USCG 100T Masters License and is a current American Sailing Association (ASA) licensed instructor of Basic Keelboat – Coastal Cruising – and Bareboat Cruising as well as a certified US Sailing/International Yacht Measurer. Capt. Ben has sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, done sail deliveries from Virginia to the Caribbean, Chesapeake, Narraganset bay, and along the west coast. Capt. Ben races Radiance a 40’ Farr38 made in Rio de Janeiro out of Montrose Harbor, Chicago. Cap’n Ben has captained 20 Chicago to Mackinac races and over 18 long Distance Doublehanded races.  Ben is a proud active member of the Broadway based union of Theatrical Designers, principal for White Light Design Inc. (architectural lighting), an accomplished carpenter, electrician, electronics, welder, and boat repair technician.  Let’s go Sailing and have FUN!

Captain Jerry is a seasoned, Coast Guard 100 Ton Licensed Captain, with additional Coast Guard Licensing Certifications of Able Body Seaman and Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW.)  He also holds Coast Guard Endorsements in Sailing Operations, Towing Service and FCC Marine Radio Operations

Captain Jerry, is well known on the Chicago Sail Race circuit, having captured, three consecutive, First Place Overall wins in the Internationally known Chicago to Mackinac Race, with one subsequent Overall win in 2021. In addition, Captain Jerry has placed in the top three section finishes in twenty-two of the past Mac races. He campaigns his family boat Providence, an Ericson 35, in the Mac and in local competition throughout the summer. He has experience in operating Sail and Power Vessels to forty-nine foot in length, for over 40 years.

He holds a Master’s in Business Administration, from DePaul University’s Kellstadt School of Business. He is an Internationally Certified P.A.D.I. Divemaster, a Certified National Safety Council First Aid Instructor, a US Navy Veteran, and Member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary

Captain Jerry enjoys membership in Legendary Island Goat Sailing Society, which has an exclusive Membership of those Mariners completing a minimum twenty-five races to the Island. He is a Member of the Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation Hall of Fame, a former Chicago Yachting Association Yachtsman of the year, and is a Certified Staff Instructor of Coast Guard Sanctioned Merchant Marine courses for the Chicago Maritime Group. The Captain is also a certified USCG Auxiliary Instructor and is engaged in teaching a variety of Boating classes to the public.

Captain Mark began living his dream as a five year old boy who raced popsicle sticks down the gutter with a water hose. They were popsicle sticks to anyone else, but to Mark, they were boats. Growing up in the Chesapeake Bay Area meant that Mark was always surrounded by boats.  As past President of the International Shipmasters Association and recipient of their prestigious 2016 Ludington Award, Mark has always know that his destiny was to become a boat captain who delivered the most fun.  Holding a 100 ton USCG license, safety is his second name and helping others to enjoy boating while being safe has become his trademark.  He is known as Chicago’s premium party boat captain who everyone wants to have as their guide and instructor.   He holds a Bachelor of Science from Chicago State University in Biology.

Captain Paul holds a USCG Master Captains License and operates both sail and power boats. He holds sailing and towing endorsements, is First Aid/CPR Certified, and is U.S. Sailing Offshore Safety at Sea Certified. A frequent speaker at the Chicago Boat Show, Captain Paul teaches long distance Offshore Passage Making classes, women only classes, and volunteers as a beginning thru Advanced Adult Sailing and Racing Instructor at Columbia Yacht Club in Chicago. For more than 30-years, he has owned and operated several sailboats, and has cruised and raced extensively on the Great Lakes with more than 16 Chicago-Mac Races and more than 35,000 sea miles. A calm and patient teacher, Paul has inspired many to become skilled and confident sailors, and set off to pursue  their own adventures and extended passages. When not on a boat Paul spends his time enjoying the outdoors and pursues his passions for skiing, iceboat sailing, traveling, hiking, and biking.

Captain Larry came to Pinnacle Yachts by way to two prior professions. First as an Industrial Designer with national and global recognition and then as a professional mariner serving on, and managing passenger vessels up to 200 ft in Seattle, on the Columbia River and in Chicago for over 10 years. Larry is known in Chicago as the “Voice of the Mariner” having served on many safety committees including being a founding board member of the Chicago Harbor Safety Committee, past president of the Chicago Lodge of International Ship Masters’ Association and author of numerous boat safety training materials.  He has an easy-going style yet is a disciplined educator. One day he hopes to finish restoring his 1974 diesel trawler and circumnavigate all the Great Lakes. Larry has a BS in Industrial Design from The Ohio State University where he later returned to teach.

Teak was born and raised in Chicago and grew up sailing on a family friend’s large sailboat on the doorstep of downtown Chicago. People of a certain age will remember the original sweeping spotlight on the Palmolive building!Teak still enjoys sailing Chicago’s beautiful waters as well as taking off in the summer to cruise and explore the Great Lakes and all the incredible islands in them (wish we had some islands down here in Chicago!) and cruising up and down the Caribbean with friends and family on large catamarans in the winter season. Teak looks forward to helping you feel safe and confident in your skills skippering whatever boat you may find yourself on in any conditions. There’s always something more to learn and doing is the best way to learn! Teak also welcomes skippering for you on the occasions you’d like to spend time on the water with friends, family or clients and leave the driving to someone else.

Though I was born and raised right here, in this great metropolis, I’ve always been drawn to nature and its majestic beauty. I’ve always preferred the outdoors and am most in my element when I’m camping, hiking, or boating. I attribute this attitude for the appreciation of the simple things in life, to my paternal grandparents, who came from very humble beginnings in Tennessee. It was them who taught me to respect and revere nature. Because of their influence in my life, my profound love for nature is manifested through my work in this industry. I thoroughly enjoy educating people about boating, with a great emphasis on safety, and I enjoy running charters on both Chicago’s rivers and Lake Michigan. In 2010 I began my career in the industry working as crew for a Architecture/Water taxi company on the Chicago River, earned my 100ton Master Credentials in 2015, Worked as a Captain at Monroe Harbor in 2016. Started providing private charters on both the Chicago River and the Lake in 2018.

Barbara was born and raised in Germany and has been a lifelong lover of the outdoors, from backpacking, hiking and skiing, to scuba diving and racing her J105. She developed a passion for boating when she first arrived in the United States some 30 years ago, from small boats in Indiana to larger ones on Lake Michigan. For the past 20 years she has been teaching Youth Sailing Programs, fleet racing on Lake Michigan and cruising the Caribbean. Barbara enjoys combining her enthusiasm for being in and on the water with her teaching and mentoring skills. To date Barbara has her 100 ton Master’s license with the Sailing, Towing Endorsements and the FCC Marine Radio Operations. Additionally she holds a US Sailing Small Boat Instructor and PADI certificate. Barbara welcomes skippering so you can spend time with others on the boat and take in the beauty of the lake and city. As a professional Barbara has a degree and certification in Engineering, Bi-lingual Teaching and Counseling.