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Hello Sailing Friends, Look, who’s been featured in VoyageMIA, one of our local publications dedicated to feature Miami’s most inspiring stories? We hope you will enjoy reading the interview and learning more about our very own Rob Gardner and his vision for Charisma Sailing. You can also read the entire interview here at VoyageMIA.com. Inspiring Conversations with Robert Gardner of Charisma SailingVoyageMIA: Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Gardner Hi Robert, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself. I was born and raised in Chicago, where I have been sailing the Great Lakes and inland waters since the age of seven. Later, I owned and operated a commercial construction and real estate management firm, but traveled and sailed all over the world during the frigid Chicago winters. As command and crew on sailing and motor yachts ranging from 30’ to 70’ throughout the Great Lakes, Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico, I gained a ton of on-water experience. Working as a Charter Captain and Delivery Captain, helped gain the skills in all aspects of boat operations, maintenance, and fleet management. to receive my 100-ton USCG Masters Captain license and become a US Sailing-Certified Instructor. Though nothing beats the personal experience of living aboard my Dufour 450 sailboat and 46′ Fountain Pajot sailing catamaran. I genuinely love meeting new students and sharing my sailing experience, local, and environmental knowledge. I founded Charisma Sailing to offer personalized pathways to achieve sailing proficiency and certification with US Sailing instruction, courses, and certifications in South Florida with locations in Miami and Key West. We offer individualized adult sailing and boating instructions and certifications, from basic keelboat to bareboat cruising with the certifications needed to charter a sailboat or catamaran worldwide. In your own words, what makes Charisma Sailing special? Although an avid sailor, I have always been passionate about environmental protection, teaching, experiential education, and youth development. My past experience included Wilderness Adventure Expedition Leadership and Outdoor Instructor for youth and adults in Chicago. What is special about Charisma Sailing is that it was founded upon our values and our belief in doing our part in helping to preserve our wonderful planet for future generations. All of Charisma Sailing’s activities directly benefit our 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Enso-Gaia. Enso Gaia is connecting people with the environment who would otherwise not have this opportunity. We are teaching environmental awareness by offering guided experiences in nature that aim to foster the understanding that we are all part of the circle of life and need to make critical lifestyle changes to protect our environment for our own and future generations. As an IRS approved nonprofit organization, Enso-Gaia needs funds to operate their educational programs. While we may use a number of fundraising activities for financial support, a main program funding stream is the use or sale of donated boats and vehicles for our programs. Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way? Becoming a US Sailing accredited sailing school has been a long and challenging process. With the United States Sailing Association being the governing body for the sport of sailing, the requirements are numerous and the process is lengthy. However, we never doubted our choice to offer their curriculum and certifications to offer the best possible sailing education for our students. Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Charisma Sailing? At Charisma Sailing, we are passionate about helping clients discover the mind-altering beauty and tranquility of sailing and the feeling of freedom on the open water. From learning to sail to bareboat charter certifications,our US Sailing accredited school is offering personalized pathways to sailing proficiency. From novices to advanced sailors, our individualized programs are designed to help improve our clients’ sailing skills safely and with confidence. Students of all levels learn under the guidance of experienced US Sailing certified instructors, who have a passion for teaching and sharing their knowledge. We specifically train and certify new yacht owners and those who are planning to charter or own a yacht in the future. In addition, boat owners can place their boat in the capable care of the highly qualified staff and crew of our Yacht Management division. We are always looking for partnerships! We have made it our mission to teach environmental protection through experiential marine education. Our operations are following ocean-safe procedures and we are in the process of seeking certification through the Blue Star Diving program that promotes responsible diving and snorkeling practices to enhance visitor appreciation and understanding of the marine ecosystems within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Currently, we are very excited about our new partnership with the Miami Yacht Club for a US Sailing Adult Instructional Center that will provide high-quality sailing instruction and certifications for the greater Miami community. In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years? The Florida watersport industry is experiencing tremendous growth as residents and visitors continue to explore our amazing marine environment. We specifically work with many clients who learned to sail as children and lost touch while going to college, working, and raising families. Some are coming to us to teach their entire families, which is a most rewarding experience. Others, are coming to fulfill their lifelong dream of sailing – either on Biscayne Bay, or around the world. We are excited to be able to reconnect them with the pleasure and excitement of sailing. Let us know when you would like to sail! The best way to reach us is by email, so we can schedule a personal call to answer all your questions. Our friendly crew is looking forward to talking with you. Click here to email us to let us know when you would like to sail! Or simply call or text us at +1-305-396-1331. Fair winds, Your Charisma Sailing Crew
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