Each month we feature sailors who pursue the passion of sailing through education, lifestyle, and commitment to community. This month we were inspired by Christopher Dang’s story and he is our July Sailor of the Month.
Christopher recently moved to San Francisco, and when he did, he noticed that sailing is a huge part of the life on the Bay. He didn’t hesitate to find his way to the water and has accomplished a lot in a very short period of time. He’s participating later this year in the Clipper Race — an around-the-world sailing race for amateur sailors — and he credits his ability to boldly pursue that goal to his foundation in the American Sailing curriculum. In fact, you can hear him tell it to you in his own words in this interview.
We hope you find Christopher’s story as inspiring as we do. Please take the time to share your own story with us — every journey that leads to a sailboat is worth hearing! (Not to mention the perks of being chosen are pretty great!)
American Sailing:
How long have you been sailing?
Christopher Dang:
1 year
American Sailing:
Where is your home port?
Christopher Dang:
Sausalito, CA
American Sailing:
Where is your favorite place to sail?
Christopher Dang:
San Francisco Bay
American Sailing:
What ASA Certifications do you hold?
Christopher Dang:
101, 103, 104, 114, 118
American Sailing:
What ASA school(s) did you attend?
Christopher Dang:
Modern Sailing in Sausalito, Northern California
American Sailing:
Do you currently, or have you ever owned a sailboat?
Christopher Dang:
No
American Sailing:
What got you into sailing?
Christopher Dang:
I got into sailing from watching the sailboats go by shortly after moving to San Francisco little over a year ago. I discovered Modern Sailing in Sausalito, which continually fed my thirst to learn as much as I can. In less than a year I took up to ASA 114/118 along with numerous clinics. The ASA classes helped build a solid foundation, which provided the confidence to participate in the Clipper Race. I’ll be racing with other teams from South Africa to Western Australia later this year.
American Sailing:
What is your most memorable sailing experience?
Christopher Dang:
Sailing under a full moon in the English Channel on a Clipper 68 after a long day of training with rough weather.
Christopher sailing on San Francisco Bay
Follow Christopher on Instagram