Meet late February and March’s GLCCSchool instructors

On the water, experience counts. A lot. Experience makes cruising safer and much more pleasurable. Our featured GLCCSchool instructors for late February and March, with the programs they offer, are:



Roy Eaton

●    North Channel Ports and the Little Current Cruisers’ Net

Roy and his wife, Margaret, sailed their boat, Mystic Loon, for 36 years through all of the Great Lakes. Roy Eaton is based in Little Current, ON, has deep experience with the key North Channel ports as well as its unique and less-visited anchorages. If you have ever cruised the North Channel of Lake Huron, you've no doubt heard about the Little Current Cruisers’ Net. Roy Eaton is the founder and "The Voice of the North Channel" on VHF Channel 71. Each morning during July and August, boaters throughout the North Channel tune in at 9 a.m. to hear the latest marine weather, news and events across the North Channel.



Ken and Carol Gillstrom

●    Tips and Techniques for Successful Anchoring

Ken is a Sail Canada Advanced Cruising instructor and holds the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore certification. Ken and Carol conduct sail training adventures on their custom designed/built aluminum cutter, S/V Voyageur 10.10. Combined, they have logged over 200,000 miles. During the past 18 years, they have presented hundreds of seminars on boating-related topics. Sharing their first-hand experience and practical approach help  take cruising goals from a “dream” to “reality.” Their “Safety First” mindset will steer you away from some of the more common pitfalls. You, too, can enjoy safe and memorable cruising adventures on the Great Lakes! 



Mike and Deb Hervey

●    Cruising the Triangle Loop

●    Cruising the Down East Loop

Mike and Deb Hervey have a passion for long-distance cruising. They began cruising as high school sweethearts and haven’t stopped. They have cruised under sail and under power in the Great Lakes, and around New England, the East Coast, the Gulf of Mexico and America’s inland waterways. This cruising couple brings a wealth of knowledge to every presentation they make.



Rob and Kelly Hillman

●    Cruising Lake Huron

Having taken up sailing as a retirement hobby, Rob and Kelly enjoy cruising the entire summer on the Great Lakes aboard their Hunter Legend 40.5, S/V Windshadow. Their cruising grounds include all the Great Lakes and have also cruised on the eastern U.S. coast, the ICW and the Caribbean. Kelly and Rob are now in their 10th season aboard Windshadow and are excited to share their experiences cruising the Great Lakes.



Niels Jensen

●    Wilderness Cruising Lake Superior’s Isle Royale

●    Cruising Lake Superior’s Apostle Islands

Niels Jensen is a long-time, active member of the Great Lakes Cruising Club. Originally from Denmark, Niels and his wife, Vicki, sail their Pearson cutter Freelance out of Bayfield, WI, into Lake Superior, through the other four Great Lakes, and beyond.



Bill Rohde

●    Make the Leap to Overnight and Long-Distance Cruising

Bill Rohde is the founder of the GLCCSchool. He is an accomplished cruiser with a resume a mile long. Bill and his wife, Judy, have traveled by sail and power throughout all Great Lakes. They also have taken the St. Lawrence River, up and down, to the Intercoastal Waterway, on to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. When it comes to cruising, Bill has forgotten more than most boaters know.



Mark Thornton

●    Great Lakes Weather 1: Marine Weather Basics

●    Great Lakes Weather 2: Forces Controlling The Wind/Using Doppler Weather Radar

●    Great Lakes Weather 3: Weather Makers…Forecasting High & Low Pressure Systems

●    Great Lakes Weather 4: Thunderstorm Primer / Creating Your Own Marine Forecast

Mark Thornton is widely recognized as one of the leading marine weather authorities on the Great Lakes. With nearly 30 years of sailing experience and a deep passion for weather science, Mark brings a unique blend of practical knowledge and academic expertise to his teaching. He is the founder and president of LakeErieWX, a company dedicated to providing marine weather education, forecasting, and routing services tailored specifically for Great Lakes boaters. Through LakeErieWX and GLCCSchool, Mark has helped thousands of recreational mariners better understand and anticipate the weather conditions that affect their time on the water.



Steve Wyckoff

●    Cruising Grand Traverse Bay

●    Common Phrases with a Nautical Origin

Steve makes his home in Traverse City, MI. He spent his professional life teaching earth science, and computer science, and also worked as a school district technology director. However, his passion is sailing and cruising in the North Channel, San Juan Islands and the Caribbean. Steve brings his own brand of humor to every presentation he makes.



Jim Zima

●    Diesel 1: Marine Diesel Maintenance 101 – Part A

●    Diesel 1 : Marine Diesel Maintenance 101 – Part B

●    Diesel 2 : I’ve Got the Diesel Fuel Blues

●    Diesel 3: I’m Cool But My Diesel is Hot!

●    Diesel 4: Advanced Diesel Diagnostics / A Conversation with a Master Mechanic

Jim Zima is the owner of Great Lakes Diesel (“GLD”) in Vermilion, OH. In addition to maintaining, repairing, and re-powering marine diesels, Jim teaches numerous seminars in and around the Great Lakes and at the Annapolis Cruisers University. GLD is the largest certified Yanmar dealer on Lake Erie. GLD is also a certified dealer for Westerbeke, Universal, and Kubota. In his GLCC School webinars, Jim Zima shows us that he is not only a master mechanic but a great teacher.