Profile of Escape by Sail
From the founder of Escape by Sail
Nearly twenty years ago, I left the Chesapeake and sailed for the
Caribbean. I soon found myself living in a small village on Tortola and
skippering yachts around the islands. Since then, I've raced, cruised
and/or worked on hundreds of boats: ultra-lights, tall-ships, tugs, fishing
and diving boats, and a few merchant vessels. I have done passages or lead
instructional and leisure escapes throughout the West Indies, in the South
Pacific, in the Mediterranean, from Maine to Florida, and from British
Columbia to mainland Mexico.
My fascination with the seascapes and cultural diversity of the Caribbean,
makes it the cruising area that I return to year after year. And having
sailed with more than 7,000 people, I've learned that adventure is only one
of the joys. The greatest pleasure is found in sharing the sailing
experience. Now, through Escape by Sail, I can continue to offer my cruising knowledge to create exceptional sailing escapes.
-Doug Cleckner, owner/operator
About Our Logo:
The photo you see here hung on my wall for years before becoming Escape by
Sail's logo. While anchored in the Grenadines, the crew on the vessel
beside us were spinnaker sailing. Imagine a fine yacht, anchored stern-to
with a warm breeze lifting a billowing spinnaker and you, quietly, above
the crystal Caribbean. I've held this photo of that perfect day for over
ten years. It is appropriate for this image to be Escape by Sail's logo.
For me, it typifies the graceful power of the wind as well as the
enchantment of cruising the islands.
Our Commitments:
We are committed to give our clients the best possible on-the-water
experiences, to be sensitive to their needs and dreams, to foster the type
of relationships that we would hope from any travel service or tour
operator.
We are committed to respect and value our clients as well as our
co-workers, travel associates and our community; to be concerned about and
contribute to their well-being, and to always operate with integrity.
Beyond Tourism:
Beyond simply promoting tourism, Escape by Sail strives to facilitate a
more interactive approach to travel. Escape by Sail incorporates
environmental and cultural components to its company led escapes as well
as those that we offer through other tour operators. We can provide
numerous ways in which to uniquely interact with the world's oceans, marine
life, island eco systems, and indigenous cultures. It is our aim to put the
wonder back into the lives of those who travel with us.
We encourage you to write us at wind@escapebysail.com with comments and
suggestions on how to further promote travel that benefits all involved:
the traveler, the indigenous cultures, and the natural environment.