SailTime Channel Islands is our longest operating sailing base which started in 2004. It was opened by a father and son team; Chris and Colin Tucker, who steered a strong course in Southern California for seven years. They built a very popular ASA sailing school that was awarded most outstanding sailing school, three years in a row. That effort has introduced dozens of Ventura county families to quality sailing lessons and a flat rate sailing club experience that has afforded care-free sailing in the area. When his son made the decision to move on, Chris felt it was the right time to sell the franchise to another party. The Tuckers had built the base up to four Hunter sailboats in an ideal location that features sailing amongst the islands of the Channel Islands National Park, offshore from the harbor located in Oxnard.
Photo by: Joseph A Garcia
Jon and Nicole Trautman found out about the sailing business opportunity when they went on a sailing vacation to Tonga serendipitously with a couple of STCI Members who happened to be their Aunt and Uncle. Almost the instant they touched back down, they contacted Chris to learn more. By July, they attended the local boat show with Chris to see what the business offered. By August an agreement had been struck and by Labor Day the sale was consumated! Chris spent September and October training the couple.
Jon immidiately got his ASA instructor license as well as his California Boat Broker’s license while Nicole began to mount a new and envigorated marketing campaign. The couple wants to replace two of the 33 foot sailboats with brand new models in 2012. So, there is a great opportunity for a potential boat owner to enjoy the benefits of the SailTime management plan. Now that SailTime is also working with Gemini Catamarans, the couple would also like to add one to the fleet at Channel Islands harbor where they think it will be very popular.
The couple relocated to the harbor from San Diego, where Jon called home as best an active Marine could. After his most recent Middle East deployment concluded, Jon decided it was time to get out and do something else. The couple wasn’t sure what “next” was until their Uncle told them about the franchise. From that moment to now, things have been moving fast for them. Just this month, they took delivery of a new Hunter 216 to be used for beginner sailing lessons in the harbor. You can see the passion and the desire in their eyes and everyone in the SailTime family looks forward to what this dynamic couple will do to grow the venerable base further.
