North West Sailing Adventures and Excursions Crew

Your San Juan Island Charter Boat Crew

Captain Ron Fugere and Mate Mari Blakeslee always have a ready smile and laughter is never far from the surface. You will find them agreeable shipmates on your San Juan Islands charter boat adventure. But above all else, they take your safety and comfort very seriously.

Captain Ron was born and raised in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. Before turning his passion for boats into a  sailing career, Ron cruised extensively throughout the Pacific Northwest. It was on a 5-month solo sailing adventure that Ron came to dream of sharing the experience of  sailboat cruising with others. In pursuit of his vision, he obtained his USCG Merchant Mariner 100 ton master’s license. He served as relief skipper of a small, private ferry before taking a job with a Seattle dining cruise company, commanding their 64’, 90’, and 105’ power yachts. It was a dream come true! But as time went by, he would cast an envious eye on the sailboats riding a fresh breeze. He came to realize that he had drifted off course. In navigation, allowances must be made for leeway and the set of the current. We call this “course made good.” The time had come for him to change course and again pursue his dreams under sail. “Dreams made good!” 

Mari Blakeslee met Captain Ron as a guest on one of his dining cruises, where she was taken with his avuncular, gregarious nature.They have been inseparable ever since. Mari brings with her extensive experience in marketing, design, hospitality and catering to Diminuendo; she oversees guest services and meal prep on each all-inclusive adventure. Mari shares Ron’s vision for NW Sailing Adventures, and she was the driving force behind the successful launch of our website and marketing strategy.

 

Your North West Sailing Excursions Captain

 

Captain Scott Renzi was born into a family who treasured time on the water, his earliest memories were of the St. Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands. His family traveled by boat as much as they did by car. When he was ten years old,he got his first boat. Being in an international waterway, he quickly learned the rules of the water, and a thirst for freedom.

In his twenties, the west called, and he relocated to Bend, Oregon where he started a business and embraced life in the high desert. In 2010 he started spending time in Seattle and the Puget Sound region.  The areas vast and majestic waterways rekindled his passion for the water and awakened his adventurous spirit .  Then, in 2012, he caught the sailing bug and never looked back.

He studied sailing at Puget Sound Sailing Institute and joined The Seattle Sailing Club. When he started taking groups of friends sailing he realized that he enjoyed sharing the experience of sailing and teaching others. Then in 2013, Scott crossed paths with Captain Ron, Scott’s future collaborator, and his 35 foot Coronado ketch, Pato Feo. He fell in love with Pato, purchased her from Captain Ron, and moved aboard. Captain Scott has sailed extensively in the Salish Sea, from the far reaches of the South Sound, through the San Juan Islands, and through British Columbia to Desolation Sound and beyond. Captain Scott’s sail experience is not limited to the Pacific Northwest. He has skippered in the British Virgin Islands and as crew,
 island hopping from Antigua to Grenada, and across the Caribbean Sea to the BVI.

In 2019, he began a collaboration with NW Sailing Adventures. After completing his Coast Guard certification, Captain Scott purchased  S.V. Blew Dreams and became a member of the team. Captain Scott is a natural on the water and loves sharing the joy of sailing with people. It is amazing the way he gets everyone involved and feel like they are part of the crew. He instills confidence in a first timer to get behind the helm or trim a line. He is also a lover of adventure and will creatively guide each trip to be unique to those aboard.