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 raised in the Thousand Islands region on the Saint Lawrence River in the north country of New York State. His first memories are of plying the waters of the river where travel by boat was as commonplace as a drive in the family car. By the age of 10, he already owned and operated his own boat.

In his twenties, he answered the call of the west and relocated to the high desert of central Oregon, where he founded a successful business.  

In 2010 he met his wife, Hannah, who was studying at the University of Washington. In Seattle, on the shores of the Puget Sound, the siren song of the sea rekindled his passion for the water. He enrolled in the Puget Sound Sailing Institute to hone his sailing skills and joined the Seattle Sailing Club, which gave him access to a variety of sailboats with which he explored the Salish Sea extensively. He found joy in sharing the experience of sailing with others. That joy lives on to this day.

In 2013, Scott and Hannah plotted a course to remote Desolation Sound and Princess Louisa Inlet in British Columbia, Canada. There was only one ingredient missing: a boat! This brought them in touch with our own Captain Ron, who was selling his vintage Coronado 35 ketch. In Scott and Hannah, Ron knew that he had found worthy new owners for his beloved Pato Feo.

Eventually, Pato Feo found her way to Bellingham, which brought Scott and Hannah back in touch with Ron and Mari. They enjoyed a reunion cruise aboard Diminuendo and soon Scott was invited to collaborate with Ron and Mari in their growing business. Thanks in no small part to Hannah’s support and encouragement, we’re delighted to welcome Scott to the crew!

Scott’s sailing experience is not limited to the Pacific Northwest. In addition to having sailed the length of the Salish Sea, Scott has also sailed extensively in the Caribbean. Scott is a US Coast Guard licensed captain.