Reviews - the snapshot kind.
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Ruth
“I felt empowered! This course goes well beyond sailing.”
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Cali
“It was so refreshing to have a strong female to learn from!”
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Sarah
“Ruby’s passion for teaching and sailing is contagious!”
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Mary
“Ruby is a total bad ass - BRAVE, kind, funny, talented, smart, strong and an effective teacher using repetition to aid in muscle memory.”
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Roberta
“Ruby is non-judgmental and patient, allowing you the time to figure out something on your own even if you make the same mistake multiple times, like I did!”
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Kim
“Ruby's teaching was perfectly suited to my capacity. She patiently reviewed what I needed to hear and recognized when I understood the concepts.”
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Shiela
“It was a tremendous pleasure to be taught under such an enthusiastic and passionate sailor who is dedicated to empowering other women to sail solo.”
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Amy
“I loved how Ruby would give me the space to figure things out and acknowledged that I will find my own way to do some things with my own boat.”
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Mary
Being there one-on-one with Ruby really helped solidify the motions and I had time to soak it all in in a safe environment that was free of judgement.
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Sarah
“I learned more on Makani than I had since my Outward Bound and NOLS experience in my 20's!”
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Muranda
“Ruby is an amazing single-hander who is actually doing the damn thing!”
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Amy
“More than once I had to pinch myself because I was learning to sail and gaining confidence.”
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Sarah
“She's right...you can do this! The notion of sailing seemed inaccessible to me, but Ruby has demystified it for me!”
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Audra
“From day one with Ruby, the invitation was always clear and strong – she wanted to empower me to sail her boat.”
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Cynthia
“Ruby provided the safe and supportive space that I needed in order to learn and blossom as a sailor in my own right.”
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Cali
“After learning to sail with Ruby I'm now in the market for my own boat! It was so refreshing to have a strong female voice to learn from!”
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Muranda
“One of my goals is to single-hand my own boat with confidence. I was thrilled from beginning to end to sail with Ruby!”
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Ruth
“I loved every minute. I’m now inspired to own my own boat, find adventures with my family, and test my own personal limits with the confidence I’ve gained working with Ruby!”
Reviews - the longwinded kind.
Cali
Arriving on Makani with strong power boating skills, Cali wanted to translate those skills into a more purposeful context. Her sailing exposure included finishing her first open ocean sailing experience just a few days prior on another boat.
“Boarding Makani delivered a warm welcome after a steep learning curve into my sailing journey. Ruby took me in and we got back to basics, letting learning come easy once my nervous system was settled.
Ruby effortlessly scaled the lessons to my abilities and knew exactly when to apply pressure. After several days sailing with hands-on experience, the gooves in my muscle memory had been set. It was so refreshing to have a strong female voice to learn from and look to in a space that needs far more safety!
I confidently walked away with a solid sailing foundation and I’m now in the market for a boat of my own!” - Cali
Shiela
Dreaming of exploring the world by sailboat, Sheila had completed multiple ASA courses while sailing for 20 years with her husband. Yet, she felt woefully unprepared to skipper and sail their boat independently.
“Ruby is a competent woman solo sailor who is a master at sailing on and off anchor and utilizing the wind to power her beautifully well maintained 39 foot sailboat, Makani. I was instantly struck by her passion for sailing and empowering women such as myself to sail solo. After completing 10 days full-time sailing Makani under Ruby’s one-on-one guidance and instruction, I was not only able to sail by myself, but felt confident to do so.
It was a tremendous pleasure to be taught under such an enthusiastic and passionate sailor who is dedicated to empowering other women to sail solo. I highly recommend any woman who is seriously desiring to sail, seek instruction and coaching from Ruby. The course was tailored to my skillset and level of experience with emphasis on building my confidence. We covered everything from navigation to diesel engine maintenance during the course.
Ruby allowed me the space to learn from my mistakes and challenges without allowing me to cop-out and rely on her expertise to bail me out when I became overwhelmed. Of course she was always by my side to answer any questions and ensure we were completely safe.
I learned a great deal about myself and my ability to handle the many complex aspects of sailing solo. For the first time in my sailing life, I felt empowered and trusted to handle a sailboat myself. I learned more about sailing in 10 days with Ruby than the past 20 years of sailing.”
- Shiela
Roberta
After completing two ASA courses and sailing from San Diego to Mexico, Roberta sought to continue building her confidence and hands-on sailing experience.
“Ruby is the epitome of a solo woman sailor. If you are a woman, and would like to learn to sail, or perhaps you are already on a boat with your husband, or partner, but you are not gaining the confidence you need, go sail with Ruby! I cannot express this highly enough in a simple review. Not only will Ruby teach you to sail, but you will gain the confidence and skills needed to sail on your own. Ruby’s method of teaching is very methodical, which builds memory and muscle awareness. On my first day of sailing, I could barely lift the main sail on my own. By my last day, after repeating the same move daily, I did it! Ruby is very personable and a joy to be around. She is non-judgmental and patient, allowing you the time to figure out something on your own, even if you make the same mistake multiple times, like I did! Go learn the sport of sailing and choose Ruby, you will not be disappointed.”
- Roberta
Robin
Seeking to travel the world via sailboat, Robin has taken sailing courses before, but sought a confidence-building approach that included miles at sea and deep hands-on learning.
Ruby is an experienced sailor focused on safety.
Makani (her sailboat) is maintained to an impeccable standard. Even the engine room is spotless.
Ruby has the perfect attitude and approach to dealing with less-than-ideal situations.
Ruby is excited about sailing, living aboard, and teaching. Ask her anything, and I bet she knows the answer!
Ruby is compassionate and conscientious. She is equally excited about your experience as she is focused on teaching as much as you are willing and able to learn.
Keep a running list of what you learn! I came away learning and experiencing more than I ever imagined in a short time.
“I found Ruby the day after I returned from my first live-aboard sailing course. I was excited to continuously focus on sailing lessons as my husband and I await the arrival of our new boat. Little did I know, I was about to learn more than I ever imagined possible in a short amount of time!
Ruby dangled a big carrot by asking if I wanted to sail the 400nm from Zihuatanejo to Puerto Vallarta. ‘Absolutely!’ I quickly replied. It was game on the minute I stepped into Ruby’s sailboat With a kind and fun personality, it was easy to be guided by Ruby.
Here are my top takeaways:
If you want to learn from a pro, Ruby is your person! I am still reviewing everything I learned and how confident Ruby made me feel during the process. ” - Robin
Claire
As a night shift ICU nurse, Claire sought a new path for her life that combined her love of healing with travel. With no previous sailing experience, Claire was able to operate the boat solo by her last day of ten onboard.
“I stepped onto Ruby’s boat knowing nothing about sailing. I only knew that I wanted to learn. I stepped off her boat ten days later feeling confident in my ability to sail and that I could, one day, very feasibly single-hand.
She equipped me and encouraged me and supported me in a way no other course could have. Ruby has a plethora of knowledge and experience and I never once doubted that what she was teaching me wasn’t sound. From first contact with her, she had my best interest in mind and I could tell that she was in it to truly empower women to learn how to sail. I felt safe and comfortable with her as soon as I met her, which for me, was beyond invaluable.
I loved sailing with her in the bay and I loved how every day I was able to see my own progress. I enjoyed my time simply sitting in the cockpit in the evenings, soaking up the view and the beauty of the life around me. I discovered how incredible the sailing community is and how sailing connects a person so intimately with the Earth.
I could not have asked for a better introduction to sailing or a better teacher to cultivate the love for it. I met Ruby as a stranger but we parted as friends and I left with the sense of a whole new world having opened up to me.” - Claire
Mary
With limited sailing experience, Mary joined Makani for ten days to improve her self-sufficiency, and to see if this lifestyle is for her. In the final two days of her time, Mary sailed to anchor, set and trimmed the sails and worked the helm, all by herself.
“I highly recommend Ruby’s sailing class.
I learned so much, not only about wind in the sails sailing, but about myself, the boating community and lifestyle, and all sorts of peripheral sailing things. I wanted to know how sailing was this linear thing that you did one way – and I learned that is so far from the truth! Sailing is so individual, flexible and unique to every person, boat and sailing dream. There is no RIGHT way.
I went into the 10 day class wanting to learn enough to be helpful and self-sufficient when sailing with my husband so that I wouldn’t be afraid if something happened. I came away with a baseline knowledge that makes me feel I have WAY more to offer in my sailing future. I thought I wasn’t maybe strong enough or smart enough, but Ruby showed me I am absolutely strong enough! And as for smarts, I now know I don’t have to know everything! I can learn, use my intuition and insights from life to help guide me towards a solution. I learned from Ruby that a problem doesn’t have to be an emotional tornado, it just is. And a solution can come after a good night’s sleep once the stress of the moment is over and your brain can assess your tools and options in a rule-free way.
Ruby was always calm and full of praise for a job well done. She was absolutely open to new ideas and ways of thinking, never feeling threatened at different viewpoints. She taught me so much besides hoisting sails, anchoring, tacking, trimming sails and dinghy operation.
She introduced me to “the net,” a VHF radio “morning show” where people introduce themselves, they give weather and tides, ask for help, sell and trade things etc. I always thought boating was this solitary thing where you were on your own. While that is partly true, there is help around if you need it which made me feel way less vulnerable.
Ruby is a total bad ass - BRAVE, kind, funny, talented, smart, strong and an effective teacher using repetition to aid in muscle memory. I spent my 56th birthday with her, and she baked me a cake! How cool is that! She let me cook in her kitchen, teaching me things about provisioning and food storage, things I was anxious about doing, and showed such a calmness and ease that completely diffused my fears. She often asked what I wanted to work on day by day and gave me time to tackle things that were mentally hard or caused stress.
I learned that life on a boat isn’t glamorous. It’s often messy, painful, wet and unsettling. But the beautiful sunrises and sunsets, birds and water wildlife, the wind and fresh air, opportunity for new adventures and generous boating community are unrivaled. I’m very grateful for the opportunity Ruby provided. Being there one-on-one really helped solidify the motions and I had time to soak it all in in a safe environment that was free of judgement. I was able to meet other boaters and learn from their stories too. Her class was absolutely worthwhile and I’d like to think I made some new friends along the way. It was a very empowering experience.” - Mary
Amy
As an introvert and a workaholic, Amy rarely took time for herself. With only a handful of sailing outings to her name, joining Makani seemed liked a dream, especially as Amy was challenged by two minor injuries. Yet, she stayed on Makani for two weeks.
“Ruby’s excitement and passion for sailing I could feel through every communication prior to my arrival. On day one she took me out for a sail across the bay while she handled everything, but I was already learning terminology. Ruby’s style of teaching one or two things at a time and building on those skills worked great for me. I made mistakes and I learned from them, but she was always patient. I loved how she would give me the space to figure things out and acknowledged that I will find my own way to do some things with my own boat. When I struggled with some of the skills she sat back and watched allowing me to figure out a better way and weighed in with recommendations if needed. I felt like a 4-year-old asking question after question, but Ruby was always excited to answer.
Ruby is passionate about providing a safe space and empowering women. She could easily take two women and make double the income, but she believes more in giving her student 100% of her attention. More than once I had to pinch myself because I was learning to sail and gaining confidence.
Ruby taught me that sailing is not out of my league and owning a sailboat can be a reality if I want it. I also learned to be gentle with myself and gained confidence.
By the end of my time with Ruby and Makani I found myself pulling the anchor, setting sails, tacking, reading the wind, and understanding the technology. I also have a basic understanding of the importance of safety, redundancy, and what it takes to be a single hander. It is because of Ruby that I was successful. As I left the sailboat I felt like I was leaving family. Thank you, Ruby, for your kindness, energy, and opening your home to a perfect stranger. ” - Amy
Amy setting anchor.
Checking the genoa sheet.
Adding the safety to the bridle.
Talking through a manuever.
Testing the luff on the main sail.
Working with the main halyard and reef clutches.
Cleaning the main halyard.
Working the helm and sailing us off anchor.
Looking for whales.
Trimming genoa.
Just hauled the anchor!
Opening the genoa furler.
Kim
With two kids and a husband interested in exploring ideas on the sailing lifestyle, Kim reached out to not only learn sailing basics, but to see how sailing fits within her appetite for family, travel and adventure.
“I’ve had a long standing notion to learn to sail so that my family and I could adventure on the sea. But I had never been on a boat before Ruby’s! With two small children at home, I wasn’t able to live aboard the boat for more than a night, but Ruby got creative and we decided on day sailing. Her accommodation to my specific needs in this way was so helpful.
Ruby’s teaching was perfectly suited to my capacity. She patiently reviewed what I needed to hear multiple times and recognized when I understood the concepts. She was encouraging and excited to watch me digest new skills. Her love for sailing, specifically women sailing, was contagious and it was so clear that she wanted me to thrive at the helm for the pure joy of it.
I loved being on the water with Ruby because I felt empowered to test my own abilities but also knew we were safe.
She doesn’t compromise on safety and that was really clear. Learning from her one-on-one was 5-star and I am simply waiting for my baby to grow so I can take more time away on a live-aboard course. Ruby inspired me and my husband to search for our own boat and take life on the sea. There’s a long path of learning ahead but I feel so well equipped with her teaching so far and I look forward to building upon what I learned!” - Kim
Kim cleaning off the main halyard.
Kim pulling up the anchor.
Furling out the Genoa.
Hoisting the main sail.
Furling out the Genoa.
Learning to sail off anchor.
Organizing the sheets.
Learning how to 'clean' a halyard.
Letting the furler out sloooow!
Trimming the Genoa.
Checking the chain as it stacks in the anchor locker.
Audra
Having never sailed a boat by herself before, Audra could read the weather, chart a course, haul anchor, work the helm, set the sails, identify an anchor spot and set the anchor all by herself after 3 weeks. Oh…and drive the dinghy.
“Ruby encourages play, exploration; She encourages you to take the knowing in your mind and body and to let it guide you to what it knows. Ruby would tell me repeatedly ‘I think you know more than you think you do’ once I had learned something. This was pivotal to my overall confidence. When a teacher can hold a little more confidence in you than maybe you have in yourself, that buoying propels you forward into the awareness: I know this, I can do this, I am doing this!
Through repetition, I learned to set anchor and haul anchor. I learned to read the sails and the available navigational technology. I learned to use the winches and the clutches, to raise and lower multiple sails, to read the conditions and understand what each sail does. I learned halyards and sheets. I learned my way around an engine and how powerful and fun it all is. I learned how to be out at sea for multiple days and nights at a time.
My last two days with Ruby were spent sailing; the difference was I was the one sailing. Ruby was right there with me, giving me the space to demonstrate to myself that I knew what I was doing and that I was doing it! When a teacher trusts your skills and your interpretation of the skills, that is empowering. Ruby teaches in such a way that what you leave with is your own sailing voice. She is keen to watch how your body is interpreting the knowledge. She’s also keen to learn from her students and that level of mutuality creates mutual respect and disengages the top-down way of learning.” - Audra
Audra filling out the log book.
Audra unfurling the genoa
Setting the safety bridle on the anchor.
Trimming the sails.
Checking the oil.
Learning about coolant levels.
Learning basic diesel engine maintenance.
Navigating out of the anchorage.
Start your engines!
Working the main sail.
Enjoying a day sail!
Operating the dinghy.
Setting the sails
Cynthia
Wanting to jump starting her confidence against the back drop of a life trauma, Cynthia joined Makani for a week. Within days she was setting sails, tacking like a champ, and driving the dinghy like a pro. Cynthia’s confidence sky-rocketed as she started the early stages of navigating a new path of empowerment for herself.
“A year ago my partner and I set off on a sailing adventure, pursuing our dream of circumnavigating the globe. My partner has been sailing the boat for 20 years while I’ve been a newbie. It has been challenging, to say the least, trying to learn from him. In all other areas we work together well but the sailing ‘classroom’ has been a disaster. I knew I needed a different teacher if our dream was ever going to come to fruition.
They say ‘when the student is ready, the teacher arrives’. That couldn’t be more true in my case. Ruby was the answer to my prayers. She listened to my feelings with compassion and met me exactly where I was. She provided the safe and supportive space that I needed in order to learn and to blossom as a sailor in my own right.
I will probably never singlehandedly sail, but I have the peace of mind knowing now that if anything should ever happen to my partner at sea, I will know what to do.
Ruby gave me the supportive space and permission to try different things to see what would happen, to make mistakes and correct myself, to test myself, to let my natural instincts guide me, to trust myself. She helped me find parts of myself that have been buried for too long. With her calm, confident and encouraging guidance my joy returned. I felt exhilarated, excited and empowered, qualities that enhance all other areas of my life.” - Cynthia
Assessing the main sail trim
Tacking with fluidity
Rocking the sail trimming!
Driving the dinghy for the first time!
Watching the sails
Trimming the genoa