VALINOR

Captain and Instructor Giorgio (Gegio): Beautiful smile and charming manner from the time we met, through even the most detailed and serious instruction. Gegio demonstrated expertise regarding the yacht, sailing conditions and the ASA instructional material. He was knowledgeable and completely well prepared. I would call him a master in all aspects of this trip. Impressive for a young man. We had a mix of students, some with very limited experience on large sailboats. Gegio was patient, clear and precise in his instruction, and always focused on safety. We sailed hard and everyone grew in confidence daily. We all learned to manage the helm under power and sail and while anchoring, and I observed that Gegio was particularly effective in helping us manage the sails with care, with attention to the mechanical stresses at play, and safety considerations. Gegio knows how to take care of these powerful sailing machines and his students! Gegio made this a wonderful and productive week! Truly beautiful. Gegio, you are going have a great career in the yachting industry. I highly recommend you to any future employer. Thank you to Gegio and to Sailing Virgins. Great program!

I spent a week sailing around Saint Martin on a catamaran with Gegio, and it was an outstanding experience. He strikes a great balance between technical skill and a relaxed, approachable teaching style. Whether at the helm or working through docking and sail handling, his instruction was clear, practical, and tailored to the crew. He kept things safe and structured without ever making it feel rigid. What stood out most was how much everyone improved over the week. Gegio created an environment where you could ask questions, try things out, and build real confidence handling the boat. I’d absolutely recommend him to anyone looking to develop their sailing skills while enjoying a great week on the water.

Superior Instruction & Personalized Service

Gegio was an amazing instructor. He displayed a great balance of business and pleasure throughout the trip: business, in that his instruction was professional and earnest and helped underscore the lessons we sought to learn; pleasure, in that he balanced those lessons with humor, ample time for fun and relaxation and a well-deserved glass of wine! Gegio’s knowledge and confidence at the helm immediately put us at ease on the boat. His “no drama on the boat” policy was adopted at the start – and certainly was appreciated by parents with two moody teenagers in tow. I really appreciated how Gegio kicked off the trip by asking why each of us was there and what we wanted to achieve. It was clear that he listened closely to our responses, as it seemed he tailored our individual experiences from that point forward. Gegio’s teaching style is patient, safety focused, and hands-on. He was open to all questions and always gave in-depth answers, explaining the “why” behind how things are done, helping us to gain a better understanding. He was also generous with words of encouragement, offering “bravo” increasingly each day as we honed our sailing skills. The time and effort Gegio put into teaching ensured that we all truly earned our certifications, making us all more competent, confident sailors.

Learn and have fun with Gegio!

Gegio made our sailing trip to the BVIs unforgettable! I’m not a super experienced sailor and he was very patient and explained things very well. His energy is unmatched and I wouldn’t have wanted any other captain! If you are looking to learn AND have fun, go with Gegio! Top notch sailing trip!