Our Team
Captain Mary Swift-Swan
Mary Swift-Swan, began teaching sailing in 1984, beginning with teaching Spinnaker on San Francisco Bay. In 1985 obtained a US Coast Guard 6 passenger license and American Sailing Association (ASA) instructor certifications for 101-106 (Beginning through Advanced Coastal). Started first sailing school in 1987, Swift Sailing. Later followed by Sailing Connection 1993-1995 and Afterguard Sailing Academy since 2003.
Was successful in obtaining college accreditation for the CSU/UC systems for a college version she designed from the ASA courses in 1996. Mary was the first woman ASA Instructor Evaluator certified in 1997. Created a Bay and offshore program at the request of Lake Merritt when in it's prime. With the help of the respected Lake Merritt program developed ASA 110. Was chosen out of 100 I.E.s by ASA to write as part of a 4-author team, plus Harry Munns as editor, for ASA’s first-level books - 101 and 103, published in 2010 & 2012. Known for impactual COB study on SF Bay.
Pearce Aurigemma
Pearce started his courses with BK1 Dec 2025. He was retired and able to sail alot. Pearce took ASA 101 & 103 starting in Jan. March took ASA 114 and ASA 201-204. A rapid rise who loves to teach. He is fun to learn from.
Ramsey Ismail
Retired from the Oakland Fire Department Ramsey took all the courses through ASA 106. He began the instructor training program and hasn't looked back. He loves to teach and shares his love of sailing with all who are lucky enough to have him as their instructor.
Jim Angelo
Originally from Boston, Jim settled into the Bay Area after a Coast Guard career of almost 25 years, including almost seven years “Sea Time” on board three different “cutters.” He currently instructs the BK1, ASA 101, and ASA 103 courses.
His sailing experience dates back to 2008, and he re-certified his skills with Afterguard in 2011 in a volunteer capacity. In addition to his sailing acumen, Jim is a seasoned leader and manager in both logistical and operational environments, and he has an affinity for Maritime Lingo.
Jim is married, with children and grandchildren, and he resides in Richmond, in the East Bay. His wife and he are novice and adventurous kayakers as well…
Doug Macpherson
Doug grew up in New England learning to sail there on the coast and local lakes. His first introduction to celestial navigation was as a deck officer in the United States Navy.
That initial training has turned into a lifetime hobby and Doug loves to introduce others to the fascinating art of finding one’s way across the world’s oceans with the sun, moon and stars.
He holds a USCG Master’s 100-ton sail and power license and a majority of the ASA teaching certifications.
Olivia Camusi
Olivia has moved back from Paris, for now. After taking a range of courses she began taking instructor clinic. This summer she taught 3 weeks of our small boat camps. Next taking the instructor clinic for ASA 201. Olivia sailed in the Pacific Cup with an all woman crew a few years ago. Has sailed with Afterguard since 2021.
Angela Woodall
Angela is a writer/reporter. After taking many ASA courses with Afterguard she has experience sailing in local waters and many more locations. It is exciting for us that Angela has come back to the Bay Area. She is a leader for our Ladies Sail Time helping get ladies on the water to have fun and practice together.
Rachael Haight
Rachael started our Ladies Sail Time sails on Friday nights but anytime a group of ladies want to practice it is possible. Just not always possible for Rachel to join them as a full time ED Nurse for Kaiser in the south Bay. She took a year to sail half way around the world in the Clipper Cup. Returning said she saw not enough women willing to take on the helm or other roles needed due to lack of confidence. Practicing in the safe and fun crew with other women is a good way to get there.
ASAYA project - since 2006
Marvin Jackson
Career as Marine included water safety training. 2nd Career as OPD
After Marvin took ASA 101-104 he wanted more training and opportunity to become a better sailor. He was fully invested in making a difference for Oakland Youth interested in the water and sailing. Jeremy Cavognolo who brought Oakland Street Academy youth moved out of country but Marvin has stayed with Afterguard being a stellar roll model and mentor for hundreds of youth.
Ani Tiganasu
Originally from Romania, this multi-lingual world traveler has been with Afterguard since 2017. Ani helps with general management, fleet, and a major help to Afterguard students and charterers to sort through the tangles of schedules towards enrollments.
Ani has taken most of the ASA courses over time including ASA 106 and celestial courses. Said became immersed in the Bay Area sailing scene finding her current calling after her first sailing trip in the estuary. Ani holds dear her 33' tiller sailboat, and still is in awe of the joy that sailing brings her.
Anthony Schwab
Anthony's nickname is 'Mr Fix It'. He can fix almost anything. He is an outboard whisperer. He can work with other engines too. We are so lucky he works with Afterguard. Hi patience with beginning students teaching BK1 and ASA 101 is even more valued. After a class Anthony is commonly refer to as A Gem.
Anthony is a California Native, born in the East Bay. He has been sailing for many years. He has owned both power and sailboats since his first adventurous introduction. Anthony's favorite color is 'Sage' and his favorite season is "all of them".
Aleksander Kay
Aleks as an active USCG engineer currently on land duty. After taking most all the student level courses he began the internship by teaching BK1 courses to develop skills and sea time for his USCG license. (I know in the USCG but in a timeframe when a license wasn't part of his sea time) He is a natural easy going instructor. Aleks has completed ASA 101-106 and 201-206 courses at Afterguard. Wife Christine joined the office team for a few years, before they added a new baby to the family.
Captain Tom Hurley
Tom Hurley began sailing when Eisenhower was president of the United States, learning and practicing skills aboard family boats ranging from El Toros to 42 ft gaff cutters sailing upon the San Francisco and the Monterey bays, and along the California coast.
Tom had to cut back on boating and sailing during college, building a business and raising a family of 3 kids. Yes his wife is real. In 2009 Tom Hurley was able to return to his passion for the water, serving aboard the B-Z 1, a small tow boat operating in the Mare Island straits. Leading to obtaining a USCG Merchant Mariner Certificate as Master 50 ton Inland.
Tom Hurley is an active member of the USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 11N- 5-2. He is a: Recreational Boating Saftey Program Visitor, teaching Boating Saftey; HazMat First Responder, Seamanship Specialist, and Patrols Specialist. Tom Hurley has been certified in several of the ASA instructor ratings and has maintained a long relationship with Afterguard Sailing as both charter skipper and instructor.
Tom Hurley currently owns and operates boats as a small business the "Brick Shiphouse" in Benicia California.
Gunter Hoffman
Gunther learned to sail over 20 years ago in Germany on a Bavarian mountain lake. Since moving to the US in 2000, he sailed on everything from dinghies to keelboats on the San Francisco Bay. In 2007, Gunther, and his brother gave their 70-year old father a birthday present of a week long 101/103 course with Afterguard. Gunther continued with Afterguard, through 106-Advanced Coastal Cruising and a few instructor courses. Works as an engineer by day, raised a family, part-time musician and occasionally Gunther will teach 105 Coastal Navigation. He is excellent at sharing.
Captain Tom Abbott
Tom and Megan Laney double handed to HI. They lived aboard for a year then sailed back to SF Bay. Megan helps with fleet management and office coverage. She also races her boat Alley Cat in the Estuary and more often with Tom and half the Afterguard team aboard.
Tom started as a student. Purchased a boat and it was all a reach from there. He has crossed to HI 3 times. Has switched from the IT world to sailing.
Kevin Dundon
Kevin began sailing with Afterguard in 2006. He took a series of lessons that continued till he became an ASA instructor through ASA 105 - Coastal Navigation. Kevin has begun working with Tow Boat US. If he buzzes you, it is all in good fun. He may take your picture. It's rare in the Bay for Kevin to teach a course but he is one of the Skipper/Instructors aboard our Destination sails where participants can take either or both ASA 104/114/
Kevin is a California native raised in Alameda. His accent is a rare one.
Wes Riley
Wes always wanted to be on a boat as a child, but he never had any access. In 2022 he took a kayaking class on little Lake Natoma in Sacramento, where he asked if there were any classes for sailing dinghies he saw tied to the dock. They were great but he soon wanted to escape the confines of a lake. Then he found Afterguard. He’s been in love with sailing ever since. In trying to spend as much time on the water as he can, Wes began teaching as part of the youth program and intro sailing team.
When he’s not drawn away by the allure of two-wheeled land-based adventures, and there is something about background nagging from a “day job ” that he needs to get rid of so he can do this all the time.