Our Team

Mary SwiftSwan, began teaching sailing in 1984, beginning with teaching Spinnaker on San Francisco Bay. In 1985 obtained her first US Coast Guard license and American Sailing Association (ASA) instructor certifications for 101-106 (Beginning through Advanced Coastal). Has been teaching ever since. Mary was the first woman ASA Instructor Evaluator certified in 1997.

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Captain Mary was selected out of 100 I.E.s by ASA as a member of a 5-author team for ASA’s two first-level instruction books - 101 and 103, published in 2010 & 2012. She added ASA 110-Small Boat program with help from the main office in 2000. Was successful in obtaining college accreditation for the CSU/UC systems for her college version of ASA courses in 1996. Has owned her own sailing school(s), since 1987. 

As of 2024 Matey is 21 yr old. He is a very experienced service boy. He pretty much runs the business. PTSD and Medical alert are just 2 of his superpowers. He is frequently seen dogging Mary's every step or lounging in the sun overseeing all operations.

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.

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. 

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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. 

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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…

Alek as an active USCG on temporary minimal duty came to see us one day. He took classes and was a natural instructor. After taking enough courses to get into the instructor training program progressed to become an ASA instructor through ASA 104. Alek encouraged his wife to join the team. It is a family kind olace. 

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.

Kevin is a California native raised in Alameda. His accent is a rare one.

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. 

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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. 

First started with Afterguard via YEP (Youth Employment Program) in his Junior yr in school 16. Tim's goal is well on the way. Has been accepted at UCSF.  

Steve Swan was an instigating/originating partner with Mary SwiftSwan. He was an outstanding Basic Sailing Instructor and stunning vocal Performer. He died of Lung cancer 2016, though he himself never smoked. He was a wonderful mentor with youth in our programs. His humor and kindness set the stage for the family feel, youth and women friendly, fun place to learn to sail.

Originally from Romania, this multi-lingual world traveler manages all things office. Charters, Enrollment and generally keeping the office afloat.  

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Sold her Pearson 30 after living aboard for a bit. Since bought the school's Yamaha 33. Ani has spent the last few years accumulating her ASA series of courses. She became fully immersed in the Bay Area sailing scene finding her calling after her first sailing trip on the bay.

Christine can do anything she wants. After the flood the shack storage shelves need to be rebuilt. She grabbed the tools and got it done. You need help to enroll, charter or join a practice sail, Christine has got you.

Anthony is nicknamed 'Mr Fix It'. He can fix almost anything. He fixes our project boats, all engines; both inboard and outboard, and much more.  We are so lucky he works with Afterguard. Hi patience with engines has been of great value in working with beginning students teaching BK1 and ASA 101. 

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 'Ghost Grey' and his favorite season is "all of them". 

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. 

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.

Captain Rory MacLysaght holds a Merchant Marine Masters License for Motor and Auxiliary Sail, plus Commercial Assistance Towing. Captain Rory grew up on the Shannon river in Ireland, and has lived and worked in Europe, Japan and the US.

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Rory and his wife Mai have moved to Spain. He joined our Croatian Destination Flotilla 5/2023. Rory is helping to put together our next destination Europe sail.

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, his brother and their 70-year old father took a week course of ASA-101 and 103 classes in celebration of their father’s 70th birthday with Afterguard. Gunther continued with Afterguard, through 106-Advanced Coastal Cruising. He works as an engineer, is raising a family, a musician and acquired ASA teaching credentials. Gunther is an excellent 105 Coastal Nav and destination charter 104/114 course instructor.

John grew up power boating, however his first sailing experience occurred when he was in the Navy.  In 2008 he took up keelboat sailing on San Francisco Bay.

In addition to sailing, John has taught Problem Solving and Root Cause Analysis in the corporate environment.  In his spare time he enjoys cruising abroad, working as a Business Operations Manager, and being a husband / father of two sailors.

 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.