ABOUT AKELA SAILING
OFFSHORE SAILOR | SAFETY AT SEA INSTRUCTOR | SEAMANSHIP EDUCATOR
Akela Sailing was founded to help sailors build real-world offshore confidence through practical safety training, seamanship education, and hands-on experience.
Led by offshore sailor and instructor Roel Hoekstra, Akela Sailing focuses on the skills that matter most when conditions become challenging offshore: preparation, communication, teamwork, emergency response, and calm decision-making under pressure.
Today, Akela Sailing specializes in two flagship programs:
• Offshore Safety at Sea Training
• Safety for Cruising Couples
Both programs are designed to help sailors move beyond theory and develop the confidence and competence that only practical training can provide.
Meet Roel Hoekstra
Roel Hoekstra is an offshore sailor, racing skipper, Safety at Sea instructor, entrepreneur, and lifelong student of seamanship.
Over several decades, Roel has competed extensively in offshore racing and coastal sailing, including multiple Newport to Bermuda and Annapolis to Newport races.
He has served as skipper aboard both racing and cruising yachts and has worked with experienced crews preparing for demanding offshore conditions.
In addition to his offshore racing experience, Roel has served as Commodore of The Corinthian Yacht Club of Philadelphia, one of the premier sailing clubs on the East Coast. He is a member of the Cruising Club of America (CCA).
Roel skippering Sonrisa in 2024 Newport to Bermuda Race
Roel’s approach to instruction is practical, calm, and experience-driven. His goal is not simply to teach procedures or certifications, but to help sailors develop the judgment, confidence, and communication skills that make offshore sailing safer and more enjoyable.
As Roel often says: Confidence offshore comes from preparation.
Core Programs
Offshore Safety at Sea Training
A US Sailing and World Sailing recognized offshore safety program combining online learning with intensive hands-on practical training.
Participants complete real-world emergency exercises including:
• In-water life raft training
• Fire and flare exercises
• Damage control simulations
• Emergency communication procedures
This certification is commonly required for major offshore races and is valuable for any sailor planning extended offshore passages.
[Learn More About Safety at Sea]
Safety for Cruising Couples
A practical, confidence-building course designed specifically for cruising couples and shorthanded sailors by the Cruising Club of America (CCA)
This program focuses on:
• Communication aboard
• Navigation confidence
• Emergency communication procedures
• Crew coordination
• Practical seamanship for couples
The goal is simple: help couples become safer, more confident, and more capable together on the water.
[Learn More About Safety for Cruising Couples]
The Akela Philosophy
Offshore sailing rewards preparation, teamwork, and good judgment.
The best sailors are rarely the loudest sailors.
They are the sailors who:
• Prepare carefully
• Communicate clearly
• Stay calm under pressure
• Respect the sea
• Continue learning
Akela Sailing was built around those same values.
Copyright 2025 Akela Partners LLC
dba Akela Sailing.
All rights reserved
Contact Information
Email: [email protected]
Address
Akela Sailing
Office: 300 W. 2nd St
Essington, PA 19029
Phone Number:
866-576-1204
