Our  Instructors … tons of experience!

Dave DeWolfe, Principal and Chief Instructor

Dave DeWolfe, owner and Chief Instructor of Discovery Sailing, is an RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Instructor and Yachtmaster Examiner in the RYA Cruising program and has a commercially endorsed RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean certificate.  As well, Dave is a RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Examiner.  He is also a Sail Canada Advanced Cruising Instructor and has the CYA Yachtmaster Ocean award.

He was awarded the 2011 Male Sailor of the year by the Nova Scotia Yachting Association. He personally teaches the live-aboard courses. He has been sailing for somewhere around 40 years, and has extensive knowledge of the Nova Scotia Coast. Dave has a good sense of humour and loves to share his passion for sailing and the south shore of Nova Scotia. His years of teaching people sailing, being a charter captain and his easygoing nature will guarantee you a wonderful learning experience.

The sea has been his interest all his life. He worked as a sea-going Hydrographic Surveyor for many years with the Canadian Hydrographic Service. He is an expert on tides, having been head of the Tidal Division at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography for almost a decade. He has made a number of trips to the Arctic to measure tides in Nunavik (Arctic Quebec), where the tidal range equals that of the Bay of Fundy. He continues to do consulting work in Hydrography and Coastal Oceanography. Dave is also a certified diver.

Dave is an associate member of  Master Mariners of Canada.

During the winter season, he skis a lot and teaches as a member of the Canadian Ski Patrol and the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance.  He also conducts ski improvement clinics for members of the Canadian Ski Patrol.  Dave holds the Canadian Ski Patroller Award, the Ski Patrol’s highest operational award.

Roger Harris, Cruising Instructor

Roger Harris is an RYA Cruising Instructor, and holds both a commercially-endorsed RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean certificate and an MCA yacht engineer’s certificate (“AEC”). He is also a certified instructor in the Sail Canada dinghy (“CANSail”) and cruising schemes.
He teaches some of the Competent Crew and Day Skipper live-aboard courses.
He began sailing at a young age, initially in his parents’ boat and then in the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets. He went on to spend 15 years in the naval reserve, earning a Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate and subsequently serving as Deck Officer in HMCS Porte St. Jean and Executive Officer in HMCS Porte St. Louis and Porte Quebec.
Roger has many ocean passages logged aboard yachts, including two transatlantic voyages and deliveries in the Labrador Sea and the South Pacific. He has also completed various offshore races.
A former flight instructor and law professor, Roger has many years of teaching experience and is a lifelong learner who relishes the chance to grow and evolve. His patient manner and good humour make him a natural for working with novice sailors.

Denis Mongeau, Cruising Instructor

Denis Mongeau is an RYA Cruising Instructor, and holds both a commercially-endorsed RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean certificate.  He is also a Sail Canada Advanced Instructor.
He teaches some of the Competent Crew and Day Skipper live-aboard courses.

Working in the field of sailing for thirty years, Denis has developed extensive experience in cruising sailing.

His career in coastal and offshore sailing leads him to explore the Canadian Maritimes, Caribbean, Africa and South America.  As a ship chandler, he accompanied many boaters in the pursuit of their dream.

For many years, Denis has also guided countless sailors in both Canadian and Caribbean waters.  His experience and his passion will give you confidence.  As a sailing instructor, he is determined to give you the best in sail cruising.