Sailing Story: Bob Labine

Bob Labine is Go Sail Virgin Island’s newest sailing instructor. However, he’s not new to the Go Sail family and he certainly isn’t new to sailing! 

Bob got his start sailing at a family summer cottage six decades ago. 

“Everyone had small sailboats and thought that would be something I would be interested in,” he said. “I built my own sailfish at 10 years old and I’ve been hooked ever since.”

Since then, Bob has sailed for fun, for competition, and for work— including ending up in the Virgin Islands a few times! He participated in the 1980 Hobie Cat 16 World Championships in St. Croix. He then visited again as he passed through the area while delivering a boat from Florida to the Bahamas. 

“That’s kind of what got me hooked on the Caribbean or the Virgin Islands is the place to go,” he said.

However, since then, much of Bob’s teaching experience has actually been on lakes. He got his start 8 years ago in Arizona with a local sailing foundation and then just last year, began teaching at Go Sail Virgin Islands’ sister school, Go Sail Flathead Lake. 

Now, Bob finds himself back in the Virgin Islands to teach there for the first time!  

“By being an instructor I am able to get out and see different parts of the world, meet new people, and share that passion,” he said about his new position as an ASA instructor for Go Sail Virgin Islands.

For Bob, one of the most exciting parts of this new adventure is being able to get out on bigger boats and in open water. 

“Being on a catamaran– it’s nicer being flat than keeled over for 7 days in a row,” he laughed. 

Bob says his goal for all his students taking Go Sail Virgin Islands’ ASA courses is “to have them walk away and tell me at the end that they now feel confident.” 

He says he loves hearing students end the week with questions like, “Can we do this again? What’s the next step?”

Bob is a ASA master instructor and certified to teach ASA 101 through 106, ASA 110, ASA 111, ASA 114, and ASA 118. Get to know more about Bob by booking a weeklong liveaboard vacation with him through the Go Sail Virgin Islands’ sailing school!