OUR NETWORK

Bob Baginski

Senior Captain Bob Baginski cut his sailing teeth as a young man on Lake Erie, and is now a distinguished and recognized leader in the area of sailing instruction. Bob is a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain with a 50-ton, inland licensing credentials. He is a Certified American Sailing Instructor for ASA 101, 103, and 104. In addition, Bob holds dual certification as a certified US Sailing instructor in basic, intermediate, and advanced levels.

Aside from his instructional sailing expertise, Bob brings a solid background in corporate affairs, and is always primed to lead one of Gratitude Sailing's Executive Leadership and Teambuilding sessions on the Bay aboard his Sailing Vessel (S/V) Makani, meaning 'wind'’ or 'breeze' in Hawaiian.

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Gary Hutson

Master Captain Gary Hutson has sailed the Chesapeake Bay for nearly four decades and is one of Gratitude Sailing’s ASA Instructor Emeriti. Gary and his wife, Deb, cruise aboard Sailing Vessel (S/V) Reality, their Passport 40. Gary especially enjoys preparing students to become tomorrow's sailors and boat owners, with a solid educational foundation that enables them to experience the joy of safe, enjoyable, sailing.

Captain Hutson holds a U.S. Coast Guard 50 ton Master Captain license, and is certified as an American Sailing Instructor up to ASA 104 and Docking. He obtained his Senior Navigator Designation from the U.S. Power Squadron, and has taught their Seamanship, Sail, and Engine Maintenance courses.

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Frank McKee

Master Captain Frank McKee is the latest in a line of distinguished mariners tracing their genealogy to the American Revolutionary War. A lifelong sailor, Frank learned his trade at the knee of his father, and has amassed thousands of miles of sailing on offshore and inland waters. Captain McKee founded The Gratitude Sailing Institute, and is a certified American Sailing instructor.

Captain McKee holds a U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Marine Master Captain 100 ton, near coastal, auxiliary sail and towing endorsement credential. He is a certified ANSI Sail Safety Standard Evaluator, earned after working on a U.S. Coast Guard project that developed sail safety standards for sailing schools' teaching curricula.

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Dan Purcell

Captain Dan Purcell was introduced to sailing on a trip from Annapolis to St. Michael's on a friend's boat in college. While the Chesapeake still tops his list of favorite cruising grounds, Dan has sailed the East Coast from Martha's Vineyard to Key West, and extensively throughout the Caribbean and Bahamas.

Dan is a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain with 25 ton, near coastal licensing credentials, and is an American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) Master Advisor with certifications in diesel engines, electrical and marine systems. Dan also brings a solid background in corporate affairs, and is always primed to lead one of Gratitude Sailing's Executive Leadership and Teambuilding sessions on the Bay aboard his Sailing Vessel (S/V) B&B.

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Andrew Seligman

Master Captain Andrew Seligman grew up surrounded by water. Before he could walk, Andrew was introduced to the sea by his parents along the New Jersey shore and by his grandparents in Liverpool, England. One of his earliest boating endeavors, at age nine, was exploring the waters of the Caledonian Canal, including Loch Ness, with his uncle.

Captain Seligman has a U.S. Coast Guard Master Captain License of not more than 100 gross tons with an auxiliary sailing and commercial assistance towing endorsement. Andrew has over 30 years of sailing experience in Chesapeake waters and between the Long Island Sound and the Chesapeake, the Mediterranean and throughout the Caribbean.

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Julie Tipton

Master Captain Julie Tipton, a decorated Navy veteran, took her first sailing class in 1985 at Naval Station Norfolk, VA. Six boats later, she and her husband now own Sailing Vessel (S/V) TipSea, a 37' Gulfstar. Julie has sailed the entire East Coast, delivered boats to Maine and New England, and has sailed to Bermuda, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, Mexico and Hawaii.

Captain Tipton holds a U.S. Coast Guard 25 ton Master Captain license with a sailing endorsement. Her love of food (especially Maine lobster) and developing new friendships makes her time on the water invaluable. She learns something new every time she goes out, and her sea stories are great entertainment for everyone.

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Vicki Little

A decorated Army veteran, Vicki Little understands the many nuances of preparation that leads to safety at sea. She is an experienced Chesapeake and Virgin Islands cruiser, and brings her contagious energy and commitment to our students' wellbeing and preparedness.

Vicki is a resource liaison to students, from their initial inquiry, to the many instructional and leadership elements that Gratitude Sailing offers.

The personal philosophy she brings to The Gratitude Sailing Institute is, in her own words, “…let’s sail!”

Kiki Mullen

Although she is descended from Nordic seafarers and naval architects, Kiki Mullen didn't begin sailing until 2017 when she completed ASA 101 with Captain Frank McKee. Now connected to her nautical heritage, she continues to earn American Sailing certifications while making new friends in the sailing world.

A woman of many talents, Kiki is The Gratitude Sailing Institute's webmaster. You'll recognize her immediately around the marina, as she's usually singing along to the radio… especially if it's opera….