# My Own Sailboat Adventures

Captain Mike — NauticEd affiliate sailing school, charter brokerage, and private on-boat sailing mentorship. Based in Vancouver, BC and La Paz, Mexico (Sea of Cortez). Bareboat certification, global charter brokerage across 33+ destinations, and MOS Orca Series sailing gear.

## Pages

- [Home](https://myownsailboat.com)
- [Articles](https://myownsailboat.com/blog)
- [Training](https://myownsailboat.com/training)
- [Mentorship](https://myownsailboat.com/mentorship)
- [Global Charters](https://myownsailboat.com/charters)
- [Free Assessment](https://myownsailboat.com/certification-assessment)
- [MOS Community](https://myownsailboat.com/community)
- [Sailing Gear](https://myownsailboat.com/gear)
- [FAQ](https://myownsailboat.com/faq)
- [About Us](https://myownsailboat.com/about)

## Who We Are

My Own Sailboat (MOS) is a NauticEd affiliate sailing school and charter brokerage founded by Captain Mike Nyakas. MOS operates out of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico (Sea of Cortez) in winter and Vancouver, BC, Canada (Pacific Northwest) in summer. MOS offers bareboat sailing certification, private on-boat mentorship, global sailing charter brokerage, and a community of 360+ certified sailors. Charter partners include Dream Yachts, Sunsail, and The Moorings across 33+ destinations worldwide.

## Captain Mike Nyakas

- Transport Canada SVOP (Small Vessel Operator Proficiency)
- NauticEd Certified Instructor — Official NauticEd Affiliate School
- ASA Instructor of the Year
- Honored Member — Killer Whale Clan, Gitga'at First Nation, Hartley Bay, BC
- 10,000+ hours on the water
- 360+ sailors trained since 2017
- Sailing regions: Sea of Cortez, Pacific Northwest BC, Greece, Croatia, BVI, Thailand, Bahamas, and more

## What MOS Offers

- Sailing Certification: 7-day liveaboard Cruise-and-Learn in Beautiful BC or Sea of Cortez (La Paz). NauticEd Bareboat Master and Catamaran Endorsement. Internationally recognised SLC licence included.
- Charter Brokerage: Bareboat and crewed charters across 33+ global destinations — BVI, Greece, Croatia, Sea of Cortez, Tahiti, Thailand, Turkey, and more. No broker fee to the client.
- On-Boat Mentorship: Private sailing coaching aboard the client's own vessel. Sessions in La Paz and Vancouver BC. Docking, passages, anchoring, offshore readiness.
- Community & Gear: MOS Sailing Community (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube). MOS Orca Series sailing gear — paddleboards, caps, travel mugs, hydration gear.

## Primary Locations

- La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico — Sea of Cortez (winter base)
- Vancouver, BC, Canada — Pacific Northwest (summer base)

## Contact

Email: info@myownsailboat.com
WhatsApp: +1 604 600 4799
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myownsailboat
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AzJYNVajX/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@myownsailboat
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@myownsailboat

## Certification Paths

Path 1 — Complete Beginner to Charter Ready
NauticEd Bareboat Charter Master (BBM) program. Online theory completed before arrival. 7 days on-water in Sea of Cortez or Pacific Northwest. Certification accepted by Dream Yachts, Sunsail, and Moorings at 40+ destinations. NauticEd BBM is the only certification Captain Mike has never seen denied by a charter agency.

Path 2 — Catamaran Endorsement
For sailors who hold a monohull certification and want to add catamaran. Covers twin-engine docking, bridgedeck clearance, sail trim differences, and beam management in marinas.

Path 3 — Private Mentorship
For boat owners or experienced sailors wanting one-on-one coaching. Covers passage planning, offshore navigation, heavy weather sailing, and vessel-specific systems.

## Captain Mike's Sailed Destinations

- Sea of Cortez, Mexico
- British Columbia, Pacific Northwest
- Croatia (Adriatic)
- Bahamas, Abacos
- US Virgin Islands
- British Virgin Islands
- Greece — Ionian Islands and Cyclades
- Italy
- Thailand — Andaman Sea