USMA Chicago

Born and raised in the “land of pleasant living”, the Chesapeake Bay region of Annapolis Maryland, Captain Al Grigalunas has been a waterman his entire life.

First with outboards for fishing and skiing, then later in the military as an Officer on a cargo vessel and over the last 20 years on sailboats ranging from 19’ Rhodes to 58’ Cherubini Schooners.  Captain Al has logged more than 20,000 nautical miles on Inland Waters, the Great Lakes, the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

 

An avid sailboat racer, Captain Al has served on Race Committees, conducted Adult Introduction to Sailing for the Columbia Yacht Club “Skipjack” program and in addition to his USMA Chicago responsibilities currently serves as Co-Chair for the Marine Education Program at Columbia Yacht Club.

 

Captain Al holds a USCG Great Lakes Masters, a Near Coastal OUPV and Mates License, a sailing endorsement, a commercial assist towing endorsement, a NAUI SCUBA Certificate and is a member of the International Ship Masters Association Lodge #3

Captain Fred has been boating all of his life, from canoeing in Boy Scouts up to bare boat charters in the Aegean Sea and from water skiing in the Chain of Lakes to Scuba diving and fishing in Florida where he lived for 10 years.   He is a true recreational boater.  The Swastek family owns a 27 foot Stiletto catamaran in Montrose Harbor which is like their summer home.  Even though it is a fast sail boat, they use it for day sailing and getting out of the city.  There are rod holders that can be attached for trolling and once it even pulled a water skier.   His other boat is a 17 foot Grumman Aluminum canoe.  Fred also competes in canoe marathons and goes canoe camping.  Other bare boat experiences include The Florida Keys, The Virgin Islands, The Abacos in the Bahamas and The Greek Islands.   

 

   Captain Fred received his formal training from the founder of United States Maritime Academy, Captain Jeff Sanders.  As a member of the first class in Chicago, he expressed interest in teaching the class.  The next step was to get Coast Guard approval to be an instructor.  The USCG approval was granted in July of 2007.  Captain Fred had other teaching experience at American Airlines where he was a Maintenance Instructor from 1996 to 2003.  There are many similarities between Avionics on airplane and the navigation instruments on a boat.  Fred loves bringing his life experiences into the classroom and sharing them so that others can learn.