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34 | OHCC LIVING | JULY 2026 | Learning the Ropes: Crew in Training and Captain Dave Ramgren One of the most rewarding aspects of the Ocean Hills Sailing Club is helping members move from being occasional guests aboard our boats to becoming active participants in the sailing experience. Our Crew in Training (CIT) program is designed for members who want to learn more about sailing, improve their skills, and potentially advance to positions such as Second Mate and First Mate. The program follows many of the principles taught in ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing and combines classroom instruction with hands-on experience on the water. This year's training sessions covered topics including boat concepts, rules of the road, points of sail, tacking and jibbing, docking, sail trim (with an in-class session taught by Captain Charlie C), knot tying, seamanship, and other practical skills. Training sails provide participants with the opportunity to put those lessons into practice. As Education Captain, Dave Ramgren often reminds students, nothing builds skills faster than hands-on experience. Advancement within the club involves much more than sailing knowledge alone. Future mates are evaluated on safety awareness, communication skills, seamanship, and their ability to assist captains and crew in a variety of situations. Just as important are enthusiasm, teamwork, and a genuine interest in continuing to learn. Appropriately, this month's featured captain is our Education Captain, Dave Ramgren. Dave's sailing journey began as a teenager sailing a Sabot dinghy and occasionally crewing aboard a family friend's trimaran in Santa Barbara. Years later, while working as a computer programmer, he rediscovered sailing through community sailing classes and quickly became hooked. His pursuit of knowledge led him to advanced coursework through the United States Power Squadron and eventually to competitive sailboat racing in Ventura. Over the years, Dave raced aboard several boats, participated in countless local races, and accumulated decades of sailing experience. Since moving to Ocean Hills with his wife, Ilene, he has become one of the club's most dedicated instructors, helping members gain the confidence and skills needed to enjoy sailing safely. The success of our CIT program is a direct ref lection of Dave's commitment to education and mentorship. We thank him for sharing his knowledge and helping the next generation of OHSC sailors learn the ropes. "Along the way, Dave accumulated decades of racing experience, including one memorable race that ended with a dismasting in 54- knot winds — a story we'll save for another issue." Written by Pat Melzer Sailing Club

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