About me
Maxim Smirnov
Yacht Skipper • Sailing Instructor • Racer
About me:
Sailing since childhood, yachting since my teens, and a life at sea.
I’m inspired by the adrenaline of race starts and the thrill of fighting for seconds, but nothing beats the pleasure of an unhurried cruise: when the sail catches the wind and there’s good food, easy conversation, and a crew you truly want to share the sea with.
I’m happy to share the helm, become part of the team, and help others feel the boat the way I do.
How I can help:
— Skipper for cruising and racing projects
— Instructor for beginner and advanced sailors
— Participant and organizer of corporate regattas and team-building events
— Preparing yacht crews and boats for racing
Key facts:
— Sailing since 1987; graduate of a St. Petersburg sports school (classes: Optimist, Cadet, 420, 470)
— Cruising yachting since 1994 (Quarter Ton class, Open 800, Raketa 970, and charter yachts)
— Independently built and skippered the yacht Flavis (32 ft, Raketa 970)
— 10+ years of teaching experience in yachting (IYT, ISSA)
— 10,000+ miles on offshore passages
Licenses and certificates:
— RYA Day Skipper (since 2012)
— ISSA YachtMaster Offshore (since 2016)
— GIMS, Ministry of Transport (sailing vessel skipper, since 2012)
— STCW-95, VHF, First Aid
Racing experience:
— Regattas on dinghies and sport yachts
— Podium finisher at the Russian Cup in Quarter Ton and Open 800 (GP26) classes
— Participant in ORC European Championships and Gotland Runt (AF Offshore Race, Sweden)
— Regattas in Turkey, the Baltics, Sweden, and Russia
Corporate projects:
— CG Sailing Cup (Montenegro, Croatia)
— Synergy Business Regatta (Montenegro)
— TechnoRegatta 100Captains 2024 (Montenegro)
Deliveries:
— Canary Islands – Madeira – Málaga (46 ft, skipper)
— Le Havre – Lisbon – Barcelona (53 ft, first mate)
— Malta – Canary Islands (53 ft, first mate)
The sea for me is work, sport, and a way of life.
And every new project is a chance to share this passion with a crew and make another journey unforgettable.