Our Team

Learn about each of our wonderful staff below -

		Terry Wise, Principal  Terry founded Pacific Sailing School in 1977 and continues to play an active role as Principal, tender driver, offshore cook and wine connoisseur.  Born in Tamworth, NSW and brought up on the land, he got the sailing bug at school. Terry represented the Army in Sailing at National level, and completed his first Hobart at 17 years old.  At 23, he joined a French team breaking two world records crossing the Atlantic.  He then spent several years skippering yachts in the Mediterranean and Caribbean.  Terry has led over 70 sailing holidays worldwide. Terry is married with two daughters. Elizabeth 16y, Skipper Cadet dinghy in two National Championships, crewed two J24 Nationals and a J24 World Championship,  2007 Nth Bondi Junior Ironwoman, Board Champion.  Sarah 13y, 2007 Level 8 National Champion Gymnast.
	Garry Kirkman Garry has been sailing for 35 years. His experience includes harbour racing on small yachts, short off shore ocean races, and class racing in the Etchelles fleet off Broken Bay and an Etchelles Worlds on Botany Bay.   He is a yacht owner and regularly engages in NSW coastal cruising with his family and friends. Garry holds Commercial Yachtmaster Certification with NSW Maritime, has completed both the YA Yachtmaster (Shore Based Course) and Commercial Coxswains courses at NSW TAFE. He is also the holder of the YA Inshore Skippers qualification and is a YA Certified Instructor at this level.
		Carla Baker Warm and friendly Carla. Originally from UK , now in Australia for about 10 years.  Carla comes from the fitness Industry and has threatened to introduce warms ups and stretching before sailing.  Carla is learning to sail and is one of Terry's friendly Sailing Advisors and works Tuesday to Saturday
	Paula Shires Since taking lessons in 1999, Paula has worked part time for PSS in the office, and often is tender driving.  Paula has crewed on many boats from J24's to 50 footers, skippered in Ladies Days and currently cruises more often than racing.
		Sean Kirkjian With a dinghy background, Sean is the youngest skipper ever in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Sean is the winner of last three J24 National Championships. He is currently rated No 1 - J24 sailor in Australia. Simply an all round nice guy, great teacher & great sailor.
	Fabian Hupfauf Working in the Design industry, Fabian is an ex dingy Champion, and a veteran of the last 7 years of the famous Gosford weekend. One of our top skippers, Fabian can be found teaching on our J24's up to Race Course level.
		Mario Lavesque Originally from Canada, moved to Australia in 2005, Mario crewed and skippered vessels in Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, Florida Keys, San Francisco Bay, and Thailand. Mario is a US Coast Guard Masters Captain, a Yachting Australia Inshore Instructor, a US Sailing Bareboat Cruising Instructor and a NAUI Dive Master. He adapts to his students' needs and makes sure everyone is having a great time, while keeping it safe. When Mario is not on the water, he's playing on Oracle financial applications and databases for Red Rock Consulting."
	Greg Dixon Greg is an Exercise Physiologist with a clear understanding of the body and the sport of sailing. He sails every day and is currently campaigning in World 18 ft skiffs. Greg's background includes being in the World 18 ft world's top ranked Rookie team, NSW State 14' Champion, World Championship 3rd crewing for Olympian Jenny Danks, Rookie of the year and Australian VJ Champion. Look for CST and say Hi to Greg next time your on the Harbour   That Greg at the back going really fast...
		Wecome Sharon Yachting Australia and RYA qualified Yachtmaster Instructor with heaps of dinghy and offshore experience.
	Hugh Ferrar Hugh is a YA Yachtmaster and has messed about in boats for a long time, did a Hobart and 3 world championships. From the IT industry, has a degree in Mathematics and Physics and has sailed in various classes and campaigned on the famous Americas Cup boat, Gretal II.  Hugh is low key and if your lucky to sail on his boat relax and enjoy his patience and incredible knowledge
		David Winning The only person ever to be pulled over on the Harbour,  sailing -  for breaking the speed limit ! - Awesome sailor and Instructor and low key nice guy.
	Gunnar Tuisk Owner of our mighty Cadenza, Gunnar is a Yachtmaster Instructor.  A retired senior public servant, Gunnar is often seen steering Cadenza with our students on board in harbour races year round. He  patiently teaches navigation on our Offshore Crew and Coastal skipper courses.  When he's not teaching sailing, Gunnar is skippering yachts around the waters of Australia, looking for Slap Happy, the Humpback Whale that PSS sponsors.
		Owen Thomas Owen is PBO of a beautiful 50 year old timber sloop and has over 25,000 offshore miles to his credit.  Owen is Master marina - sail, and a Yachtmaster Instructor.  Owen's daughter Celia also taught for PSS before taking time off to make Owen a Grandfather, and since retiring after 30 years as a specialist anaethetist, he is enjoying life as a sailing instructor for PSS.
	Natalie Burton Natalie helps out in our office on weekends
		John Gardiner Gardo is our Chief Instructor and likes to be referred to as Mr Gardiner!   But we call him Gardo. Or John is good. Gardo has an extensive sailing background and has competed in most races here in Australia and overseas and has taught over 1000 Sydney Hobart Owners, Skippers and crews their YA Safety & Sea Survival course. Gardo is the face on the cover of YA's Introductory Keel Boat book, and for a VB (or 2) will autograph your copy.
	Ian Mason Ian is a school teacher by trade.  He is a YA/RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Instructor, and alongside teaching on our J24's and bigger boats during race season. He can also be found in the classroom with our C1 and C2 theory lessons, C5 Small Craft Safety and C9 Coastal Naviagtion courses.
		Hank has been sailing since age nine and racing since age eleven,he has raced on most one-design boats you will see on our lovely harbour ranging from small sailing dinghies right through to very large maxi yachts. Infact,Hank comes from a well known sailing family back ground and he and his brothers have many tittles to their names from club champs to world champs in various fleets. Hank is a Shipwright by trade...a sailor by passion...experienced by time...a champ by nature and a all round top bloke
	Ben Wise  - Terry's nephew - Sailing advisor, 23 and bullet proof.  Keeps the office busy, drives the tender.
		Kyle Grut Tender driver on Saturdays. Other times Kyle is helping his Dad, ex student Geoffrey at Bondi Collision Centre.  Geoffrey helped Terry with the Kyakers of Lot 41, Justin and James get to New Zealand
	Rob Landis In the early days Rob kept PSS open while Terry sailed around the Greek Islands. Now it is Rob's turn,  as he now spends 6 months of the year sailing the 70' yacht Dreamtime in our winter months around Ios and Hydra having the occasional drop of Retzina.
	Peter Bruen Peter has over 40, 000 miles offshore in the last 5 years and teaches Offshore, Radio and Navigation courses alongside sailing lessons and race crews on bigger boats.
		Hamish Greive Ex Jackeroo, pack horse drover, RAF bomber pilot, Helicopter pilot and business manager and for over many years a volunteer in the medical field research. Hamish is a very experienced yachtie and did his first Sydney Hobart in 1949. Hamish now drives the tender for PSS.
	James Swan Just a gentleman and very experienced
		John Smith Yachtmaster Instructor usually teaching on our C6 Bareboat Charter course  Very popular with C6 students putting them through their paces in Navigation and preparation for hiring yachts for sailing holidays in the Whitsunday's.