The American Sailing Association has announced that Michael Rice, owner of Puget Sound Sailing Institute of Tacoma and Edmonds, was honored again as Instructor of the Year for 2002.
Rice was previously awarded Instructor of the Year in 1997, 2000 and 2001. Only 12 of the more than 2,000 instructors nationwide receive this distinction each year.
“The award is given based on evaluations returned confidentially to A.S.A. by students who are being certified,” A.S.A. director Harry Munns said.
Rice started Puget Sound Sailing Institute in 1985 in Tacoma. Branch operations in Edmonds began in 1997.
Students come to learn and be certified to a national standard. Rice offers certification in basic sailing, basic coastal cruising, bareboat (meaning you are the skipper) chartering, coastal navigation, advanced coastal cruising, celestial navigation and offshore passagemaking. Rice has sailed more than 70,000 nautical miles, including six crossings of the Pacific from the West Coast to both Hawaii and Tahiti. He has taught thousands to sail.
“I love sailing and just want to share it with others. It is so rewarding to be able to do what I love for a living,” Rice said.
He is also an instructor evaluator, meaning he trains other instructors to teach future sailors.
For more information on the Puget Sound Sailing Institute call 800-487-2454, visit its website at www.pugetsoundsailing.com or e-mail: mike@pugetsoundsailing.com.
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