“When I was 19, and very into surfing, I was at the beach waiting for a wave to come.  This big yacht came by and they’re drinking martini’s and I’m thinking ‘why I am in the water freezing my [butt] off in December, I gotta learn how to sail,’” science and math teacher Glen Melnik said.

Once Melnik’s interest in sailing was sparked, he began taking sailing classes for P.E. credit as a junior at UC Santa Barbara.

“I seriously got into sailing when I was about 25, and I moved to an apartment in the Bay, and everyday I would look out on all the sailboats floating in the water,” Melnik said.

He then took a class in Sausalito, began renting boats, and then racing them.

“When you race you really get to be a much better sailor,” Melnik said. “Every Friday night we’d be going out, but my crew didn’t distinguish before and after the races so we were known as the party boat even during the races.”

Melnik said he stopped racing about eight years ago because it starts wrecking the experience of absorbing the nature around you and listening to the waves and the birds.

“You’re always focused on getting around some buoy,” Melnik said. “It was really exciting and fun at the time but then I decided to back off. Those were always really good times.”

In 1992 Melnik purchased his first boat, a Lancer 30, which is 30 feet and named “Friar Tuck.”

Then about three years ago he purchased his second boat, “Adagio”, which he used to teach for 10 years.

“It’s a really fun boat, but it’s more for day sailing, only for going around the bay,” Melnik said. “That one is only 22 feet.”

Then two years ago he got a 35 foot boat named “Skarthi,” which means Viking warrior.

“My newest boat has really heavy displacement, most stable of the three, for ocean cruising and longer voyages,” Melnik said.

The Skarthi could go anywhere in the world. It has solar panels, a stove, and an oven, Melnik said.

“Once I retire I would like to get offshore to Mexico, maybe go into the South Pacific,” Melnik said. “I’ll find myself one of those native girlfriends with the grass skirts.”

Melnik said his biggest boat is his future, the one he will probably end up living on.

“The boats are kind of like women, they each have their pros and cons. And all three boats are really expensive,  [so] they’re exactly like women.” Melnik said. “To be honest I get along better with my boats than I do with women.”

Melnik said he makes a point to go out and sail at least once a week, during the summer time it’s about 4 or 5 days a week. The smallest boat is kept in Alameda and the two bigger in Sausalito.

“With sailing there are so many different ways you can take it. That’s what makes it fun,” Melnik said. “For example I’m not only certified to teach beginners how to sail, but also certified to teach coastal navigation, with the charts.”

Melnik is also one of the few people that have taught celestial navigation, which lets you find your place on the earth with the stars.

“It’s great to get into something you really enjoy. And not only that but so that you can really grow in it,” Melnik said.

Math teacher Bill Marthinsen went on Melnik’s boat with his family.

“Melnik was telling stories the whole time, but he’s pretty much the same as he is at school,” Marthinsen said.

Middle school P.E. teacher Mike Humphries went on Melnik’s boat last summer.

“I pulled a few lines under his direction,” Humphries said. “He’s a great sailor, very accomplished, competent, and sure of what he’s doing.”