Captain Val holds MCA 200T Oceans Unlimited License, Sail Canada and ASA Instructor certification, 200,000 offshore miles. teaching and mentoring crew.     She lived aboard a 27′ sailboat with 3 brothers and her parents as a kid in Bahamas and Florida and turned that into her lifelong passion of paying it forward.  Hundreds of students have learned and been certified by her.  Val has won Women On Water Leadership Award, Newport-Bermuda Race 2006, Newport-Bermuda Race Navigators Award 2006 along with numerous podium wins over her many years of racing. She is Director of WAVE Sailing School, Women At The Helm, Director JR Sailing at LaHave River Yacht Club, Team Wave Founder and Race Coach, Sailing Mentor, Life Coach, and has launched numerous careers of people who have certified with her offshore.