SPRING 2007 • PAGE 7
FEATURED FACILITY
continued from page 6
The waters of Las Perlas abound in
tropical game fish, and are considered
among the best fishing grounds in the
world. Sixteen world-record black marlins have been
conquered in these waters. Sportfishing, marine wildlife,
waters. Afterwards, she continued on to El Salvador,
and coral reefs have made this a paradise for fishermen,
Costa Rica and then found a home in Panama. She also
divers, and a dream location for sailors! One can see why
is no stranger to navigation; her military career was as a
Panama Sailing School has chosen these islands as one
navigation specialist. Sahika continues to work with both
of their locations for sailing education. Without a doubt,
children and adults in sailing education. She is a certified
Panama is a tropical paradise for nature lovers and
physician assistant who has an extensive medical
outdoor adventurers.
background and is working with Panama Sailing School to
bring the fun, thrill and accomplishment of the sailing
The Owners
experience to those with disabilities in the near future.
Panama Sailing School is owned by Sahika Riley and
Leading Sailing Education
Christopher Bell. Chris, who comes from the United
Kingdom, has over 20 years of sailing experience and
PSS is a 100 percent sailing school dedicated to providing
has been a sailboat owner for more than 10 years. Being
a concrete sailing education for aspiring sailors. The
a career professional pilot with a master’s in aviation, he
student/instructor ratio ranges from private one-on-one
is no foreigner to navigation. He has been a boat delivery
courses to the highest ratio of four-to-one. The curriculum
skipper for monohulls and catamarans throughout Mexico
includes Introduction to Sailing, and ASA-accredited
and the United States, and has been an ASA Instructor
courses: Basic Keelboat, Coastal Cruising, and Bareboat
for the past four years, teaching Coastal Cruising, Ocean
Chartering, along with combinations of these courses
Cruising, Basic Keelboat, Navigation, and Bareboat
customized to meet any and all of each sailor’s needs.
Charter. Chris has participated and taught for two years
Family packages are offered for those with children.
in “Sailing for the Blind.” He was vice commodore for
the Voyagers Yacht Club in Newport Beach, Calif. While
PSS takes pride in its main vessel for instruction,
there, he participated in numerous racing activities. As a
“Comfort Zone,” a 37 Island Packet in pristine
cruiser, Chris has sailed the warm waters of the Pacific,
condition. Rated as an Ocean class boat, education on
North America, Mexico and all through Central America.
this vessel is exceptional.
Sahika, who is the founder and managing partner, also
As Panama Sailing School leads sailing education in
has an extensive sailing background. She spent many of
Panama, its staff extends a warm welcome to those of
her college years racing in Southern California. She spent
different cultures. Sahika said, “We love teaching and
a year sailing in Mexico from Ensenada to the Sea of
have always been in the forefront of education. It is very
Cortez, and throughout the rest of Mexico. She continued
exciting for us to know that we can help many people
her sailing adventures as captain to sail across the
reach their dreams. This school has grown out of our love
challenging Gulf of Tehuantepec and into Guatemalan
and respect for this wonderful country and we can’t wait
to share it with everyone.”
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