About WindPath Sailing

WindPath Sailing is a pioneer in the emerging market of Fractional Sailing. Our Members enjoy the best of what sailing has to offer, and suffer none of the burdens typically associated with yacht ownership. WindPath Sailing - San Francisco Bay was founded on the principles of the good life, and that is what we deliver. Here you can find information about WindPath Sailing: news, events, press contacts and anything else San Francisco Bay related. Please use the menu on the lower left to navigate.

The WindPath Sailing - San Francisco Story

Launched by Claude Drugan, an avid sailor, WindPath Sailing - San Francisco delivers fractional use sailing to the San Francisco Bay Area. Claude's passion for sailing started at a very young age, when he sailed with his family on a friend's sailboat on the Black Sea in Romania. This passion ignited a dream to have a boat his of own and cruise around the world.

Claude's passion for sailing was then implanted into his wife, Sophia, later into his son, Stephan, and hopefully will continue with his expecting daughter (due in July 2006). Over the past 15 years, Claude and his family have been owners of two boats, and have sailed the US West Coast from Seattle, Washington to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. In addition, they have also chartered boats at different exotic locations around the world.

After completion of his MBA at UC Berkeley, Claude decided to combine his business skills with his hobby and got involved with WindPath Sailing - San Francisco. In March 2006, Claude became the first WindPath Sailing base owner on the US West Coast. Claude plans to expand his base to other California and US West Coast locations in the coming years.

The WindPath Story

The dream was simple, shared with millions of others around the world: sail off into the sunset on a beautiful, well equipped sailboat. Realizing that dream was another subject entirely. At age 28 Ian Treibick, President and Founder of WindPath Sailing, Inc., began to make that dream a reality for those who otherwise could not achieve it.

"The dream has been with me my entire life. A never ending unscratchable itch to be out on the ocean, white sails against a blue sky, enjoying all of the great things life has to offer." says Treibick. To realize this dream would require a significant upfront investment, large ongoing expenses, and a commitment of time his current lifestyle would not allow.

The idea of sharing the cost and use of an expensive asset is not a new concept. "Time share" condos and houses experienced a huge boom in the 1970's and 80's, more recently we have seen the concept applied to everything from executive jets to expensive jewelry.

There are several companies that have even applied the "time share" concept to yachts. "We do have competitors; however none of them offer what I was really looking for: a first class, service oriented sailing opportunity that would not be a huge drain of my time and money, and would allow me to get out on the water when I wanted. Once I realized such a program did not exist it became clear that I had to create it"

On January 14th 2005 Ian decided to shed the corporate lifestyle and set sail, launching WindPath Sailing, Inc. His primary goals: Get people out on the water sailing, do it cost effectively, provide a professional yacht management program, leverage technology and the internet, and most importantly treat customers as he expected to be treated. WindPath's objective is that members "Always leave the dock happy".

Since the opening of his first location at Stamford Landing Marina in Stamford, CT the WindPath Sailing concept has taken on a life of its own. "People in other areas started to approach me almost immediately, all wanted the same opportunity for there local communities." Treibick began to license the business model and systems that made the first location a success. People in other areas with the same ambitions and dreams that had inspired Ian initially could now start a WindPath base of their own.

"WindPath Sailing is now an established entity in the sailing community. We have empowered our membership to live the dream, and still be able to retire when the time comes." With multiple open locations, and a greater interest then ever in both Membership and Base Owner opportunities Treibick sees a bright future for the Fractional Sailing industry. "WindPath has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. It has not only allowed me to realize my dreams, but in doing so has allowed others to as well."