You’re committed to sail anywhere — SAIL SMART.
Advanced sailing Instruction by Paul Exner for expert-sailors and any sailor seeking mastery.
“Masterful sailing is honed through preparedness-training, built upon a foundation of self-reliance and readiness, practiced only by taking responsibility for actions immersed in sea-experience.” Paul Exner
Paul Exner teaches you practical hands-on methods that help you analyze and navigate the sailing conditions affecting your immediate plans or trans-oceanic routes; you learn how to create actionable sailing-plans at any level of complexity. You will develop the ‘readiness’ needed to sail those plans efficiently using Paul’s powerful management system for ‘seamanship’ that combines situational awareness with your talents.
Your sail anywhere coach: Paul Exner
Paul Exner has coached thousands of sailors and boat-owners — here’s what they say:
“Paul Exner is hands down the best coach / teacher I've ever met. He teaches fundamentals, empowering us to make decisions by ourselves... His methods are really that - methods - teachable, repeatable and reliable."
“I’ve been learning to sail for 5 years taking various classes and racing on J-105 sailboats. However, I learned more from my experience on Paul Exner's 10-day Expert-Level Sailing Expedition than all the other sailing courses and experiences put together!"
“Hi Paul … I followed your latest Hawaii Island circumnavigation expedition with interest noting your mastery of your craft — you made a “barely survived” experience, just another day at the office for you and your team."
“Paul was extremely professional and patient with us and gave us the confidence to set out on our around-the-world sailing adventure. He is a wealth of information on so many different levels."
“I highly recommend Paul Exner! His knowledge base is vast and sophisticated, yet his communication style is comfortable, easy-going, and down-to-earth. He brings such a positive vibe to the experience that is clearly borne out of his love for sailing and zest for life."
“Paul Exner is the Real Deal — with decades of experience! His style of teaching is performed with a combination of patience, calm-and-clear communication, and he takes time to make sure we retain as much as possible by quizzing and testing us. I highly value my time with him."
“Paul has an amazing coaching ability to find and bring out the best in you. The MOD GEO Expedition was an incredible life changing trip for many reasons; first-off: Paul's knowledge and experience along with the way he engages with his clients is excellent."
“Paul, I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed our Expedition. Your training and leadership out-shined my expectations. Your first questions to me were: ‘what are your goals?’ I gave you a long detailed answer, and then you knocked it out of the park."
“Paul Exner changed my life in a monumental way! My five month apprenticeship with Paul is equivalent to a decade learning anywhere else. Paul helped me direct my dream! He saved me years of wandering. Vei-Mua-Na: go where the bow takes you."
"I can say with earnest that I owe my growth as a sailor to Paul Exner's first-class coaching. Paul has taken me from barely knowing how to tie a bowline, to fore-reaching in heavy weather, to singlehandedly handling a spinnaker, at night, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean."
Paul Exner is an excellent and qualified teacher who explains each concept in a way you can understand, and he constantly quizzed me to make sure I retained everything. The MOD GEO Expedition was truly an amazing experience that sparked a real passion for sailing inside of me.”
“Thanks Paul, it was a great experience sailing with you!
I spent the day after our expedition getting a tattoo to remember my trip every time I look down at my wrist — you undoubtedly made learning fun and I had a great time!"
I took the ASA 101/3/4 courses, but my training with Paul Exner was much more in-depth and experiential. Instead of pre-canned curriculums, we focused on the items I was most deficient in, building on those items daily — getting out into blue water and learning hands-on.
“Sailing with Paul Exner on Solstice might be the best time we have ever had (including our favorite dive trip to the Maldives). Paul is an excellent sailor and teacher; he made every watch enjoyable. We absolutely loved sailing with Paul and already booked a second trip with him!
“Thank you for a remarkable journey — it was a one-of-a-kind experience. You are the best sailor and instructor I ever met. I hope you don’t mind, but as I teach my sailing students, I hope to emulate your style. It was the greatest sailing with you, Paul … Let’s do it again!”
“Paul Exner is absolutely stellar — Paul is incredibly knowledgeable, and with his decades of experience he clearly translated the craft of sailing into very simple and practical lessons. Super excited to continue working with Paul as my own sailing experience continues to grow.”