Jahn Tihansky

Hometown:	Tampa, Florida
Years Sailing:	32
Certifications:	USCG Master 50 Ton Near Coastal, US Sailing Instructor for Basic Keelboat, Cruising and Coastal Navigation, US Sailing Instructor Trainer, Private Pilot
Craziest Experience:	Lot’s of them… I guess the craziest was racing with a Japanese crew in Hawaii on a 3 day distance race.. They were obviously trying to impress us three Americans aboard by provisioning the boat with American junk food including two day’s worth of frozen McDonald’s hamburgers, Vienna sausages, and a few buckets of fried chicken! It took weeks to recover!
Most Memorable Experience:	Going aloft aboard a 136 foot square-rigger to furl sails in a driving thunderstorm at night! I learned the true meaning of the saying “one hand for yourself and one hand for the ship” while clinging to a slippery yardarm that night!
Notable Sailing Events and Accomplishments:
Racing:	US Yacht Club Challenge – overall winner as main trim for Chris Larson 3 J/24 World Championships – 2 as skipper, best finish 2nd as bowman for Ed Baird 5 J/24 Midwinters – best finish was overall winner as crew for John Kostecki J/24 US National Championship – overall winner as crew for Ken Read 10 Key West Race Weeks – class winner twice, once as skipper 11 SORCs – 6 as skipper, 5 with J World student crew Kenwood Cup Offshore Championship – crew Corum Japan Cup Offshore Championship – crew 4 St. Francis Big Boat Series -class winner once as helm – crew Farr 40 North American Championship – crew Antigua Race Week – crew, class winner Rolex Regatta St. Thomas – crew 2 Bermuda Races – crew, class winner once Mumm 30 World Championship – crew Mumm 36 East Coast Championship – crew, overall winner 2 Mumm 30 Lewmar Cups – crew Prince of Wales Match Racing Finalist – skipper 8 Ft. Lauderdale to Key West Races – 6 with J World student crew, 3 time class winner 5 Block Island Race Weeks – three times class winner, twice as skipper 3 J/35 North American Championships – overall winner twice 2 J/30 North American Championships – crew 4 MORC International Championships – crew Two Ton World Championship – crew 2 J/22 Midwinter Championships – crew 2 Admiral’s Cup Trials, Newport, RI – crew St. Petersburg, FL to Isla de Mujeres Mexico Race – crew, overall winner Key West to Cuba Race 1978 – crew 2 Heineken Cup Regattas St. Marten with J World student crew 505 2002 Mid Atlantics – helm 505 2002 C.O.R.K – helm 505 2003 Midwinters 4th – helm 505 2003 Bermuda Raceweek 2nd – helm
Offshore Cruising	10 Atlantic Coast passages between Annapolis and South Florida as skipper Numerous coastal passages between Florida East Coast and Bahamas as skipper and crew Numerous coastal passages between Tampa Bay and Florida Keys as skipper and crew St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. to St. Marten and return as skipper Passage from north coast of Cuba to Tampa Bay – crew Flotilla leader for over 10 J World cruises in British Virgin Islands, Windward Islands and on Chesapeake Bay
Various States Sailed:
FL, GA, SC, NC, TN, VA, MD, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, ME, PA, OH, MI, IL, WI, LA, TX, AK, OK, CO, CA, HI
What I like Most about teaching:
I really enjoy being able to provide an inspirational first experience to new sailors. When I was just a kid, the person who truly got me hooked on sailing provided an inspiration that still lives with me today!