Maureen Vild

Photo of Maureen Vild

Instructor in Laguna-Niguel, California, USA

Rated 4.91/5 by 25 students

Level V Bareboat Charter Master Rank Chief Sailing Instructor / Assessor

Level V Bareboat Charter Master Rank Chief Powerboat Instructor / Assessor

After decades of sailing and powerboating, my second career led me into cruising and instruction, with the goal of helping others become competent, confident, and safety-minded on the water. My teaching style is calm, hands-on, and easy to understand, creating an environment where people feel comfortable, challenged, and encouraged. I believe confidence on the water comes from experience and doing — not just explanation. Together, we build real-world skills, strong communication, and sound decision-making while keeping the experience rewarding, fun, and filled with the accomplishment of achieving something beyond expectations.

Credentials

NauticEd Credentials

Professionally Assessed Professionally Assessed
Peer Assessed Peer Assessed
NauticEd System Knowledge Expert NauticEd System Knowledge Expert
Transformational Instructor Course Graduate Transformational Instructor Course Graduate
Woman Instructor Woman Instructor
Student Star Rated Student Star Rated
American National Standards Instructor/Assessor American National Standards Instructor/Assessor
SLC Instructor/Assessor SLC Instructor/Assessor
  • Level V Bareboat Charter Master Rank Chief Sailing Instructor / Assessor
  • Level V Bareboat Charter Master Rank Chief Powerboat Instructor / Assessor
  • American National Standards Instructor/Assessor
  • SLC Instructor/Assessor - Sail
  • SLC Instructor/Assessor - Power

Other Credentials

Professional Mariner, Charter Captain, Instructor USCG 100 ton Master Captains License Bareboat Charter Master instructor, Power and Sail SLC Power and Sail Instructor Nauticed Powerboat Instructor American Sailing Instructor US Powerboat Cruising instructor US Sailing Instructor Catamaran Endorsements Sail and Powercat Cruising Sailing and Powerboat training (Orange Coast College) Electronic Navigation Course (Orange Coast College)

Associated practical schools

All Locations

Laguna Niguel

Laguna Niguel, CA USA

Long Beach

Long Beach Area, CA USA Map it
All Long Beach/Los Angeles Harbors, Huntington Harbor

Newport Beach

Newport Beach, CA USA Map it

Dana Point

Dana Point, CA 92626 USA Map it
Private boat option available

Training and assessment

Sail Practical Training Courses

Power Practical Training Courses

International License Training/Assessment

Notes: 42' Lagoon Catamaran 30-42' Catalina sailboats 40' Powercat 31-41' Powerboats

CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS OR TO SCHEDULE TRAINING

As a bonus "thank you", we'll give you two FREE sailing courses and electronic logbook!
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maureenvild@gmail.com
408-398-0853

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Feedback from previous students

David B., USA, CO, Colorado Springs at 2026, May 09
Practical Competence of Bareboat Charter Master Rank
Dan C., USA, CO, COLORADO SPRINGS at 2026, May 12
Practical Competence of Bareboat Charter Master Rank
Maureen brought deep knowledge to our experience. She was clear, patient and friendly. Overall, just a great experience. Left feeling very confident.
Emily L., USA, TX, Austin at 2026, Jun 17
Practical Competence of Bareboat Charter Master Rank
Working with Capt. Maureen on my SLC assessment was an outstanding experience. Her depth of knowledge in sailing, seamanship, and boat handling is truly impressive, but what sets her apart is her ability to teach and mentor. Throughout the assessment, she took the time to ensure I not only demonstrated the skills required to earn my SLC, but also understood the why behind them. She consistently provided valuable feedback, shared real-world experiences to watch for on the water, and offered practical suggestions to help me become a more efficient, confident, and effective skipper. Capt. Maureen genuinely cares about helping sailors grow, and her encouragement and guidance made a lasting impact on my development. I cannot recommend her highly enough to anyone looking to improve their sailing skills or pursue their certifications.
Rob S., USA, CA, West Hills at 2026, May 11
Practical Competence of Bareboat Charter Master Rank
Rob S., USA, CA, West Hills at 2025, Jun 02
Practical Competence of Bareboat Charter Master Rank
Michele C., USA, CA, Irvine at 2026, Jun 01
Practical Competence of Bareboat Charter Master Rank
Maureen is the professional instructor you want to have when mastering the sailing license. She is extremely knowledgeable and very detailed explaining theory followed by practical examples. Thank you Maureen!
Eric F., USA, CA, Huntington Beach at 2025, May 13
Practical Competence of Skipper Rank
Eric F., USA, CA, Huntington Beach at 2025, May 13
Practical Competence of Skipper Rank
Miroslav P., USA, FL, Orlando at 2023, Jun 01
Practical Competence of Skipper Rank
Maureen is an excellent instructor. I love her deep knowledge, passion for sailing, patience and calmness. I will take more classes from her in the future. Very friendly and comfy atmosphere in the class.
Brian Z., USA, CA, Long Beach at 2023, Mar 20
Practical Competence of Qualified Crew Member Rank
Maureen was a fantastic instructor overall. She was patient, explained all topics really effectively, and struck a great balance between supporting me with a positive tone while providing constructive criticism to help me improve further. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and would recommend it to anyone interested in sailing. In just four days on the water, I felt like I began a competent and confident new sailor.
Showing 1 - 10 of last 25 reviews.