PJ Baker

PJ Baker

Principal, CFO

I grew up sailing with my family on Lake Washington and Puget Sound on our 28-foot CROD, which is a wood boat built in Astoria, Oregon in 1935. The Seattle Yacht Club has been a part of my life since the very beginning, as my mom insisted on stopping by the Ladies’ Luncheon on the way home from having me at the hospital. Though not a competitive sailor as a kid, I stayed close to the water as a rower for two years in high school and on into college. Once I graduated from the University of Washington, I went to work on the floor of the local Shore Sails loft building sails. Brad was the sales and service manager at the loft. He got me started racing on the J-24 Keema. We also raced together on our friends’ Thunderbird Rev for about 10 years. In 2006, I jumped at the opportunity to race to Hawaii in the Victoria to Maui Race aboard the Santa Cruz 52 VOODOO CHILD.

After many years in Early Childhood Education, I have been drawn back to working alongside Brad in the marine industry at Swiftsure Yachts. I am lucky to be able to put my organizational, bookkeeping and other business skills to use in the business here where we are often helping our customers along the path of fulfilling dreams.

Re-exploring our local waters on our Perry Pilothouse 48 Capaz and introducing our sons to the fabulous spots, many accesible only by water, that are right here in our own “backyard” has to be one of the most fun aspects of being a parent.Then as a family, jumping into the experience of our 14-month cruise to the South Pacific and back was yet another opportunity I know that I was lucky to have come my way. 

My return to Swiftsure Yachts and ability to help answer some of the “what’s it like out there” questions that many customers who intend to cruise have made the transition back to life on land not quite as jolting as it is from some cruisers. For me, it has been very fulfilling to have had the incredible opportunity to go cruising and then come back to be a part of making that dream come true for others.