Kurt Hoehne

Eight Bells: Kurt Hoehne

My personal sailing story began pre-birth as my dad sailed my mom across Lake Mendota to the hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. It was a scheduled C-section, so, why not deliver the mom-to-be via a 17-foot Silhouette? I was then taken back home across the lake the same way a couple days later.

I grew up sailing on the Great Lakes, both racing and cruising. Chicago-Mackinac races were always followed by the family cruise to the North Channel on Lake Huron on our Alberg 30 or C&C 27. It was the activity that gave us invaluable uninterrupted family time, which I consider one of the greatest benefits of sailing.

Over the years I became involved in more serious big-boat racing programs, ultimately ending up crewing in the SORC and on larger boats on the Lakes. I also raced Lasers and have been doing it ever since. (I’m currently racing an RS Aero, but still have the Laser!) I was fortunate enough to sign on with Sailing Magazine as Assistant Editor for four years, which gave me the opportunity to meet and write about several of my heroes while learning about both boats and publishing.  When I moved to the Northwest, I worked in the marketing department of Alaska Diesel Electric (Northern Lights gensets) for several years, then as a columnist and later as editor for Northwest Yachting magazine. I continue to freelance for both national and regional magazines.

While living in the Pacific Northwest, I’ve had the good fortune to sail with Swiftsure partners Brad Baker and Ryan Helling on several competitive, well managed racers. I also helped Brad deliver his own boat Capaz back from Hawaii. I owned and raced a San Juan 30 for several years and currently share a C&C 36 with two other families.

In 2016 I established the website Sailish.com, which covers regional racing, weather and environmental concerns for sailors. With support from the local sailing community and industry, it continues to satisfy my desire to write about sailing and keeps me integrated in the community that I love. I am a certified professional yacht broker. 

Overall, being on the crew at Swiftsure is a great fit. I get to use my lifetime of sailing to help others put out to sea, which is priceless.