Meet the Team
Jason Burns
Instructor and General Manager
Jason is an ASA-certified sailing instructor teaching ASA 101 through 106 (Advanced Coastal Cruising and Seamanship) and ASA 114 (Catamaran Cruising). He began sailing on a Hobie Cat before progressing to full-sized cruising yachts, building extensive experience on both inland lakes and coastal waters. Jason completed his ASA training at Outbound Sailing and has since logged thousands of miles sailing and teaching across Central Texas, the Florida coast, and the Caribbean, including the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten/Martin, Anguilla, St. Barts, and an overnight offshore passage between Anguilla and Tortola. His passion is preparing new sailors to safely skipper larger cruising sailboats with confidence, combining structured instruction with real-world seamanship to help students become capable, independent mariners ready to cruise anywhere in the world.
Thomas Zavaleta
Instructor
Thomas is an ASA-certified sailing instructor teaching ASA 101 through 106 (Advanced Coastal Cruising and Seamanship) and ASA 114 (Catamaran Cruising). He has logged extensive sailing time on Lake Travis and in coastal waters, including the British Virgin Islands, Grenada, and along the Florida coast. Thomas is active in the local beer-can racing series on Lake Travis aboard his Catalina 30, Take Five, bringing a strong feel for sail trim and boat handling into every lesson. He is currently preparing to join an offshore expedition from South Africa to the Mediterranean, further expanding his hands-on blue-water experience.
John Biehn
Instructor
John began sailing small boats in his teens and transitioned to keelboats in 2020 when he and his wife, Becky, took their ASA 101 course with Outbound Sailing. They went on to complete their ASA 104 and ASA 114 certifications during one of Outbound’s Caribbean Adventures in 2021. John is a certified ASA sailing instructor and has logged over 1,000 nautical miles over the past few years. His sailing experience includes extensive time on Lake Travis, as well as coastal waters in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. John is especially known for his exceptional local knowledge of Lake Travis, skillfully reading shifting winds and conditions to sail efficient courses with remarkably few tacks or jibes.
Captain Tim Taylor
Founder
Captain Tim has been an ASA Instructor and a US Coast Guard licensed captain since 2005. He has twice received the ASA Outstanding Sailing Instructor award which ranks him in the top 2% of ASA sailing instructors worldwide. He has accumulated 20,000+ miles sailing all over the Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida, Lake Erie, and three years in San Francisco Bay. In 2019 he made an Atlantic crossing in a 47-foot catamaran.
Jennifer Schneider
Professional Travel Planner and Owner, Be Well Traveled
Meet our Professional Travel Planner and Owner of Be Well Traveled, who coordinates, organizes, and plans all of our clients' charter vacations. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for creating unforgettable travel experiences, Jennifer ensures that every aspect of your sailing adventure is seamlessly arranged. From personalized itineraries to managing all logistics, you'll enjoy a stress-free and memorable journey on the water. Jennifer is excited to craft the perfect sailing vacation tailored to your dreams.