Ministry of Sailing

John Schafer is a professional sailor, sailing instructor, delivery captain, and founder of Ministry of Sailing, based in Annapolis, Maryland. With over thirty years of experience in sailing and international operations, Schafer holds World Sailing Group 3 professional certification and has competed in world-class offshore races, accumulating hundreds of thousands of miles at sea.

Learn John Schafer's lessons learned in offshore safety : Watch the podcast episode Current Yachts recorded with John.

Schafer grew up lake sailing in the Midwest, spent time in Hawaii during his military service engaging in extensive sailing, and eventually found his way into high-end race crews. His career has taken him around the world, combining professional work with his passion for sailing across multiple continents and security environments. During the pandemic, Schafer co-founded Ministry of Sailing with fellow military veterans and sailors. The organization focuses on sailing safety, education, and water diplomacy. He developed and leads the innovative Sailing Rescue Swimmer certification program, which addresses the gap between traditional crew-overboard procedures and modern high-performance sailing challenges.

In addition to his sailing credentials, Schafer brings expertise as a Senior Security Director, Risk Manager, and Physical Security Expert, having worked extensively in humanitarian and NGO security spaces globally, including high-risk environments in Karachi, Yemen, and Somalia. Through Ministry of Sailing, Schafer provides offshore medical training, safety seminars, heavy weather sailing instruction, and coaching services. He serves as a speaker and educator, working alongside US Sailing Safety at Sea programs and promoting comprehensive safety practices for both racing and cruising sailors.