About Us
Waypoint Marine was founded with a simple purpose: to help people find their way to more stress-free time on the water.
Experience You Can Trust
Waypoint is built on decades of hands-on experience in boating, marine operations, and offshore sailing.
Our leadership has spent more than twenty years working throughout the marine industry, managing complex vessel operations, leading teams, and maintaining a wide variety of recreational and commercial vessels. That experience extends well beyond Lake Michigan and includes thousands of miles under sail in some of the world's most respected cruising grounds.
From the turquoise anchorages of the Caribbean to the remote islands of the South Pacific, we've experienced firsthand what makes cruising under sail so rewarding—and what it takes to do it safely.
Those experiences shape everything we teach and every experience we offer aboard NOVA.
Why Multihulls?
After sailing a variety of vessels around the world, one thing became clear:
Cruising catamarans offer an unmatched combination of comfort, capability, and confidence.
They're spacious enough for families, stable enough for first-time sailors, and capable enough for ambitious adventures.
Whether you're enjoying a sunset sail, planning a weekend getaway, or dreaming of sailing to distant islands, a well-designed catamaran creates experiences that simply aren't possible on most other boats.
That's why Waypoint focuses exclusively on multihulls.
Because we believe they're the best platform for introducing people to a lifetime on the water.
More Than Sailing
Owning and operating a modern cruising catamaran requires far more than knowing how to trim sails.
Our experience includes the systems that keep a cruising yacht safe, reliable, and enjoyable to operate, including:
Marine diesel propulsion systems
Electrical and battery management
Solar and energy systems
Freshwater and sanitation systems
Navigation electronics
Anchoring and mooring systems
Rigging and sail handling
Preventive maintenance and troubleshooting
Passage planning and weather routing
We believe confident sailors become great skippers by understanding not only how to sail their boat, but how every system onboard works together.
Building a Community
Waypoint isn't just about chartering a boat.
It's about creating a community of people who share a passion for sailing, exploration, and lifelong learning.
Through dynamic yacht charter programs, personalized instruction, educational pathways, and ownership guidance, we aim to make boating more accessible, enjoyable, and build a place where sailors of every experience level can continue to grow.
Our hope is that your first sail aboard NOVA isn't the end of your story but rather the beginning.
Whether your goal is to spend more weekends on Lake Michigan, confidently skipper your own charter, or eventually purchase a catamaran of your own, we're excited to be part of that journey.
The Journey of NOVA
Every great boat has a story.
Ours began in Charleston, South Carolina.
After acquiring NOVA, a Fountaine Pajot Lipari 41, we embarked on an unforgettable delivery voyage to her new home on the Great Lakes. The journey carried us north along the U.S. East Coast before entering the historic Erie Canal, where centuries-old locks, narrow waterways, and small canal towns offered a completely different pace of travel.
From there, NOVA continued through the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway, connecting inland waterways with some of North America's most remarkable cruising destinations.
The voyage wasn't simply about moving a boat—it was about understanding her capabilities, refining our systems, and experiencing the diversity of North American cruising firsthand.
Today, NOVA calls Lake Michigan home, where she continues that journey by introducing others to the multihull lifestyle
Welcome Aboard
Thank you for considering Waypoint.
We're honored every time someone chooses to spend a day aboard NOVA, trusts us to help develop their sailing skills, or joins our growing community of multihull enthusiasts.
We look forward to sharing the water, the wind, and the adventure with you.
Fair winds,
The Waypoint Team