The WCM journey began when Kurt Jerman founded the company in 1999 as a dealership for Corsair Marine and Seawind Catamarans. But the story stretches back before 1993, when Kurt’s passion for boats unfolded during his time at Harbor Sailboats in San Diego, after a remarkable three-year cruise from California through Panama to Florida on a 31 ft Jim Brown Searunner Trimaran with his wife, Lori, set the stage for a lifetime of maritime adventures.

It was the time spent cruising with the family that so easily entrapped Kurt. He was destined for a life in the boating world.

In 1995, Kurt stepped into the role of sales manager at Corsair Marine, eventually becoming the General Manager in 2000. As Corsair transitioned production to Vietnam in 2005, Kurt embraced an opportunity to keep the multihull spirit thriving in San Diego by growing WCM, and the Southern California multihull market, through sales and service of Corsair tris and Seawind cats.

Navigating through the sometimes tumultuous seas of financial change, Kurt introduced the Seawind 1160 to North America in 2006, showcasing the boats, and his dedication, by touring boat shows on both the East and West Coasts. Kurt’s commitment and passion for sailing helped build WCM into the West Coast’s go-to destination for all things multihull, featuring Corsairs, Seawinds, and soon other top brands like Fountaine Pajot , Leopard and Catana.

With the Seawind 1160, Kurt had a tiger by the tail.

In 2010, the West Coast Sailing School and Charter division set sail, offering a comprehensive range of ASA sailing classes with a distinct focus on catamaran sailing. The mission was clear – empower multihull enthusiasts to obtain ASA certifications, enabling them to charter or own a catamaran and embark on their own sunset-soaked adventures. WCM had evolved to serve multihulls sailors through every step of their journey, staffed top-to-bottom with enthusiastic cat and tri sailors, including Lance Botthof, who matched their hard work with fun times on the water. Lance has since received multiple awards as an outstanding ASA Instructor and helped make sailing dreams come true for hundreds of students and charter guests. He is now WCM’s lead Instructor and Charter Fleet Manager.

It’s hard to imagine what the school and charter operation would be without Lance.

Kim Dumas came on board in 2015 to assist Kurt with charters and the sailing school. She helped build WCM’s presence in the San Diego sailing community, organizing flotillas to Catalina Island and hosting local sailing events in San Diego Bay. But her passion was selling boats, and she quickly moved up the ranks from being Kurt’s assistant to being his boat sales partner. She is WCM’s biggest cheerleader, and has helped sell numerous boats into the charter fleet while building excellent relationships with clients.

Kim’s attention to detail and endless energy help to drive WCM forward.

Fast forward to 2018: After launching hundreds of sailing students and charters from the San Diego base, WCM expanded its reach by establishing a charter base in the mesmerizing Sea of Cortez, Mexico. The azure waters off Loreto, Baja California Sur, and specifically Marina Puerto Escondido, became a new canvas for WCM’s school and charter business, bringing the joys of catamaran sailing adventures to even more sailors.

2018 was also the year that Kurt met Guinevere King and Eddie Frank – a Southern California photo/video team that came on board and helped usher in a new era of WCM’s history. Eddie’s photo/video work and Guinevere’s social media marketing skills helped boost WCM’s online presence and expand its reach to a wider audience. In 2019 Kurt invited Guinevere to become the Mexico Charters & Lessons Sales Manager and the duo moved to Mexico to manage the Loreto Charter Base. Shortly after, Guinevere became the General Manager of both locations and began the exciting work of building WCM’s team in San Diego and Mexico. In addition to photo/video duties, Eddie is now the lead Captain/Instructor and Operations Manager for the Loreto, Mexico Charter Base.

Unfortunately, momentum came to a halt in 2020 when WCM was forced to close its doors due to the COVID pandemic. After a few uncertain months, WCM reopened with record demand for sailing lessons, catamaran charters, and boat sales. The world had rediscovered sailing! WCM expanded the team to accommodate the rapid growth, adding Award-Winning ASA Instructors, experienced USCG Captains and an enthusiastic sales team and ground crew. WCM enjoyed a banner year in 2021 as charter and lesson bookings reached an all-time high.

As we reflect on the past 25 years with sailing friendships made, miles covered, boats delivered, industry connections forged, and unforgettable adventures experienced, we can’t help but feel blessed. Here’s to 25 years of navigating the waves and creating a legacy that sails far beyond the horizon!

A selection of photos from the early years of WCM, and even a bit before. A few of the faces and places that made this company what it is. Uncountable adventures and memories. Click through as a slideshow.