About

Launched in 2009 by technology entrepreneur, accomplished sailor, and licensed sailboat Captain Todd Bracken, Dauntless Sailing School focuses on introducing adults to the adventure and fun of “big boat” sailing through affordable, hands-on, experiential learning opportunities including introductory cruises, beginner to advanced sailing instruction, Great Lakes excursions, regatta participation, and ocean coastal cruising expeditions.

About Capt. Todd Bracken: Avid yachtsman with over twenty-five years of sailing and racing experience serving as skipper and crew in all sized sailboats. Indiana Licensed Commercial Sailboat Captain. NauticEd Rank of Captain, Level V. Sailing experience includes Northeastern Near Coastal Atlantic, Atlantic Gulf Stream/Bahamas, Windward Islands of the Caribbean, Florida Bay/Florida Keys/Florida Straits, The Great Lakes, and Inland waters in a variety of weather conditions and sea states. Knowledgeable sailing instructor/trainer. Skippered 42’ Beneteau in 2006 Figawi ocean yacht race. Captained student sailing excursion to the Caribbean, Bahamas, the Florida Keys/Dry Tortugas, and throughout the Great Lakes. Served as Chief Tactician aboard the Colgate 26 “Genesis”, winning the 2008 ISC Keelboat Fleet Championship. Personally selected by 2008 Y-Flyer International Champion Paul White to crew for him in several regional regattas. Current owner of “Dauntless,” a C&C 27 Mk IV performance cruiser sailboat.

Regatta Results (Abbreviated)

Related Experience & Training

• NauticEd Certified Captain, Grade V (2017 to Present)

• NauticEd Chief Instructor (2017 to Present)

• Indiana Licensed Commercial Sailboat Captain (2010 to Present)

• Member, US Sailing (2011 to Present)

• Member, Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation (2011 to Present)

• Member, C&C 27 Class Association (2008 to Present)

• United States Power Squadrons (USPS) Advanced Pilot (Completed in 2007) - This is an advanced-grade program in coastal and inland navigation. Coursework included the use of nautical charts, navigation aids, course planning and plotting, use of the mariner’s compass, extensive use of GPS, and traditional techniques for determining position including use of bearings and dead reckoning. Advanced coursework covered piloting under more challenging conditions such as unfamiliar waters, limited visibility, and extended cruises. Coursework focused on hands-on experience with GPS, radar, depth sounders, autopilots, chartplotters, and laptop computer software, and included advanced positioning techniques, hazard avoidance techniques using electronics, and collision avoidance using radar and GPS. Plotting skills included working with tides, clearances, depth, as well as set and drift caused by wind and currents.

• United States Power Squadrons (USPS) Junior Navigator (Completed in 2008) - This is an advanced-grade program in offshore navigation and celestial navigation theory. Coursework included extensive hands-on use of the sextant and the use of the sun, stars, moon, and planets to determine celestial positioning using both Law of Cosines and Nautical Almanac Sight Reduction (NASR) methods. Subject matter also included precise time determination, reducing sights to establish lines of position, use of special charts and plotting sheets for offshore navigation, and offshore navigational routines for recreational craft. In addition to traditional methods, the coursework also included the integration of modern software-based offshore voyage planning tools and navigation programs.

• Certified USCG/USPS Vessel Safety Check Inspector (2008 to 2011)

• USPS Merit Mark Award Winner (2008)

• Safety Chairman, Indianapolis Sailing Club (2007 to 2008)

• Scoring & Rating Chairman, Keelboat Fleet, Indianapolis Sailing Club (2006 to 2007)

• Certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) (1984 to 1985)

• Certified Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (WSI) (1984 to 1987)

• Certified Red Cross Lifeguard (1983 to 1987)

• Licensed Private Pilot (VFR certified for Cessna 150 and 172) (1989 to 1990)

Professional Career Summary (Abbreviated)

• VP of Product Management and Operations, Dauntless Enterprises, Indianapolis, Indiana

• Senior Product Manager, Interactive Intelligence, Indianapolis, Indiana

• Senior Solutions Architect, WellPoint, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

• Chief Executive Officer, BioSentinel Solutions, LLC, Indianapolis, Indiana

• Senior Product Manager, IBM, Indianapolis, Indiana

Education

• MBA, Regent University, School of Business Administration, 1994

• BA, Communications, Asbury University, 1988