What our guests say...

​"I’m grateful for your genuine concern for people. You genuinely cared for us, heard our story, listened well and asked great questions...If it was not for you two gifted people, pulling on my desires, I may have just returned to an office job and died on the inside."
Jim
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As a couple we have, on a number of occasions, been the recipient of Steve and Janny Denton’s gifted leadership. As ministry leaders, in need of refreshment, renewal, encouragement, and vision for the future, we have always walked away from our time with them with our cups running over. It’s rare to find an individual who operates so naturally out of his or her gifting. But when a couple does it is exponentially powerful. Steve and Janny are one in spirit and purpose and, as a consequence, their ability to graciously address the needs of leaders is simply amazing.
Ken and Barb Gowen

In 40 plus years of pastoring I have to say that Steve and Janny are one of the most special couples I have ever met. Their ability to come along side leaders and help them process at a deep level is unique and to do it in a fun context while sailing on the water is absolutely amazing.
Joe

T H E   T E A M

Our Board of Directors

Steve & Janny Denton - Founders

Peter Denton - Director

Tim Jenné - Director

Steve and Janny Denton founded the Young Life, Sailing Beyond program training and mentoring thousands of teenagers. Between them they have logged about 100,000 ocean miles on a variety of cruising catamarans as well as the epic 83 foot topsail schooner Amazing Grace.

Growing up on the beach in Puget Sound, it didn't take long for Steve to discover what would become a life long passion: To provide an opportunity for his non sailing friends to experience the power, tranquility and adventure of the wind propelling us to quiet places.  

The task of sailing became ingrained so that no effort was involved.  The ocean taught Steve that it would be best to have a loose hold on the tiller or wheel - always prepared to make an unexpected change in course. 

Taking friends sailing is like being a tour guide in a foreign country.  Trust and friendship are forged quickly.  It's a new adventure that provides a unique opportunity to decompress,  evaluate, dream and grow.

 Janny grew up in a sailing family. She bought her first 8 foot sailboat with her babysitting money when she was 13 years old. She kept it at the beach in West Vancouver where she was able to launch and sail to her heart's content.
She married Steve and they started Sailing Beyond in 1976. It was a discipleship program where teenagers learned to sail, experience fellowship and personal quiet times on board. Groups came from all over the Western US to sail on the three boats that Sailing Beyond acquired. She later became a CYA instructor and taught adults to sail.
She and Steve and their two kids spent a year sailing a 34 foot catamaran from Maryland to Seattle. She has also been involved in Yacht Sales for many years. She's had the wonderful opportunity to do ocean Crossings and Coastal cruising transiting the Panama canal several times. Janny loves sharing the wonderful exhilaration and peace of sailing with people who would not easily have this opportunity.

Having sailed boats from 8 to 83 feet her favorite sailing vessel is the catamaran because of its stability, spaciousness, light and comfortable sailing ability.

Peter Denton 
​ When Peter was eight, his parents moved to a waterfront home in Gig Harbor, WA.  Instead of walking a mile to the school bus stop at his best friends house he drove an eight foot inflatable boat. The next year he skipped the fifth grade and did boat school.  On the 11,000 mile family voyage from Maryland to Seattle, Peter was the primary navigator.

Shortly after his final year at the University of Washington, Peter obtained his hundred ton masters ticket and became back up captain to his dad on their newly acquired tops'l schooner Amazing Grace.  One of his favorite past times was sailing the 33 foot sloop "Cadence" to Blake Island with a few friends.  Peter's joy was fulfilled by mentoring his non-boating friends letting them do all the steering and sailing.

In 2013 Peter and his wife Margaret enjoyed their first year of marriage operating and living aboard the family schooner Amazing Grace.  Today they live aboard their Beneteau 38 sailboat in Gig Harbor, WA. where they run their own graphic design and marketing business. When not on shift with Seattle Fire,  Peter and Margaret also enjoy training for triathlons.  

Tim Jenne lives in Washington state with his wife Lynette on the Olympic Peninsula. Passions include cycling, woodworking, travel, hiking and sailing. Tim grew up in the Northwest, raced boats all over the Salish Sea, joined the US Coast Guard and served for five years as an avionicsman on jets and helicopters doing search and rescue in Astoria OR. Entered the technology field in ’91 and spent 25+ years in IT management and business. He has sailed in waters from Desolation Sound to the Sea of Cortez, Bahamas, Caribbean, Croatia, Italy & Sicily.
Tim was the ASA Outstanding sailing instructor of the year in 2018 and holds a USCG Master 100GT license.  He teaches week  long sailing courses onboard vessels placed in idyllic locations around the world.