TEAM OF INSTRUCTORS & CAPTAINS

Captain Fetherston has been an avid boater since he was 7 years old, spending every summer cruising on the bay, fishing offshore, water skiing and racing sailboats on the south shore of Long Island.  After graduating from Hofstra University, Captain Fetherston completed Officer Candidate School and received his commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy.  He reported aboard USS Valdez (FF1096) as the Main Propulsion Assistant and managed three divisions in the engineering plant, including the boilers, generators and the main engines.  On the bridge, Captain Fetherston became the Special Sea and Anchor Detail Conning Officer, driving the ship during critical evolutions underway including replenishments alongside other ships, man-overboard recoveries and other high precision maneuvers.  Since the Valdez was a single screw ship, Captain Fetherston became a ship handling expert under the most challenging conditions.

He later was promoted to Chief Engineering Officer and directed the operation of all engineering and damage control departments.  He received his Surface Warfare Officer designator and qualified as Officer of the Deck Underway and Engineering Officer of the Watch. After leaving active duty, Captain Fetherston received an MBA with honors from the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College and held multiple executive positions in the financial services and health care industries.  He acquired and revitalized Wickford Boat Rentals in 2007 and founded In-Command the following year.

Captain Beecher is an avid boater of both power and sailing vessels. Captain Carol met the owner, Dave Fetherston, at a USPB certification class in 2017 and thus began a partnership to launch In-Command Seamanship Training shortly thereafter. Carol is our Director of Operations, which entails not only managing the company, but also hiring and scheduling the captains for training courses, private lessons and charters.

Captain Howie Labitt was introduced to sailing at the age of 12. He spent many summers sailing Beetle Cats and racing Sunfish on Vineyard Sound. As a young adult he cruised New England waters aboard his father’s Catalina 30.

Howie enjoys sharing his knowledge of boating with others. He has spent fifteen summers as the Waterfront Director at an overnight children’s camp, making learning fun while instilling confidence, resulting in a self-sufficient safe boater.

Captain Howie holds a 50 Ton Masters License with a Sailing Endorsement along with a Marine Radio Operators Permit. He has run charter boat tours and fishing charters throughout Southwest Florida and Rhode Island aboard both sail and power vessels some of which carried over fifty passengers. He has captained tours aboard 45-foot Corinthian Power Catamarans within the Everglades National Park 10,000 Islands biome. Howie has sailed catamarans throughout Southwest Florida. He has also piloted a custom built 25-foot Panga Center Console throughout New England and Florida. He has captained the Blackstone Valley Explorer, a Blount built riverboat, in partnership with Mystic Aquarium. He has made deliveries of large sailing catamarans along the Eastern Seaboard. Howie and his family have owned cruising sailboats and fishing boats.

Howie is a recent graduate of IYRS, the International Yacht Restoration School in Newport Rhode Island. There he studied Marine Systems. He is American Boat and Yacht Council certified in Marine Systems, Electrical, and Diesel. He is also a certified NMEA Electronics installer. He believes, as Kenneth Grahame once wrote, “There’s nothing…absolutely nothing…half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats.”

Sheila Paquette gained most of her boating experience with high-speed patrol vessels. She is an accomplished operator on vessels from 21’-46’ with makes such as Boston Whaler, Rosborough, Blount Marine, and North River.

She is a graduate of the National Boating Safety Instructor Course through the USCG Reserve Training Center. In 2017 she completed the BOAT Crew Member Course through NASBLA and recently received her Instructor Certification from the National Safe Boating Council. In 2011, she received the NASBLA State Boating Officer of the Year award. The majority of her professional work for over 24 years is in marine investigations on boat accident collisions and reconstruction. She holds a Master 50-ton Merchant Mariner license from the United States Coast Guard including an authorization for Assistance Towing. When she is off duty she volunteers as the Riverboat Captain for the Blackstone Valley Explorer, a local River Tourism Boat.

Ronald Kaufman has a wide range of boating and sea going experience which started when he learned to sail in an 11´ wooden Turnabout. He has in depth experience and knowledge in sailing, ship handling and navigation.

Ron is a retired United States Navy Captain. He is a designated Surface Warfare Officer and a qualified navigator. He was a qualified Officer of the Deck on five different destroyers and the navigator on a submarine tender. Captain Kaufman held five commands including reserve crew CO of a Fast Frigate and Squadron Commander of a Division of mine sweepers where he earned the designation of Command at Sea.

Captain Kaufman holds a US Coast Guard 100 Ton Near Coastal Master’s license and is a certified US Powerboat instructor.

Captain Kaufman has a quiet and effective style. He puts his students at ease while they gain experience, knowledge, competence and confidence.

Captain Steve Medeiros brings extensive knowledge and years of experience as the captain of larger yachts and expertly blends that with his unsurpassed passion for teaching. Steve has dedicated his life to the safe and enjoyable operation of boats from 10 feet to 130 feet. He has vast open ocean experience from Maine to the Bahamas and everywhere in between.

Steve holds a 100-ton Merchant Mariner License with a Towing Endorsement. He continues to work as a delivery and sea trial captain for some of the most prestigious vessel manufacturers in the country as well as teaching both classroom and hands-on boating for many years. He is an adjunct professor at a Rhode Island University and has a unique and dynamic personal style that just exudes his enthusiasm for boating. Steve is NASBLA certified and has taught tactical law enforcement vessel operations to marine patrol units and the US Coast Guard.
Steve is often heard saying that, “no one can learn when they feel intimidated…my first job is to teach boaters how to relax, have fun, and be confident!”. When he is not working, he can be found…guess where…on his boat.

Whether you want to work toward your USCG Captain’s License, master your electronics, navigation, anchoring, docking, or simply start enjoying your boating investment…Steve’s warm and personal style will get you there safely.

Frank has been boating in New England waters for over 30 years. 

Many of those years were based in Boston Harbor aboard his 41″ Viking sport fisherman. He has navigated from Delaware to Maine and spent time fishing the waters around Stellwagen Bank.

Now retired and living between Cape Cod and Naples Florida, he enjoys his 25′ center console with twin Yamahas. It’s a great boat for knocking around the cape and the islands or the coast of Southwest Florida.

Holding a Coast Guard 100 Ton license and being a certified trainer by the National Safe Boating Council, Frank enjoys teaching people how to enjoy their boats safely and loves showing them his favorite places around the upper cape and Martha’s Vineyard. In the winter months in Florida, he captains a 38-passenger beach shuttle for a private yacht club. As he says ” It’s a great part time job. No one is unhappy going to the beach!”

Frank uses a relaxed approach to teaching in order to keep students comfortable while they build confidence in their boat handling skills.

Captain Kevin Mimoso is an avid power boater. Born and raised in Rhode Island, he has a true love for Narraganset Bay. He enjoys exploring the Bay, visiting restaurants or just anchoring in a small cove and swimming with his family. Kevin is committed to learning and is a passionate educator. His philosophy emphasizes boating safety, so that everyone can enjoy the wonder of RI waters. He is committed to instilling confidence and reducing tension. Kevin’s easy teaching style creates the perfect learning environment. 

Captain Mark is a native Rhode Islander who grew up with Narragansett Bay as his backyard.   After a successful 30-year corporate career in Supply Chain, his focus has transitioned to the saltwater life he dreamed of.  He spends his time as East Greenwich Harbormaster, managing his own charter & commercial fishing business and training boaters through In-Command Seamanship Training.

MBA, USCG Captain 25-ton, Towing Endorsement, First Aid and CPR certified and National Boating Instructor

Captain Paul Records is a native of Wickford, RI.  He grew up powerboating and sailing on Narragansett Bay, Block Island Sound and Rhode Island Sound.  He has a joy for being on the water that he shares with everyone he teaches.  The sense of accomplishment you feel when mastering a new skill whether it is docking, coastal navigation or anything in between is truly exciting.  Learning to operate a vessel safely will prepare you for years of fun and enjoyment on the water.  There’s nothing like it!

He has operated powerboats extensively in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, Florida, California and Washington.  Boats have ranged in size from 15’ skiffs to 65’ commercial tour boats.  He owned and operated a yacht charter business in San Francisco that served the 34^th America’s Cup Races.  While living in the Bay Area, he was Commodore of the Emeryville Yacht Club where he developed his appreciation for helping others learn how to be safe and have fun on the water.  He has also worked with the New England Science & Sailing Foundation where his responsibilities included operating an inspected vessel for K-12 education programs and public tours.

Paul is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island.  He is a certified US Powerboating, National Safe Boating Council and BoatUS Instructor.  He holds a 100 Ton Master Merchant Mariner’s license with Auxiliary Sail and Towing endorsements from the United States Coast Guard.

Captain John Redmond has been boating since he was 10 years old tooling alone around the Lake of the Ozarks in his steel jon boat with a 6 horse Evinrude and skiing behind his Dad’s Cabin Cruiser.

After moving to the east coast of central Florida John took sailing
lessons with US Sailing beginning with small craft and basic keelboat training. John then took sailing classes with the American Sailing Association in both Florida and Narragansett Bay completing their 101, 102, and 103 certification courses. In addition, John earned an RYA Day Skipper certificate off the coast of the Netherlands in the North Sea. He has also attended the Annapolis School of Seamanship taking classes in Electrical Systems and Diesel Engine Maintenance. John and his wife purchased a Lagoon 380 Catamaran, and he has sailed her from the East coast of central Florida to Rhode Island and back many times. Captain John holds a 50 Ton Masters License.

John spent 15 years as an instructor in the business training and seminar industry teaching well over 1,200 seminars in that time. As someone who loves teaching and is an avid proponent of
safety training for boaters John is now turning his attention to sharing his boating knowledge.

Norm Choquette

• Navy Veteran of the Vietnam Era
• USCG Auxiliary Member since 2008
• Certified Safe Boating Instructor
• Certified Boat Crew Member
• Recreational Boating Safety Specialist
• RI 2018 NASBLA “Boating Educator of the Year” 

Captain Steve Sammis