LIFEBALANCE MEMBER PROFILE

Sailing with Doug Dillon

In this new section of the LifeBalance website, we profile a LifeBalance member achieving success and practicing their own life balance.

Doug Dillon is the Director of Individual and Medicare Sales at Providence Health Plans. He has been an employee for over 21 years at Providence and in the true spirit of work / life balance, he is an avid user of the LifeBalance Program. He has been a sailor extraordinaire for over 40 years and was re-introduced to sailing through the LifeBalance Program.

How long you have been sailing?
I’ve had a lifelong love affair with sailing that runs in the family. My dad, brother and I built an 8’ El Toro sailboat when I was 10 years old, and sailing came in and out of my life for the next 40 years sailing with friends. My Grandfather passed on a sailing book to my Dad and in turn, he passed it on to me…our family passion resonates so true.

How did the LifeBalance Program get you started again sailing?
I had been sailing a 16’ sailboat with my dad, for about 10 years (one that he had built). I wanted to have a larger boat sailing experience and started to look around at the possibilities. At the time I couldn’t afford to buy a large sailboat, keep it moored, up-keep and what about crew, would I even like it; and if I didn’t what then. There were many what if questions. In looking through the LifeBalance Program benefit options and categories, I noticed a sailing school and club right here in Portland, Oregon on Hayden Island. Many of the unknowns were answered with one visit. I joined The Island Sailing Club (ISC is privately owned and operated and works very much like a health club) and started out by taking a basic sailing course with two friends from work and I immediately loved sailing boats 20’ to 24’. Membership came with a discount through the LifeBalance Program. The next step was to take a more advance course and sail boats 25’ to 30’.

What are your most memorable sailing experiences?
My most memorable sailing experiences were sailing off shore on a friend's C&C 34 and the time my dad and I purposely capsized our El Toro just to see what it would be like so if it happened accidentally we would know just what to do. Boats came from all over the lake to see if we needed help; a code of seafarers. And nothing could top the experience of being out on the Columbia River the morning Mt. St. Helen’s erupted, what a sight that was.

What have you taken from your experience with other sailors and ISC?
I met and made several new life long friends and now co-boat owners at the Island Sailing Club.  We met through the ISC racing program which really elevated the learning curve. We moved from club racing to racing a club boat with the Small Yacht Sailing Club of Oregon on the Columbia River and again broadened our connection to the Portland sailing scene. Our results were ok and we won a few races, but to us the camaraderie was the most important part of those evenings.  Also, Rod Brown, an ASA credited instructor with ISC has been my best mentor. His calm unassuming character helps students build confidence in their own skills.

Tell us about your sailing in the National Regatta…
From our exposure to racing on a Catalina 25, the local fleet was arranging for the National Regatta to be held in Portland and we were invited to participate. Folks came from all over the United States to race. The night before the first race we were just finishing the SYSCO Summer series when we tore our jib (head sail). The call for help went out, and sure enough in the Corinthian Spirit we had a loaner sail on hand for the series. We went into this event hoping to sail well, make as few mistakes as possible and our reward would be the experience of sailing in a National Regatta. What made this an extra special event was the fact that we won 5 races, placed 2nd and 5th in two others and ended up winning the National Championship.

What would some advice be to others that want to learn to sail?
If you are thinking about getting into sailing, check out the Island Sailing Club, it is the way to go. It is the least expensive way to discover if this lifestyle is for you.

Tell us about your experience with LifeBalance?
This was my first experience with using LifeBalance and not the last. Since my sailing adventures having begun, I have purchased LifeBalance movies passes, theater seats, been introduced to scuba diving and went to a Mariners game, all through LifeBalance! Oh, and by the way ISC has clubs in Olympia and Seattle on Lake Washington (Also LifeBalance Providers offering member LifeBalance discounts) where boats can be checked out and you can save on your hotel bills through LifeBalance!

Do you prefer Bob Marley or Jimmy Buffet music when you are sailing?
(Laughing)…I prefer to sail with the wind and water as my orchestra…

What is your next event or adventure?
My wife and I plan on trying our hand at crewing; now tell me, which way to the Willamette River?

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