USCG Captain David Norwood founded Carolina Wind Yachting Center 25 years ago. He has a lifelong love of sailing and has sold new and used boats for over 30 years. He has sailed through a hurricane, raised kids on and around sailboats, is a delivery Captain and loves being offshore. The impressive amount of collective experience shared by David and our staff will help you realize your boating dreams, whether by brokerage or charter.

When the Carolina Wind staff gathers to play music, David alternates between his guitar and flute.

USCG Captain Brad Smith has been with Carolina Wind since 2003 as a broker and also operates a companion business, East Carolina Sailing School. As an instructor Brad loves to share his passion for sailing, with 27 years of sailing experience and knowledge to offer his clients and students. He can take you from new sailor to Bareboat Charter Certified Sailor in a summer. Brad spends the winter months as captain of a 72’ ketch in the Caribbean.

The guitar is Brad’s instrument of choice.

USCG Captain Wayne Stoeckert is the newest member of the Carolina Wind Yachting Center family. Wayne came to us with 30 years of sailing experience and a 100 Ton Masters U.S. Coast Guard License, and is a Certified Professional Yacht Broker with several Great Lakes yacht deliveries under his belt.

Wayne also serves as our charter manager.

Having been a professional musician for many years, he's been known to pick up a guitar and sing a few songs for the sailors around the marina. We welcome his many talents.

Rick Wilkins joined the Carolina Wind team in 2006 after retiring from a US government career in Human Services. He brings 35 years of sailing and power boating experience to the table. He is a licensed NC real estate broker specializing in waterfront properties, and was a former US Power Squadron member holding certificates in Seamanship, Piloting, Advanced Piloting, and Junior Navigation. He grew up boating in coastal New England, has been offshore sailing to Bermuda, has commercially shrimped North and South Carolina, raced J-Boats, and currently enjoys sailing in coastal North Carolina aboard his Beneteau First 35 “Moondance”. Rick provides a wealth of personal and practical application experiences to those searching for that perfect boat.

USCG Captain Rodney Hill is our dockmaster. He has been outfitting new and used boats for Carolina Wind since 1996 and lives aboard on the dock on Stephanie D., his custom 48’ Sportfish. He has a background in communications and electronics. Custom woodwork, electrical and electronic installations and classic boat restoration are his main interests. Rodney’s diagnostic and installation skills are legendary.

He joins the rest of the musicians with Black Betty, his 5-string bass guitar.

Assisting our charter manager is Ron Griswold, a retired electrical engineer with primary focus in electro-mechanical and instrumentation systems. His sailing experience includes dinghy racing (Flying Junior's and Coronado 15's), trailer cruising with a MacGregor 21 for 4 years, chartering in Florida, the Chesapeake Bay, the Great Lakes and the San Juan Islands, owning a Catalina 34 for 2 years and now sailing a Helms 27. His experience with repair work, woodworking and home renovation comes in handy for keeping the charter boats shipshape.

Nancey Norwood began working with Carolina Wind in 2006, after a career in human services. She has sailed with David over the years and is enjoying lots of new learning about the marine industry. She does a little of everything around the office, including accounting, slip and office rental, charter bookings, and listing boats on-line.

No, she does not play a musical instrument – someone has to be the audience!