Richard Jacoby

Richard Jacoby is a lifelong waterman whose career has centered on traditional seamanship, maritime education and the history of exploration. He has spent many years working aboard traditional sailing vessels, including several as captain of the training schooner Ocean Star, where he taught celestial navigation and offshore sailing skills.

Since 1992, Richard has made Seward, Alaska his home base. He has worked for more than 25 years as a captain and naturalist on glacier and wildlife cruises in Kenai Fjords National Park, combining vessel operations with interpretation of the region’s maritime landscapes and history.

In addition to his expedition work, Richard serves as an instructor with the Alaska Maritime Training Center, providing professional training for mariners across a range of disciplines.

Drawn to the edges of the map, Richard is a dedicated student of maritime history and the explorers and navigators whose journeys shaped global understanding of remote coastlines and oceans. When not working, he spends time sailing the Alaska coast aboard his 36-foot sailboat, cross-country skiing and playing flamenco guitar or clawhammer banjo.