Captain Matt Ellis holds multiple USCG 50-ton Master Licenses and is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) in Minnesota. With over 12 years of personal sobriety and nearly a decade of clinical experience in Minneapolis, Matt founded Sober Sails to offer a unique, holistic approach to long-term recovery through the transformative power of sailing.

Captain Matt’s maritime expertise is extensive, backed by a USCG Sailing Endorsement and over 15,000 nautical miles logged at sea. He currently holds a USCG OUPV Near Coastal, a USCG 50-ton Master Inland, and a USCG 50-ton Master Great Lakes license. Captain Matt also has an STCW Certification which is comprised of rigorous safety training in Basic Firefighting, First Aid & CPR, and Personal Survival Techniques. In addition to nautical and clinical experience, he was also an Executive Chef for over 10 years at various upscale Gulf Coast restaurants, and can provide numerous meal options while aboard.

His professional sailing career spans continents and diverse maritime environments:

Ocean Crossings & Deliveries: Two successful Atlantic crossings, trips to Bermuda, the Azores, the Irish Sea, and a professional sailboat delivery from Florida to Scotland.

European Expeditions: Navigating through the Mediterranean Sea, the Strait of Gibraltar, and the Atlantic Ocean from Italy around Spain, France, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands through the complex lock systems of Europe to Amsterdam.

Coastal Mastery: Multiple expeditions throughout the Gulf of Mexico, the Exuma Cays in the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands and the Florida Keys.

Traditional Seamanship: Two full charter seasons on the Chesapeake Bay, where he lived aboard his Scanmar 35 sailboat while operating and maintaining antique wooden charter boats.

By weaving his clinical expertise with his life at sea, Captain Matt provides a safe, substance-free environment where the discipline of sailing and the rhythm of the waves serve as powerful tools for clarity, connection, and enduring sobriety.