Crew Profile

***CREW THROUGH JULY 2019***

Captain Jacob:
Originally from Chicago, Jacob moved to the west coast in 2010 where he discovered his love for sailing. A single day trip in San Diego had him hooked and pretty soon he was chartering and eventually purchasing his first sailboat in 2014. In 2017 after spending several years sailing the coast of California and Mexico he quit his job as a hospitality manager and decided to pursue a full time career on the water.

Over the last two years Jacob has spent the summer season in the Med working charters for everyone from honeymoon couples to giant flotillas of nearly 200 yachts! During the winter season of 2018 he moved to Australia to sail charters in New South Wales for the summer down under. When it warmed up in the north he returned to sail California and Mexico once again along with the Abaco's islands in the Bahamas. Since making the Virgin Islands his home he has explored the hidden gems and tourist hot spots to provide the trip of a lifetime for any guest.

Always pursuing additional knowledge, Jacob has spent his time gaining experience on vessels ranging from 25 ft race boats to 85 ft luxury cruisers. Whether it's a mono hull or catamaran; big or small; as long as it's sailing the ocean blue it's the right boat.

Chef Christina:
A true New Yorker born in raised in Staten Island from two parents who grew up in Brooklyn, Christina prides herself on her personality and respectful family values. She believes this what has shaped her personality which has been the foundation for her life.
As an Italian American food has always been an important part of her life. She believes there is no better way to spread love than with a home cooked meal, some great wine, and really good company.

After graduating with a Masters Degree in Special Education, Christina worked as a preschool teacher in the greater New York area for over 5 years. It wasn’t until she took a trip to South Africa to teach English did she realize that her passion for travel, culture, and exploration exceeded her expectations. It was then that she realized she was settling for a comfortable life which she was good at, but ultimately it did not feed her soul.
Unexpected events, call it serendipitous or not, have brought her to the sea and she could not have been more grateful. She has worked two seasons as a chef in destinations such as Greece, Croatia, and Montenegro. She has worked on a variety of different sailboats which allowed her to really grow her passion for sailing.

As a chef Christina likes to keep her meals as healthy and tasty as possible. To her flavor is most important and shouldn’t be compromised. Christina likes to cook with the best ingredients she can find, and believes freshness is key. Her cuisine is very exploratory in that she likes to use a variety of flavors, spices, and herbs rather than stick to one specifically. Christina believes people should have a cultural culinary experience when they are eating. She wants you to remember your sailing experience from that moment you see the breathtaking morning sunrise over the horizon to the smell of roasted chicken coming fresh out of the boat’s oven. She truly believes that sailing is an experience for your senses and she’s fully on board to give the best experience she possibly can.

***CREW STARTING NOVEMBER 2019***

Richard Coning & Ekaterina Cherkez

Captain Rich:
Captain Rich hails from a small coastal town on the Atlantic Ocean. Growing up on the ocean, he has spent his entire life on the water. He was introduced to sailing after high school, when he crewed on a boat headed for the Virgin Islands. Immediately he was hooked and spent the next two years sailing and surfing the Caribbean. After meeting Kate, the two of them purchased and rebuilt their own boat to cruise the islands. A few years later he decided to pursue sailing professionally. After obtaining his 50 ton masters license with the UCSG, Rich and Kate have worked on boats along the East coast, Caribbean, and Mediterranean. With years of experience sailing together and an extensive knowledge of Virgin Islands waters, you will be in great hands.

Rich’s main passion in life is being in the ocean and enjoying the outdoors. As an active member of the Surfrider foundation, he is always looking for ways to live a more sustainable life. He looks forward to sharing his passion for water sports with guests, whether it’s tracking down waves along Tortola’s north shore, stand up paddle boarding, or water skiing.

His favorite part of the day is entertaining guests with craft cocktails and tales of the days adventures while the boat effortlessly sails off into the sunset.

Chef Kate:
Growing up in a landlocked city in Russia, the idea of sailing the ocean had never crossed Kate’s mind. It wasn’t until a summer exchange program brought her to the Atlantic coast where she met Rich. Now married for 8 years and after many sailing trips on their own boat, she couldn’t imagine life any other way. 

With a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from San Diego State University, her fresh culinary style reflects throughout a healthy fare. She channels all her incredible energy and brilliant ability to think outside the box into creating delicious masterpieces for guests to enjoy.

Having had the opportunity to travel the world, including Egypt, Thailand, Greece, and Italy, she has had the chance to sample many of the world's cuisines. She takes great delight in sharing these flavors with you. Quality of produce and locally sourced fresh foods remain the mainstay of her cooking. Vegetarians and vegans are very welcome with Chef Kate!

Kate seamlessly marries her talent in the galley with her natural ability to entertain. She is very flexible with a lively, outgoing, and bubbly personality. Kate aims to make your vacation as enjoyable and as fun as possible.