MY WAY Yacht Charter Motor Boat

Captain

Brief

Adam Sturman, Captain/ Engineer
Captain Adam Sturman’s love of the Ocean began when he was a few weeks old aboard their family boat sailing Biscayne Bay, Florida. This passion has guided his career, and Adam currently holds his USCG Master 1600GRT upon Oceans License. Adam has been working on sailing and power vessels since he was 15 and has spent extensive time in the Bahamas, giving him excellent knowledge of the waters and activities in the islands. After finishing college at the University of Florida, Adam spent a few years in Colorado, and has since made yachting his fulltime passion and profession for the last 12 years. He has run yachts in the waters of the Caribbean, Cuba, Bahamas, the U.S. Eastern Seaboard from Key West to Maine, Canadian Maritimes, St. Lawrence Seaway, and the Great Lakes. Adam has also project managed a few extensive structural and mechanical refits. Adam is a PADI Scuba Instructor, avid fisherman, spear fisherman, free diver, and photographer. His patience, objectivity, knowledge, and work ethic combine to give guests a memorable charter experience. He truly enjoys sharing his experience with others and is always looking for a new adventure.

Jessi Baker, Chief Stewardess
Originally from Nashville, TN; Jessi has always had a zest for life and a strong desire for travel and meeting new people. During her 8 ½ years in the yachting industry, she has worked on sailing, expedition, and motor yachts in both the private and charter sector. Her areas travelled are The Great Lakes, Canada, the US eastern seaboard from Maine to Florida, Keys, Bahamas, Cuba, and the Caribbean. To ensure that guests receive the safest and most luxurious experience possible, Jessi has received both her STCW and Silver service training, and a culinary degree from The Culinary Institute of Charleston. Most recently Jessi was the solo interior designer on the refit of M/Y My Way, her second yacht design project. Jessi also has a bachelor’s degree in music business and public relations, is an active REDKEN specialized cosmetologist, and a trained makeup artist. During her free time, you can catch Jessi participating in water sports, reading books, listening to music, and studying art, films, interior design, hair, and makeup. She believes it’s important to never stop learning and can’t wait to welcome you onboard!

John Behrns, Mate/ Engineer
John grew up on the Great Lakes and began sailing at a young age. He has completed 4 Mackinac Island Races and many inshore legs. He traded his love for the lakes and ocean for the frozen waters of Colorado, where he spent 5 years running Base Area Activities at Breckenridge and Keystone Resorts. After too many years of living in cold climates John found yachting and jumped in. Since becoming a professional mariner 6 years ago he has traveled The US West Coast from San Francisco to Alaska, the East Coast of the US, and has several years’ experience doing charters in the Bahamas on 55m, 40m, and 34m yachts. John is a certified SCUBA diver, loves Liverpool football club, training Krav Maga, and doing home improvement projects on his home in Ft. Lauderdale.


Katie Lyons, 2nd Stew/ Deck
Katie’s yachting experience started when she was diving off of liveaboards in Thailand. As a PADI scuba instructor her travelling quickly progressed to places like the Red Sea, Chuuk Lagoon, Palau, Philippines and Mexico. When not traveling Katie has spent the last ten years in the fine dining service industry in a little place called Jackson Hole Wyoming. Working in restaurants for the ski resort and Four Seasons gave her a broad base of wine and food knowledge. She also took time to explore the mountains skiing, hiking, and biking. Katie attributes her travel bug to her education in her home state at the University of Montana studying Anthropology. She says learning about humans and culture spurred this desire to visit other countries to see how others live. She joined yachting not only for her love of the ocean and its creatures but to discover this mysterious world of yachties and how it all works. In her free time, she likes reading and making friends. While onboard don’t hesitate to ask Katie about her travel or any scuba questions you may have, she will be thrilled to lend her time and expertise.

Michael Newstead, Chef
The question I always get asked is, what is my favorite cuisine to cook, or my favorite food? For me this is a tough question, I would have to say Italian/Mediterranean. I have had some amazing opportunities to work under some extremely talented Italian Master Chefs, and many other Master Chefs throughout my career, and for some reason I always lean towards Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. Going to the market every day and picking out fresh vegetables and proteins makes me smile knowing it is as fresh as I can get it. I have been cooking since I was 14. After high school, I enrolled in a culinary program to qualify to get into Johnson & Wales Culinary School. During which I was able to do both of my internships overseas, in Wales and Italy. I completed my B.S. in culinary arts 15 years ago. I have done nothing but food my entire working life and love it all. Mostly I have worked for or ran restaurants and country clubs before finding out I could be a chef on the sea where my heart lays. In addition to my extensive culinary background I have a huge passion for sailing. I have been sailing with my parents since I was a kid, our longest voyage being from Florida to St. Thomas. Working and cooking on yachts has been an easy transition. I have been a chef on yachts for six years and my career spans the Caribbean all the way to the Grenadines, the East Coast as far north as Maine, and the Mediterranean.