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  • Abby Murray

    Sail Caribbean Captain

    Scituate, Massachusetts

     

    Abby is a rising senior at Boston University, studying Environmental Analysis and Policy with a minor in International Relations. She is on the BU Sailing Team and spends most of her days sailing on the Charles River with her teammates. This spring she participated in SEA Semester, sailing from Honolulu, HI to Palmyra Atoll. Living on a ship for 6 weeks and spending quality time with the crew showed Abby the value of close relationships and sharing time outdoors. She is very interested in climate change and environmental justice and enjoys sharing her passion for the environment with others. Abby grew up in Scituate, Massachusetts, spending a lot of time on the water sailing with siblings and growing an appreciation for community. For the past few summers, she has worked teaching sailing in her hometown and on Martha’s Vineyard. She loves meeting new people, enjoying the outdoors with new friends, and is excited to meet her campers and have a great summer!

  • Abby Scott

    Sail Caribbean Mate / Medical Officer

    Perryville, Maryland

    A Maryland native, Abby spent her first 18 years raised by the rich ecosystem of the Upper Chesapeake and Eastern Shore where she became active in watershed conservation and the boating community, kayaking and surfing. She wasn’t a fan of the cold, so she decided to study biology at Eckerd College in Florida, graduating in 2019 with plans to go to medical school in the future. While at Eckerd, she enjoyed all facets of biology, working as a Lab and Teaching Assistant, and working on research projects. To balance it all, she took up wakeboarding, learned to dive, fell in love with ceramics, and sailed with her friends on the weekends. In addition, she obtained her W-EMT and currently works as a medical assistant at an urgent care. She is eager to join Sail Caribbean to fulfill a dream of combining her many passions like teaching, mentorship, science and watersports!

  • Adam Grant

    Sail Caribbean Operations / Fleet Captain / Captain
    Fourth Year

    Dublin, Ireland

    Adam has been in the outdoor education industry for the past eight years. He has been with Sail Caribbean for the last four years as a fleet captain, captain and in the 2019 season as a member of the on land support crew. Adam is a dive instructor and a yacht master and worked as a professional dive coxswain in Costa Rica for a year before moving to a full time marine mechanic position in a marina in Europe. Adam has extensive experience in all areas of boating including marine repair, as well as a degree in Outdoor Education. 

  • Adrian Debrah

    Sail Caribbean Captain
    Second Year

    Mason City, IA

    Adrian is from small-town Iowa and attends Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to study Aeronautical Science. He started sailing at the age of 14 with a Hobie Cat Wave in a small lake behind his house and has been in love ever since the first time the wind caught his sails. He has always had a fascination for the oceans and its awesome inhabitants (especially Spotted Eagle Rays), but he was not satisfied having to be so far away from an ocean. So enrolled with Sail Caribbean for his first program in 2016 and enjoyed it so much came back for a second year in 2017. And is now in his third year as Sail Caribbean Staff.

  • Alex Jenkins

    Sail Caribbean Mate

    Halifax, Nova Scotia

    Alex is from Nova Scotia, Canada, she is currently studying at Carleton University and taking political science with a concentration in International relations. Her passions include being on the water, skiing, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. Alex spent her senior year of high school living on board a tall ship with Class Afloat where she visited over twenty ports of call and sailed over 20,000 nautical miles. Alex is looking forward to meeting students and having a great summer.

  • Alex McCrindle

    Sail Caribbean Mate PADI Open Water Instructor

    Tucson, Arizona

    Alex was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona and fell in love with diving in the Sea of Cortez on an expedition in 2016. After being washed away by Hurricane Sergio on the same beach a year later, he discovered his passion for experiential education. Alex has spent previous summers working in Honduras, achieving his PADI Instructor Certification and gaining experience in the dive industry. He is now a senior at Western Colorado University in Gunnison, double majoring in Outdoor Education and Business Administration. He enjoys mountaineering, skiing, and Arsenal football matches when not exploring the underwater world.

  • Amy Lawson

    Sail Caribbean PADI Open Water Instructor Videographer/Photographer

    Durban, South Africa

    Born in a beachside city in South Africa and raised in Western Australia, a state with over 6000 miles of coast line, it’s easy to say that wherever there’s an ocean, Amy feels at home. Amy’s passion for sailing and diving truly flourished when she moved full time onto a sailing vessel traveling around Australia, in an attempt to quite literally sail away from the chaos of COVID. Here she became a dive instructor and so is excited to start her first season with Sail Caribbean teaching in the incredible waters of the BVIs. As a Photographer/Videographer Amy loves to share her passion for the ocean through a creative lens that she hopes will spark joy and inspire others to love & care for the ocean as much as she does!

  • Anastasia Babicki

    Sail Caribbean Captain Marine Science Director Community Service Director
    Second Year

    Titusville, New Jersey

    Growing up next to the beautiful Delaware River in rural NJ, Stasia has always been a fan of water and the natural world around her. Stasia moved to the warm south for college to sail, explore, and to always be able to go outside (even in the pouring rain). She just graduated from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg Florida with a double major in Environmental Studies and Spanish. During her time in college, she became a WEMT for the college and joined the rugby team. At Eckerd, she has fallen in love with coastal wetlands and mangroves. She hopes to go to graduate school in the future for environmental philosophy and to teach others about the importance of the natural world. Stasia’s love for the ocean definitely grew when she was a camper at Sail Caribbean participating in the Foxtrot and Sierra clubs when she was younger and looks forward to inspiring campers just as she was inspired.

  • Andrew “Powell” Forshaw

    Sail Caribbean Captain
    Second Year

    Charlotte, NC

    Powell is an avid outdoorsman. His passions include surfing, fishing, diving, and of course sailing. Powell learned about the Sail Caribbean program from a friend and discovered his passion for sailing and living on the sea over the summer of 2017. He was excited to earn his sailing and diving certifications, but his favorite memory was the overnight sail to the Leeward Islands. Powell is still a keen power boater and fisherman but he envisions a lot more sailing in his future.

  • Andrew Arter

    Andrew Arter

    Sail Caribbean Program Director
    Fourth Year

    Damariscotta, ME

    Arter grew up on the coast of Maine and has been sailing his entire life. After graduating high school, he sailed from Maine to the Bahamas with a friend. Previously, Arter worked as the keel boat sailing coach for the Portland Yacht Club. He is also an avid J24 racer. He holds a US Captain’s license with sailing and towing endorsements. Currently Arter attends the University of Maine and is studying Mechanical Engineering and Math. During the summer, he enjoys sailing the coast of Maine and spending Saturdays with the boys.

  • Anna Sutton

    Sail Caribbean Mate Social Media Coordinator

    Lexington, Massachusetts

    Anna is a recent graduate from Elon University with a major in strategic communications and a minor in sociology. Anna grew up in Massachusetts, finding her love for the ocean while spending summers on Cape Cod with her family. Her parents now live in Savannah, GA, and she loves exploring the historic city and spending time on the Georgia coast! Anna has visited the BVI over 10 times and has fond memories of playing cards, sharing stories, and swimming for hours with her brothers while sailing the beautiful blue Caribbean waters. Anna spent January 2020 studying abroad in Barbados, gaining an even deeper appreciation for Caribbean culture. In addition to spending time on the water, Anna has spent her summers as a camp counselor and interning with marketing and PR agencies, learning skills she can’t wait to bring to Sail Caribbean this summer!

  • Augustus Johnson

    Sail Caribbean Mate

    St. Croix, USVI

    Augustus Johnson is a rising sophomore at Temple University where he is majoring in Marketing with a minor in Sports Management. Augustus was born in Winston-Salem North Carolina where he grew up until he was 16. He then moved to St Croix in the US Virgin Islands where he finished high school and currently lives. Augustus is an experienced Scuba Diver and has his advanced open water certification along with a deep diver specialty. He was a student at Sail Caribbean for three summers and this is his first summer working at Sail Caribbean as a Mate.  He is very excited to make new memories in the BVI.

  • Ava Zockoll

    Sail Caribbean Captain Dive Coordinator
    Third Year

    Bayhead, NJ

    From a beach town in New Jersey, Ava has always stayed close to the water and considers it her happy place. Coming into her 3rd summer as a staff member, she is excited to spend more time in the beautiful BVI and share her love of Sail Caribbean with everyone she encounters. Going into her senior year at Florida State University studying Hospitality and Tourism Management, she recently studied abroad in Panama City, Panama in Fall 2019 and just this past May got her divemaster on the island of Utila, Honduras. At school, Ava is a team member at the Wildlife Conservation Center and can’t wait to teach about the different conservation efforts that SC leads. With a high energy personality and love of her fellow staff members and students, Ava looks forward to an amazing summer!!

  • Britney Pieterse

    Sail Caribbean Divers
    2 Years

    Britney is a 21 year old South African who loves the ocean, diving, photography and drawing. She started diving when she was only 10 years old and since then couldn’t be kept away from diving. When she turned 18 she left her small little coastal town to complete her dive masters and instructors and loved every bit of it. She went on to teach scuba diving in Thailand for a couple months and then travelled to the beautiful BVI and worked here for a couple months, due to COVID she went back home, but she fell I love with the ocean and the beauty of the BVI that she had to come back and join Sail Caribbean Divers for her first summer season.

  • Callie Palumbo

    Sail Caribbean Program Consultant/ Social Media Coordinator
    Third Year

    Northport, NY

    Meet Callie soon!

  • Callie Wilks

    Sail Caribbean Captain
    First Year

    Cincinnati, Ohio

    Callie is from Cincinnati, Ohio and currently attends The Ohio State University as a business major. She discovered her passion for the ocean through Sail Caribbean as she attended the program for 2 years. Through the program, she found a love for diving and has gotten her advance certificate through Sail Caribbean. During the summer Callie loves to hang out with family and her two dogs on the lake. Some of the activities she loves to do are wakeboard, paddle board, fishing, and kayak. She is so excited about this amazing summer.

  • Cara Nestor

    Sail Caribbean BVI Office Manager

    Cincinnati, Ohio

    Cara Nestor is from Cincinnati Ohio. She is so excited to be joining the Sail Caribbean team this summer. Cara is a rising junior at The Ohio State University, majoring in Hospitality. She loves working and being with people and hopes to become an event planner after she graduates. Cara worked at a resort in Sea Island, Georgia last summer and loved it so she wanted to try something exciting and even further away from home! Travel is something that she is very passionate about, and she has never been to the British Virgin Islands before so she is so grateful for this opportunity. Cara loves going on adventures and meeting new people, so she couldn’t be more eager for this experience! Cara can’t wait to meet you all!

  • Carol Schwier

    Carol Schwier

    Sail Caribbean Travel Coordinator
    Twenty Eighth Year

    Huntington, NY

    Meet Carol soon!

  • Christian Abys

    Sail Caribbean
    Eighth Year

    Christian is returning to Sail Caribbean for his second time this summer, rejoining the Operations team. He attended a maritime high school in New Haven, Connecticut engaged in many aspects of boating including sailing and open water rowing. Christian studied at the University of Vermont for his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and just recently graduated with a masters from Boston University in Remote Sensing. After the summer, he will be starting his PhD in Geographic Sciences at the University of Maryland working on a NASA funded project studying agricultural systems and farms with satellite imagery.

  • Daniella Debrah

    Sail Caribbean Social Media Director/ Program Coordinator
    Third Year

    Mason City, IA

    Texas born, Iowa grown! Growing up in a land locked state, the closest she came to oceanic waves at home were the vast fields of corn and soybeans rustling in a summer breeze. Many times, she had to settle for exploring her backyard lake until her next rendezvous with the great big blue. This will be Daniella’s fourth year with the Sail Caribbean team! Her past positions with us include BVI Office Manager, Provisions Manager, and First Mate. Since our last operational summer, she’s graduated from the University of Iowa with a major in Communication Studies, a minor in International Relations, and a certificate in Event Planning! Prior to Sail Caribbean, Daniella worked as a camp counselor on Pearl Harbor Naval Base for Camp Adventure; a student run camp on American military bases and embassies worldwide serving children of the United States service men and women. Though she enjoyed spending her 2020 summer with her pup Snowball (who was SUPER excited to have his human home for the first summer in a while!), she’s looking forward to stretching out her sea-legs once again and voyaging with the students of our 2021 season!

  • Dillon Coppersmith

    Sail Caribbean Mate

    Montclair, Virginia

    Dillon is a long-time sailor and youth educator who lives in northern Virginia. As a teenager he lived aboard a sailing vessel with his family for five years, eventually completing a global circumnavigation. He has worked as a sailing instructor ever since, most recently leading the sailing program on Marine Corps Base Quantico. In college he was a member of the William & Mary sailing team where he occasionally competed but preferred introducing new sailors to the sport. Dillon’s passion for mentoring young people has bled into other interests as well, as he works as a varsity esports coach at his alma mater during the fall and winter. Dillon is excited to bring his knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm to Sail Caribbean this year!

  • Ebba Gustafsson

    Sail Caribbean Mate PADI Open Water Instructor
    First Year

    Gothenburg, Sweden

    Ebba is joining us for her first summer in the BVI. She grew up in a seaside town in Sweden and has spent every summer on the water. She has always had a passion for diving, sailing and the outdoors.

    Ebba has worked as a Sail Instructor, during the summers, for the past seven years and has been diving since the age of 14. After graduating high school she has been traveling and working within healthcare, on preschools, on a cruise ship and on an aquatic environment consultancy company among other things. She did her Divemaster in Indonesia and in 2019/2020 Ebba worked as a Dive Instructor in Costa Rica.

  • Eliot Faust

    Sail Caribbean Program Director
    Fifth Year

    Bethesda, MD

    Eliot joins us from Bethesda, MD. He is currently getting an MA in International Studies from Johns Hopkins SAIS, concentrating in Strategic Studies and International Economics. Starting in 2007, Eliot spent five years enrolled as a student at Sail Caribbean. Sail Caribbean really attracted Eliot due to his interest in marine biology from a young age. Following his time as an SC student, Eliot then completed the Sail Caribbean Dive Master Internship and transitioned to staff. Always ready with a funny one-liner, Eliot loves diving at the Fearless and the Indians or sailing to his favorite location of Little Harbor on Peter Island.

  • Emilia Dell’Antonio

    Sail Caribbean Captain

    Providence, RI

    Emilia recently graduated from Brown University, where she studied Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with plans to pursue a career in marine biology field research. At Brown, she studied biodiversity in coral reefs in Easter Island and the Galapagos and hopes to apply this research to inform conservation efforts for reefs across the globe. Emilia grew up in Barrington, Rhode Island and has been sailing on Narragansett Bay through the Herreshoff Marine Museum since she was a young girl, where her passion for the ocean took root. Recently, she has developed a love for off-shore sailing after working on a Hinckley 52 in Newport and from Florida to Rhode Island with a friend last summer. Emilia’s other interests include volleyball, film photography, painting, and making friendship bracelets. She can’t get down to Tortola this summer and is excited to spend time in the warm Caribbean!

  • Emily Mussio

    Sail Caribbean Captain
    Third Year

    Lake Huron, Canada

    Born and raised on the shore of Lake Huron in a small beach town of Grand Bend, Canada has put the love of the outdoors and travelling in her blood. Emily is currently a senior at Laurentian University in their Outdoor Adventure Leadership program as well as completing their Concurrent Education Program, where she obtained her Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification. She first joined Sail Caribbean as a student in 2012 and returned every year afterwards, in a wide variety of programs to ensure she got the full Sail Caribbean experience. She has many boiling passions that range from athletics, the outdoors and exploring the world. She is looking forward to her third summer at SC and sharing her passion for the outdoors with others and educating them in more ways than one!

  • Emma Janson

    Sail Caribbean Captain

    Darien, CT

    Marine science and sailing (and finding ways to combine both) have always been a passion for Emma, and she could not be more excited for her first summer at Sail Caribbean! Emma grew up on the shores of Long Island Sound and has been sailing competitively and recreationally since she was 10.  She is a graduate of the University of Vermont and has a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology with a concentration in Fisheries biology.  Emma spent much of her Vermont time on the lovely (and cold) waters of Lake Champlain as an active member of the UVM Sailing Team competing in two ICSA Women’s National Championships with her fellow lady Catamounts! In the winter you can find her on the mountains skiing or in a thick wetsuit surfing the New England Coast. For six summers Emma has been a Sailing Instructor and Junior Sailing Program Leader on the Connecticut side of Long Island Sound teaching beginner sailing and racing. Emma is a member of Sailors for the Sea’s Skipper Program, working with the organization to expand their initiatives and advocate for sailors to protect the waters they use. In the fall she will join University of Rhode Island’s Master of Arts in Marine Affairs Program, further pursuing her academic love of the oceans.

  • Emma Johnson

    Sail Caribbean Captain
    First Year

    Oxford, Maryland

    Emma is from Oxford, Maryland, a small sailing town on the Chesapeake Bay. She has always loved the water and sailing and completed her first sailing trip at three months old aboard her parent’s sailboat in the BVIs. When she was seven, her family moved to New Zealand for two years to build a cruising catamaran. After multiple years of cruising throughout the Pacific, her family completed a world circumnavigation in 2017-19. When not on her family’s boat, Emma taught sailing at a local camp and raced lasers with the Tred Avon Yacht Club in Oxford. Her most recent sailing adventure was an internship aboard SeaLegacy1 in the Bahamas over winter break. She is currently a sophomore biology/marine science major at UNC-Chapel Hill where she competes on the UNC Sailing Team. Her other interests include diving, videography, and hanging out with her family, friends, pets and plants.

  • Felicity Davies

    Sail Caribbean Mate

    Richmond, Virginia

    Felicity is a rising senior at UNC Wilmington studying marine biology and environmental science. Her love of the ocean developed growing up on the south coast of England, and then spending summers undertaking all types of water sports on the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. She is an officer of the UNCW Sailing Team, and really enjoys competing in regattas and coaching new sailors in the team’s fleet of 420s. In addition to sailing, she wakeboards, surfs, is president of UNCW’s field hockey team, and a keen sculptor and artist. Felicity spent last summer interning with the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Program where she worked to rescue, rehabilitate, and release sea turtles. She’s undertaken various research projects including time on Bald Head Island and during spring break this year completed a coral reef research trip in Belize. She is really excited to be part of the Sail Caribbean team this summer, share her passions for sailing, and protecting the ocean.

  • Gabby Foley

    Sail Caribbean Mate

    Virginia Beach, Virginia

    Gabrielle is a rising senior at Sewanee: The University of the South. She is majoring in Environment and Sustainability Policy with a focus in Anthropogenic soundscapes of the Ocean. She grew up competitively racing small boats in Norfolk, Virginia and recently wrapped up a semester at sea, sailing from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Palmyra Atoll in the North Equatorial Pacific. 

     

    This year, Gabrielle will be analyzing her senior capstone research on cetacean mammal communication in Sewanee. She is passionate about marine and freshwater landscapes, wetland conservation, land management policy, and outdoor education. 

    “I think the future of our planet rests in environmental stewardship. There is no better way to cultivate a positive relationship of reciprocity with the ocean than to spend time living on it. I am so excited to work with kids at Sail Caribbean this summer. I look forward to watching their academic passions expand. I want them to ask questions, and build lifelong friendships on board. I’m honored to act as a mentor and guide for them this summer.” – Gabrielle Foley

  • Gabriella Kudriavcovaite

    Sail Caribbean

    London, England

  • Grace Fogarty

    Sail Caribbean Mate

    Port Washington, New York

    Grace is entering the final year of her Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. At St Andrews, Grace works with the Scottish Oceans Institute to study dolphin acoustics and has become passionate about utilizing bioacoustics for marine mammal conservation as a result. She is fortunate to have had a wide range of marine fieldwork experience, from studying wild stingrays in the Bahamas, and coral reefs in Madagascar, to seagrass communities in the coastal estuaries of Long Island, New York. Grace enjoys being in the water whenever she can, with her favorite activity being SCUBA diving, and hopes to turn her passion and experience into a career in research. Grace’s love for the ocean and marine activities stemmed from her upbringing on the North Shore of Long Island and her time as a student at the Island School on Cape Eleuthera. Grace has worked as a counselor at a sleep away camp in the Berkshires for four summers and is excited to combine her enthusiasm for mentoring future leaders and love for the ocean this summer with Sail Caribbean!

  • Hanna von Bernthal

    Sail Caribbean Mate

    Phoenix, AZ

    Hanna grew up running around the vast dunes and forested shores of the beautiful Great-Lakes-State of Michigan. Naturally, her passion for the outdoors started at a young age. From sailing to snowboarding, or mountain biking to backpacking – if it’s in the Great Outdoors, you’ll find Hanna there! She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan with a focus on Ecology, and she spent a semester in New Zealand where she was able to focus her studies on Marine Biology (with a particular affinity for humpback whales, because who doesn’t have an affinity for whales??). She has 6 years of experience as a sailing instructor at a summer camp in Northern Michigan, as well as 3 years of experience as a teens’ snowboard instructor at Vail Mountain in Colorado. In addition to spending time outdoors, Hanna loves to travel, cook, sip coffee, watch sunset, sing, and play guitar. She can’t wait to share her passions with the rest of her crew!

  • Hannah Murphy

    Sail Caribbean Captain
    First Year

    Easton, MD

    Hannah is finishing her third year at Tulane University and is so thrilled to be joining the Sail Caribbean staff this summer. Hannah plans to major in Sociology with a minor in Teaching, Learning, & Training. She currently works with kids at a local program in New Orleans during the school year, she is excited to continue surrounding herself with the energy of young teens. Hannah grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland where she spent most of her time out on boats with friends, either sailing, paddle boarding, tubing, or wakeboarding. During the summers, Hannah worked as a lifeguard and camp counselor. Hannah’s parents met and spent many of their post-college years working for Sail Caribbean, she is excited to be following in their footsteps. Hannah’s other interests include hiking, photography, snorkeling, and riding horses.

  • Hannah Sanderson

    Sail Caribbean BVI Office Manager

    Belfast, Maine

    Hannah grew up in mid-coast Maine. She has always loved the ocean and can never stay away from the beautiful water. In high school, Hannah joined the field hockey, indoor and outdoor track teams, leading her to become an avid sports science lover. Hannah is currently pursuing a degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Human Nutrition at the University of Maine. She plans to continue her education and pursue a doctorate degree in Physical Therapy. Hannah’s hobbies include skiing, running, swimming, exercise, community service, and traveling. She has visited many different countries including Mexico, Dominican Republic, Aruba, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada. During the summer, Hannah enjoys spending time at her lake house, boating, jet-skiing, and hanging out with her family. Her previous work experience includes child care and waitressing at a restaurant. She is very excited to be joining the Sail Caribbean team and is looking forward to hanging out with the kids.

  • Henry Joslin-Davis

    Sail Caribbean Mate Mate-In-Training
    First Year

    Atherton, CA

  • Ian Duncan

    California

    Growing up on the Northern California coastline, Ian has always felt close to the ocean. He spent his summers learning to sail, and eventually became the lead instructor for the program where he first started sailing. Ian moved across the country in search of warm weather and will be graduating this year from Eckerd College with a bachelors in Marine Science. When he’s not studying or working as an EMT, Ian spends his time surfing, sailing, swimming, and windsurfing in the warm waters of the gulf. He hopes to share is love and respect for the ocean with the campers at Sail Caribbean this summer!

  • Jackie Bonfiglio

    Sail Caribbean Captain Dive Coordinator
    Second Year

    Alexandria, Virginia

    Jackie is a year graduated from Eckerd College where she majored in environmental studies with a focus in marine biology. She is originally from Northern Virginia where she grew up exploring the outdoors and taking interest in the environment. As she traveled abroad to explore and study in Honduras and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, her passion for environmental conservation and marine ecosystems flourished. Her love for nature and the ocean led her to work with the Coral Restoration Foundation planting young corals throughout the Florida Keys reef system. In the last seven months she lived aboard a traditional brigantine as deckhand for the Los Angeles Maritime Institute where she taught inner city youth topsail programs. Jackie just recently completed her PADI dive master with the Sail Caribbean Divers upon arriving to the British Virgin Islands this summer. She is looking forward to sharing the beauty of sailing and the underwater world with her campers along with making new friendship and lasting memories this summer. 

     

  • Jackie Musco

    Jackie Musco

    Sail Caribbean Head of Admissions & Family Relations
    Seventh Year

    Smithtown, NY

    Jackie grew up on the shores of Long Island; her summers were (and are) spent at Robert Moses. She attended New York Institute of Technology and graduated with a degree in Hospitality Management. Before joining the Sail Caribbean team, Jackie worked at a small, family-owned party store where she spent her teen years moving up the ranks from “balloon assistant” to store manager. Going into her sixth summer at SC, Jackie’s no longer in the party game, but can still build a balloon arch in no time! What does Jackie do in her free time?  You’ll more than likely find her gallivanting with her nephew, hitting up the dance floor at a local spot, singing along at a concert or working hard in a Spin class…yes, she’s one of those!

  • Erika Florian

    James Catling

    Sail Caribbean Divers PADI Staff Instructor

    England

    James has been diving since 2009. His favorite underwater activities are side mount diving and protecting the reefs from lionfish. His favorite abovewater activity…a walk on the beach at sunset.

  • Jason Hart

    Jason Hart

    Sail Caribbean Divers Dive Director
    Seventh Year

    Jason arrived in 2011 as a divemaster intern and spent four summers working for Sail Caribbean. He has since then joined the Sail Caribbean Divers team. Jason enjoys sailing and sports in his spare time.

  • Jenna Konyok

    Sail Caribbean
    Third Year

    New Jersey

    Jenna is a certified Open Water Scuba Instructor. She is extremely passionate about the ocean, sharks, and conservation. Jenna is originally from New Jersey, where she was not able to dive as often as she would have liked so she took a new direction with life and decided to travel the world and dive! She originally studied Psychology and Criminal Justice in college and worked in her field for about 5 years but the ocean kept calling her name. Jenna loves photography, anything outdoors and related to the water, and really enjoys meeting and connecting with new people from all around the world!

  • John DeBuysser

    Sail Caribbean Mate
    First Year

    Glen Arbor, Michigan

    John DeBuysser is an avid diver. He grew up in Indiana and now calls Michigan home. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology-Environmental Studies at Whitman College in Washington. Since college his focus is in tropical marine ecology and scientific diving, and has been fortunate to study and work in the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, US Virgin Islands, and the Turks & Caicos Islands. John is excited to work with Sail Caribbean this summer and show campers the amazing underwater world of the British Virgin Islands.

  • Kiah Williams

    Sail Caribbean Mate / Divemaster

    Geneva, Switzerland

    Kiah is a marine biologist and divemaster from Switzerland, with a BSc in Marine Biology from Newcastle University. She has occupied many roles as a marine biologist including working on a cetacean research vessels in Spain and a coral reef restoration programme in the Mauritius. Most recently she has been working in turtle rescue, rehabilitation and release, as well as eco tourism in the Maldives. Despite having worked on many exciting projects, she’s hoping to find more time out on the boat which is why Sail Caribbean is so perfect! This will be Kiah’s first time in the BVI, so she is excited to see all the marine life and share her joy of the underwater world with everyone there! When she’s not got her head underwater, she loves to play basketball, do various water-sports and also enjoys photography. She can’t wait to meet everyone soon!

  • Kylie Wicklund

    Sail Caribbean Mate PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer

    The World

    Kylie is a dive instructor, joining for her first season at Sail Caribbean. Kylie grew up and attended university in Michigan, and has lived all over the world from Little Rock, Arkansas to South Korea. She has been living a nomadic lifestyle since finishing 8 years of military service. Kylie is ready for some new adventures this summer and can’t wait to make some bubbles together!

  • Lillyanne Dunphy

    Sail Caribbean Provisions Manager
    First Year

    Barrington, RI

    Lilly Dunphy is originally from Rhode Island – aka the Ocean State – where her love for the ocean blossomed. Her love for sailing is rooted in her Danish blood, where she spent this past fall at an environmental cooking school. She will graduate in May from the University of Colorado Boulder with a bachelors in Environmental Design specializing in urban planning. Her sights are set on law school as an environmental lawyer dealing with land management and water resources in hopes to preserve our beautiful home. She is an avid environmentalist which sprung from her summers with Sail Caribbean’s Alpha and Sierra Programs. From Sail Caribbean to her time exploring Colorado, her love for the ocean and the mountains have dominated her adventurous lifestyle. Lilly is also a yoga sculpt instructor and loves being active, creative, cooking, and being on the beach. She is psyched for an awesome summer!

  • Mary Haley

    Sail Caribbean Mate

    Rockaway, New York

    Growing up on the beaches of Rockaway, New York, Mary grew up in the ocean. Surfing, paddle boarding and swimming are just a few of the hobbies she grew up loving before her move up North where she attends the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. There she began exploring the mountains and got into traversing, biking, and snowshoeing. Mary is a rising senior majoring in Environmental Studies with a focus in Law and she has a double minor in Writing and Rhetoric as well as Marine Science. Mary is a commodore of the Syracuse University’s Sailing Team and has been sailing and competing with the team since her freshman year. She also volunteers with the Sea Scouts of America teaching paddling and sailing to kids during her summers. She has also been a kayaking instructor for the National Parks Service! Her most recent trip was a voyage in the Pacific from Honolulu, Hawaii to the Palmyra Atoll in the Southern Pacific. She traveled there along a 134 foot steel sailing brigantine research vessel and researched the effects of thermocline variability in the Southern Pacific. All of Mary’s sailing experience has been built over the last four years and she loves to inspire new sailors by reminding them that it is never too late to learn to sail! Aside from sailing, Mary also loves film photography, yoga, writing, and her puppy Winston!

  • Matthew Marscheider

    Sail Caribbean Captain / Divemaster
    First Year

    Virginia Beach, VA

    Matt has just graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Environmental Sciences. He has an inherent passion for all ocean activities and creatures and has been working as a kayak guide in the Chesapeake Bay for the previous five years. His hometown of Virginia Beach, VA allowed him to pursue his passions of surfing, sailing, hiking, and especially wakeboarding. This past year, Matt has earned his PADI Divemaster in Cozumel, Mexico’s crystal blue waters as well as his RYA Yachtmaster in South Africa’s stormy seas.

  • Matthew Martin

    Sail Caribbean Divers
    Second Year

    Kent, England

    He started diving in 2007 and has continued all the way to PADI Instructor level in 2017. Since then he has taught scuba diving in United Kingdom, Belize, Utila, Honduras, Malaysia and Thailand.

  • Matthew Monts

    Sail Caribbean Mate

    Bluffton, South Carolina

    Matthew is 20 years old, and is from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Growing up in a small coastal town, he frequently could be found exploring the local waterways. Matthew has been sailing for 14 years, and began to race at the age of 10. Finding success in a variety of boats, he has found himself on the podium of multiple national championships, and sailed with the US Olympic Development Program in preparation for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games and Youth World Championship, for which he was nominated to be the alternate athlete. While he lived on Hilton Head, Matthew spent his time teaching sailing classes of all levels and ages at his local yacht club. Currently, Matthew is going into his Junior year at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he is studying Marine Science. Although he currently is not racing as competitively as he has in the past, Matthew loves to spend as much of his time as he can outdoors and on the water, and is excited for the opportunity to share his love for the ocean with others.

  • Max McManus

    Sail Caribbean Watersports Coordinator
    First Year

    Minneapolis, MN

    Max is from Minneapolis, Minnesota and currently attends Eckerd College in St Petersburg FL, receiving a degree in Environmental Studies. At Eckerd, Max works at the waterfront driving the wake-boarding boat. Max is also a first responder and volunteers as an EMT on the school’s emergency response team. In his free-time, Max loves to go sailing, windsurfing, and play ultimate frisbee. Max is very excited to share his love for the ocean with others and create amazing experiences with Sail Caribbean.

  • Melissa Ferreira

    Sail Caribbean Provisions Manager/Mate PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer

    Pretoria, South Africa

    the water, swimming professionally throughout her school years. Eventually she went on to coach swimming through college while studying linguistics, majoring in Portuguese and Spanish. Once she completed her studies, she found a way to make her passion for the water and the ocean her lifestyle and career, by becoming a scuba instructor. She has worked as an instructor for 3 years in South Africa, Maldives and most recently Costa Rica. Melissa loves practicing yoga, drinking tea and drawing when she’s not underwater. Melissa is an animal-lover at heart, especially to her 5 dogs at home. Her favourite diving memory was spotting a manta and a whale shark on the same dive in the Maldives. She can’t wait to share her passion for the ocean this summer with Sail Caribbean.

  • Melissa Pollard

    Sail Caribbean Captain
    Third Year

    Bozeman, MT

    Melissa is joining us for her third season at Sail Caribbean. She is an alum from the Mate-In-Training program and has been thriving in the company ever since! She is originally from England but has spent the majority of her life in the mountains of Montana where she found her love and passion for outdoor adventure. She is an avid skier in the winter and a lover of sunshine and good times on the water in the summer!  Melissa is headed into her final year at Montana State University where she studies Exercise Science with the goal of going on to Perfusion School. She is so excited for more salty adventures and to create unforgettable memories this coming summer!

  • Michael Weinzierl

    Sail Caribbean Mate / Divemaster
    First Year

    Hudson, Ohio

    Michael is a long-time ocean lover, coming to us with an MSc in Marine Science from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, and before that a BS in Geology and Biology from Hamilton College in upstate NY, where he studied and wrote theses and research in carbonate geochemistry, marine macrophyte physiology and marine geology. He spent time at the USGS Marine Research Center in St. Petersburg, FL as a coral geochemist, where he reconstructed paleo proxy environmental data using isotope and geochemical analysis of corals, and his scientific work spans from the Bahamas Bank and USVI to the Red Sea and Great Barrier Reef. He has also taught marine science at Western Reserve Academy, where he served as dorm master and swim coach. He comes to us as a PADI Divemaster and First Mate and a spirit of adventure, and he can’t wait to share what he’s learned with inspired students!

  • Mike Liese

    Mike Liese

    Sail Caribbean Founder/Director
    Thirty-Sixth Year

    Northport, NY

    Mike Liese is a sailor. He grew up on the waters of Long Island Sound. He’s also a father, grandfather, educator, and most of all, a mentor. After obtaining his Masters in Education from Penn State University, Mike spent the next seventeen years in education, first as a high school teacher, and later as director of the Alternative School Program at Harborfields HS in New York. In 1979, he made a life-changing decision to combine his passion for teaching with his love of sailing: Sail Caribbean. More than thirty years later, Mike remains committed to his original vision of empowering young people to reach heights they might never have thought possible.

  • Mike Rowe

    Mike Rowe

    Sail Caribbean Divers PADI Course Director
    Fifteenth Year

    Brandywine Bay, Tortola, BVI

    Mike is the BVI’s only resident PADI Course Director, PADI’s highest certification level. He makes the toughest tasks seem easy and his enthusiasm for the job is infectious. As a PADI-certified Course Director, Mike is “an instructor of instructors”, having certified well over 800 dive professionals. With more than 25 years in the dive industry, we consider him invaluable.

  • Molly-Ann Basterfield

    Sail Caribbean
    Third Year

    Molly shares her passion for the underwater world through her involvement in ocean conservation projects alongside introducing new scuba divers and free divers to the sacred blue depths.

    During 2019, alongside working for PADI at the UK head offices, she was a part of the Shark Trust, educating and raising awareness on Shark Conservation. Previously she has also worked with Temple Reef Foundation in South East India, constructing artificial reefs in the Bay of Bengal, to restore reef areas that have been destroyed by trawling. This, alongside working with locals to develop more sustainable fishing practices, has rebuilt the ecosystem and allowed for the return of whale sharks to the region.

    Molly has found that her passion lies in connecting humans with the water to experience its deep calming and healing effects, she combines her love for the underwater world with her desire to help people to overcome mental and physical barriers in order to realize their potential and find their way in the world. Having worked as a secondary school teacher, a social worker and a mental health facilitator in the past, she brings all of these skills and experiences into her water work.

    Molly is currently living and practicing in Dahab, Egypt. Whilst back on land she spends her time writing and growing her ocean conservation themed jewelry range.

  • Natalie Pemberton

    Sail Caribbean Mate
    First Year

    New York, New York

    Natalie is a current freshman at the University of Miami majoring in Marine Affairs with a minor in Ecosystem Science and Policy. She is a Sail Caribbean alum and this is her first summer as a staff member! She loves diving and is an ocean documentary enthusiast. Having moved around a lot in her childhood, living in Atlanta, England, Princeton, and now New York City, Natalie loves traveling and meeting new people! Natalie will be working with us as a part of the Mate-In-Training program. She is excited for all of the adventures and cant wait to make unforgettable memories this summer!

  • Nicolas Lennarz

    Sail Caribbean Captain
    First Year

    Williamsberg, VA

    Nic is a rising third year student at the University of Virginia where he is majoring in Economics.  When he’s not doing schoolwork, Nic enjoys playing soccer and hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains. Growing up near the Chesapeake Bay, Nic spent his summers competing in sailing regattas all over the East Coast.  He also spends weekends sailing with his parents on their twenty-six-foot Herreshoff Alerian. Besides sailing, Nic enjoys boating, wakeboarding, and throwing frisbees for his Australian Cattle Dog.  Nic is looking forward to meeting all the new students and sharing his passion for sailing.

  • Oliver Barnes

    Sail Caribbean Captain
    First Year

    Cornwall, England

    Ollie is from a small town on the North coast of Cornwall (or as he likes to call it Kernowfornia), England where he regularly surfs and hikes along the cliffs with his dog Tassy. He has always had a passion for the ocean having lived by the sea.

    Ollie first stepped foot on a sailboat aged 3, however, it was not until he began sailing aboard the world-famous Jolie Brise tall ship that he became hooked! Since then he has gone on to achieve his Yachtmaster Offshore Qualification, sail across the Atlantic twice and won numerous Tall Ships and other Offshore races. Following over 4 years and 15,000nm in sail training, Ollie went in search of the chance to sail in warmer waters and make use of his 1st Class Degree from Cardiff University to inspire teenagers why both sailing and the ocean are so important and what can be done to help protect it!

    He is very excited about joining the Sail Caribbean team and the prospect of being able to jump into water warmer than 57F.

  • Peter Gilmore

    Sail Caribbean
    Third Year

    Peter Gilmore is a 21 year old student from Ireland, currently studying media and communications at Cardiff University in Wales. Peter sailed since he was very young and certainly does not lack in experience. He has sailed across the Atlantic Ocean twice and has competed at 5 world championships prior to studying at university.

    While Peter views safety on the water as his number one priority, he values fun as a close second. Relaxed and easy going, he can be easily convinced to join in with most social activities and he is hugely excited to meet everyone this summer.

    Aside from sailing, Peter sings in an a capella group and has also enjoyed being a part of numerous musical theatre productions while at school. Without a doubt he’s an extraverted charter who looks to bring energy to every scenario he enters.

  • Riley Addison

    Sail Caribbean Captain
    First Year

    Chico, CA

    Growing up in California on the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Riley has always known the outdoor life. His introduction to ocean sports began in the cold water of northern California. In the last two summers, his jobs on Catalina Island have included work as a kayak tour guide and working at a local SCUBA shop. Seven months were spent sailing an old schooner in the Bahamas, and he has sailed on two offshore transits. His hobbies include rock climbing, off-road cycling, diving and photography.

  • Samantha Lundquist

    Sail Caribbean Provisions Manager Medical Officer

    Vancouver, Canada

    From the west coast of Canada, Samantha has grown up with mossy forests, steep mountain peaks and ocean tides as her home and happy place. While she loves to spend her weekends either camping by the ocean or summiting mountains, her grade 12 year sailing across the Atlantic Ocean on a tall ship has proven to be her most memorable experience. Samantha has worked as a lifeguard for 5+ years and has just graduated from the University of British Columbia with a bachelors of science in food, nutrition, and health and a minor in business. She wants to go back to graduate studies someday with a goal of one day working in the medical field. She’s stoked to get back out on the water, disconnect from the tech world and connect with others! Samantha is also a big advocate for normalizing discussion around mental health so she is always happy to chat and be a part of anyone’s support system.

  • Sara Swett

    Sail Caribbean Mate
    First Year

    Glen Ridge, NJ

    Sara has loved the ocean for as long as she can remember. She has gone sailing with her family in the Long Island Sound every summer since she was a toddler and learned how to sail Sunfish, Lasers, and 420s in the Delaware Bay when she was 10 years old. She went on to teach beginner sailing for the Lewes Yacht Club sailing camp in her summers during high school. Sara is a recent graduate of the University of Maine where she received her bachelor’s degree in Marine Sciences with a concentration in Marine Biology. She is passionate about ocean conservation and sustainability, and her favorite animal is the whale shark! Other than sailing and going to the beach, Sara loves yoga, cooking, skiing, and art. This is her first year with Sail Caribbean and she is looking forward to an amazing summer and can’t wait to meet you all!

  • Tara Lang

    Sail Caribbean Mate
    First Year

    Cincinnati, Ohio

    Tara is from Cincinnati, Ohio, but now lives in Columbus. She has just finished her freshman year at the Ohio State University and her intended major is Environmental Engineering. She loves marine biology and is excited to kick off the summer with Sail Caribbean! Always having a passion for traveling, she cannot stay away from the ocean. Tara also has been a crew member for two summers at Sail Caribbean where she earned her Advanced Scuba Certification. She is eager to further her education and earn her Dive Master one day. Overall, she is looking forward to learning the ins and outs of what it takes to be a successful mate.

  • Ted Moskal

    Gloucester, MA

    Ted is originally from Gloucester, MA and grew up spending his summers sailing around the Cape Ann area, as well as working at a number of different boating-related jobs. Ted is currently a junior majoring in History and International Area Studies at Washington University in St. Louis. Although he has grown to appreciate the midwest, he is excited to spend this summer away from the landlocked state of Missouri. Ted is also involved in his school’s Wilderness Project and loves spending time outdoors, whether that means hiking in the Ozarks, kayaking in the Essex salt marshes, or distance running wherever he happens to be. When he is unable to get outside, Ted spends most of his free time writing and editing for his college newspaper where he manages the news section. Ted can’t wait to finally head down to the BVIs this summer and meet Sail Caribbean’s wonderful students and staff members.

  • Tim Caruso

    Sail Caribbean Mate Divemaster
    Third Year

    Bronxville, NY

    Originally from New York, Tim is currently pursuing a BA in Film and Screen Media in Cork, Ireland. A diver from age 13, Tim has learned to Sail and Dive with Sail Caribbean, earning his Rescue Diver and Divemaster certifications over three years. Sail Caribbean opened up a world of exploration to Tim, encouraging him to study abroad in Ireland. Recently, Tim has returned from a year of study at Leeds Trinity University in England. He has been working on a number of short film projects and is eager to start his final year of college in September.

  • Timothy Outwater

    Sail Caribbean Mate
    First Year

    Millbrook, New York

    Growing up in coastal Maine and Upstate New York, Tim has always had a love for the outdoors. In high school, he spent his summers working for the Fresh Air Fund, a non-profit that brings kids from low-income communities in New York City to the Hudson Valley for free summer camp. He has gained great experience working with kids by coaching recreational lacrosse and basketball. Tim is passionate about teaching and recently graduated from the University of Maine where he studied Elementary Education. He loves to ski and snowboard in the winter and has been to mountains all over New England. In the summer, he enjoys boating, fishing, and golfing, and recently found a new love for sailing in the Gulf of Maine. Tim is thrilled to be joining the Sail Caribbean team this year and is so excited to meet everyone and start exploring the BVI!

The Sail Caribbean Team

You’ll learn from talented expert instructors who will become your mentors and friends. Look forward to high-energy, action-oriented people who are definitely FUN to be around! With a variety of backgrounds and interests, they are enthusiastic about teaching you what they know. But Sail Caribbean staff will not only teach you – they will empower you! Imagine having a teacher, parent and friend who is always there for you at every challenge making it fun, and cheering you on at each success. Our leaders are those kinds of people. They’ve worked with teens before, but they don’t consider it work at all – they love it!

Filter the Team:
Full Staff
All Job Titles

Abby Murray

Captain

Abby Scott

Mate / Medical Officer

Adam Grant

Operations / Fleet Captain / Captain

Adrian Debrah

Captain

Alex Jenkins

Mate

Alex McCrindle

Mate PADI Open Water Instructor

Amy Lawson

PADI Open Water Instructor Videographer/Photographer

Anastasia Babicki

Captain Marine Science Director Community Service Director

Andrew “Powell” Forshaw

Captain

Andrew Arter

Andrew Arter

Program Director

Augustus Johnson

Mate

Ava Zockoll

Captain Dive Coordinator

Britney Pieterse

Callie Palumbo

Program Consultant/ Social Media Coordinator

Callie Wilks

Captain

Cara Nestor

BVI Office Manager

Carol Schwier

Carol Schwier

Travel Coordinator

Christian Abys

Dillon Coppersmith

Mate

Ebba Gustafsson

Mate PADI Open Water Instructor

Eliot Faust

Program Director

Emilia Dell’Antonio

Captain

Emily Mussio

Captain

Emma Janson

Captain

Emma Johnson

Captain

Felicity Davies

Mate

Gabby Foley

Mate

Gabriella Kudriavcovaite

Grace Fogarty

Mate

Hanna von Bernthal

Mate

Hannah Murphy

Captain

Hannah Sanderson

BVI Office Manager

Henry Joslin-Davis

Mate Mate-In-Training

Ian Duncan

Jackie Bonfiglio

Captain Dive Coordinator

Jackie Musco

Jackie Musco

Head of Admissions & Family Relations

Erika Florian

James Catling

PADI Staff Instructor

Jason Hart

Jason Hart

Dive Director

Jenna Konyok

John DeBuysser

Mate

Kiah Williams

Mate / Divemaster

Kylie Wicklund

Mate PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Lillyanne Dunphy

Provisions Manager

Mary Haley

Mate

Matthew Marscheider

Captain / Divemaster

Matthew Martin

Matthew Monts

Mate

Max McManus

Watersports Coordinator

Melissa Ferreira

Provisions Manager/Mate PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Melissa Pollard

Captain

Michael Weinzierl

Mate / Divemaster

Mike Liese

Mike Liese

Founder/Director

Mike Rowe

Mike Rowe

PADI Course Director

Molly-Ann Basterfield

Natalie Pemberton

Mate

Nicolas Lennarz

Captain

Oliver Barnes

Captain

Peter Gilmore

Riley Addison

Captain

Samantha Lundquist

Provisions Manager Medical Officer

Sara Swett

Mate

Tara Lang

Mate

Ted Moskal

Tim Caruso

Mate Divemaster

Timothy Outwater

Mate