Foxtrot 3 & Sierra 3 Trip Blog- Meet The Staff
written by Social Media Coordinator, Ryan Smith
Jen Borderud, Program Director
Born and raised in California, Jen is most at home when close to the sea. Returning for her third year with us, Jen graduated from Williams College in 2013 with a degree in Psychology, and also played Varsity basketball and volleyball. She attended Sail Caribbean as a student in 2011, and has since proven herself in every position from Mate to Program Director. The Echo program made her fall in love with sailing and living on a boat, where a contained community uses teamwork and contribution to make everything happen. Jen is very interested in outdoor education and has lived in Ireland working for an adventure center where they facilitated many activities such as surf lessons and ropes courses. Recently, she has spent the last eight months in the Sail Caribbean New York office, working on redeveloping programs, recruitment and behinds the scenes matters in hopes to make this season the best it can be.
James “Ish” Alexander, Fleet Captain
Ish is returning for his third summer with us. He originates from King of Prussia, PA, but since graduating from Prescott College in AZ with a degree in Psychology and Adventure Education earlier this year, he considers himself a bit of a nomad with a future of travel adventures in mind. How does one get a nickname like Ish? Interesting enough, on his university’s freshmen orientation backpacking trip, his crew compared his smile to that of the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland, which ultimately got distorted and shortened to Ish, his now acknowledged name. Although coming to us with little sailing experience, his sailing aptitude and skills were quickly solidified through all the training and experience Sail Caribbean allows. Ish truly resonates with Sail Caribbean’s objective to help people build, develop, and grow, all within a community that has a love for the ocean and the natural world. It also doesn’t hurt that his job allows him to jump in the ocean every day before breakfast. Ish will never forget snorkeling the outer reef at Anegada a few years back, swimming among sharks and eagle rays. Outside of Sail Caribbean, Ish enjoys music, playing guitar, surfing, rock climbing, backpacking, skiing, and eating, preferably some delicious corn beef. Following this season, Ish hopes to be going on a lengthy sailing trip, from Southern California to Hawaii to Hong Kong to Australia!
Alex Mobley, Captain of Spyglass
Alex grew up in Raleigh, NC, but more recently has been living in San Diego, CA where plans to start attending the University of San Diego for a Masters degree in Education. Since graduating from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2010, Alex has been lucky enough to see some of the world by boat. She has worked as a marine biologist aboard a dive boat in Australia, sailed around the islands of Papua New Guinea and worked as a stewardess and deckhand on a super yacht in the Bahamas. Since 2014, she has been working at a year round marine science camp in San Diego. Returning to Sail Caribbean for her second year, Alex loves getting to work with the students and making a difference in their lives. Her favorite memories are days spent at the Bitter End Yacht Club, getting to hang out with the kids, doing water sports and sailing Hobie cats. Outside of Sail Caribbean, Alex loves teaching and marine biology, hot yoga, being with her family, and hiking with her dog, a Sheltie named Mason.
Will Steward, Captain of Miss You
Originally from Haslemere, UK, Will currently lives at his university, Southampton University, where he is in his second year of a Master’s degree in Marine Biology and also a First Team hockey player. Marine Biology was always Will’s favorite subject. When he was 17, he had an internship at a Marine Research fish farm which influenced him towards a career in the field. Will grew up always spending summers on the water, constantly doing water sports, fishing and kayaking. He got his open water certification when he was 12, and became a dive master in Figi when he was 18. He then went on to teach as a Dive Master in Figi and Zanzibar, and achieved his instructor certification while he was with us last year. Will believes the best thing about Sail Caribbean is the opportunities it gives kids. His favorite part of his job is that it is doing what he loves, sailing and scuba diving. Outside of Sail Caribbean, he enjoys cycling, skiing, and travel. Will won University First Team MVP last season for his hockey team.
Curtis Crooke, Captain of I Am Free
This is Curtis’ fifth year with Sail Caribbean. He lives in Washington, D.C., where he also attends Georgetown University. In addition to studying Government and Economics with a minor in Sociology, he is a member of the Georgetown University Sailing Team. Curtis spent his first three years as a student of Sail Caribbean, followed by a year interning as a Dive Master. Curtis has been sailing since 9 years old, influenced by a family of sailors, his dad being one of his biggest teachers. Curtis enjoys the variety of activities Sail Caribbean provides, in particular scuba diving. He will never give up the chance to go on a wreck dive or sail to his favorite location of Cooper Island Beach Club. Always smiling and seeking fun in every experience, Curtis remembers his favorite memory of riding the paparazzi during days spent at the Bitter End. When Curtis is not at Sail Caribbean, he has a passion for traveling. Fun fact: he has traveled to all 50 states, and 49 of the state capitals!
Grace McKenna, Mate of Spyglass
It’s no wonder Grace has always been a marine biology fanatic, having grown up around the bay of Baltimore, MD all her life. She currently lives in Boston, while she attends North Eastern University studying marine biology and environmental studies and also is on the Marine Biology Eboard, a part of the outdoors club, and working in an ecology lab. All throughout high school and breaks between semesters at college, Grace has now spent over 200 hours volunteering at the National Aquarium in Baltimore as an exhibit guide and a part of the animal rescue program, rehabilitating sea turtles and seals to release them back into the wild. When participating in the Sierra program as a student in 2013, she also got her scuba certification. Grace is passionate about bringing awareness to the impact that humans have on marine life and the ocean, especially turning those that are negative into positive. She is thrilled to participate with Sail Caribbean to encourage kids to get excited about marine biology and care about the ocean as much as she does. Grace has never been so excited than when she saw sharks, her favorite animal, for the first time during staff training this year. When she is not at Sail Caribbean, she enjoys backpacking, music, playing guitar and ukulele, and trail running.
Kathryn “KB” Broderick, Mate of Miss You, Provisions Manager
Joining us for her second year all the way from Dublin, Ireland, KB is known as one of the funniest people in our entire program. She graduated from University College of Dublin in 2014, earning a degree in zoology and also acting as the captain of the windsurfing club. From age 10 to 17, KB was a member of sea scouts, where she was actively sailing, rowing, kayaking, camping, and hiking. Since being involved with Sail Caribbean, KB loves that its students and staff all have the same mindset. She says, “Everyone is outdoorsy and adventurous, so they agree on a common goal, all while having loads of fun.” She loves to learn about the students, and see where they’re from because they all come from such interesting backgrounds. She’ll never forget her favorite Sail Caribbean memory last year, when her boat med-anchored out of Little Harbor, and as the sun was setting, her and her kids took their turns jumping off their boats in complete delight. Bubbly, kind KB is never shy to admit her best friend is her Great Dane and Shepherd mix, Zeus!
Liz Deveau, Mate of I Am Free
Joining Sail Caribbean for the first time, Liz is taking a break from the bitter cold of Alaska, where she has been working for a company contracted by NOAA fisheries, collecting data. Growing up in Revere, MA, she graduated from University of New Hampshire in 2013 with a degree in Marine Biology and English Literature, where she was also a member of the sailing team. Liz grew up in a yacht club that her parents belonged to, and then participated in a sailing program that her parents started when she was 8. Liz is most fond of her work over 7 years spent at a nonprofit sailing organization for inner city teens. Now, at Sail Caribbean, she is really fond of the independence and trust bestowed upon the kids. Her other interests include reading, writing, and travel. Her travels have even gotten her accidentally up close and personal free diving with a great white shark!
