Aeolus

CAPTAIN MAYON & MATE ELIZABETH

Mayon was born in Maryland on the east coast of the USA with sailing blood passed down from his grandfather and mother. With access to a small sailboat as a kid, he has many memorable “learning” experiences as a young adventurous waterman in the making. He then went on to finish his childhood on the Big Island of Hawaii where he truly fell in love with the ocean. After completing a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering he switched gears back to the ocean and sailed from Maryland down to the Caribbean where he started his career as a boat captain. With the sails up and underway, Mayon exudes the kind of contagious enthusiasm that will have everyone aboard excited. He’s calm, collected nature and willing to share his thoughts, techniques, and plans, bringing an inclusive and confident feel to the boat. You are sure to feel empowered to learn, explore, and relax while in the comfort of this kind, relaxed, true sailor.

For as long as she can remember, Elizabeth has always felt a connection to the ocean & island living. Perhaps it’s her Hawaiian middle name of “Leilani”, or her disdain for growing up in cold, snowy Michigan. As soon as she graduated from high school, Elizabeth escaped the snow, moving to sunny Los Angeles to pursue her passion for dancing. She spent the next 10 years splitting her time between NYC & LA, performing with icons such as The Radio City Rockettes, Beyoncé, Pitbull & more. In addition to her performing career, Elizabeth made a name for herself in the event & meeting planning industry. As a self-proclaimed “master organizer”, and an artist by nature, this career path was a natural fit. Despite having her dream jobs, bicoastal living, and working in two fast-paced industries made for a quick burnout rate, and in 2017 she decided it was time to slow down – and what better place to slow down than the Hawaiian Islands! Maui, Hawaii is where Elizabeth’s passion for sailing & ocean adventure was born. Within weeks of landing on the island, Elizabeth had a job crewing on several sailboats, had become dive certified & was well on her way to becoming a professional mermaid. Flash forward to the present where Elizabeth feels as though she has manifested not only her dream job, but her dream life – entertaining- ing, adventuring, preparing culinary creations, and curating once-in-a-lifetime sailing experiences, all while island hopping around the world!

Mayon and Elizabeth fell in love on the beaches of Maui, Hawaii as two young, adventurous, ocean lovers. Lucky enough for them both, their first encounter was as unknown roommates who happened to move in under the same roof as a mutual friend. At first sight, they knew that keeping the social norm of “don’t date your roommate” was out of the question!
Their kindred spirits attracted them together from the very first night they met, where an impromptu sunset sailing trip on Mayon’s Hobie 18’ took them well into the night. After their “love at first sight”, the duo went on countless more Maui adventures before moving aboard a Cosmos 49’ catamaran in Thailand. After sailing that boat to Sri Lanka they solidified their joint dream of running their own charter boat and started their career together as captain and hostess. Mayon and Elizabeth’s togetherness is the solid core on which their charters are built, putting their guests at ease no matter the challenge. They are passionate about the trip they deliver, cultivating a feeling of adventure and well-being, that is sure to last far beyond your time in their care.

CHEF SAM

Sam Middeke comes from a tight family of 4 brothers, born and raised just outside of St.Louis MO. Sam started his culinary path at a young age, always interested in learning how things are made and what it takes to get to the end goal of a completed dish. Throughout his formative years, he picked up cooking and started to pursue a restaurant job just as soon as he was able to. Working several years in private clubs and golf courses, Sam learned the work it took to be able to make this passion a career. Meanwhile obtaining an applied science degree in culinary arts from Forrest Park in St.Louis. From there his desire to grow in this industry led him to the ever-growing city of Nashville TN. There he worked and learned under admirable, acclaimed chefs leading him to eventually make a name for himself as the Executive Chef of a prominent restaurant fixture in the booming Nashville culinary scene. After 5+ years in music city, he found himself exploring a new dynamic of the hospitality industry aboard Aeolus. Sam brings years of fine dining experience and a thoughtful approach to food. Sourcing locally as often as possible allows guests to experience a fresh and authentic dining experience. His goal is to show guests a creative application to ingredients while still being approachable for guests to enjoy every bite in an elegant and balanced application. All the while serving guests in whatever way necessary to ensure their time aboard is the best experience possible.

In his free time, Sam loves to stay active. Whether it’s a bike ride, hiking, kickboxing, volleyball, soccer, or anything in the water. He also loves exploring new foods and restaurants to learn and grow his craft to contribute to whatever community he finds himself a part of. If staying inside, Sam loves to roll fresh pasta and test new ingredients and recipes, as well as read cookbooks of various cuisines and restaurants.