CAPTAIN MAX
Max’s love affair with the sea began early in life, and it’s been a lifelong journey of adventure and discovery. Born and raised in the UK near the water, Max’s passion for sailing grew as he did. He is a Yacht master qualified and happiest when at sea. Although Max initially pursued a career in banking in the city, the call of the open water was too strong to resist and so he decided to leave the corporate world behind and embarked on a new adventure as a yacht charter captain. It was a life-altering decision that allowed him to prioritize his passion.
With extensive experience in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Polynesia. These vibrant and diverse cruising grounds have become his second home, and knows many hidden gems and secret coves that these regions have to offer. For Max, the British Virgin Islands are more than just a destination; they’re his home. Nestled among these pristine islands, Max has cultivated deep connections with the local community, ensuring that every charter feels like a warm and inviting journey through his own backyard.
Growing up in a big, close-knit family, Max understands the importance of creating a sense of family and belonging on every charter. He strives to infuse every voyage with a welcoming atmosphere, where guests can forge lasting memories with loved ones, friends, and us.
CHEF/MATE ELISE
Elise was initiated into the culinary world by her food-centered family. As a child, she would help cultivate the garden, and her family would invite friends to join them in the spacious kitchen to help make homemade pasta. Elise’s father then would select the best tomatoes and basil leaves from the garden to make the sauce. Everyone would then gather outside to enjoy the meal as the sun was setting. This was a beloved social event. Elise’s devotion to food blossomed, and at the age of 14, she started a baking business where she would be commissioned to bake elaborate specialty fondant cakes. She continued this business throughout high school. While studying anthropology and philosophy at Bowdoin College in Maine, she started selling her homemade hummus and cooking weekly meals with her friends. After she graduated, she received a scholarship to attend an 8-week culinary course in Virginia, taught by recognized Swiss Master Chef Rolf Strub, and under the direction of Chef Antwon Brinson. Her culinary interests are informed by her world travels, which include a 9-month stay in India, a month in Nepal, and multiple stays in Europe and Central America. She further honed her culinary skills in the three seasons she worked in the Caribbean as a yacht chef.
Her cuisine is strongly influenced by Asian, French, and Central American methods, ingredients, and philosophies of food. She believes a meal should be both a social event and an experience that titillates all of the senses. Her food is flavorful, and colorful, and uses the freshest ingredients. She prides herself on making her own bread, pastries, sauces, and fermented goods to enhance every meal and make every dining experience homemade. She wakes up well before sunrise and uses time as her specialty ingredient— allowing her bread to rise, sauces to marinate, and flavors to infuse. Your meals on board will both excite you and nourish you. Elise’s dishes are exquisite; some of them can be found on her Instagram page, @galley_of_Elise.
Additionally, Elise is as comfortable at the helm as in running the galley: she holds a 200gt Master of Yachts Unlimited ticket, which includes celestial navigation— please ask her about constellations!
STEWARDESS SUSANNA
Susanna was born in England and has lived in Tortola since she was 6 weeks old. She considers herself to be a true island girl! She enjoys sailing, archery, swimming, wakeboarding, snorkeling, diving, volunteering at the Humane Society, hiking, snowboarding, and traveling. She has been very fortunate to travel to many parts of the world but her heart belongs in Tortola.
Susanna grew up around yachts. Her parents owned and operated an Irwin 65 called Endless Summer II, and she would be down on the docks helping prep for charter and eventually moved on to work on the yacht as stewardess and cook. She loves interacting with people from many parts of the world – yachting and hospitality flow in her blood! She has worked on many boats ranging from 40’ to 100’ both in the BVI and in the Mediterranean. She has sailed boats from the BVI to Baltimore, from Monaco to the Balearic Islands, and from Florida to the BVI.
She enjoys giving people the vacation of a lifetime, whether it is by tantalizing your taste buds with a special cocktail, giving you an island tour, taking you on a snorkel adventure, or simply by telling you stories about the British Virgin Islands.
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Location: US Virgin Islands
