Captain Name: David SCALLAN
Captain Nationality: Irish
Number of Crew: 3
WINTER – CARIBBEAN CREW
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CAPTAIN: David SCALLAN
Irish, VISAS B1B2
RYA Yacht Master offshore sailing & coastal powerboat, STCW 95
Languages: English (native)
Captain Dave Scallan grew up by the water in a small, coastal town in South East Ireland. Water safety and yachting are in his blood. Dave’s dad ran a water rescue operation and his parents pushed him to sail as a young boy. Growing up he raced dinghies, sailed in regattas and spent as much time on the water as he could. During his university years, Dave earned his degree as a mechanical engineer while simultaneously becoming a senior instructor through the Irish Sailing Association.
Dave then went on to instructing sailing in more than eight different yacht clubs in Ireland. After his time in Ireland, he developed a strong desire to travel and live internationally. He took a position at the Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans as a sailing director. After his time in the states, Dave decided to combine his love of the water with his engineering background and work on super yachts in Spain, Italy and Greece. In the Balearics, he was on a 30m sailing yacht.
Dave moved into term charters, captaining in the Split Dubrovnik Region of Croatia and the Cyclades in Greece. He became a cruising instructor through International Yacht Training (IYT) in Thailand and taught courses up through Yacht Master Costal.
Dave became a delivery captain in France where he completed more than four Atlantic crossings. After working as a delivery captain in France, he found himself in the Caribbean, where he has been based for five years. In the British Virgin Islands, he worked in yacht management and operations, but now works in term charters.
Dave has more than 40,000 miles as a captain alone. He attributes his long maritime resume to his sense of humor, ability to whip up a drink and a good time. His goal is to take a day and make the most of it, both on and off charter. His larger than life personality, combined with his experience make him a fun, passionate captain.
In his spare time, he wakeboards, kite boards, skis (on both liquid and frozen water), keeps up with his favorite rugby teams, and scuba dives for lobster. Dave is also an ordained priest. So, come get married, or just enjoy a vacation of a lifetime with Dave at the helm.
CHEF-HOSTESS: Tayla WILLOWS
South African
STCW Basic training / Visas B1B2 and C1/D – Dive master
Languages: English (native) – Basic French
Tayla grew up on the East Coast of South Africa. She has always had a fondness for hospitality. Tayla began her yachting career in France aboard super yachts as a stewardess and has completed a number of professional hospitality courses such as her WSET Level 1 Wine and Spirits course as well as a Bartending and Mixology course.
She has since worked aboard a prominent Sailing Catamaran in the BVI as a deck/ stewardess where she was exposed to cooking and naturally, she fell in love.
Tayla is a professionally trained chef having attained her Level 2 CTH Certificate In Culinary Arts at the accredited Ashburton Cookery School in Devon, she also enjoys any activity that involves being in the water having worked as a children’s swim school teacher earlier in her career.
Tayla will combine her knowledge of service and hospitality with her passion for cuisine to create a tantalizing taste experience.
DECK-HAND: Georgios STATHAKOPOULOS
Greek
STCW 95, IKO (International Kiteboarding Organization), instructor IYT (International Yacht Training) Sail & Power Captain
Languages: Greek (native), English fluent,
Georgios is a seasoned captain, with more than 20 years of experience at sea, working on speedboats, master crafts, big motor yachts and sailing boats. He has spent the last 5 years as a freelancer skipper, watersports and kiteboarding instructor, and business owner.
His college degree in mechanical engineering enables him to maintain the vessels he is on board in excellent condition and he brings a depth of understanding in the fundamentals of yachting.
Thanks to his qualifications Georgios can handle all the sports equipment offered aboard.