Your Crew
CAPTAIN Zack Lanford
Captain Zack
Captain Zack grew up on the Lower Colorado River in Texas’ Hill Country, where skiing, wakeboarding, and wakesurfing were year-round pastimes. Early travels across the United States ignited his wanderlust and fostered a deep curiosity for the natural world—on land and at sea.
After selling his business in his late twenties, Zack jumped aboard a sailboat with a seasoned Atlantic racer to master blue-water sailing. He co-founded a day-sail charter company in Texas, then went on to complete multiple Gulf of Mexico crossings, purchase his own sailboat, and captain voyages up and down the U.S. East Coast. Along the way, he honed his skills on Chesapeake Bay schooners and even lived out of a van while exploring New Zealand and Australia—before answering the call of the Caribbean and making St. Thomas his home.
When he’s not captaining charters for Paradise Yacht Management, Zack leads an inspiring youth sailing program in St. Thomas—teaching Scouts of America how to sail, cook, clean, and thrive aboard a vessel during multi-day island expeditions. He also loves incorporating fishing into the charter experience, especially aboard Mah Na Mah Na, which is equipped with top-tier fishing gear and lures. Sailing down the Caribbean island chain, he’s often in pursuit of the perfect Mahi taco or Ahi tuna steak—adding an extra layer of excitement (and flavor) to the journey.
Zack often calls the ocean “the last frontier,” a place where explorers still roam. As a former business owner turned professional mariner, he combines meticulous attention to safety and customer service with an irresistible enthusiasm for adventure. His genuine warmth and ability to connect with guests of all ages ensure every charter becomes the trip of a lifetime.
