Your Crew
CAPTAIN Kyle Mealand & MATE/CHEF Tilly Painter Jones
Kyle and Tilly have been running luxury charters for the last 4 years and bring a wealth of experience, energy and fun onboard. With over 60 charters around the Virgin Islands and time chartering in the Windward Isles, Scotland and even Tonga together, Kyle and Tilly know how to make your vacation truly unforgettable.
Kyle was brought up on the wild west coast of Scotland and spent every moment on the sea, whether that be teaching sailing at his local club, catching the ferry to school every day or kayaking round the coast line he calls home. After a summer spent teaching sailing in France he came back and met Tilly, they quickly realized they shared the same passion for adventure and the ocean and spent two years working and exploring the Highlands and Islands. After an especially cold and wet winter they jumped on a boat and sailed across the Atlantic towards the sunshine.
Tilly was always drawn to fresh food, finding joy in growing produce and creating dishes that champion local and seasonal flavours. Most of her professional life has been spent in the hospitality industry, both front and back of house, cooking in cafes, restaurants and for one summer a tent in the English countryside! After graduating university she moved to a remote Scottish island where she met Kyle. Although Tilly had plenty of experience driving power boats, sailing was a different story, and her first sailing trip was crossing the Atlantic ocean with Kyle in 2021. Completely hooked, they started chartering on a 50ft catamaran, before moving onto a larger vessel and then taking on a brand new 51ft lagoon which they delivered from Annapolis to the Virgin Islands together. After a break back home in Scotland they set out on another adventure, running vacations in the Pacific nation of Tonga on a catamaran and eco island retreat.
As a captain in the Virgin Islands, Scotland and Tonga, Kyle is known for his level headed attitude, commitment for creating the best vacation ever and his slight Scottish cheekiness! Charters with Kyle never have a dull moment whether that be non stop activities or finding the calmest bay with no other boats around to simply float and be. Tilly prides herself on making real connections with everyone that steps onboard through good food, special moments and her infectious laughter. Often found up early making homemade sourdough or sneaking in an early morning snorkel, she is our onboard marine biologist after all! Kyle and Tilly are delighted to now be chartering in the Virgin Islands where their career began and can't wait to welcome you aboard.
Captain Kyle Mealand Qualifications:
RYA Yachtmaster Offshore(Power/Sail)
PADI divemaster
AEC 1&2
STCW 95
Powerboat lvl 2
SRC VHF
RYA Dingy Instructor
Food Safety lvl 2
IOSH Managing safely
Chef Tilly Painter Jones Qualifications:
Ashburton Chef's Academy- Yacht Chef Course
PADI Divemaster
STCW Basic Safety Training
Food Safety & Hygiene level 2
RYA Day Skipper (power) commercial endorsement
February 2026 BVI Charter
What an amazing week! John and I so appreciate all that you did to make every day perfect. The meals were phenomenal, the hospitality gracious and the details of each day planned to give all of us a fabulous time. We discovered new places to snorkel and dive, had great dinners and CocoMayas and Cooper Island and were glad you could join us! The weather was gorgeous every day. Thank you for sharing this once in a lifetime experience with us.
We love you!
J & M Barker.
This was such a wonderful week. I am not sure that you've had such sailing juvenile at 72 years young but I tried hard, listened well and want you to know these memories will be with me forever. I will always remember my first crew. Seriously you weren't a crew to me, your ever present smiles and kindness are truly remarkable and you made this boat feel like home for our week. Food was amazing and the snorkel tours were such a treat!
Patti M
Thank you for such an awesome week! It was not our first rodeo so we have so much to compare to - the food was such a great surprise daily. We were all torn on what the best meal of the trip was, Tilly you outdid yourself.
The diving and snorkeling was terrific. Thanks for picking the best spots of the islands. Sharks, turtles, eagle rays, Barracuda and so many more first fishes (oh and the octopus!). Can't wait to do it again. We don't want to leave. Kyle you have such great eyes, seeing and pointing out what we would have overlooked. You are both so great - we had no need you did not address..THANKS!!
see you again soon,
Steve and Lori B
February 2026 BVI Charter
Kyle & Tilly were just amazing. WAY, WAY beyond what we imagined. They both were professional, knew exactly what they were doing, and made outstanding efforts to exceed our expectations every day. We had 3 nice hikes – one at Little JVD and two in St. John. We skipped Coral Bay & had a beautiful anchorage in Ram Head bay with only one other boat. The meals that Tilly prepared were inventive and spectacular every time. We don’t know how she does it. Kyle brought out his drone & gave us some great pictures while we were underway. We had a nice sail to Great St. James and had take-out from floating “Pizza Pi” in the bay on the last night. Bluewinds was very comfortable.
-The Bonans