CHEF Ryan Katona & CAPTAIN James Ellwood

James hails from the North of England and has always had a love for the water. This love took its first official steps when he achieved his PADI Junior Open Water Scuba Diver at age 10, progressing on to the professional PADI Divemaster Instructor he is today. In 2015, James took up sailing at the Hartlepool Yacht Club, spending a great deal of time cruising the North Sea aboard the Black Diamond of Durham and partaking in numerous Tall Ship regattas. In 2018 James became a RYA Yachtmaster and began his career as a professional captain. Running vacations in the Mediterranean, James has taken guests on charter in Spain, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Italy and Montenegro. James has also undertaken many ocean deliveries, enjoying the tranquility of spending continuous weeks at sea. More recently James has enjoyed the sailing and diving lifestyle that the Caribbean has to offer. He is committed to delivering that “awe and wonder” experience to all those that come aboard making sure they have a truly unforgettable vacation!

Ryan was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He started working in hospitality at the age of 14. At 16 he picked up his first knife and transitioned into the kitchen. Ryan worked as a chef while trainig to be a paramedic, upon qualification, was an on duty paramedic for 2 weeks, before he realized he missed working with food. Ryan entered and won a worldwide cooking competition called Super Yacht scholarship which sent him to the top maritime academy in the world, and then to France for further culinary training. When not cooking Ryan is a ping pong champion and always travels with his paddles.

Ellen was born in England but grew up in the beautiful coastal town of Knynsa, South Africa. As a young child Ellen and her family often went on week-long camping adventures around South Africa and the neighboring countries. This thrill for adventure gave her a deep interest in traveling the world and all these fond memories of adventure have steered her towards entering the yachting industry. With a BA in Visual Communications, majoring in Graphic Desgin , Ellen loves to show her creative side with flower arrangements, table decorations, themed dinners and much more. Ellen also completed a RYA Yachtmaster Coastal under sail and is very excited to be joining a sailing catamaran. Having previously taken on roles of a deck/stew, she enjoys spending time outdoors, getting involved with waterspouts and exploring the Caribbean. She also enjoys the finer things in life such as creating a memorable experience through good service, food, and wine. Ellen is looking forward to creating an unforgettable experience for guests in the Virgin Islands.


Captain James Ellwood


Qualifications:

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore CE
RYA Powerboat Level 2
MCA Approved Engine Course
PADI Divemaster Instructor
RYA Professional Practices and Responsibilities
RYA Diesel
RYA Radar
RYA VHF Radio
STCW10 exp 2028
Food Hygiene and Safety Level 2



Chef Ryan Katona

Qualifications

Serve Safe Certification, Food Safety Guys, Minnesota 2015
STCW, bluewater 2022
ENG 1, Fort Lauderdale FL, 2022
AHA Healthcare Provider CPR Certification Oakland Community College, Michigan 2013


Ellen Kay-Shuttleworth- Stewardess/Deckhand

Qualifications

STCW 10 (incl. PDSD)
Level 2 Food and Hygiene
Eng Medical 1
RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Sailing (Commercially endorsed) RYA Powerboat Level 2
RYA Personal Watercraft Certificate
RYA VHF Radio