Crew

Captain Richard Darling

Captain Richard hails from a small town in upstate New York near the Lake Ontario shoreline where he learned absolutely nothing about sailing! That is until he spent some college years in Daytona, then went back to NY and was fortunate enough to enter the racing scene where he purchased his own sailboat and hasn’t stopped sailing since.

In 2003, Richard moved to the Virgin Islands and acquired his USCG Master’s License. Since then, he has worked in the charter industry as Captain or Engineer on various sailing and motor yachts up to 160 feet. Calling St. Thomas home for more than 15 years. Richard has sailed thousands of miles through the islands and beyond, and he loves sharing some of the best kept secret anchorages and dive locations along the way along with his knowledge of the stars under the beautiful Caribbean night skies.

Chef Christina Astuto

A true New Yorker born and raised in Staten Island from two parents who grew up in Brooklyn, Christina prides herself on her personality and respectful family values. She believes this is what has shaped her personality which has been the foundation for her life. As an Italian American, food has always been an important part of her life. She believes there is no better way to spread love than with a home cooked meal, some great wine, and really good company.

After graduating with a Masters Degree in Special Education, Christina worked as a preschool teacher in the greater New York area for over 5 years. It wasn’t until she took a trip to South Africa to teach English did she realize that her passion for travel, culture, and exploration exceeded her expectations. It was then that she realized she was settling for a comfortable life which she was good at, but ultimately it did not feed her soul.

Unexpected events, call it serendipitous or not, have brought her to the sea and she could not have been more grateful. She has worked two seasons as a chef in destinations such as Greece, Croatia, and Montenegro. She has worked on a variety of different sailboats which allowed her to really grow her passion for sailing.

As a chef Christina likes to keep her meals as healthy and tasty as possible. To her, flavor is most important and shouldn’t be compromised. Christina likes to cook with the best ingredients she can find, and believes freshness is key. Her cuisine is very exploratory in that she likes to use a variety of flavors, spices, and herbs rather than stick to one specifically. Christina believes people should have a cultural culinary experience when they are eating. She wants you to remember your sailing experience from that moment you see the breathtaking morning sunrise over the horizon to the smell of roasted chicken coming fresh out of the boat’s oven. She truly believes that sailing is an experience for your senses and she’s fully on board to give the best experience she possibly can.

***CREW HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED FOR COVID-19****