Our Captains and Crew
What is a Chesapeake Bay crewed Sailing Yacht Charter?
What is a captained sailboat? Simply put your trip will be managed and captained for your ultimate pleasure and safety by an insured United States Coast Guard (USCG) licensed captain. Each of our four captains has over 20 years of experience and holds multiple sailing, boating, and first aid certifications. Three of our captains are also certified by the American Sailing Association (ASA), one of the largest sail training associations in the United States, to teach basic to advanced sailing skills as well as seamanship and navigation.
As your captains, we take pleasure in offering you a peaceful sunrise, a relaxing day on the water, a gorgeous sunset, and the feel of a fresh breeze. Allow the wind and waves to take your mind and body away from your everyday stresses and help you focus on the relaxing effect of being on the water. It is our goal to provide you with a stress free experience that will put you in an a state of relaxation and rejuvenation. If you do not yet have a love of sailing, join us and you soon will!
Andrew
Andrew Seligman, USCG Licensed Master and ASA Certified Sailing Instructor
Captain Andrew Seligman grew up surrounded by water on Staten Island, New York. Before he could walk, Andrew was introduced to the sea by his parents along the New Jersey shore and by his grandparents in Liverpool, England. He has been boating since he was eight years old, and one of his earliest boating endeavors at age nine was exploring the waters of the Caledonian Canal, including Loch Ness, with his uncle.
Andrew has a USCG Masters License of not more than 100 gross tons with an auxiliary sailing and commercial assistance towing endorsement. In addition, he is a certified American Sailing Association instructor. Andrew now has over 30 years of sailing experience, most extensively in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and between the Long Island Sound and the Chesapeake. He also has experience sailing in the Mediterranean and throughout the Caribbean. Andrew loves to meet new people and help others experience the magic and beauty of sailing. When not sailing or working for the Environmental Protection Agency, Andrew spends his time following his wife, Linda, an archeologist who studies the Philistines and other Sea Peoples, around the Eastern Mediterranean basin.
Davis
Davis Jones, USCG Licensed Master and Certified Sailing Instructor
Captain Davis Jones has a 50-ton Masters Certificate with a sailing endorsement and a US Sailing Keelboat Instructor Certificate. He started sailing in 1991 when someone stood up at church in Arlington, VA and announced that they were starting a Sea Scout Ship and needed leaders. Being an Eagle Scout from landlocked Tennessee, he signed up to learn to sail, little knowing he was in for a life-long journey leading to professional credentials and boat ownership. Along the way, he has served in all leadership positions in Sea Scout Ship 1942 (one of the 5 “Flagship” units in the U.S.), including 5 years as “Skipper.”
Davis has taught leadership through sailing to hundreds of teens and adults in Flying Scots out of Washington Sailing Marina on the Potomac River. He currently manages and sails the Ship’s fleet of sailboats including six 18’ Flying Scots, a 27’ “S2”, a Cal 29’, and an 32’ Allied Seabreeze and many others that have passed through the Ship. Over the past 25 years, Davis has led youth trips throughout the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay, and has taken “Long Cruises” as far as Lake Ontario, Cape Cod, and the Virgin Islands.
When not sailing with Shardana or the Scouts, he bareboat charters with friends in the Caribbean on sloops and catamarans from 42’ – 55’. Destinations include Virgin Islands, Grenada and Grenadines, Antigua, Dominica and the Bahamas. He is also a passionate skier.
In addition to helping run Shardana, he is a boating safety instructor with the Carefree Boat Club, and captains deliveries up and down the East Coast. Davis is also a consultant on Environmental and Social Governance and helps other countries worldwide as they build their environmental licensing enforcement programs. He has worked at the Interamerican Development Bank, the USEPA and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic.
Yvonne
Yvonne Brandt, USCG Licensed Master and ASA Certified Sailing Instructor
Capt. Yvonne Brandt grew up sailing on Galveston Bay off the Texas Gulf Coast. It all started at two weeks of age, with the baby carrier on the sole of the family’s Excalibur 26. A little older and it was off to sailing camp at the Houston Yacht Club and then turned loose for endless days in a sunfish.
Eventually, Yvonne went to Texas Christian University, graduating with a B.A. in Biology and a minor in Spanish. AFROTC offered a job and the next 20 years were spent in Aerospace Physiology, teaching aviation safety (human factors, altitude chamber, mishap prevention). She married another USAF officer, and 2 kids later, they worked their way toward a cruising dream. In 2013, the family of four went to the Bahamas on a Fantasia 35 sailing sloop for a 10-month trip – possessions sold and kids home schooled.
After an amazing trip, Yvonne needed more sailing. She volunteered for the Sea Scouts, received her USCG captain’s license and then her American Sailing Association Instructor certifications – all of which led to charter captain and sail instruction work. With kids off to college and a great USAFR career in the rearview mirror, it’s time to focus on sailing and marine conservation.
Matthew
Matthew York, USCG Licensed Master and Sailing Instructor
I grew up as an Army Brat and lived all over the U.S. and Germany. My parents settled in Pocatello, Idaho after serving in the Army and that is where I attended Middle School and High School. Yes, Idaho is a GREAT sailing state…NO, not really! I earned an appointment to United States Merchant Marine Academy and graduated in 1990 with a USCG 3rd Assistant Engineers License. The academy is also where I fell in love with sailing. My roommate, an Olympic level sailor, convinced me to crew for him on a 420 (small dingy). I LOVED IT!! I joined the dingy sailing team for my first two years sailing 420’s and Lasers. Then I transitioned to the offshore sailing team for my Junior and Senior years sailing much larger boats ranging from 35-50’. The academy’s sailing program was a perfect experience to nurture my new-found love for sailing.
After Graduating from USMMA, I have sailed and raced many different types of boats including Lasers, Viper 640, J22’s, J24’s, Melges 24’s, J27’s, Mumm 30’s, J35’s, Farr 40’s, and Tartan 46. I have focused most of my time on the water to racing sailboats. Some of the bigger regattas I’ve raced in include the NOOD’s, North Americans, Key West Race Week, and World Championships. A few of my favorite off shore distance races include sailing Newport to Bermuda, Annapolis to Newport, Ft. Lauderdale to Key West.
It wasn’t until recently that I looked to obtaining my “Captains” license. Captain Andrew, a longtime friend that I sailed with at Liberty Sailing Club in Philadelphia, was looking for help with his new boat, Shardana. I had more than enough experience for my license, just never considered it. Thanks to his nudge, I’m now Captain Matt!
Mike
Mike Brown, USCG OUPV and ASA Certified Sailing Instructor
Mike began sailing over 30 years ago after a chance opportunity to go sailing through a Chesapeake Bay Boat dealer’s Open House. He was instantly hooked. Starting with a 23’er he taught himself to sail, reading every book he could find. As time progressed so did his skills and size of his 4 boats, culminating with a 43’ Beneteau. Upon retiring after 43 years at Xerox Corporation, Mike and his wife Fran sold their house, moved aboard and proceeded to cruise for 5 years, traveling from Boston to Key West and the Abaco in the Bahamas. He has completed 4 round trips on the Atlantic ICW plus numerous off shore runs along the east coast.
Mike holds a USCG OUPV License, is an ASA Certified Instructor and is experienced in handling boats to 60’. He has worked the Beneteau sales booth at the annual Annapolis Fall Sailboat Show for the last 15+ years. He frequently works local Open House Events for G Winters Sailing Center, Riverside, NJ and has formally shared his cruising experiences from time to time.
He also delivers new and used boats anywhere from the Chesapeake to Long Island Sound for Winters Sailing Center, Riverside Yacht Services, as well as private owners. Not to mention personal instruction on boat handling and overall boat systems on a variety of boats. Mike enjoys the people interaction and camaraderie that’s an integral part of boating. There’s no question sailing is in his blood.
Ready to sign on? Book your adventure now.