Captain Alexander (Sasha) Bouis began sailing in New York when he was two. He learned from his father in the marshy wetlands on the south shore of Long Island. Sasha honed his skills sailing for MIT on the Muddy Charles, in Boston Harbor, and at colleges across the northeastern United States. After graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Sasha returned to New York City and resumed sailing with his father. He is now an ASA Sailing Instructor and NAUI Divemaster as well as a USCG Master Captain. Sasha loves to take people sailing because he enjoys sharing the fun and skill of this ancient art.
Before embarking on a life on the open sea, Sasha developed custom analytic software for a financial company on Wall Street. From a young age he would spend his time traveling across Europe and deep into Siberia to visit the families and friends of his parents. He has an experienced tongue when it comes to fine wines and he knows how to make the latest vodka cocktail in the clubs of Soho. Sasha spent a few years teaching sailing in the largest commercial port in the country, New York Harbor. Tacking and gybing around the Statue of Liberty was fantastic, and teaching students to weave between barges and dodge ferries kept him entertained, but alas he could only sail during the summer months. Comfortably, that is.
The Caribbean was the obvious answer. Since his birth, Sasha had grown up visiting grandparents in Puerto Rico. They were French, but they lived in a beach-front cottage on the East coast of the island. He moved to 'La Isla Bonita' to crew on a day-trip catamaran. Within a year, he was the captain of the only sailing catamaran west of San Juan. He quickly realized the Caribbean has a lot more to offer, and traveled East to the British Virgin Islands. Working for a summertime live-aboard sailing and SCUBA program for teens as well as a full-time luxury charter boat captain in the Sir Francis Drake Channel have afforded Sasha ample time learn the islands from their beach bar hot spots to secluded coves with great views of breath-taking sunsets.
Chef and First Mate Tara A. Chaille grew up on the inland lakes of Indiana and is now enjoying much larger waters. Starting at a young age she enjoyed many watersports including kneeboarding and hodryfoiling. After years of early morning practice and coaching from world champions in the sport, Tara went on to waterski competitively and coach the slalom course for her team at Indiana University. Her personal best tournament pass is 22' off at 34 mph. She still loves coaching all ages and types of watersports -- this girl rocks on the tube!
As a student, Tara worked three years as an event planner for IU Foundation and IU Student Foundation. After graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Special Education she decided to continue her passion for entertaining and fine cuisine by working in a five star dinning club while studying culinary arts under one of Indiana's top chefs, Scottie Mole.
Tara broke into the yachting world three years ago when she found a youth sailing and SCUBA diving camp in the British Virgin Islands. During her years with the camp she helped create and manage both programs and personal. Roles she filled while aboard included Watersports Instructor, Intern Coordinator, First Mate, NAUI Scuba Instructor, Head of Fleet Provisioning, and Private Charter Chef. Through these various roles Tara has learned the islands well, from the nearest market to the most interesting and unique dive sites.
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