KESTREL Privatyacht

Capt. Andrew grew up in Raleigh, NC spending his summers on Lake Gaston. As a child, he developed a passion for small sailboat racing and spent much of his youth zipping around on Hobie Cats and 420 race-boats. Later, Andrew attended the University of North Carolina – Wilmington where he was the president of the university Sailing Club and actively shared his passion with other students. During college he also headed up the Bald Head Island Sailing Club in the Cape Fear region of North Carolina where he taught people of all ages how to sail and enjoy the open water. After graduation, his sailing skill helped him land a job teaching sailing on the San Francisco Bay.

Once there, He participated (and won!) in many regattas including the Master Mariner’s classic wooden boat regatta. While honing his skills on boats of all shapes and sizes, Andrew made the jump from sailing instructor to licensed captain. Soon after, a job offer led him to the Virgin Islands and an opportunity to experience a new side of the yachting community and gain an even deeper understanding of the wind and the water.

Kailee and Andrew met in California, where they worked together at a local parasail operator. Their first date began by Andrew dragging Kailee along with him to go fishing and Kailee cooking up the catch afterword! Their common love of the ocean and all things related made them fast, inseparable friends. They spent their days off together free-diving in the kelp beds of Palos Verdes and Malibu, finding exotic sea life like guitar sharks and leopard sharks.

Soon they moved to the Virgin Islands where they worked together helping to run the Water Activities department at the Westin Hotel. Andrew continued to hone his sailing skill and all things nautical while Kailee ran the shore side operations, simultaneously attaining her Divemaster Status.

Sailing charters aboard KESTREL gave them a chance to “bring it all together”. Now they continue to share their love of sailing and the water with guests while cruising the beautiful Virgin Islands!

Andrew and Kailee look forward to meeting you welcoming you aboard KESTREL!