Captain, Walter Wetmore
Jimmy Buffett may have had Captain Wetmore in mind when he wrote his classic song “Son of a Son of a Sailor.” Like the song, Capt. Wetmore is the son of a son of a sailor from Norwalk, Connecticut on the north shore of Long Island Sound. He has spent the last 40+ years surrounded by boats and the sea, learning the skills of seamanship from his forefathers. Walter joined the yachting industry in 1980 following careers as a shipwright and as a cabinetmaker. His love of the water, adventurous spirit, and long experience make him an excellent guide for guests who seek unique travels or to visit places on the chart known only by a fourth generation Captain. He holds a US Merchant Marine license for 1600 ton domestic / 3000 ton International upon any ocean license in addition to the British license for all Red Ensign vessels of the same tonnage.
First Mate, Mark Shurilla
Mark hails from Chicago and has been working on yachts for over 12 years. He started on sailing yachts out of Hawaii, and after a few deliveries ended up in the Virgin Islands. He has spent many winter seasons in the Caribbean and summers in New England. Some of the yachts he’s previously worked on are VIRGINIAN, NATANYA, TARA T, SIROCCO and various other sailing yachts. Mark is an avid skier and windsurfer, a certified diver, and enjoys surfing and golf whenever he can. Most intriguing is Mark’s vast experience and knowledge in the field of marine sciences. He has spent over 7 years working with various marine mammal programs and has an extensive background in biology which will come in handy while exploring the great big blue with charter guests!
Chef, Jason Wagner
Chef Jason joins us all the way from Dallas, Texas where he was born and raised. He is a true Texan at heart and can cook up a good Texas BBQ anytime. However, he moved to Kansas City to pursue his career in culinary arts. While attending school, he was on an Award Winning ice carving team! He has worked in many fine dining restaurants and even worked with famous chefs. Some of them include Wolfgang Puck, James Oliver and Cat Cora, just to name a few. He specializes in Italian food with his parents both being Italian. He can also whip up excellent double fudge, chocolate layer cakes for the dessert lovers out there! After utilizing his skills on land, Jason decided to leave it behind him and expand his talent by coming to work on the water. In his spare time he loves to paint and is a big football fan. Still, his true passion is cooking and hopes to share his love for food with you.
Chief Stewardess, Jennifer Bartkowiak
Jennifer hails from Chicago, Illinois and joins the Muse crew following a stay cruising in Pacific waters around Hawaii. Her athletic skills have shifted from rugby to a competitive player on a championship badminton team. She also has a love for the water and likes water skiing, swimming and kayaks and whenever possible. Her cheery disposition brightens everyday and her experience in customer service makes her a welcome addition to the crew.
Bosun, Neil Sauer
Originally from Warrenton, VA Neil made his way out to Long Island and worked at a yacht club for the past 5 years. He’s sailed to Bermuda and up and down the East Coast of the US, numerous times. He has an extensive fishing background and spent over 1 year on a 61ft Garlington out of Montauk, NY. Neil enjoys surfing and all water sports, but his true passion is fishing!
Stewardess, Cari VanAmburg
Cari VanAmburg comes from America’s Heartland and brings to the Muse not only her Southern Hospitality, but over 5 years of Hotel and Service experience. She most recently worked in corporate event planning for Hyatt Hotels. Even though Muse is her introduction to Hospitality on the water, her many years as a competitive swimmer, certified life guard, and Red Cross Certified Swim Instructor have prepared her for life at sea. She has many varied interests, including a healthy passion for soccer, but her true talents lie in party and event planning and she is always ready to help charter guests plan the perfect event to make their stay one they will never forget.