Captain: Karen Holtan
Karen is an extremely well-educated American charter Captain who currently holds her 500 Ton Master, GMDSS, ARPA, ISPS, AEC, Medical Care Provider, ENG 1, Scuba Instructor, and is a keen and curious Engineer. Karen grew up on a farm with a family who knows the meaning of hard work and dedication and determination. It is these values that have carried Karen through her life and see her where she is today- a successful seaman. She has acted as Captain, 1st Mate, Stewardess, Engineer and Cook on board both sail and motor vessels since 2004 where she started as Mate on dive boats out of the Bahamas. Previous yachts include: M/Y Sweetwater, M/Y Hunter, M/Y Matrix Rose, M/Y Hamsha, M/ Y Checkmate and M/Y Claire with cruising experience in thw Bahamas, Florida, East Coast US, Caribbean and Canada.
Chief Stewardess: Ashley Craddock
Ashley was born in a small boating town called Pt. Pleasant, NJ. There, her love for the water and boats began at an early age as the beach, fishing, and coastal festivities became a part of her childhood. At age thirteen she left NJ and spent the rest of her young adulthood in Orlando, fl. After college, Ashley followed her older sisters footsteps and joined the yachting industry. Nearly seven years later, Ashley continues to enjoy her career in this adventurous and thrilling industry.
Chef: Jonathan Mclean
Jonathan is culinary trained from Johnson and Wales University. He grew up the island of Trinidad and Tobago. This island boy’s passion to cook came from an early age while growing up and living in the remote hotel of Blue Waters Inn in Speyside Tobago. His
mouthwatering dishes has a unique Caribbean Flair combined with his culinary training. Jonathan has traveled around the globe to study and learn different cuisines which can be seen throughout his creations which is why he has chosen to work in the Yachting
industry for the past 4 years. Jonathan loves to use the freshest ingredients from the local areas which we will be traveling to and most times will even dive into the water to catch dinner. Jonathan loves everything to do with the water from fishing, Spearfishing, snorkeling and is a dive master, to wake-boarding, driving the tender and all types of water sports.
First Mate: Kevin Nuno
Kevin is a young, ambitious and experienced Mate who holds his basic STCW 10 with PDSD, USCG Master 100 ton, Assistance Towing, VHF and ENG1 equivalent. He is working toward his 500 ton license. He joined the yachting industry in 2015 straight out of high school and hit the ground running and eventually started doing day charters on a sport fish in Cancun. He filled the role of mate aboard Cavallino di Mare, a private vessel with a crew of three. He held this position for five months before joining 116 foot M/Y Corus, where he was employed for the following 15 months as mate driving the vessel's 40 foot tender. Experienced in the Bahamas, the Caribbean and South FL. Prior to Jopaju in 2018 he joined, 125' M/Y Fugitive. He remained there for nearly 20 months on this busy program with guests onboard 220 days in one year. He was thankful for a great captain who taught him a lot about the engineering side of things as well as getting plenty of experience driving the 35' and 19' rib. Kevin is fluent in both English and Spanish and loves free diving, water sports, swimming, flying drones and video editing.
Deckhand / Stewardess: Claudia Martinez
Claudia is new to the industry in 2020 and she is highly motivated with a wonderful personality. She graduated Rutgers University with a BA in communications. Prior to Jopaju she has experience working on Arm's Reach, X-Tender and Plan B. She brings to the team service experience from her previous yachts and from her shore based experience working at the Rutgers Club. Equally skilled on deck and interior she is the perfect team player.
