Operating in the Caribbean
As a child, Ish anxiously awaited the arrival of summer when he would head to his grandparents’ cottage in Ontario. The waters of Lake Huron became the playground where Ish learned to sail his grandparents’ 16’ Wayfarer. On any given sunny summer day, he could be found out on the lake struggling to untangle himself from a rat’s nest of lines or being caught by a sneaky gust that caused him to capsize. Those first few years with the Wayfarer served as a foundation for a great passion for sailing. After graduating from high school, Ish attended Prescott College in Arizona where he fed an insatiable appetite for the outdoors. College orientation, a 3-week backpacking trip through a canyon in Arizona, opened a whole new world of outdoor pursuits and possibilities. Over the next 4 years, he filled his spare time with surfing, backcountry skiing, white water rafting, rock climbing, stargazing, campfire-ing, and howling at the moon! A desire to sail in salt water persisted, even in the desert. Ish satisfied his salt water cravings with a job living and working aboard sailboats in the British Virgin Islands. Over 6 summers with Sail Caribbean, a summer camp for teens, Ish served as captain, fleet captain, and program director. He was able to also fulfill his aspiration to work on a commercial salmon fishing boat in Alaska before finally realizing his lifelong dream of leading unforgettable charters for guests in the Virgin Islands. His time in the VI has given him outstanding knowledge of the local culture and natural treasures to be enjoyed here. He has a deep love for these beautiful islands and the surrounding waters and is excited to share this passion with each and every guest who comes aboard.
Julia has dedicated much of her time and passion to preserving and protecting these very wild places that she has grown to treasure. Julia gained certifications as a Scientific Diver, presided over UF’s chapter of the National Surfrider Foundation, and volunteered for the Association of Reef Keepers where she cleaned the beaches and waters of the BVI and worked to conserve marine sea turtles. Julia has spent three summers with Sail Caribbean. There, she has served as captain, sailing instructor, dive advisor, and marine biology teacher. With each summer spent in the BVI, Julia has grown in her knowledge and appreciation of the sea, marine life and the culture of the islands. Her experience complements her Wilderness First Responder and Rescue Diver certifications in safely sharing her passion and enthusiasm for outdoor recreation with people of all ages and experience levels. All this, however, pales in comparison to Julia's love for food. A strong believer in food being the ingredient that binds us all together, Julia works hard to create a menu that excites and unites each group of guests she encounters, whether at home with friends and family or on the job. An appreciation for coupling meals with the right ambiance and a love for fresh & local ingredients motivates Julia to bring adventure and exquisite flavor to the table for each meal.
Ish and Julia met in 2017 working for Sail Caribbean, a summer camp that runs three week trips at sea for teens aboard sailboats in the BVI. Their fondness for one another steadily grew throughout the summer, as they filled their days teaching their students sailing, SCUBA diving, marine biology/conservation, and leadership skills. They immediately bonded over their shared appreciation for the deeper things in life ... the beauty of a nighttime sky, the unifying power of music, the significance of the friendships closest to us. After only knowing each other a few days, they found themselves staying up late eagerly exploring bilges and engine rooms together, trying to understand their systems, or taking the dinghy out to remote spots to marvel at the phenomenon of the bioluminescent plankton in the sea below. They quickly realized their motivation to thrive in this industry was intrinsic and thus began their quest to become term charter crew. Due to their genuine passion for sailing these waters and their deep love of human connection, Ish and Julia excel at making each guest feel welcome and comfortable while unveiling the awe-inspiring beauty and adventure that these islands have to offer. Ish and Julia foster a relaxing environment onboard and prioritize customizing each charter to the guests' specific interests in order to create trips that groups will warmly cherish for a lifetime. Their enthusiasm, work ethic, and personable nature make them a great team as they continue to follow their passion for hosting unforgettable charters in their favorite place in the world!
May 2022 USVI Charter
What an amazing trip. Wonderful food, wonderful crew! Love, love, love it!
- Wayne & Cindy
Trip of a lifetime! Wonderful crew and good times had by all!
- Addison, Emily & Jackson
Simply the best! Thank you guys so very much for such an amazing time. You both are the best crew ever and we certainly wouldn't have enjoyed ourselves without you!
- Kristen, Dusty & Ryland"
May 2022 USVI Charter
Dear Ish & Julia,
We came aboard Southern Comfort day 1 armed with tons of background research and very high expectations. We knew a lot about our upcoming adventure, but what we didn't know is that not only would our expectations be met but they would be blown away!!! The hospitality and boat knowledge that Julia and Ish displayed were beyond impressive. From the first delicious dinner to the last scrumptious breakfast, Julia's cooking was well planned, gorgeously plated, plentiful and incredibly tasty. We were only bummed that we ate one lunch off the boat, because it could not compare to Julia's! The water activities were also well planned and phenomenal. Ish made everything easy and accessible ... the snorkeling, dives, kayak and paddleboards were a blast! And we even got to water ski!
But what stood out most of all was Julia and Ish's passion for what they do. Everything done with a smile and a kind word, always making us feel confident and pampered. And so many little details that seem easy but we know took a lot of effort. We appreciated every single one!
We enjoyed literally every single moment, and we walk away with 2 new friends, many amazing photos and memories we will carry with us forever!
With much gratitude,
Anne and Jeff
Chris and Jason
Dawn and Pete
Laura and Chris
April 2022 USVI Charter
April 2022 USVI Charter
Best trip ever!!! Boat was fabulous. Crew was wonderful. Food was outstanding. We look forward to coming back soon. We would really like to point out that Julia and Ish were so kind and helpful, catering to all our requests. Could not imagine going on another boat trip without checking what boat they are crewing so we can be onboard. Once again, thank you for everything!
March 2022 USVI Charter
After my birthday sailing trip with three other couples was canceled one week into COVID, rescheduled three times, re-directed from BVI to USVI, and had a crew change, I was not sure what our sailing trip would be like. Those concerns quickly disappeared upon arrival to Southern Comfort. We were warmly greeted with Julia’s smile and Ish’s calm demeanor which instantly relaxed us all. The pair worked tirelessly the entire trip - incredible, delicious gourmet meals every day (tailored to address food allergies), selective, beautiful coves to swim, kayak, paddle board, dive, anchor, sail in the turquoise waters were just what we asked and hoped for … every, I mean, every attention to detail was considered. I have never seen two people work as hard as Julia and Ish and yet did so with ease and smiles. They truly care about ensuring you have a wonderful trip and are passionate about what they do. I could not have asked for a better birthday or a vacation. Anyone who is able to have Julia and Ish as their crew would be lucky to have them. The trip was worth waiting for and one I will always remember in a large part to Julia and Ish’s unbelievable hospitality. From the bottom of my heart, thank you Julia and Ish!! We all miss you already
- Jillian
-Vanni Family
Christmas 2021 USVI Charter
The Maner Family of five enjoyed 7 wonderful days aboard Southern Comfort with Julia and Ish as our crew. From the start Julia and Ish were friendly and professional. We found the boat comfortable and clean. We enjoyed AMAZING healthy meals made by Julia. She was extra careful with our daughter’s tree nut allergy. Her attention to detail was very much appreciated. Ish is a great captain and bartender and was always offering a different cocktail to compliment Julia’s appetizers. Ish also saved the day by going to a pharmacy for medication for one daughter while we were at dinner in Cruz Bay. So kind of him. Overall, the family rates this trip a 10 and we would do it again in a heartbeat. We loved the whole experience! Julia and Ish are the best! ❤️
December 2021 USVI Charter
The whole family considered this to be a once in a lifetime kind of vacation and I have to say that it was one of the fastest seven day vacations that I have ever experienced. Julia and Ish and the Southern Comfort catamaran did not disappoint. They made us feel comfortable from our first planning conversation to our first step onto the Southern Comfort and each and every day until it was time to sadly say goodbye. The food - holy moly can Julia cook! We ate three delicious (and kind of healthy!) meals a day and each and everyone of them was outstanding. What a surprise it was to get that kind of cooking out and about the USVIs! The sailing - Ish is a terrific captain and made us feel safe and sound on both the SoCo and it’s dingie! Ish was also very patient with our questions and responded very deliberately yet in ways that were easy to understand. We really felt that Julia and Ish were a great combination and complimented one another very well. We would give them 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend them to future vacationers.
Dear Julia,
November 2021 USVI Charter
We hope our delay in sending this note to you does not diminish our gratitude or the joy we experienced for the seven days we sailed the Caribbean on Soterion with Ish and Julia. Every moment was magical as we enjoyed the special quality of your beautiful catamaran and the completely enjoyable company of your Captain, Ish, and First Mate and Chef, Julia. We couldn’t have been more comfortable with such luxurious space and copious amenities. The perfect weather with strong winds, choppy waters, and abundant sunshine was an added benefit. And yet, it is Ish and Julia that made our experience most fun and memorable. In less than an hour, we knew that we were in experienced, capable hands and that getting to know our two hosts would be an absolute delight. As chef, Julia was 100% successful in meeting the challenge of our daughter, Julie’s, unusual dietary restrictions. She presented one beautiful and delicious meal after another that the three of us thoroughly enjoyed. The meals seemed effortless despite the hours she spent in the galley, often with Ish at her side as sous chef or as clean-up assistant afterwards. The way they worked together as the sailing crew was even more impressive. They seemed to read each other’s minds, and their nimbleness running from one part of the boat to the other was enviable. Their partnership as sailors and hosts was a joy to watch, and we’re grateful to have been the beneficiaries of their skill, attentiveness to us, and utterly charming personalities. They also met the challenge of my fall and associated back pain with great concern and care, which made me feel safe and comfortable. We feel as if no words can do justice to their contribution to our absolutely perfect sailing experience, but we hope in some way this conveys our admiration of them and our gratitude for their efforts to care for us in every way possible. They each are very special individuals, and we are privileged to have had the opportunity to get to know them and spend time with them on your extraordinary sailing vessel. They definitely do the magnificent Soterion proud.
Gratefully,
Joan and Harry