Maria’s love of the ocean and sailing most likely started at birth as she was born on a boat in the Florida Keys. She continued honing her sailing skills in the maritime province of Nova Scotia, Canada. Maria then joined the crew of the Picton-Castle, a 180 foot, three masted barque that teaches traditional seamanship skills as it circumnavigates the globe. Maria completed two circumnavigations on the Picton-Castle over the course of four years, working as Bosun and acting Third Mate. She has worked on various other tall ships including the Pride of Baltimore II and the Lettie G Howard.

Maria holds a 100 Ton Captain’s license and unlimited AB ticket from the US Coast Guard. She is also an accomplished welder and the boat’s jack of all trade, master of none, but who can fix anything.

Cathy grew up in Satellite Beach, Florida where her parents took her sailing on the Inter-coastal Waterway every weekend growing up. She left Florida to attend college and play basketball at Columbia University in New York City.

She graduated with a degree in Economics and went on to work on Wall Street for over 10 years at a small investment banking boutique before getting her urge to sail again. A friend jokingly suggested to quit her job and sail around the world on the Picton-Castle, which she did. She said her adieus to the investment banking world and has never looked back since apart from being Joana’s purser.

We found Niko in a shelter in New Jersey. Even though she is ten now, she loves to run and swim, chase coconuts and always knows the best spots on deck to lazily sleep in the sun. If there is a project that needs to be done she is for sure to be laying right in the way.

Turk joined Joana in Florida, a shelter rescue as well. Going on eight now, he does well at keeping unwanted critters at bay and loves to lay around in the chart house playing Forman.