Meet the Crew!

Crew 1 Pic

Captain

Kyle Mealand

Crew 2 Pic

Tilly Painter Jones

Chef

Kyle and Tilly have been running luxury charters for the last 4 years and bring a wealth of experience, energy and fun onboard. With over 60 charters around the Virgin Islands and time chartering in the Windward Isles, Scotland and even Tonga together, Kyle and Tilly know how to make your vacation truly unforgettable.

Kyle was brought up on the wild west coast of Scotland and spent every moment on the sea, whether that be teaching sailing at his local club, catching the ferry to school every day or kayaking round the coast line he calls home. After a summer spent teaching sailing in France he came back and met Tilly, they quickly realized they shared the same passion for adventure and the ocean and spent two years working and exploring the Highlands and Islands. After an especially cold and wet winter they jumped on a boat and sailed across the Atlantic towards the sunshine.

Tilly was always drawn to fresh food, finding joy in growing produce and creating dishes that champion local and seasonal flavours. Most of her professional life has been spent in the hospitality industry, both front and back of house, cooking in cafes, restaurants and for one summer a tent in the English countryside! After graduating university she moved to a remote Scottish island where she met Kyle. Although Tilly had plenty of experience driving power boats, sailing was a different story, and her first sailing trip was crossing the Atlantic ocean with Kyle in 2021. Completely hooked, they started chartering on a 50ft catamaran, before moving onto a larger vessel and then taking on a brand new 51ft lagoon which they delivered from Annapolis to the Virgin Islands together. After a break back home in Scotland they set out on another adventure, running vacations in the Pacific nation of Tonga on a catamaran and eco island retreat.

As a captain in the Virgin Islands, Scotland and Tonga, Kyle is known for his level headed attitude, commitment for creating the best vacation ever and his slight Scottish cheekiness! Charters with Kyle never have a dull moment whether that be non stop activities or finding the calmest bay with no other boats around to simply float and be. Tilly prides herself on making real connections with everyone that steps onboard through good food, special moments and her infectious laughter. Often found up early making homemade sourdough or sneaking in an early morning snorkel, she is our onboard marine biologist after all! Kyle and Tilly are delighted to now be chartering in the Virgin Islands where their career began and can't wait to welcome you aboard.

Captain Kyle Mealand Qualifications:

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore(Power/Sail)
PADI divemaster
AEC 1&2
STCW 95
Powerboat lvl 2
SRC VHF
RYA Dingy Instructor
Food Safety lvl 2
IOSH Managing safely


Chef Tilly Painter Jones Qualifications:
Ashburton Chef's Academy- Yacht Chef Course
PADI Divemaster
STCW Basic Safety Training
Food Safety & Hygiene level 2
RYA Day Skipper (power) commercial endorsement

Chef Tilly's Sample Menu 

Breakfast

All served with homemade yoghurt, fruit platter & fresh sourdough.

Banana muffins with salted caramel and pecan

Eggs benedict with smoked salmon

Brioche French toast with berries

Orange and cardamon cinnamon rolls

Shakshuka with feta, avocado and pistachio

French crepes with blackberry coulis

Breakfast burritos with hash browns

 

Lunch

Tuna nicoise and focaccia

Homemade pork bao buns with Vietnamese salad

Bacon cheese burgers, secret sauce, sweet potato fries

Blackened mahi tacos with guacamole and corn salsa

Vodka tomato pasta with honey chorizo and caesar salad 

Chicken souvalaki with Greek salad and flatbread

Parma ham, nectarines and mozzarella salad with hot honey 

 

Appetizers

 

Tomato gazpacho with basil oil

Coconut prawns with chilli dipping sauce 

Whipped lemon feta and roasted beetroot salad 

Goats cheese and caramelised onion tart

Scallops with cauliflower puree and crispy bacon

Tuna carpaccio 

Sushi selection 

 

Main

Seared steak with shallot tarte tatin and parsnip puree

Squid ink risotto with prawns, chorizo and micrograms

Pork fillet with potato dauphinoise, apple puree and cider sauce

Jerk salmon with mango slaw and black bean rice

Red wine braised short ribs with polenta and asparagus 

Lobster tails with garlic parsley butter, baked macaroni cheese and spinach 

Coconut crusted snapper with papaya salsa and sticky rice 

 

Dessert

Coconut Pannacotta with raspberry and pineapple 

Chocolate torte with kalhua cream and candied orange peel

Sticky toffee pudding with salted caramel sauce

Baileys sponge with coffee ice cream and almond tuille

Red wine poached pears with ginger ice cream

Chocolate Pavlova with strawberries 

White chocolate and macadamia brownies