DIAMOND SEAS Luxury Super Yacht for Charter

Captain Blaine Watson was born in South Africa where he lived in Cape Town until the age of twenty one. Having grown up on the beach he quickly grew fond of the water; whether that was surfing, swimming or diving. In his late teens he began to sail in the beautiful bays of Cape Town while taking passengers out to experience the magnificent marine life and breathtaking landscapes of the area by sea. After getting a solid grounding in sailing and seamanship, Captain Watson decided to explore new horizons, and he made his way to the Caribbean to join his first luxury yacht. During his 15 year maritime career, Captain watson has served in the capacity of both engineer and deck officer. He is well versed in all aspects of yachting; from technical yacht maintenance to the challenge of navigation and management, Captain Watson enjoys it all. He is equally fond of both sailing and power yachts and the various skills required by both. He has sailed and navigated on sailing vessels up to 190 ft and motor yachts up to 255 ft worldwide. Captain Watson is the third member of his family to become a captain in the luxury yacht industry. He has been in the service industry for twenty years and truly derives a great sense of fulfillment from providing memorable experiences to his clients. He looks forward to ensuring that your adventure on board is a truly amazing and memorable one.

Having grown up in the small town of Ely, IA, Abby’s love of boating started when she was very young on the lakes and rivers surrounding her hometown. Her first boat was an 18’ Maxim on which she learned to waterski and wakeboard when she was just 9 years old. She also took summer trips with her family to Lake Superior where her love of the water intensified though sailing the Apostle Islands just outside of Bayfield, WI. Abby graduated from the University of Iowa in the fall of 2013 with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. The following summer, she took a trip to Newport Beach, CA to visit a friend from college. Once she arrived in Newport Beach, she fell in love with the harbor and made up her mind that her career path was in the world of yachting. She moved to Newport Beach in August of 2014 and started working for West Marine in order to network with the community and get a foot in the door of the maritime industry. Her plan paid off, as her position with West Marine led to her first yacht job on board a 60’ Navigator, “Hotel California.” From there, she continued to broaden her horizons by managing the parts department for the Dana Point Shipyard, and working for Charter Yachts of Newport Beach onboard their 120’ event charter yacht, “The Icon.” She spent nearly three years on board the Icon working her way up to crew lead. Her experience onboard the Icon ranged from bartending to engine maintenance to driving the vessel. It was her position onboard the Icon and multiple other charter yachts in Newport Harbor that laid the foundations for a successful career in yachting and that led her to pursue her USCG 100-ton master’s license. She was recruited onto Motor Yacht Desperado, a 130’ Westport as deck/stew in August of 2017 where she spent the end of the summer season in California, and then headed to Fort Lauderdale for the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show later that year. Currently on Motor Yacht Diamond Seas, she is still working towards her license while also happily sharing her love of the water with everyone on board. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, watersports, spending time with family and friends, cooking, or reading a good book.

David Johnson is an innovative chef and talented musician. An avid builder, sailor, and wooden boat enthusiast, David went on to sail as chef on educational tall ships along the east coast, sailing from the North American great lakes, down to the Caribbean. He seasonally and geographically sourced food, expanding his culinary repertoire via cooking with locals, exchanging recipes, and experimenting with whatever was in season. From French cooking in Montreal to fish fries in the Caribbean, David’s cooking is an intimate, eclectic, and joyous accumulation of tastes, cultures, and communities. Embracing a variety of local cuisines while simultaneously collaborating with scientists and archeologists aboard, David spent three years in Africa, where he initiated a community development project employing and educating local Xhosa tribe in food production, service, and management. He designed and built a tiki restaurant of local materials, opened a fish market, planted organic gardens with French drains for black water, compost, and solar heated water systems. He currently creates joyous and inspired foods and experiences, working with local makers and growers. When he is not busy in the galley, he enjoys entertaining guests while singing, playing guitar and sharing tales of his worldly adventures at sea.