MAGIC INSPIRATION private yacht

Chef/First Mate Sandy Hamel:

Sandy is a small town girl from central Massachusetts. Every summer she helped her parents, brothers and sister pack up the camper and head to the shores of the Atlantic on holiday. It was a her happy, childhood introduction to the ocean. In classic New England style, the family vacation included the annual lobster feast. Sandy’s parents were both excellent cooks and she always volunteered to help out in the kitchen. In this way she learned and perfected the many wonderful recipes passed down for generations.

Prior to attending Southern New Hampshire University Sandy worked as a chef in a nursing home. This taught her to prepare meals for many different dietary needs and restrictions. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Business and went on to a successful career in high-tech marketing for global companies including Microsoft. Traveling internationally on business allowed her to add numerous recipes to her portfolio and later replicate many wonderful meals. She also completed an Oenophile course and is an expert at paring the perfect wine. Recently, Sandy has been the chef for themed summer events held at a lighthouse off the coast of Maine. She planned and prepared menus for events on Craft Beer, Knitting, Writers Workshops, and New England lighthouse history, including a weekly lobster bake on the rocky shore. This summer, she is in Alaska, managing a 104 bed Historic Inn and Seaside Lodges, welcoming guests from around the world and exploring a very beautiful state.

Sandy can exquisitely prepare anything on a preference sheet, but guests aboard MAGIC INSPIRATION absolutely rave about her fish dishes, like roasted Sea Bass in lime cilantro sauce or lemon cream scallops. She also bakes fresh bread and desserts; orange chocolate bread pudding, chocolate lava cakes, coconut caramel pie, Pina colada cake, and chocolate cake with raspberry frosting. Guest needn’t worry about gaining a few pounds. Sandy leads running and hiking expeditions and yoga sessions on deck, or on the beach. She believes in being healthy while adhering to her motto: eat, drink and be merry. On board MAGIC INSPIRATION, it’s everyone’s way of life.

Captain Jeff and Mate/Chef Sandy have been married for 18 years, and have been sailing for 19 total years together. Sandy's immersion into sailing was when she met Jeff in 1999. At the time he ran a sailboat brokerage business out of Cape Ann Marina in Gloucester, MA. Their journeys have taken them along the East Coast of the U.S. and to many exotic destinations such as the Bahamas, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, US, Spanish and British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Panama, St Maarten, Anguilla, St Lucia, Bequia, Mustique, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Their thirst for adventure, love of the sea, and impeccable hospitality combine to bring their charter guests magical vacations and memories that last a lifetime!