MEET THE CREW - 2022-2023 SEASON

****November, 2022 - April, 2023
Captain: Mike Marier
Chef/First Mate: Julie Marier

****May - August, 2023
Captain: Nick Wilson
Chef/First Mate: Kate VanVorst

Mike and Julie met soon after high school and have been inseparable ever since. While raising their family, Mike and Julie took family vacations up north which always meant time on the water boating, fishing, skiing, biking and lots of great memories with the family. They also traveled to tropical destinations to escape the cold winter months. When they took a family trip to the VI they knew they would be back for good at some point. They bought a sailboat in Florida after their family was raised, spent time there and made the jump to come back to the islands after selling their home and everything they owned. They hope to help others create lasting lifetime memories in their dream destination and have been successfully running charters since 2019.

Mike grew up in the land of 10,000 lakes and took full advantage of as many opportunities as he could to hit the water. As a boy and young man he spent many summers up north at the family cabin taking advantage of the beauty and enjoying all nature has to offer. It’s here that Mike developed his love of being on the water. Mike has been an entrepreneur most of his life and has, along with Julie ran a personal training business, owned a fitness center, worked in the oil fields and been an over the road trucker in his own company. In his free time, Mike enjoys working out, reading and getting out on his motorcycle. Mike looks forward to showing his guests a great time and all the amazing things the
islands have to offer.

Julie was born in Minnesota and moved to California as a young girl. It was then that she fell in love the with the ocean and the peace and serenity it brought her. Julie’s love of cooking and food started at a young age as her mother was a wonderful cook and teacher and had her in the kitchen with her. Because of her early start, she worked in the service industry in many different fields after moving back to Minnesota and continued to do so throughout helping Mike with their businesses and raising their family together. Julie loves to cook a wide range of foods but her favorite is using fresh local ingredients to create delicious meals.

Mike and Julie look forward to taking their guests out on charter, sharing the beauty of the islands and creating memories!



Captain: Nick Wilson
Chef: Kate Van Vorst

Captain Nick has spent more of the last 20 years on the water than on land. He began his cruising career at the age of 20 in southern California, sailing an engineless 27-ft monohull from San Diego to the Sea of Cortez. After a decade of learning to sail and kiteboard while working as an engineer, he sailed to Hawaii single handed to pursue a career on the water as a Captain. He has driven thousands of charters and tours on everything from high-powered zodiacs to an 87-ft replica paddle wheel. In 2017, he took a sabbatical to prepare his own boat for sailing to the South Pacific, where he spent 6 months in the Marquesas and Tuamotus.

Kate grew up on the coast of Delaware and has loved being in and on the water from a very young age. She has spent the majority of her adult life in North Carolina, where she earned a degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. Her catamaran experience also began in college, working as logistics manager and first mate for a liveaboard summer camp based in St. Maarten. Her cooking and service experience has included high volume beach bars, fine dining restaurants and private country clubs.

Kate and Nick met in St.Thomas, where they both relocated for work during the pandemic. After a successful charter season, they decided to take a season off and invest in their own boat. In 2022, they sailed Calypso, their 32’ monohull more than 4,000 miles from North Carolina to Grenada.The trip solidified their love for Caribbean cruising, and they look forward to running charters again on Sea Dog in 2023.