Captain John Stephenson, or "Cap" to those who sail with him, is a 20-year USCG Master 100-ton Mariner who is also an American Sailing Instructor.

He sails over 5,000 nautical ocean miles annually and is an expert in Caribbean-US East Coast passages. His training in First Aid, CPR, Oxygen use, Basic Firefighting, Personal Safety & Social Responsibility, Personal Survival Techniques, and Meteorology, coupled with his Master Diver certification, make him uniquely qualified to put your safety & education first. He is additionally certified as an Officer in Charge of Navigational Watch for Vessels of up to 500 gross tons.

His gentle and friendly personality ensure that guests not only have fun while underway, but also have the opportunity to learn the fine art and skills of sailing.
Hailing from Scituate, Massachusetts, Cap has been at the helm of numerous vessels ranging from 20 to over 100 feet and is the former Senior Captain of the 139 ft Boston Tall Ship.  He is a former Boston Underwater Search & Rescue Team Diver and previously owned a successful photography business in Boston for nearly 20 years.  His interests include underwater photography, diving, snorkeling, fishing, hockey and upgrading and maintaining Sea Witch.

Cap works with additional crew members and caterers to meet the needs of guests aboard Sea Witch.  His crew are all certified via the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Program (STCW), which ensures your personal comfort and safety while aboard. Additionally, several crew mates hold USCG Captain Licenses as well.  All mates aboard Sea Witch have several thousand ocean nautical miles' experience and enjoy swimming, sailing, and sharing their love of the islands with every sailor aboard Sea Witch.