Outta Touch

Ian Paxton
Captain
Captain Ian Paxton grew up in George, a city in South Africa's Western Cape, on a coastal stretch known as the Garden Route. It is a very beautiful area that offered Ian lots of opportunities for exploration and discovery. He began racing sailboats with his brother when they were just 10 years old and even had the chance to represent South Africa in competition. His enthusiasm for racing nurtured his love of the ocean and naturally led to university studies on The Art of Sailing and his career choice in the yachting industry.

Prior to yachting, Ian was a professional fisherman and to this day prides himself as a great fisherman who enjoys teaching anyone who is interested! Captain Ian has sailed and cruised too many miles to count, from the East Coast to the West Coast of the USA, the Caribbean, Europe, the Indian Ocean, Seychelles, Madagascar as well as some of his most memorable and adventurous nautical miles sailing in Alaska. Of everywhere in the world, the Virgin Islands are his favorite cruising grounds and he and his crew look forward to helping charter clients make the memories of a lifetime. Some of the most interesting and prestigious yachts Ian has captained include 35m Sailing Yacht Manutara and 43m Motor Yacht Sea Falcon which was a 1977 build with an incredible and unique story about her life.

Ian is also an avid scuba diver and is qualified as a dive instructor. It's one of the many reasons he particularly loves the Virgin Islands. Guests who enjoy snorkeling or diving benefit from his extensive knowledge of local reefs and favorites dive spots. His other hobbies and interests include playing guitar, surfing, hunting, fishing, and how can we as people help to make our world a better place for each other. He is notoriously upbeat and loves to have a good time. He would love charter guests to know that his favorite saying is ‘Love life and chilax!’ and that he is happy and positive, looking to make every moment special.

Christian
Chef
Hailing from sailing-centric Annapolis, Maryland, Christian’s origins are in the maritime community. It was here that she fell in love with the beach, tall ships, and the ocean. Making her way down the coast, she studied psychology at UNCW, and following graduation in 2006 made her way to St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. It was in the Virgin Islands that Christian really fell in love & learned to respect the beauty of all things yachting. Her passion for hospitality, food, health, and wellness is what eventually brought her to study holistic culinary nutrition at Bauman College in Berkeley, California, and most recently completed a level two course at Ashburton Cookery School in Ashburton, England. As a certified natural chef, Christian has worked with private clients, top restaurants in the Virgin Islands, and a chef on luxury sailing/motor yachts. Her flexibility, positive attitude, and warm personality contributes to an ideal cruise on the water.

Flexible is a great word to describe me & my culinary skill set. I believe flexibility is very important when working with a team & catering to guests of all kinds. Whether different ages, gender, personalities, or dietary needs. I strive to have a sense of calm in my galley at all times. I truly feel the type of energy that goes into preparing meals has an effect on the meal itself. I want my food to be a reflection of comfort, celebration, and love.

Mel Beresforde
Stewardess
Mel was born and raised in a small coastal town close to the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands in Australia. In her early 20’s, she moved to London to live and work which enabled her to begin her dream to travel and see the world. After 3 fun-filled years in London, she moved back to Oz, where she settled in Melbourne and built a successful career in Human Resources and Change Management for the world's largest beer organization. Deciding to take a break from corporate life, Mel embarked on a solo 18-month travel jaunt around Asia, Europe, and the United States, and it was then she decided it was time for a new adventure and life challenges. She stumbled across the yachting world and has now worked in the Caribbean, Bahamas, the US West Coast, and Alaska on both Private and Charter yachts. Being a lover of travel and good times herself, she knows how to contribute to a ‘trip of a lifetime’ and will go above and beyond to ensure the guest experience on Outta Touch is one to remember. She loves to travel, music, pizza, yoga, animals, and of course the ocean, where she feels most at home. You’ll find Mel at her best at her daily Outta Touch Happy Hour soirées where her famous cocktails will flow and the good times will become memories for life.

Benjamin
Deckhand
Benjamin grew up in Ceres, a town in South Africa's Western Cape. It is surrounded by stunning mountain landscapes, rivers, dams, and valleys that beg to be explored. He loved being in nature and exploring new places which led to him choosing yachting as a career.

Benjamin is a Jetski Instructor and loves doing watersports with guests. He is a Tender Operator and enjoys taking guests on trips to explore or go fishing. His other hobbies include playing rugby, soccer, hunting, and hiking.