CAPTAIN

Ben’s life has been shaped by a passion for sailing, people, and adventure travel. Since learning to sail at the age of eight, Ben has smashed out 30,000+ ocean miles while crisscrossing the globe as a sailing-based outdoor educator. 

Ben is an accomplished sailor and educator. He has been captain and crew for industry frontrunners, including 59 North Sailing, Cruisers Academy, NOLS, Broadreach, Sea|Mester, and now Squallys.

When he’s not sailing the high seas, Ben teaches university-level leadership and environmental studies courses as a backpacking and wilderness ethics instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School.

Ben’s patience, communication skills, and growth-oriented mindset make him a fun, approachable, and caring instructor out on the water.

 Ben holds his 100-Ton USCG Captains License, 200-Ton IYT Yachtmaster Ticket, PADI Divemaster, and is an active NOLS Instructor. Ben is also a Wilderness First Responder and U.S.C.G. Medical Person-in-Charge.

MATE

Shyah’s unconditional love of sailing began on the racecourse. It was not until ten years after learning to sail and competing all over the country that she even stepped foot on a boat that was not racing or in training for a regatta. Her family and friends say that she does not have a single competitive bone in her body - but they have never seen her sit as motionless as a heron to keep the boat moving and sneak a few millimeters ahead of the competition.

With a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors, Shyah’s recent transition to bigger boats and saltwater was only natural. She prefers living at an angle, chopping carrots that want to roll away, and being constantly amazed by how many different shades of blue the ocean can be. She rediscovered a childlike curiosity on the ocean that inspired her to leave her job in video production at

Berklee College of Music back in 2021 and pursue a career in offshore sailing. Since then, she has sailed over 10,000 ocean miles as delivery crew for a diverse range of boats and as an apprentice for 59 North, where she first met Capt Soof.

Shyah hopes to one day combine her passion for living zero waste with her love of sailing, as well as sail in some long distance races. Until then, she takes pleasure in the simple things - rainbows in the spray, watching the sunrise over the water, and seeing the moonlight reflected in the ripples as she prepares for her captain's exam.