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Matt and Kari
Captain Matt Neidlinger
Hello, my name is Matt. I hope I’ll have a chance to meet you soon, but first, let me tell you about myself.
I grew up boating, water-skiing, and fishing on the Mississippi River in northwestern Illinois. Both of my parents loved the water and they taught me to love and respect the it at an early age.
In 2005, I took a charter vacation in the BVI, and that was all it took. I instantly knew that I wanted to share the beauty of the Caribbean with as many people as possible. One year later, I moved to the islands to start a career as mate aboard a charter catamaran.
17 years later, I still love what I do. I’m blessed to have chartered all over the Bahamas and eastern Caribbean, and I hope that I can help you create your perfect charter vacation aboard the beautiful Royal Cape catamaran, Manna. Whether its SCUBA diving, kayaking, heading out on a paddle board, snorkeling or hiking, I’m happy to help you explore as much or just help you relax on board.
I hold a 200ton US Coast Guard License, I’m an ASA Sailing Instructor and am a PADI Divemaster. I look forward to hosting you.
Chef Kari Compson
After more than two decades in corporate America, I quit and went sailing. I was blessed to have had the opportunity to take a charter on a catamaran to the Grenadines. Once I had that amazing experience, I knew I needed to find a way to get into the industry. I got my STCW and jumped right into the yachting world. Since then, I have crewed in the Grenadines, Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas.
My first chef position was as a crew chef on a large motor yacht. That was a great experience, but I realized I wanted to be on smaller boats to fulfill my passion for making sure all guests had an amazing experience and wanted to be able to express my culinary talent directly to the guests on charter.
My cooking reflects my adventurous spirit and love for life on the water, using only the freshest and most wholesome ingredients. I love to incorporate local cuisine into my meals and pay close attention to the preferences of my guests. I have a food allergy, so I understand how important it is to work with my guest’s specific preferences while creating a charter menu. I believe that cooking is all about sharing and being able to share unique and tasty dishes with my guests and make their vacation unforgettable!
When I am not in the galley, I like to snorkel, hike, paddle board and swim in the beautiful waters. I can’t wait to meet you and share those amazing experiences!