Captain: Chad Harlan
Nationality: American
Languages: English
Description:
Born June 30, 1972, in Charlotte, North Carolina, Chadwick “Chad” Harlan spent his childhood splitting time between city streets and the country roads of South Carolina—racing bicycles and motorcycles by day, and learning to sail with his father by age 12. Early regattas on the lakes of NC, SC, and Georgia ignited his passion for both racing monohulls and offshore adventures; at 17, he completed his first Kalua Cup offshore race out of Clearwater, Florida. After earning his USCG 200/500-ton Master’s credential, STCW certification, and a PADI Rescue Diver ticket—alongside some college studies—Chad pursued a successful career as a carpenter and project manager in San Diego, all while cruising the U.S. West Coast on a family sailboat. Twenty-one years ago, he and his wife traded shore-based life for charter yachting, launching a voyage that’s taken him across six vessels and thousands of nautical miles.
As Captain, Chad brings calm decisiveness and expert seamanship to every passage. His résumé includes command of I Love This Boat, Pegasus IX, Brandi Wine, Captiva, Zingara, and Pure Puur—each charter operation underpinned by his high-standard leadership, meticulous navigation, and genuine love of hosting. Onboard duties range from helm and watch‐keeping to guest briefings, safety drills, and coordinating deck and interior teams. Fluent in English and backed by decades of hands-on experience, Chad ensures that every detail—from docking procedures to day-to-day vessel maintenance—is executed with precision and professionalism.
Off duty, Chad is an avid motorcyclist and world traveler who finds joy in the journey as much as the destination. Whether plotting an over-landing route through Australia’s Outback or exploring the wild sealife of the Pacific Northwest, he thrives on new experiences and stories worth sharing. He loves swapping travel tales with guests over sunset cocktails and teaching them the thrill of two wheels whenever the opportunity arises. His ultimate goal? To keep “pushing” boundaries—seeking fresh adventures at sea and on land, while crafting charter experiences so memorable that guests return year after year.
First Mate: Justin Brink
Nationality: American
Languages: English
Description:
Born in Olathe, Kansas on September 17, 1984, Justin Brink—known simply as “Justin”—found his true home on the water after moving with his family to Cooper City, Florida. Growing up the youngest of two in a community that revolved around sports and the outdoors, he honed his competitive spirit on the ice hockey rink and golf course, all while fishing and boating South Florida’s canals. A natural problem-solver with an artist’s eye, he also pursued photography and fine art alongside his early mechanical curiosities.
Justin launched his yachting career in 2005, driven by a love of travel and seamanship. Over the past 20 years he’s served aboard some of the world’s most prestigious vessels—including M/Y Rassels (200′ Feadship), Detroit Eagle (153′ Feadship), Aquarius (200′ Amels), Madsummer, TV, and Quattrolle (all 257–288′ Lürssen yachts). A USCG-credentialed Master (100 GRT) and Mate (200 GRT), he holds STCW, AEC1, ENG1, PDSD, and PADI Rescue Diver certifications. As First Officer on I Love This Boat, Justin oversees navigation and bridge watches, safety drills, deck operations, and the training and mentorship of junior crew. His decades of experience and meticulous attention to detail ensure every passage is executed flawlessly.
Off duty, Justin channels his passion into photography, live-music events, museum explorations, and a competitive round of golf or hockey whenever he can. He’s an accomplished storyteller—on camera and off—and delights in teaching guests to capture memories ashore and afloat. His goal is to earn his captain’s stripes on smaller vessels, strike the perfect work-life balance, and eventually transition into yacht brokerage. Above all, Justin strives to give every charter guest “an experience of a lifetime”—where seamless professionalism meets genuine warmth, and the only limit is the horizon.
Engineer: Steve Gondusky
Nationality: American
Languages: English
Description:
Born August 3, 1971 in the sailing capital of the world—Rhode Island—Steven Gondusky “Steve” grew up with the ocean as his back door. By age 12 he’d already taken command of family dinghies, and weekends were spent windsurfing, skateboarding, downhill skiing—and sprinting to Brown University track-camp medals in the 100 m and 800 m dashes. After a brief foray into mechanical engineering studies, Steve knew he belonged at sea: in 2000 he launched a career that’s spanned 25 years, seven of which have been aboard charter yachts.
Armed with a degree in Marine Systems Engineering, ABYC certifications in electrical and refrigeration, a USCG DDE 4000 endorsement, STCW (advanced firefighting & fast rescue), VPDSD, and ENG1 medical clearance, Steve is the go-to problem-solver below decks. As Engineer on I Love This Boat, he keeps every system humming—from electronics and reefers to watermakers and hydraulics—while donning a “can-do” attitude and pitching in wherever needed. His positive energy and willingness to lend a hand to every department ensure the yacht is always in better shape than when he arrived.
When he’s off duty, you’ll find Steve honing his martial-arts belt ranks, tinkering on invention prototypes, or planning adventures with his young daughter. He’s an accomplished scuba diver, martial-arts coach, and marine technician who loves teaching everything from watersports techniques to electrical troubleshooting. Whether he’s swapping travel tales from the Bahamas, Mediterranean, New England, Pacific, or his favorite charters in the Bahamas and BVI, Steve’s mission is the same: to leave guests feeling relaxed, inspired to explore beyond their expectations, and eager to return. His guiding mantra? Kaizen—“strive for the best”—because on land or sea, continuous improvement makes every voyage extraordinary.
Deckhand: Christie Baldi
Nationality: American
Languages: English
Description:
Born on August 17, 1996, just outside Boston in a tight-knit maritime community, Christine Baldi—known simply as Christie—grew up with saltwater in her veins. From winning youth racing regattas between the ages of 8 and 16 to exploring tidepools along New England’s shores, her childhood was defined by a deep curiosity for the sea and its wonders. After earning a BA in Environmental Sustainability and spending five seasons as a deckhand in commercial maritime fueling, Christie spent three years in environmental legal compliance within the cell-tower industry—only to realize that her true passion lay aboard the waves. Seven months ago, she returned to her first love, joining M/Y I Love This Boat as Mate and embracing yacht life full-time.
Armed with a USCG Master 100-Ton Captain’s License, unlimited Radar Observer endorsement, Commercial Assistance Towing, Powerboat Level 2, FCC Marine Radio Operator credentials, and full STCW certification (including firefighting, survival, CPR, and first aid), Christie brings both professionalism and genuine enthusiasm to her role. She oversees all deck and exterior maintenance—from line handling and tender ops to meticulous hull care—working alongside relief mates to deepen her charter-protocol expertise. Her greatest asset is an unwavering work ethic: she approaches every project with pride, a positive attitude, and a readiness to collaborate across departments, ensuring I Love This Boat gleams inside and out.
When she’s off-watch, you’ll find Christie diving beneath the surface, hiking rugged trails, or birdwatching coastal sanctuaries. An avid knitter and crocheter, she delights in teaching guests how to craft their own keepsakes or sharing insights into local ecosystems. Whether guiding guests through crystal-clear Exumas waters, recalling fond memories of O’Brien’s Cay in the Bahamas, or marveling at Milford Sound’s glacier-carved fjords, Christie aims to leave every charter with an experience of a lifetime—filled with adventure, wonder, and lasting joy. She lives by her favorite adage:
“We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.”
Chief Stew: Nadia Fourie
Nationality: South African
Languages: English
Description:
Nadia was born and raised on a farm in a small-town community close to Cape Town called Caledon. Growing up in a family that traveled to different destinations in South Africa and Namibia for vacation, she developed a wanderlust. She started exploring the world by working as a Spa therapist on Cruise liners for two years after completing her studies in Somatology in
Stellenbosch. She changed to the yachting industry and have been working as a Stewardess for the last three years. She has traveled in the Baltic, Mediterranean, Caribbean and Bahamas while working abroad. In her free time, she likes hiking, socializing, exploring and reading. She strives to deliver the best service and making sure guests enjoy their time onboard.
Second Stewardess: Zoe Hughes
Nationality: American
Languages: English
Description:
Zoe moved to South Florida four years ago from the San Fransisco Bay Area, where she was born and raised. While working at an aquatic robotics company, she discovered the opportunity that yachting presented for her life. After 6 months of saving, she quickly moved to Fort Lauderdale, passed her maritime training courses, and joined her first vessel, M/Y Lady S. A majority of her travels have been throughout Central America, even venturing through the Panama Canal a few times aboard M/Y Seaquest. Here she discovered her passion for immersing herself in local cultures, cuisines, and traditions.
Chef: TBD
