Meet the personable and passionate crew aboard Big Fish. The Big Fish crew are not only experienced and well qualified to take excellent care of you, they are a wonderfully fun and interesting bunch of people to spend time with!

Winston Joyce Clarke – Captain

Winston has the distinction of completing two equator crossings at sea before the age of five as a passenger on mails voyaging between England and his South African homeland.

More modest but influential boating followed on the Indian Ocean coast, when he was introduced to the world of keelboats on board Albatross II, which had won the first South Atlantic race from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro in 1971. Mirror and Optimist dinghies put him at the helm. Zeekoe Vlei Yacht Club was a humble beginning but, being surrounded by two oceans, it didn't take him long to find other venues for sailing.. After high school and a two-year stint in the army, Winston crewed aboard a one-tonner race boat 4500 nm race across the South Atlantic to Punta del Este, then landed his first superyacht position on Mandalay, one of the iconic motor-sailors of the day.

He returned to Southampton to attend Warsash Maritime College in 1996 and acquired a Master of Yachts under 3000-gt Class IV license. Another round of motor yachts followed; first on a 30-meter race program support yacht followed by the Delta Marine/Ron Holland designed 46-meter vessel Affinity. Next he skippered Izanami/Ronin, the Gerhard Gilgenast/Sir Norman Foster 34-knot, 59-meter, Lürssen. Besides his work as a premiere yacht captain, Winston has also logged many hours in shipyards around the world supervising both the refits under his command as well as new construction projects.

He's a self-confessed technical diving, game fishing, sailing, windsurfing, paddle boarding aficionado and neophyte kite-boarding enthusiast.

Shelley Underwood - First Officer

A proud Kiwi at heart, Shelley was born and raised in the river city of Wanganui, on the West Coast of the North Island of New Zealand.

Shelley's maritime career started 22 years ago fresh from school as a crewmember aboard the Spirit of Adventure Trust's 148-foot three-masted barquentine, a sailing program that facilitates youth development through the medium of the sea. Her yacht industry career began seven years ago aboard AlumerciA, the 123-foot Heesen,where she served as Chief Stewardess and then First Mate on a five-year, 41,000nm cruise. Her next yacht position was as Captain and Chief Stewardess aboard Princess Mary, a 70-foot Delta trawler yacht cruising the west coast of North America.

Shelley's credentials include STCW95 and completing all written requirements for a New Zealand Offshore Masters Unlimited license, and 3000gt MCA Chief Mate certificate. Her certifications also include Advanced Fire Fighting, GMDSS, Medical Firt Aid, and all necessary radar, weather, navigation and seamanship documentation.

Shelley's other interests, traveling, adventure and photography, go hand in hand with her life on the big blue.

Fiona Verstappen – Stewardess

Born and raised in a small coastal town on the East Coast of Australia, Fiona has spent her life by the ocean. Her love of sports and the outdoors saw her working for the Professional Golfers Association of Australia, before transferring to London to work in Event Co-ordination for Credit-Suisse International. Her first taste for the yachting industry was while working on the pearling vessels in Australia after she returned from traveling throughout Europe. Since then, Fiona has put three Mediterranean and three Caribbean cruising seasons under her belt, and has crewed aboard such major yachts as Java, Big Eagle and Marjorie Morningstar. She enjoys all water sports and traveling the world.

Alex Arnott - Medic/Deck Hand/Ship's Security Officer

Alex was born in Perth, Western Australia, and was exposed early in life to traveling as his family moved around the country, following his Father's career as an airport fire-fighter. In his last year of high school, Alex decided to join the army, which suited his character and enjoyment of a transient lifestyle. After ten years of traveling the world, as a Medic in the Army, he left the service to take on various challenges, including work as a remote site Medic in Africa and as a Medic on an offshore oil rig.

Alex jumped at the opportunity to work on Big Fish as a Medic, affording him the opportunity for more adventure, and involvement in an industry far removed from his previous work experience.

During his spare time, Alex enjoys playing guitar, exercising, fishing and reading.

Ray Head - Engineer

Ray brings a wealth of experience to Big Fish. He started his career at Delta Marine, one of the world's premier shipyards, where his dad ran the repair/refit side of the yard. Though born in Reno, Nevada, Ray spent most of his youth in Seattle where, besides the boat trade, his father also taught him to fish and hunt. Ray spent 11 years in the repair yard, fixing boats of all shapes and sizes, before starting his own mobile marine repair service.

Ray started his onboard career following an offer from a good client to run a 70ft Delta a between Seattle to Mexico. Married to First Officer Shelley Underwood, who hails from New Zealand, Ray then returned to New Zealand to complete his formal maritime certifications to enable him to advance to a larger vessel. During this time he also worked on a cargo vessel that travelled from New Zealand to Pitcairn Island, of HMS Bounty fame. Ray's credentials and training include a New Zealand Class 5 Marine Engineer rating, GMDSS, STCW95, Advance Fire Fighting, Medical Procedures and Ship Security.

Ray was in New Zealand at the time Big Fish was being completed, and became the boat's chief engineer shortly afterwards. Some of Ray's hobbies include waterskiing, stand-up jet skiing, kite boarding and riding dirt bikes.

Kim Bernard - Deckhand

Kim Bernard grew up in South Africa between Cape Town and Knysna along the gorgeous western coast that is known as The Garden Route. In 2007, after eight years in the service industry, she left home on a 40-foot catamaran on a 6500nm across the Atlantic from South Africa to Spain. Among her credentials are a Padi open-water dive master certificate, along with a Yachtmaster Offshore license.

Along with a deep love for the animals she encounters on her travels, Kim has a burning desire to help our planet by educating people about how they can actively look after our precious oceans

Jonathan Tubby - Executive Chef

Christened Jonathan George Tubby, JT as he is called, was born in the fine city of Norwich, England. Obsessed by football at a young age he was brought down to earth after failing multiple trials with a local professional team. He has always had a passion for food, especially local and seasonal produce, helped along by his parent's small farm holding, which produced fantastic fruit and vegetables, not to mention free range chickens and ducks. He started cooking professionally at the age of 15 in a hotel near his home city and since then his culinary journey has lead him to live in France and Spain each for three years respectively to hone and broaden his kitchen skills.

JT entered yachting in 2007, after a regular diner introduced himself as a yacht captain and invited him to join his team on a newly built charter yacht. In the ensuing years he successfully completed over 40 charters in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

Outside the galley JT finds enjoyment and relaxation in fishing and snowboarding, listening to all types of music and scuba diving.

Jordan McDonough - Purser, Masseuse & Spa Specialist

Jordan was born in the small community of Beaver Island, Michigan and moved to The Villages, FL, when she was a young girl. She was exposed to the yachting industry at the age of 16 and became fascinated with the lifestyle and opportunity for international travel.

Before graduating magna cum laude, with Bachelors in Business Management and Entrepreneurship from the University of Florida, she spent a semester abroad in Brisbane, Australia and later did an internship with a corporate event planning and management company in London. She received her Masters in International Business from the University of Florida and Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. While completing her masters, Jordan began focusing on the art and science of massage therapy, receiving licensure in six modalities from the nationally acclaimed Florida School of Massage: Swedish massage, Neuromuscular Therapy, Reflexology, Connective Tissue, Sports Massage and Polarity Therapy.

Jordan enjoys being healthy and active through running, swimming, dancing, rock climbing, laughing, scuba diving, skydiving, yoga and holistic health. This small town, American girl is very excited about life and wonderful people she encounters in her travels. Her dream is to open environmentally sustainable, holistic spas in various areas of the world.

Christina Clifford - Stewardess

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, this Scandinavian sweetheart loves rollerblading, skiing, swimming and traveling the world. A quintessential combination of brains and beauty, she obtained her Bachelors in Business and Human Resources from Uppsala University in Sweden and the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, NZ. Upon graduation, Christina worked as a Scandinavian tour guide in SE Asia, teaching others about the fascinating cultures of Thailand, China, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar. In 2001 Christina met the love of her life, Quenten, in Byron Bay, Australia. With him, it was a natural jump from land to sea where she has spent the last 6 years in the yachting industry. Together, Christina and Quenten now call the Sunshine Coast of Australia home. The Big Fish crew is delighted to have such a fun loving, warm lady as part of their team.