Meet The Crew

James Beard Award semi-finalist and luminary in the Charleston restaurant scene, Chef Alex Lira first worked his way through the kitchens of Richmond, VA, landing his first executive gig at Avalon.

In New York City, Alex honed his technique at Craft under renowned Chef Tom Colicchio. But it was Brooklyn’s sister restaurants Diner and Marlow & Sons that allowed the chef to develop the artistry that still shines through his dishes today.

A focus on the food, dedication to local ingredients, and mindfulness of experience gained Lira a loyal following at The Lot on James Island and earned him a James Beard nomination for Best Chef at Bar Normandy.

Alex is currently a part owner beloved Bar George. Growing up on the Chesapeake bay and sailing with his father is something he always cherished. Post Covid, the sparks of restaurant life faded and the salty air called his name. Hoping to one day form a collaborative  experience of his two loves, food and sailing… hell, maybe even invite a guest or two.

Allison started sailing and crewing in the Charleston Harbor while in college at the College of Charleston and was instantly hooked. Since then, she has traveled to sail in the British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Dayton FL to Charleston SC via the Gulfstream, and will be sailing in Maine in July 2022. She now teaches sailing, races both inshore and offshore, and (most importantly) crews for charters on Mental Heeling.
When she’s not sailing, she works full-time as a Data Scientist building charts, graphs and statistics. One of Allison’s favorite things about sailing is enjoying the breeze and the views from the water; especially looking back at the city of Charleston and the stars at night while offshore!

Captain Bob Seymour has been exploring the waters in and around Charleston SC since he was a young lad in the 1960s as a power boater. Inspired by sailing, Bob became “Captain” Bob in 2006, obtaining a USCG Master Captain License with Sailing and Towing Endorsements. He also holds an American Red Cross Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED Certificate. Captain Bob invites you to come aboard and experience the serenity of sailing, take the wheel, trim the sails, or just sit back and enjoy a peaceful tour of the sights and sounds of the historic Charleston Harbor.

Captain Jennifer McQuilken had her sea legs before her land legs. She grew up sailing, fishing, and swimming in Long Island Sound wither her family and got her recreational boating license before even having a driver’s license. A walk along the beach, even in the dead of winter, was always full of wonder. She had no fear of picking up sea creatures and smelly things that washed up along the beach. She spent her summer teaching swimming lessons in Niantic Bay and volunteering at Mystic Aquarium.

The cold drove her south, where she went to school at Florida Tech, studying marine biology and earning a degree in communications. She jokes that after college she ended up in the Washington, D.C. area by mistake, but quickly hit her stride. She managed client relations for one of the top advertising agencies in the DC area and was the brand and marketing manager for McGruff the Crime Dog. Never one to give up the wind, she found the nearest ocean and traveled up and down the east coast on weekends racing Hobie Cats.

Missing living in a land of saltwater and afternoon sea breeze, she moved to Charleston in 2007. The alternating time between her communications consulting and working as a tour guide, she founded Charleston Coastal Charters. One of her boats, Horizon Seeker, was the first boat to be featured as a vacation rental on Airbnb. She sailed with friends, fished the creeks and reefs, and volunteered with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. She now has her near coastal operator of uninspected passenger vessels (OUPV) captain’s license and now splits her time between the boats and her marketing career.

Jen loves sharing the history and ecological wonders that make the Low-country the special place that it is. Whether it is chatting about the local dolphins, explain how a pelican catches its fish, or pointing out some of the world-class architecture, you are sure to enjoy your time on the boat with her.

When she is not on Mental Heeling, just follow the winds and tides and you’ll find her somewhere in the marshes of Charleston, often kayaking, paddle boarding, or fishing. Even with all she has on her plate, Jen still finds time to volunteer at Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge saving baby sea turtles.

Christian Naples was born in 2011. Every year he visited South Carolina where his uncle lives, who was a sailor. Every year he looked forward to going on the boat. His uncle will sometimes let him drive, he enjoyed that. He once said to his Dad, “when I grow up I want to be just like Uncle Jay.” So now all he is waiting for is to get older and get his sailing license.