Welcome to AQ!
Location: West End, Tortola
Our crew has been hard at work over the past few weeks, making sure that we would be ready to welcome students on board today! We’ve been prepping our boat to get ready for an awesome three weeks of sailing, scuba diving, water sports, and exploring the BVIs. After a year off due to COVID-19, we could not be more excited to meet our shipmates and get out on the water. We’re ready to kick off the summer with a ton of fun and can’t wait to see everyone grow in their skills and form new friendships along the way.
Get to know our crew:
Skipper: Claire Miller
Claire grew up in Houston and had her first experience sailing during her gap year on a Seamester voyage from Darwin, Australia, to Cape Town, South Africa, on S/Y Argo. After an amazing semester, she decided to keep sailing and ended up staying in Cape Town to complete her Yachtmaster Ocean license. Claire is currently in engineering school at the University of Virginia and is a member of their club sailing team. She’s super excited to have the opportunity to work at AQ this summer and help create a fantastic experience for all of her students.
Dive Instructor/Mate: Mackenzie Cornell
Mackenzie grew up in Germantown, MD, just outside of Washington, D.C. After graduating from Penn State University, where she was a varsity springboard diver, she learned to SCUBA dive with her mom in Phuket, Thailand, and quickly fell in love with the underwater world. Afterward, she stayed in Asia for three years, earning her PADI Instructor certification in Gili Trawangan, Lombok, Indonesia. When not underwater, you can find Mackenzie coaching gymnastics, walking her dog, or surfing in the Outer Banks.
Mate: Robbie McKellar
Robbie was raised in a small town in New Hampshire and spent his summers sailing in Buzzard’s Bay, Massachusetts. He joined AQ as a student in 2018 and spent November 2020- February 2021 aboard S/Y Vela on the Indian Ocean voyage and South Africa to Antigua delivery. When he’s not sailing, you’ll find Robbie playing guitar, snowboarding, biking, climbing, or working as a chef at The Grazing Room. During the school year, he attends the University of Montana.