Shape Up

Welcome to Shape Up, your new home for the next three weeks! As we just wrapped up a successful first session down here in the BVIs, the staff and boats are all refreshed, and feel ready to welcome 12 new shipmates! Today will be an exciting, busy day as we all get checked in and settled into learning about our new home. Tomorrow is our first true day in the BVIs as a team, and Shona will start by teaching sailing as we set sail to our first stop in the islands. We are so excited to get to know each new shipmate and begin a new adventure!

Meet the Crew

Shona- Skipper and Wilderness EMT

Shona is returning for her seventh summer with ActionQuest and is more excited than ever to return to her second family and the amazing waters of the British Virgin Islands. She graduated in 2013 with a degree in outdoor education and geography. Since then, she has worked in several locations across Europe, applying these skills to promote learning through experiential education. From a young age, she has had a love for the outdoor and all sports, whether that be sailing and kayaking in the summer or snowboarding and mountaineering in the winter. Her goal is to inspire and educate her students in a fun, safe learning environment. Shona holds certifications as an RYA Yachtmaster and Wilderness EMT.

Alexandria- Scuba Diving Instructor

Alexandria grew up in a small town in south Texas, just a quick drive away from the Gulf Coast, where she first realized saltwater ran in her veins. Alexandria graduated from the University of North Texas with a BS in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing. During her studies, her passion for the world and her curiosity for other cultures took her across the ocean to places all over Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Australia. After a few years working in the corporate world, she decided to pack her life into a backpack and start traveling the world full time. It was her time in Australia and Thailand that opened her eyes to the world’s oceans and made her fall in love with scuba diving. She then spent several months on the island of Koh Tao, training with PADI instructors and falling in love with teaching diving. Alexandria describes herself as an overall optimistic and energetic person who you will probably find dancing around trying to bring everyone in on the fun. She is looking forward to her first summer working with ActionQuest.

Robbie- Mate

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.