Meet the crew!
This is us
The regular crew at On Watch Sailing. Take a moment to meet us!
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Captain Green
Owner On Watch Sailing and Lyra
Discover Newport and the surrounding area with Captain Green. Whether in search of a lazy sail, historic tour information, stunning photography, or advanced sailing instruction, Green will make sure that you get the most out of your experience. With a perfect safety record and a lifetime of sailing experience, you and your party will be in safe hands. Green is also a writer for marine publications such as Cruising World magazine.
Captain Green has been sailing the waters in and around Newport, RI, since 2005. Since then, he has professionally sailed a variety of vessels, both for charter and private. He has sailed across the Atlantic ocean, between Newport and the Caribbean - and portions of the Pacific side of Central America.
Green grew up living aboard a 29-foot wooden boat with his parents and brother along the East Coast of the USA. He has a degree in business administration from the University of Central FL and was deep in the information systems world when he and his wife, Jen, decided to purchase an old 32-foot sailboat. After restoring Egret, they cruised the boat from Florida through the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos to the Dominican Republic. They had so much fun that they purchased Lyra in 2008 with the eventual goal of sharing their experiences with their family.
Indeed, leaving in the autumns of 2013 and 2016, Green, Jen and two daughters sailed south to do exactly that, eventually ending up in the Bahamas, returning to Newport for the summer sailing season.
Currently Communications Manager at Sailors for the Sea, Green's wife Jen was Senior Editor at Cruising World magazine for nearly 10 years, where Captain Green is a regular contributor. They have two children and lived aboard full time for nine and one-half years. You can read about their experiences and how-to articles at Cruising World's website by searching for Green Brett or Jen Brett.
Captain Sam
Owner and operator of Wren
Sam has sailed in Newport in a professional capacity since 2017. He decided to move from captaining larger vessels to his own when he acquired Wren in February of 2021. Sam and Wren had a fantastic seasons in 2021 - 2022 and are back for more!
Sam loves dogs, cycling, sailing, and travel. He's an accomplished shipwright, IYRS graduate, and worked for a time on the massive Coronet project. He is recently engaged.
Captain Jack
On Watch Captain
A Rhode Island native, Jack grew up exploring the waters of the Narragansett Bay. He discovered sailing when he moved to Newport nearly 10 years ago and hasn’t stopped. His sailing adventures have also taken him beyond the Bay, with trips to Nantucket, Bermuda, and Antigua on his roster.
When he’s not sailing, you can still find him outside whether that’s surfing, hiking, or in his garden growing his own food and foraging wild mushrooms. There’s also a good chance he’ll be catching live music, around town or on the road. He’s spent many winters backpacking all over the world—he’s got more travel stories than Walt Disney, just ask him! You’re sure to laugh a lot on any trip with Captain Jack.
Simon
Crew
Simon has grown up in Newport, on and around the water. As an avid cameraman, Simon has interned with a well known maritime photographer (have him take some photos and video while you're aboard). Simon is also rows and swims competitively. Having spent time aboard Lyra in past years, he looks forward to crewing the 2023 season.
Captain Emma
On Watch Captain
A gifted sailor and writer, Emma has made the sea her life. She has double handed a small engineless sailboat across the Pacific Ocean, crewed and mated aboard tall ships. In 2021 she captained her own sailboat, Alacrity, from Jamaica to New England. She has spent the last year as mate aboard the storied Spirit of Bermuda. Emma captained Lyra in 2020-21 and is back for more in 2023.
Ask Emma about her first experience aboard Lyra, it's not what you'd think!
Emma has given Alacrity a thorough refit and has sailed her to Ireland in 2024. She is on track to sail far, far away - but she keeps turning up at On Watch, so we keep her on the roster!