Zingara
Crew profile

The crew of Zingara offer a polished and luxury experience for all their guests. They look forward to having you aboard and showcasing this beautiful part of the world to you and your family and friends.

Captain: Lee Adams
Lee grew up on the peninsula of Cape Town, South Africa. As a youngster and under the guidance of his Grandfather, Admiral Tom Hardiman SA Navy, he was introduced to sailing and racing in the Bay. His maiden voyage and ocean crossing from Cape Town to Antigua was aboard a racing sloop back in 1999. After several local regattas in the Carib, he was invited aboard the classic Schooner, The Tree of Life (with 8 manual sails). After an initial circumnavigation aboard, he took over as Captain.

Lee has explored and lived in the Caribbean for more than 10 years and is a long time resident in the Lesser Antilles. His local knowledge is a key component for any successful holiday where the Captain must find the best hidden locations, crystal clear dive sites and dodge any weather.

Lee’s qualities as a person are special. The atmosphere onboard is perfectly balanced and maintained, and with his unique skillset, adventure is always on hand.

Lee is an active and enthusiastic person, he enjoys all water sports. The experiences he has gained through his travels along with a jovial personality creates a pleasant atmosphere which is enough to make any guest aboard feel right at home, ready to relax and enjoy themselves.

Chef: Ed Stacey
Ed is back aboard and more determined than ever to tantalize your taste buds! Ed has amassed a lifetime’s worth of culinary knowledge and expertise from a broad spectrum of hospitality settings, including private households, Michelin-star and AA Rosette fine-dining restaurants, luxury wedding and banqueting venues as well award-winning gastropubs. Prior to becoming a chef, he worked in sales and marketing in the UK, where he was born and raised. In 2005, he moved to Sweden where he worked as a translator. But, his passion was cooking and after the birth of his son, Ed decided to retrain as a professional chef, graduating from the highly-acclaimed Ashburton Chefs Academy with distinction in every one of the assessment categories. He continues to improve and embellish his culinary repertoire and is excited about welcoming guests aboard and treating them to mouthwatering dishes inspired by flavors from across the world.

Deckhand & Dive Instructor: Reece Hayward
Reece joins Zingara in the role of deckhand/dive instructor, adding his extensive diving experience and knowledge of the BVI to the team. His dedication to safety in and out of the water is paramount, whilst offering instruction for all skill levels. Reece is actively involved in marine conservation efforts, volunteering with Beyond The Reef (BTR) in the British Virgin Islands. He is certified to treat corals affected by Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) and has contributed to cetacean research surveys and shark tagging projects. Reece looks forward to sharing his passion for the ocean with guests aboard.

Stewardess & Dive Instructor: Margret Church
Margret not only serves as stewardess aboard but she is also a qualified dive instructor, ready to join in your underwater adventures. Her involvement in marine conservation projects and initiatives in the BVI is a passion of hers, combined with a lifelong love for the ocean, she is now able to share her knowledge with guests who would like to learn more. She met Reece on the east coast of Africa, whilst they were both completing their PADI scuba instructor and freediving instructor courses. Since then, they have been traveling and exploring together and they cannot wait to show you the BVI’s secret spots.