Meet Our Crew

JENNIFER HANNA

Captain

Jennifer Hanna has cruised the waters of Puget Sound to Alaska all of her life. Her precise navigational skills and expert knowledge of seamanship are considered exceptional in the maritime industry. She has spent her life sailing the Pacific coast from Alaska to southern Mexico. Jennifer also has a Master’s of Education degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, both from Western Washington University. She has recently retired from teaching elementary and middle school in the Bellingham area. Her love of the sea is reflected in her many interests which include fishing, swimming, water skiing, sailing, snorkeling, surfing, and snowboarding. Jennifer is also a PADI Certified Scuba Diver, a Certified Nursing Assistant, and is one of Jamal’s CPR-First Aid certified crew members.

LENORE NOLAN-RYAN

Chef

Food artist, caterer, chef, cooking teacher, and event planner, Lenore Nolan-Ryan returns to the Jamal every summer after wintering in South Florida. A former San Francisco restaurateur with 20 years of experience in the service industry makes her an ideal chef and hostess capable of accommodating guests with the most sophisticated palates and discriminating dietary requirements. As a member of the International Association of Cooking Professionals, she travels coast to coast with her catering company and cooking school delighting all with her vivacious nature and seemingly effortless culinary expertise. Visit her website here.

CORINNE KOCHER

Chef

Corinne Kocher discovered her love of cooking when she was in her teens. Later, she went on to manage the catering departments for a number of upscale hotels including the Playboy Resort and Country Club in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, the Doubletree Hotel in Seattle and the Seattle Sheraton Hotel. Moving on to the challenge of owning her own restaurant, Corinne gained extensive experience in restaurant operations. It was here that Corinne decided that catering and cooking classes were her passion. Corinne has been the Culinary Curriculum Director for Sur La Table’s numerous cooking school programs across the country (42 cooking schools), and has recently opened her own UnWined Cooking School in Kent, Washington. When cruising on the Jamal, she takes pleasure in delighting guests with her extensive seasonal menus, utilizing the finest and freshest ingredients available in the Pacific Northwest.

KRISTEN FISHER

Chef and First Mate

Kristen Fisher began her culinary career at an early age, with candy making and cake decorating. That led her to study chocolate science, deliciously flavorful low sodium and soy free and vegan cooking, along with gluten-free baking. For the past 10 years she has successfully maintained a local family owned bakery, perfecting a magnitude of unique sweet and savory recipes. Running a booth at the farmers market for over 15 years, Kristen continues to have access to a wide variety of fresh local organic ingredients. Her cooking is inspired by what can be freshly harvested, satisfying specific dietary needs. Her dishes change with the availability of seasonal produce and seafoods. Kristen has sailed along the Pacific Coast for over 20 years. She has cruised from Florida to the Bahamas and through the Gulf Stream. Her experience upon the high seas is extensive. She has earned credentials from the United States Coast Guard including the STCW. She is one of Jamal’s CPR First Aid certified crew members. Kristen is also well versed in engine room maintenance, plumbing, rigging, along with the intricate systems of a vessel. Her well-rounded experiences has made Kristen a valuable asset to the Jamal.

GABRIELLA BOTTERILL

Crew

As a Colorado native, Gabriella longed to live near the ocean her whole life. Her dreams became reality in 2016 when she moved to the west coast. Not long after, she discovered sailing on Orcas Island and it was love at first sight. Getting Gabriella off the water has been impossible ever since! She has sailed in Mexico, the Caribbean, and right here in the Salish Sea. She wishes to continue growing in the yacht and charter industry and so far her credentials include; RYA Coastal Skipper, STCW, First Aid, and Marine Radio Short Range Certificate. She is a proficient deckhand and stewardess and is working towards a captain position as well as furthering her engineering skills. Gabriella hopes to one day own her own boat and travel the seven seas with it. Until then, she goes wherever the wind takes her. This year the wind brought her to Jamal to be Captain Jennifer Hanna’s apprentice.

BAILEY SANDE

Stewardess Mate

Bailey has lived in the Pacific Northwest for the past eight years and has grown to love it more with each passing year. Sailing has been a passion of hers since she arrived in Washington and she has deep respect and a curiosity for life in and on the water. Bailey has worked in New York City and Los Angeles in the high-end service industry, catering to celebrities and city locals alike, making everyone feel seen, appreciated, and special. She also has experience working for two local boatyards here in Bellingham, both as an office administrator and detailing yachts for local charter companies. Bailey is quite familiar with sailing and power vessels. The Jamal feels like home to her. She is a bubbly, hardworking crew member. Bailey is currently working toward her degree in Business Management at Bellingham Technical College with aspirations to grow a business of her own someday. Being on the water satisfies her spirit for adventure and brings her peace of mind. The Salish Sea is her chosen home!

Maria Sanford

Crew

Maria has lived in Pacific Northwest Washington all her life. Being on the water started at a young age cruising with her family throughout the San Juan Islands. She loves crabbing, shrimping and camping out in the islands. Currently, Maria and her husband are outfitting their sailboat for extensive offshore cruising. When on land, Maria loves hiking, trail running, camping, and road tripping. Some of her passions are baking, woodworking, and cultivating flower gardens for her bouquet stand. Maria is also a certified Wilderness First Responder and is certified in CPR and First Aid. With almost 20 years of guest service experience, she is an expert asset in curating memorable experiences for all. Maria is very excited being a Jamal crew member, sharing her love of boating in the Pacific Northwest with each guest.

Beaux Loftis

Crew

Beaux has lived and explored the Pacific Northwest most of her life. Growing up in the foothills of Mount Rainier, the land, and its waters have always been a passion, propelling her thirst for adventure. Beaux spent eight years working in broadcast television in Seattle, Washington and Bozeman, Montana. This experience has shaped her into a talented multitasker with a unique menagerie of refined skills. Throughout her career, Beaux has worn many hats and continues to cater to high priority clients. Her vast experiences in a multitude of service industries is shown through her love for people and her drive to exceed our guests’ expectations and needs. Beaux is a devoted filmmaker, kayaker, hiker, and friend; she strives to share the wonders of the water, the culture of the area, and the ecology of the Pacific Northwest with all aboard the Jamal.

Sara Slone

Chef

Sara Slone has had a strong passion for the culinary arts all of her life. She began catering private events in 2015, and has been baking and decorating delectably unique wedding cakes for the past several years. Chef Sara’s cooking is inspired by fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients. All the dishes she prepares shift to highlight the best that season has to offer. Sara has cruised onboard the Jamal throughout the Pacific Northwest and the Mexican Riviera beginning in the late 1990s. She has been in the galley with some of the best yacht chefs in the maritime industry. Sara continues attending graduate school at Western Washington University and maintains, “It’s a complete pleasure to share my culinary artistry again this summer aboard the Jamal for all to appreciate fine fabulous foods!”