Melanie earned her US Coast Guard 100 Ton Master Captains’ License before she got her drivers’ license. She grew up living aboard her family’s 47’ GulfStar Sailmaster, cruising up and down the East Coast and through the Bahamas for nearly twenty years. Melanie captained and crewed on various boats while working her way through college, then bought and lived aboard her first sailboat, Short Story, a 1969 Columbia 28, while attending graduate school in North Miami. She’s owned many boats since then. She is also an author (her books include memoirs Boat Girl and Boat Kid), contributor to Cruising World (her Short Story column ran in the magazine from 2006 to 2009) and BoatUS magazines, a freelance editor, and has worked over the years as everything from boat detailer to college professor to educational administrator. Her father, maritime author Tom Neale, instilled in her a love of sailing, writing, perusing boat listings, hard work, and repairing marine diesel engines. Melanie currently cruises the local waters of St. Augustine, FL, on various boats with her daughter, Maryann. She is a solo sailor and full-time single parent. As Employing Broker for Sunshine Cruising Yachts LLC, Melanie is dedicated to building a strong team that embodies integrity and passion for matching people with the right boats.
Marcy was born in upstate New York, then moved to Jacksonville, FL, where she fell in love with the beach and beach life…until Jaws came out and she saw it at the drive-in with her parents. Her childhood took her back the upstate New York, where she grew up a “Lake Girl” boating aboard a 1977 family-owned Bayliner Liberty on Seneca Lake. Summers were spent on Devil’s Lake, in the Frontenac Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada. Her experience then revolved around power boats and canoes, and she was always on the water enjoying the fresh air, exploring, fishing, swimming and basking in the camaraderie that comes with making friends on the water. While gathering drinking water and provisions in Westport, Ontario, on these summer trips, she was always fascinated with the cruisers that were docked on Upper Rideau Lake. Seeing the names and ports of call was always the highlight of these visits to town. Marcy has the sea in her veins, and naturally evolved to enjoy sailing on bluewater cruising boats as an adult.
Marcy holds a BA in Environmental Studies from the University of New York and an MS in Business Management from Northern Illinois University. She worked for 15 years as a Business Engineering Manager for UPS, and 11 years in Finance & Operations in public administration, while raising her two daughters just outside of Chicago. In 2020, Marcy answered the call of the sea and travelled to Florida to be one of the three founders of Sunshine Cruising Yachts—an adventure that has reconnected her with the outdoors and given her a new love and appreciation for the sea and the people who travel it.
She earned the title of “Top Salesperson” for SCY for four years in a row, and continues to be a team leader and integral part of the crew.
She covers all parts of the globe, specializing in Florida, Puerto Rico, & the Caribbean.
Both of her girls have now graduated college, and are excited to visit their mom in Florida and beyond.
Corinna grew up sailing and windsurfing on lakes in Germany. She was part of a local sailing club, racing Optimists and 420s.
When she moved to St. Simons Island, GA, in 2010, she fell in love with the Georgia Coast and boating the local waters. She started off power boating on a Stingray and then getting her ASA license and quickly took the leap to boat ownership. She and her husband bought their first boat, a Catalina 22, moved up to a Pearson 323 and later on an Irwin 38. She was a proud Co-Captain and responsible for a crew of two children and a dog. With many years of taking month-long cruises to the Florida Keys and their big liveaboard trip sailing the Gulf of Mexico, The Keys, Crossing to the Bahamas all the way to George Town and then back to Georgia, Corinna has extensive knowledge of boat ownership and long-term cruising.
She is a Yacht Broker with Sunshine Cruising Yachts covering the Coastal Georgia area. She was the top seller in 2023. Corinna is also licensed & bonded as Florida Yacht & Ship Salesperson and a member of the International Yacht Brokers Association (IYBA).
Her professional career is in Public Relations for technology companies. She also holds her Georgia real estate license with Engel & Völkers. Corinna has worked and lived all over the world including Spain, England and the Philippines. She holds a B.A. and an M.Sc. in International Business Administration.
Based out of Marathon in the Heart of the Florida Keys, Daryl has been sailing all types of boats since he was 6. Yes, that was 51 years ago. He has seen a lot and done a lot. He enjoys sailing, fishing and snorkeling. A pure for love for boats and all things boating, Daryl will bring tremendous amounts of energy and dedication to providing you with the top-notch boat buying or selling that you deserve. He has 4 beautiful granddaughters that he loves with all his might and simply cannot wait for them to get a little bigger so they can all go sailing together. Fun fact - Daryl’s dad, although an excellent captain, was not the best navigator and taught Daryl very early on how to navigate. Right before Daryl took over the duties completely, they were motoring down a narrow canal in south Louisiana with nice houses on both sides. All was going great until all of a sudden, the bow began to rise and rise until it came back down with a mighty splash. Dad had not read his 20-year-old chart (eons before electronic ones) and BAMM they had knocked out the power to dozens or more of expensive homes with families out having their Sunday BBQ’s. Well, they never blinked—they just turned and ran as fast as the little two cylinder would run.
Stephen is a father of 6, grandfather of 14, and great grandfather of 5. He has been around boats all his life, having grown up near the Great South Bay of Long Island, NY. He has been a certified ASA sailing Instructor since 2004. Stephen has owned several sailboats since 1993 and currently lives aboard a beautiful Gulfstar 44.
He’s been living aboard sailboats since 2005, and held a USCG Master, 200 Ton 200 Miles Offshore Captain’s License. He was also a member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary from 1996 to 2003 and was dockmaster of the sailing school where he taught while living in Tom's River, NJ. From 2004 until 2006, he did sailboat chartering in Barnegat Bay, NJ and Biscayne Bay, FL.
Tom grew up sailing and surfing on the NJ shore. His father was a boat builder and his mother a championship racing sailor. Sailing was in his blood and he continues their multi-generational legacy on the water. Tom’s father built his first boat, a 12’ wooden sloop. He still remembers the wonderful sense of freedom at age 5 when his father pushed him off the dock and said “Sail!” Since then, as a licensed Master, Tom has captained a myriad of sail and motor boats, yachts, research and passenger vessels, even a 3-masted sailing mega-yacht. Working on the water has taken Tom up both the East and West coasts of the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. He worked with his father re-building a 1947 Bill Luders 6-Metre before buying a wonderful old Allied Seabreeze yawl. He currently cruises the US East Coast, often single-handing, on a Passport 456.
Tom also spent time ashore in the maritime industry as Executive Director of the U S Marine Safety Association. He served as a delegate to the International Maritime Organization in London for over 20 years, developing requirements for maritime safety, pollution and lifesaving systems aboard ships. He chaired the International Standards Organization Subcommittee on Lifesaving and Fire Protection, is a trained Marine Accident Investigator and credentialled Marine Safety Instructor. Tom’s diverse educational background includes Engineering, Psychology and Music. He holds an MBA and still occasionally lectures on Maritime Policy at Universities in the US and UK
Tom loves helping people find the right boat to match their dream.
"Ben Ward is an experienced yacht broker who also has over 25 years racing and cruising experience, covering thousands of offshore miles with his family. A connoisseur of new and classic bluewater designs, Ben has extensive, hands-on experience outfitting and maintaining full-time cruising yachts. His passion is helping clients of all levels find the right boat for their budget and to live their cruising dreams. If you are looking to sell your boat, he has an extensive network and social media presence to help maximize exposure so your boat sells quickly, at the best price. Ben is available to assist buyers and sellers anywhere on the east coast of the US. You can also check out Ben's sailing website/ blog at www.sailingkoinonia.com."
Dave is a naval architect and marine engineer with years of experience in ship design, construction, and operation. He has about 200k nm of offshore delivery experience and many more miles in inshore waters. His shakedown cruise on his own boat was a transatlantic. Dave greatly enjoys sharing his knowledge to help you sell your boat or find the boat of your dreams. His experience on a very wide range of boats is at your disposal, and delivering boats that have just sold has prepared him to help you sell your boat, and to help you buy one with a minimum of surprises.
