Raph started dinghy sailing at a tender age in the UK but it wasn’t until 2012 that his career in sailing was truly launched. He partook in the Oyster World rally that took him from Spain to Thailand, via the gems of the Pacific Ocean. It was this trip that caused him to fall in love with all things Ocean and he promptly obtained his Captain's license. In his time as Captain, he undertook over 100 charters in the very waters that we now operate our trips and he knows the routes like the back of his hand. His knowledge of the locations, the boats, and the crews makes him an invaluable part of the Above Deck team.

Born in coastal Ireland, growing up in the South of England, and spending his Summer months around the UK coastline, it's not a surprise that Ryan has a natural affinity to the Ocean. Ryan's love for sailing really took off in 2016, when he and some University friends started organizing sailing trips around the sunnier climates of the Mediterranean. This escalated quickly, and Ryan co-founded Above Deck in 2017 by organizing charters around the Med, and learning the joys of providing people with a new perspective on holidays. Over 200 charters later, and Ryan is now a well-respected crewed charter broker in both the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Having sailed extensively around both, he now has a unique understanding of what it takes to organize unforgettable group holidays. Since 2017, Ryan has helped shape Above Deck into a successful yacht charter brokerage and charter management company and is always on the lookout for new destinations to take his clients.. and his friends!

Growing up among the mountains and lakes in the resort town of Whitefish, Montana, Jake has always loved the outdoors and being on the water. After graduating university with a business degree, Jake headed for the hustle of New York City for Technology and Operations position. After taking a sailing vacation in the Caribbean, Jake was inspired to continue his passion on the water and he left his desk job behind to pursue sailing full time! Jake has spent the last 5 years in the charter industry, completing over 100 charters captaining yachts through Caribbean and Mediterranean destinations such as the Virgin Islands, Croatia, and Italy. Jake joined Above Deck in early 2024, combining his love of sailing with his technical and business skills to help plan amazing sailing vacations for guests and manage the Clearing House operations. When not sailing, you’ll find Jake exploring new places and cultures, mountain biking, golfing, skiing, and eating as many new foods as he can find along the way.

Hailing from the North of England but London based for almost a decade, Jess has over 8 years experience in digital, web and print design. Her happy place is snorkelling in the Caribbean sea watching turtles eat grass from the ocean floor.

Mackenzie earned her business and marketing degree before trading her small town Montana roots for an array of passport stamps. She's spent time working around the world—managing high-end clientele in Bali, corporate event planning in Australia, and discovering the maritime industry as yacht crew in Croatia and the Virgin Islands. Since then, Mackenzie has combined her love of boat life with her creative business background to join the Above Deck team as Social Media Manager.