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 | | Captain: Ken Bracewell | Nationality: American | | Number of Crew 8 | | Crew Profiles:
Please meet the crew!
RENA is crewed by an outstanding and experienced team who love to treat their guests to a memorable time on board. One of their favorite surprises is theme nights, complete with costumes and delicious food.
Captain Ken Bracewell
Along with his extensive experience and attention to detail, Ken also offers his fun-loving attitude and hospitable midwestern demeanor to his guests aboard RENA. Whether you are looking for a private family getaway on the most secluded of beaches, or an action-packed adventure complete with theme nights, treasure hunts, and live music, Ken is sure to lead you on a custom-tailored charter during which you will be treated with the utmost care and hospitality.
Ken’s love of being on the water has been nurtured since a very young age when he began working as a crew member aboard one of his family’s cruise boats on the Great Lakes. While working for his father, he was placed in every department of the business and learned everything from catering to engineering and customer service.
Ken took a brief sabbatical from the maritime industry to study physics at Eastern Michigan University before being lured back to a career in yachting. Ken’s first command was in 1995 at the age of 23 when he oversaw the construction of an 80-foot yacht in Italy and subsequently cruised the Mediterranean and delivered it to the United States.
Ken holds a U.S. Coast Guard 1600/3000-ton license and is a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver. He also holds many other certificates in diesel engineering as well as a U.S. Coast Guard certification as Medical First Aid Provider.
Chef Peter Ziegelmeier
Peter is a versatile chef with a creative energy unlike anything you have ever seen before. Having roots in an Italian-German family the love of food came early on. Graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, studying under 10 master chefs (only 50 in the world), and having a whirlwind career in restaurants, private residence, catering, charter and private yachts, and casino cuisine, he comes to the RENA with a refreshing attitude and passion for what he does best. Special dietary requests are no problem, for service is equally important as excellent cuisine. Happy and smiling you will find Peter in the galley preparing tempting tasties and treats to make your chartering experience that of a lifetime.
First Officer Brendan Roney
Brendan hails from Allentown, Pennsylvania. His enthusiasm and love for the sea brought him to South Florida eight years ago as marketing director for a brokerage and charter company after he earned a BA in Business Administration and Marketing from Duquesne University.
In 2000 he traded his briefcase for a chamois and began a diverse and extensive yachting career. His experiences include a transatlantic passage and cruising the United States’ East and West coasts, the Caribbean, and the Bahamas. He currently holds a U.S. Coast Guard Master 200-ton license, U.S. Coast Guard Engineering and Medical certifications, and is a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver.
Brendan enjoys all water sports and traveling. You will find that he can and will do anything to make your charter experience the best ever!
Chief Engineer Dan Fox
Dan Fox grew up fishing, crabbing and clamming, water skiing, snorkeling and diving on the water among the bays and “creeks” of Long Island’s south shore. Anything related to the water was what Dan lived for. His early passion for the sea naturally lead to a career in the US Navy, where Dan was trained as a communications specialist.
After spending 8 years in the Navy Dan was issued an honorable discharge and various decorations, including the U.S. Humanitarian Medal which was given for his efforts in securing the safe rescue and evacuation of Vietnamese refugees from the South China Sea.
Dan then pursued further technical education as a civilian, earning a degree in electronics and computer science. Dan’s interest in technology also gained him experience in the field of bio- medical science working in the New York Area Hospitals as well as for manufacturers of bio-medical equipment.
Moving to Florida in the mid 1980’s opened up more opportunities and it wasn’t long before Dan found himself working as a marine electrician and electronics installer. This led to an offer of a crew position aboard a yacht and Dan was again drawn back to the sea. Using both Naval and civilian experience Dan quickly progressed and was promoted from deckhand through the ranks until becoming Chief Engineer.
In addition to his engineering expertise, Dan has a strong interest in SCUBA which drove him to become a PADI Medic/Rescue Diver as well as a bona-fide treasure hunter. Dan has been involved with projects which have located “heavily laden” Spanish treasure wrecks. His interest in the history and lore of the great ships of sail, as well as underwater archaeology continues to this day.
Chief Stewardess Angela Rose
Angela was born and raised in Sydney Australia. After working as an Environmental Health Officer for several years, Angela’s passion for travel and discovering the world lead her to the yachting industry. In 2004 she headed to Mallorca, Spain in order to pursue a career as a stewardess. Since that time Angela has learned from the best while working her way through the ranks on several charter yachts, including M/Y Fantasy, M/Y Polycarpus, M/Y Helios and M/Y Lady Joy.
Angela holds a great enthusiasm for theme parties and decoration. With her keen eye for detail and always-pleasant disposition, Angela will ensure that a vacation onboard the RENA is both entertaining and fun filled; creating memories that will last forever.
Second Stewardess Shade Epes
Growing up in Arkansas, Shade was very social and always had a love for the water. She graduated from the University of Mississippi with a BA in Leisure Management. For her internship, she helped run children's camps which led her to a career in teaching. Shade returned to school to get her teaching certificate and taught Prekindergarten for five years. She has a gentle kindness that allows her to work well with children, as well as, adults.
Shade's love of the water, entertaining and meeting new people led her to a new career in yachting. She has worked on the RENA for two years and has enjoyed being a part of the tight knit family. It brings her joy to see the guests smiling and laughing as they engage in new experiences aboard the RENA.
Stewardess Kathleen Maynard
Katie was born within sight of the Rocky Mountains and grew up in the western suburbs of Denver. She was a star athlete in middle school and high school, playing softball, basketball, and volleyball. After high school she went to work in the Colorado ski industry, co-managing a ski/windsurfing shop where she got to play with all kinds of fun toys ranging from the latest in ski gear to the coolest in new windsurfing stuff. While working at the ski shop she began teaching windsurfing lessons and discovered her passion for the water. Katie began working at the famous mud hole “Boulder Reservoir”, where she helped to establish their windsurfing program with kids camps, private lessons, and group lessons. She recently moved to Florida where she discovered the yachting industry, met the crew of the RENA and became friends with the whole gang. She was invited along to help out on a few trips and was hooked. Her passion for making the guests feel comfortable and relaxed will help make your vacation an experience to remember. She has completed her STCW-95 safety training as well as American yacht institutes crew certification program (Deckhand 101 and Stewardess master-class).
Deckhand David Zahn
Dave, who happens to be a Louisiana State certified mixologist, will cheerfully help make your charter a memorable experience. He began his life on the water at the age of six in a small flats boat fishing and exploring the wetlands of southeast Louisiana. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton license and is also a U.S. Sailing certified Level I Instructor. Before becoming a yachting professional, he sailed his way into five national championships in three one-design classes. During that time he was also a New Orleans tour guide, and spent three years as a cook for a large catering company before becoming hospitality manager for a 5000-seat convention services facility.
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