Gio is:

Gio is ABYC certified in Marine Diesel Engines and Marine Systems, Yamaha ITOS certified, and a USCG licensed Master with sail endorsement. He’s been working on cars, boats, and houses for decades and previously worked as a fish biologist and motorboat operator instructor for the Department of Interior. He loves a good mechanical or electrical challenge and is a champion spearfisherman. His life goal is to spearfish in every ocean on the planet. Brrr!

At Pelagic Blue, Gio is our vessel systems, fabrication, and maintenance expert. He has a penchant for boat building and is constantly learning about boat design and construction. If you need help learning the care and feeding of your boat’s systems, identifying safety issues, prioritizing refit projects, or how to design robust vessel systems for offshore cruising, Gio is your guy. There’s nothing he loves more than helping boaters and bluewater cruisers alike learn how to take care of their boats!

Julie is:

Julie is ABYC certified in Marine Electrical, Yamaha ITOS certified, a NMEA certified Electronics & Advanced NMEA2000 Installer, and a USCG licensed Master with sailing endorsement. She’s been trying to grow a set of gills her entire life, and has worked as a marine biologist, scuba instructor, and expedition leader. She loves a good electrical or cruising logistics challenge and is an absolute genius when it comes to tracking down the gremlins hiding in your boats electronics networks. Her life goal is to meet every species of whale in every ocean on the planet. There are about 94 currently recognized species and so far she's got 15! 

At Pelagic Blue, Julie is our vessel electronics, training, and logistics planning expert. She is has a knack for marine weather and offshore communications and is constantly learning about new technologies and ways to increase systems redundancy and simplicity. If you need help learning about the care and feeding of your boat’s systems, identifying safety issues, prioritizing refit projects, or how to design robust vessel systems for offshore cruising, Julie is your girl. There’s nothing she excels at more than setting up boaters and bluewater cruisers (especially women!) alike for success. 

John Neal

Since founding Mahina Offshore Services in 1976, John has taught nearly 200 offshore cruising seminars and conducted boat purchase consultations for more than 12,000 people. Since 1989 he has sailed over 400,000 miles and led 274 offshore sail training expeditions worldwide, including rounding Cape Horn six times. John has authored, co-authored, or contributed to seventeen books and more than 150 magazine articles. He currently holds a USCG 100-ton Master and FAA private pilot licenses.

With 50 years of global ocean sailing experience plus boatbuilding, surveying, previously owning a yacht brokerage, and maintaining four ocean cruising boats, John provides an incomparable wealth of ocean cruising knowledge and experience. Much of our training, inspiration, and safety ethos are derived from the exceptional cruising preparation we received from John. We feel extremely fortunate to have John as a mentor and to teach alongside him at his offshore cruising seminars.