Alex Blackwell is a lifelong sailor and passionate cruiser. Together with his wife Daria, he has completed three Atlantic crossings (double handed) and has spent years cruising the coasts of North America and Europe, as well as the Bahamas, the Caribbean islands, and the Atlantic islands on their Bowman 57-foot ketch, Aleria. Alex holds a 100 GRT USCG Master’s license with sailing and towing endorsements, he is a certified diver and holds a Master’s degree in marine biology.

Alex is a member of the Irish Cruising Club, the Ocean Cruising Club, Mayo Sailing Club, American Yacht Club, Cruising Association (UK) and the Seven Seas Cruising Association, for which he delivers global seminars/webinars about anchoring and cruising. Alex and Daria are OCC Port Officers for the West of Ireland and the SSCA “cruising station” for Ireland.

Daria Blackwell is a passionate sailor. She holds a USCG OUPV Captain’s license and has spent years perfecting her seamanship skills, including advanced navigation, amateur radio (HAM) operation (KC2KTD), CPR and shipboard medicine, diesel mechanics, weather prediction, and dive certification.

Daria has sailed extensively on Chesapeake Bay, Long Island Sound, New England waters, Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean before sampling the Atlantic Islands and Atlantic coast of Europe.