Tim O’Neill has been a surfer and sailor for most of his life, learning to surf and sail at age five. Tim graduated from Soquel High School, and worked at the O’Neill surf shop both during and after his years at Soquel High. Tim started running the original Team O’Neill catamaran when it was launched in 1983. He received his 100 ton skipper’s license in 1992. Tim also serves as President of Team O’Neill and is in charge of the O’Neill fleet. He lives in Santa Cruz with his wife Lisa, sons Riley and Connor, and daughter Bridget.

Steve Spiliotopoulos began working as a deckhand in Santa Barbara in 1993 aboard a dive boat that made regular multi-day trips to the Channel Islands. Working and diving among the Channel Islands allowed him to acquire many skills and knowledge of boats and the marine environment. When he moved back to Santa Cruz in 2000, Steve began working for the O’Neill family. As a store manager in the Santa Cruz Harbor he was able to get to know Tim and Mike and shortly thereafter began working on the catamaran. He has been with Team O’Neill since 2002, holding the position of Senior Deckhand until he was promoted to Captain in 2021 after earning his 50 ton skipper’s license and putting in years of training.

Darci Bogdan was born in Santa Cruz, CA, was raised on a sailboat, and as a teenager, sailed from the west to the east coast of the United States. This upbringing inspired her to pursue a maritime career and she has been working as a captain for a little over a decade. Not only does Darci have a passion for captaining boats, but she also has a degree in Illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design and creates handmade cloisonné jewelry inspired by nature and conservation.

Breanne is a lover of all things ocean-related; when not working on boats she can be found surfing, kayaking, swimming, or just relaxing on the local Santa Cruz beaches. Breanne holds a 100-ton Masters Captains’ license and has an Able Body Special endorsement with the USCG. Growing up on the water, she has made a career of working on a variety of boats in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, Baja, Costa Rica, Panama, and Belize. From heaving lines in the Panama Canal to kayaking glacial fjords, or assisting in leading tours in Magdalena Bay for the annual Gray Whale migration, Breanne has always encouraged people to explore the oceans and waterways around them.

Joey was born and raised in central California. He holds a B.S. in Kinesiology from California State University Monterey Bay with a subdiscipline in outdoor recreation, education and administration. He is an American Canoe Association certified Level 4 Coastal Kayaking Skill Instructor and has over a decade of professional water experience. His connection to the sea was cultivated at a young age, inspiring Joey to pursue a life as involved with the ocean as possible. His infatuation with the sea has led him to introduce and educate the general public about the wonders that have molded his personal connection with our mother ocean. Joey currently resides in Moss Landing on his sailboat with his dog-friend Merle

Anisa attended UC Santa Cruz and graduated in 2020 with a BS in marine biology and an AAUS scientific diver certificate. Since then she has used her degree to teach at the Catalina Island Marine Institute. She always knew that she wanted to pursue a life that revolved around the ocean, and is grateful to be here! In her free time she enjoys hiking, surfing, diving, and keeping busy with crafts. She look forward to watching students have their ‘lightbulb moments’ when learning cool new things about marine life!

Liz is a senior deckhand on the Team O’Neill catamaran after many years with us. She is an avid sailor and in the middle of a journey to learn all things boats. She’s passionate about the stewardship of the land and the ocean!

Katie graduated from UCSC with a B.S in Marine Biology in 2022. While at UCSC, she participated in marine science field research as well as competed on the varsity sailing team. Katie served as the Captain of the Women’s Sailing Team at UCSC and is passionate about promoting equality and diversity in sailing. She has been working as a deckhand at O’Neill Yacht Charters since 2021. She also volunteers with a marine mammal rescue center where she assists with rescuing sick and injured marine mammals. In her free time she loves hiking, surfing, and making art.

Clint began working with O’Neill Yacht Charters in 2023 as Administrative Coordinator. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Clint grew up in Pleasanton before moving to Berkeley & Oakland for a little over 10 years, where he could be close to the ocean and enjoy his free time as a live musician. In 2022, Clint set his sails and relocated to Santa Cruz, where he loves to explore around the endless natural beauty the area offers.