Captain Jan Miles

Captain Miles joined Pride, Inc. in 1981 and was one of three rotating Captains on the original Pride of Baltimore.  He is a tall ship master with more than 35 years of experience as a professional sailer, which includes five Atlantic Ocean crossing as well as three Pacific voyages of 5,000 miles, each taking about 25 days.  Captain Miles holds a USCG 500 Ocean Master License for Power and Sail, as well as numerous other certifications.

Prior to joining Pride, Inc., Captain Miles serves as master or mate aboard 15 vessels, including Lady Maryland, Californian, Bill of Rights, New Way, Alexandria, Brillirant and Clearwater.  Along the way he also helped develop model saling programs for youth at risk.

His accomplishments and contributions to the tall ship sailing profession have been recognized both within and outside of the maritime community.  He was named Marylander o the Year by the Colonial Society of Maryland in 2001, Sail Trainer of the Year by the American Sail Training Association (ASTA) in 2001. 

Jamie Trost, Captain

Jamie Trost returns to Pride of Baltimore II in the role of Captain after having served as Second and then Chief Mate during Pride II's 2005-2006 European Voyage and the re-rigging in France after Pride II was dismasted. Captain Trost began sailing small boats at an early age, and has been working aboard and commanding traditional vessels for ten years.  No stranger to the Chesapeake Bay, he was Captain of the Schooner Sultana out of Chestertown, Maryland for nearly three years. He also served as master of the Schooners Denis Sullivan, Wendameen and Bagheera, and as mate of the Schooners Amistad and Inland Seas, and the Brig Niagara. Captain Trost holds a 200 Ton USCG Masters License and other certifications.

In addition to his maritime experience, Captain Trost has a Bachelors Degree in Creative Writing from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, where he was Captain of the Crew team. His writing and photographs have been published in Time Asia, Sailing and Chesapeake Bay Magazine. He also speaks Japanese, having taught English in small farming town of Bisei-Cho in Okayama Prefecture.

Mike Fiorentino, First Mate

Mike has been with Pride II since August 2006 and has served as deckhand, bosun, winter maintenance crew and carpenter.  Mike’s interest in sailing developed during his time as volunteer at the South Street Seaport Museum in New York City, where he had the opportunity to serve as a member of the relief crew aboard Pioneer, volunteer crew aboard Lettie G. Howard, and maintenance crew for the tug W.O. Decker.  Michael also spent time as a volunteer boat builder for a non-profit education program.  Michael earned a B.F.A. from New York University Tische School for the Arts.

Dave Castle, Second Mate

Dave first sailed Pride II as deckhand on the ship’s 2005 European Tour.  He returns this season as Second Mate, after spending the 2007 season aboard Niagara, Liberty and Westward.  Dave brings with him experience on a number of other sailings vessels, including the Schooner Sultana, where he held a variety of duties including deckhand, educator and second mate.  He is a fourth generation sailor who grew up sailing small boats on Lake Ontario.  Dave earned a BS in Engineering from Bucknell University. 

Daniel Armstrong, Engineer

Daniel joins Pride II for the 2008 season as a Engineer.  Daniels introduction to boating was working on a D.C tour boat.  Hooked by the experience, he quickly moved on to hone his skills on sailing vessels, including HMS Bounty, Adventuress and Schooner Virginia.  Daniel holds a B.A. from Kentucky State University.

Jim Vernyi, Cook

Jim comes to Pride II with 20 years of experience in the ship’s galley.  He has been cook aboard a variety of fishing and sailing vessels, including Clipper City, Mystic Clipper, Lady Maryland, Ocean Star, Spirit of Massachusetts, numerous ocean research vessels, and most recently, Mystic Whaler.  A native of the Great Lakes region, this season will be Jim’s first experience sailing in his home waters; something is very much looking forward to. 

Matt Mueller, Bosun

Matt is sailing with Pride II as ship’s bosun.  Matt has been sailing for the past five years, getting his start aboard the Kalmar Nyckel, where he discovered his passion for traditional vessels.  He has also sailed aboard the schooners Westward and Bowdoin.  Matt is currently attending the Maine Maritime Academy where he is studying small vessel operations, with a concentration in Sail Training.  Matt also holds several certifications and is a licensed U.S. Merchant Marine Officer.

Michelle Belfield, Deckhand

Michelle is a native of Baltimore and joins Pride II as a deckhand for the 2008 season. Michelle spent a summer working with the Living Classrooms Foundation as an educator aboard the skipjack Sigsbee, opening her eyes to the world of teaching and sailing.  She participated in a SEA semester studying oceanography and nautical science, before joining the SSV Robert C. Seamans.  Michelle is studying Fine Arts and Photography at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

Peter Flint, Deckhand

Peter joins Pride II as a deckhand for the 2008 season and brings with him two years of professional sailing experience.  He spent last fall sailing as deckhand in Europe aboard the H.M.S. Bounty.  Prior to that he served as a deckhand aboard the Schooner Timberwind, where he sailed throughout Penobscot Bay.  He also served as a trainee aboard the Ocean Star sailing in the Lesser Antilles.  Peter is a graduate of Rhodes College where he earned a B.A. in Philosophy with a minor in Education.

Mackenzie Haberman, Deckhand

Mackenzie is a newcomer to Pride II’s crew.  After spending a SEA semester aboard the Corwith Cramer she was hooked on sailing.  Most recently she worked aboard the Seaward as a deckhand/educator/purser/safety office.  Aside from getting acquainted with Pride II’s decks and learning more about engineering and bosunry, Mackenzie is looking forward to firing Pride II’s cannon.  Mackenzie earned a B.A. in Environmental Science from Barnard College, Columbia University.

Armand Hitchings, Deckhand

Spring 2008 will be Armand’s first experience as a member of Pride II’s crew.  Originally from Maine, Armand spent a lot of time on boats while growing up, and after high school it became his passion.  His first crew position with a sailing vessel was aboard the Margaret Todd.  From there he gained experience aboard the HMS Bounty, and most recently on the Schooner Heritage.  Armand bring his seamanship abilities and desire to learn and hone his skills to Pride II.

Shevawn Innes, Deckhand

Shevawn joins Pride II´s Spring 2008 crew as a deckhand.  Shevawn began working on sailing vessels two years ago.  Her experience includes deckhand/first mate aboard the Schooner Mary E; senior deckhand aboard the Schooner Appledor II, during which she sailed to/from Key West to Maine, and most recently aboard the Schooner Hindu, where she spend the winter season sailing as first mate/deckhand in Key West.  Shevawn is a native of Michigan and is excited to be sailing in her home waters this summer. 

Meredith McKinnon, Deckhand

Meredith rejoins Pride II for a second sailing season – she spent the summer of 2007 sailing with Pride II up Atlantic East Coast.  Hailing from Ottawa, Canada, she has been sailing since she was 14 years old.  Her interest in tallships began when she worked aboard two Canadian brigantines – Fair Jeanne and Black Jack.  Prior to joining Pride II, Meredith worked as an intern with the American Sail Training Association (ASTA), and as a trainee aboard the U.S. Brig Niagara.