The Crew 

Yacht Slipstream exists largely due to the vision, commitment and business expertise of entrepreneur and attorney Mr. John Gazzoli, Jr. More significantly, the venture exists as the result of a long term and unlikely friendship between John and Captain Lenny Amato. While the Caribbean charter business has seen as many business failures as it has broken friendships, their combined areas of expertise as well as their commitment to providing exceptional vacation adventures has allowed this team to succeed where countless others have failed. John's interest in yachting is matched only by his passion for fine wines, big cigars, golf, and of course, his family.

Len is originally from Denver Colorado where he worked as a custom builder. The only thing about Denver he misses is the Broncos. Lenny began his diving career in 1990 in Honduras. As a certified master PADI SCUBA instructor and certified cave diver, Lenny has lived and worked in Honduras, Andros, Bahamas, and Roatan. He extensively explored the Blue Hole and cave systems in and around these areas. Lenny has personally certified over 400 SCUBA students and led more than 5,000 dives throughout the Caribbean waters. Lenny holds a 100-ton U.S. Coast Guard master license, FCC Marine Radio license and First aid/CPR Certification. Lenny and his other sailing vessel, Opus, are featured in a new novel titled Still Summer by Jacquelyn Mitchard. In addition, he served two terms as President of The Virgin Island Charter Yacht League. An easy going nature, great sense of humor, and vast knowledge of the Caribbean make Lenny uniquely suited to being your guide on an amazing Caribbean adventure.

Donna brings a unique blend of talents and interests to Yacht Slipstream. She was raised in Philadelphia, became a New Yorker after graduating from Bard College with a dual degree in Political Science and Environmental Science and has explored the Caribbean off and on for 35 years. She fell in love with sailing on her first trip to the Buck Island National Park in the 70's - a trip that inspired her to learn to sail and then crew for a racing team on Lake Ontario. As a Sensory Expert (trained by Sensory Spectrum in New York city) Donna specialized in analyzing flavors, textures and aromas of foods and beverages. She applied that knowledge while working as an events planner and personal chef for over 10 years in the Rochester area. Her cooking style reflects her passion for exotic cultures blending Caribbean, Indian, Thai and Japanese flavors to create a fresh and flavorful culinary experience for guests on Slipstream. Donna studied the martial arts for over 10 years and holds a black belt in the Korean art of Tae Kwon Do. She is an avid hiker and an amateur naturalist who loves exploring the land as well as the sea. Working on Yacht Slipstream has allowed Donna to successfully blend her passions while providing an unforgettable vacation experience for our guests.