Captain Richard "Rick" Etsell

Captain Rick Etsell is a capable, experienced, responsible and reliable vessel operator with extensive boating and sailing experience since childhood in the waters of Washington, British Columbia and Alaska. He has owned and operated a large variety of vessels including a 65' classic fantail motor yacht. He is an expert in boat design, construction, and onboard systems as a result of his successful naval architecture career. A graduate of University of Washington with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Captain Etsell obtained his USCG Master's License so that he could spend summers on the water as a captain rather than behind a desk or computer. Captain Etsell holds Red Cross First Aid and CPR certificates. He is very knowledgeable on classic yachts and historic vessels and was featured in the 2004 documentary on classic yachts entitled "Throwbacks" by John Sabella and Associates.

Married and living in Anacortes, Washington north of Seattle, and the father of two adult children, Captain Etsell is responsible for the operation of the MV Olympus and maintains the yacht to the owner's exacting standards.

Captain Etsell will be happy to help you plan the trip of a lifetime aboard MV Olympus.

Chef Richard J. Lawton

Richard James Lawton is an experienced, award winning, world class chef. Educated at the Johnson & Wales College in Providence, Rhode Island, Chef Lawton has been described by such culinary masters as Craig Claiborne as "an exciting new chef who's engaging use of classic and modern culinary ingredients will excite his patrons for years to come." He has been featured in Bon Appetite Magazine while Chef at Barrows House in Dorset, Vermont, and won the prestigious International Yacht Chef's Competition sponsored by the New York Times and Gourmet Magazine.

He has sailed the world on private and corporate yachts including Paul Allen's yachts, and the famous sailing racing schooner "Ashanti of Saba".

Combined with his global approach towards cooking, Chef Lawton's dishes are a synergistic design of flavors presented in harmony with incredible attention to detail. He is solely focused on creating a true culinary experience for guests aboard MV Olympus.

It is our good fortune that Chef Lawton is now living with his wife and daughter in Everett, Washington and his roles as husband and father now prevent him from sailing the world on an annual basis. He is an experienced yachtsman, and is passionate about classic wooden vessels.

Chef Lawton will suggest fabulous menus based on your tastes and preferences and his extensive wine and spirits knowledge provides Olympus guests with a delightful dining experience.

Chef Lawton was recently featured in the on line publication Three Sheets Northwest. Click here to read the article.

Steve Full, First Mate

Our energetic deckhand, Steve Full, was born in Yarmouth Maine to a Master Mariner father who spent his career as an oil tanker captain. His grandfather is a marine surveyor and still surveys wooden boats.

Steve is an athlete, having attended two private prep schools where he excelled in basketball and crew. He was recruited to row at University of Washington, where he rowed for four years and assisted the team with winning two national championships including the Varsity Men's National Championship in 2007. He is working as a rowing coach at UW in addition to his duties aboard Olympus. His interests include sports nutrition, marketing and obviously sports and wooden boats!

Porter/Steward

Your Olympus Porter/Steward changes each summer. This crew member has responsibility for maintenance of the yacht's interiors, stateroom and head preparation and cleaning, and serving the chef's fabulous cuisine. In addition, the Porter/Steward serves as your bartender. This crew member is carefully selected by the yacht's owners each year with an emphasis on customer service skills.