Jean Claude is fluent in both
English and
French.
Jean Claude received his
Mechanical Engineering and
Metal Fabrication education in Mauritius, both in school and at the sugar factory he rose through the ranks to lead.
His knowledge of
boats and the sea is founded on tradition, hard work and experience. He grew up on the ocean as a member of a family of "old world"
wooden boat builders.The family built large wooden fishing vessels (100') without the benefit of electric tools or lumber yards. As a child he learned boats, tools, wood & building. He learned how to choose the right tree to fell for the particular purpose at hand. He learned to choose and dig roots for the
boats' frames and
knees. He
planked and
faired and
caulked until the processes were all second nature to him.
Knowing first hand the consequences of "cause and effect" Jean Claude decided to tempt fate and temper his life and skills with adventure. He enlisted in the Merchant Navy and spent two years as a
Navigation Cadet.
Still searching for something....
He built a
gaff rigged cutter; moved on board; left his job at the sugar factory, and sailed away. After lots of fun and many close calls he landed on
Tortola and has been here ever since.
In 1992 Nanny Cay Marina realized that they needed a top notch
repair & restoration shop at the yard. Jean Claude's reputation as a skilled
shipwright had already been established by that time. The marina tapped Jean Claude as a resource - and -
Yacht Restoration Ltd was launched.
For over thirty-six years, Jean Claude has applied his intuitive analytical mind, coupled with his expertise and common sense to the task of transferring vision into reality. He knows boats - bring him your vision and watch him turn it into reality.
Jason Holmes - Shipwright
Born in Malta, Jason grew up in Emswork, England as a
sailor. He received his
shipwright training within the framework of the United Kingdom's educational system. Jason holds exam qualifications at the Marine Builders Training Trust Southhampton. While serving a 5 year apprenticeship with Combs Boatyard, Jason learned all aspects of
boat, ship and yacht construction,
maintenance and repair. He can build it, fix it and sail it. He has been a boat builder for over 22 years and with
Yacht Restoration for the last 6 years.
Leonardo Herrera - Shipwright, Metal Fabricator
Leonardo is fluent in both
English and
Spanish.
Leonardo came to the Virgin Islands as an experienced
mechanic and learned
metal fabrication & welding as an apprentice on the job. He has created the finest custom
arches, bow rollers, rails and
fittings for the customers of Yacht Restoration for over 13 years. He is a artisan as well as a fine craftsman. His work is both aesthetically pleasing and structurally sound. Leonardo creates beauty in simply functional designs.
Aemron Kalipersaud - Shipwright, Mechanic
Aemron was born in Guyana with a wrench in his hand at his father's engine repair shop. (Aemron claims, however that his favorite tools as a toddler were a hammer and chisel) He learned the critical skills associated with
engines under his father's tutelage, but fine tuned his education here on Tortola at the Community College. Aemron is a trained
transmission repair specialist and can fix just about anything- Diesel, gas, four stroke, big, small or in between. Aemron joined the team at Yacht Restoration last year.
Priscilla Simpson - Shipwright, Assistant Manager
Priscilla is a graduate of the
Landing School of Boat Building & Design and holds a BS degree. Her career as a boat builder had very humble origins - she served as a human clamp during the build of a canyak in the early 80's. After graduating from the Landing School she spent 10 years as a
boat repair contractor and had the opportunity to work on the
rebuild of many
classic wooden boats, such as the "William Hand" a 60' motor sailer. She also had the good fortune to work with and learn from a few
Master Builders - Danny Lowell, Phil Shelton, Dave Corcoran. She changed course and moved into a different facet of the boating industry, when she accepted a position at Rockport Marine. For eight years she worked there as their Purchaser, Photographer, Stock Room Manager and anything else that was needed - She was even occasionally a human clamp. Priscilla joined the team at Yacht Restoration last year.
Peter Simpson - Shipwright, Shop Foreman
Peter speaks both
English and
German.
Peter Simpson was destined to work with
boats having grown up on the coast of Maine with a grandfather who was a lobsterman and a home that had saltwater coming to the back door. He learned the care of boats from that grandfather. Later,
electronics and electrical training came from the Marines. After retirement from the service he attended the premier school for the marine trades,
The Landing School of Boat Building and Design.Since 1991 he has worked on many
yachts and historic recreations. Experienced in composite, vacuum bag techniques on
multihulls, coldmolded wood construction and heavy weight, traditional construction for ships such as Lynx, Godspeed and Adventure. He has done
fine joinery for numerous
yachts such as the
W46 class and the 80 ' Zanabe and the 75' Dragonera.
