
The Best Odyssey
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The Best Boat Trip

Our First Epic

Read about the sailing adventures of Gavin and his crew over the past 7 years in the Captain's Logs.
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The Best Odyssey Yacht Share, Dream to Reality:
By: Gavin McClurg, CEO and Captain
The blueprint for Offshore Odysseys started in 1998 when we went offshore for the first time. Over the next 7 years we sailed half way around the world, over 45,000 blue water miles. Our clients loved our trips, we learned what works and what doesn't at sea, and we had some amazing, life changing adventures. I haven't drafted a balance sheet since business school, but I've learned to hold my breath to hunt for fish and lobster, sail a boat safely in violent weather, use the stars for navigation and the sun to gauge the time. Though I didn't realize it at the time, those past voyages were more than an education, they were the foundation for an extraordinary future journey.
That journey is The Best Odyssey. We've taken what works, thrown out what doesn't, added everything we
would want to make for an expedition that is as close to perfect as we can create for our owner's,
for our sponsors, and our crew. Kitesurfing expeditions to the last frontiers on earth;
spearfishing and surfing adventures that no magazine has ever published; sailing itineraries the
cruising guides could never envision.
My goal in life is to live from one series of moments to another. To stay out of the future and stay
out of the past, and concentrate on the NOW.
We want to spend time and create trips with people who are as passionate about exploration and
enjoying life as we are.
Other than sailing, my hobbies and passions include spearfishing and freediving, kiteboarding,
climbing, surfing and paragliding, cooking, reading, writing and planning incredible trips. I'm passionate
about protecting the environment and always seek ways of contributing positively to the
places we visit. I grew up in
Lake Tahoe, Nevada and spent my youth ski racing before getting an international business
degree at the University of Colorado.
I have the following licenses and training's: USCG 100
tonne Master Captain's License. New Zealand Launch
Master. Wilderness First Aid Responder, Swiftwater
Rescue Technician, Celestial Navigation, CPR, First Aid.
Alpine Intensive, River Intensive, Alpine Site
Management, and River Site Management training's
for Outward Bound, who I instructed for for three seasons.
Jody MacDonald grew up in Saudi Arabia to
Canadian parents, the youngest of four children. She's traveled the world and excels in any sport she's ever tried (tame sports
like
paragliding, snowboarding, kiteboarding, skateboarding...) and has become indispensible as a fine First Mate. Jody worked
for several years as a photography editor for MEC, a prominent Canadian outdoor gear supplier and is an exceptional
photographer
herself. She is photodocumenting our journey and is our full-time onboard photographer. She's recently been published in Outside Go, Kiteboarding, Kiteboarder, Cruising World, Kiteworld and others.
The Best Odyssey is as much a culinary experience as a kiteboarding/surfing/diving/sailing expedition. We take food very seriously and our new chefs, Hannah Grant and Lars Williams are personifications of the finest in dining. With backgrounds in ethnic cuisines from around the world, exerience in 3 Michelin star restaurants, and an absolute passion for food and experimentation, our new chef team is truly world class (they met working at the world's 2nd highest rated restaurant, the Fat Duck, in the UK!). Never has expedition style travel been so tasty! -- Gavin McClurg
Joaquin Hubbard was born in Santa Cruz, CA to parents that were heavily involved in the sail boat
building and racing industry. He grew up spending everyday on or in the water, sailing everything
from Lasers to legendary boats like the Merlin. Joaquin has an abundance of ocean sailing experience,
including Olympic campaigns, One Design racing, ultra lights/maxi racing, and an Americas Cup Campaign
with Oracle. Through the years he has worked as a sail rigger, marine diesel mechanic, marine welder,
and delivery boat skipper crossing the Pacific, Atlantic, and into Central America.
A Firefighter/EMT (emergency medical technician) for 12 years, Joaquin now works for the Seattle
Fire Department. He has numerous certifications in emergency medicine, fire/rescue and people
management. He has taken classes specifically oriented to sea going and wilderness emergencies.
Joaquin is an avid recreational diver, is a member of a dive rescue team, and naturally- is an
awesome kiteboarder!
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The intensity of the chef position demands excellence, and our relief chef fills the role about as perfectly
as we could hope for. Katie Clack has her own catering business in Seattle, is currently studying for
her masters in nutrition, co-owns Seattle Kiteboarding Center with her husband Jason, is a seasoned
kiteboarding instructor and enthusiast and also enjoys snowboarding, scuba diving, triathlons, surfing
and playing guitar.
We welcome Katie to our great team.
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