MEET OUR CREW
CAPTAIN KEVIN McCARTHY
[Owner; U.S.C.G. 100-Ton Master; Tour Narrator]
Capt. Kevin was born in the coastal town of Gloucester, Massachusetts, and has been involved in boating all of his life. He and his family moved to Fernandina when Kevin was a teenager. The McCarthy family has strong roots here and several successful business enterprises on the island. Kevin was a residential builder for 30 years before he and his wife, Cecilia, decided to launch Amelia River Cruises in the year 2000.
Capt. Kevin is a renowned tour narrator, entertaining passengers with his endless accounts of history and nature, mixed in with colorful tales about local people and personal connections to the island.
Upon the success and excellent reputation of their tour business the McCarthys added a second vessel in 2007. They serve customers year ‘round, along with additional crew members, while overseeing all business operations.
CAPTAIN WILLIE SWEATT
Owner, Unlimited Master Oceans License, 1st Pilot Endorsement
A native son with roots that go deep into local history, Captain Willie is the fourth generation local pilot since the late 1800s. His great-grandfather, Capt. Jones Davis, was a St. Marys pilot from 1890 to 1940, and he is the great nephew of Capt. George Davis, who piloted in Kings Bay and Fernandina in the mid 1900s. Another ancestor brought to this area because of the Maritime Industry on Cumberland Sound in the 1870s include Dr. Theodore Starbuck, who volunteered and joined the U. S. Marine Hospital Service, serving as surgeon in charge of government relief measures, to provide medical care to Fernandina’s Yellow Fever victims in 1877 and establish quarantine hospitals.
Willie graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and spent his active duty years on a variety of ships. His first command was an ocean-going salvage tug. After the Navy he sailed for the Military Sealift Command, and then for civilian companies. His largest command was a supertanker that was 1200 feet long, 229 feet wide, with a draft of 75 feet when loaded. He holds an Unlimited Master Oceans license with endorsement of 1st Class Pilot.
Willie also worked as a pilot for Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base. He piloted the first trident submarine into Cumberland Sound. He is currently the official St. Marys pilot.
He owns a small marina on Amelia Island and has been doing towing and salvage work for boaters in this area.
Willie and his wife Louise have been married for forty years. In leisure time Willie enjoys genealogy, birdwatching, and of course boating.
CECILIA McCARTHY
[Owner; First Mate]
Cecilia and her husband, Kevin, have raised five children in Fernandina Beach, while running their businesses and establishing the first fully-narrated boat tours in the area.
Cecilia was born and raised in Fernandina, and comes from a long line of local shrimpers and lighthouse keepers. The ocean and boating is in her blood, and her seaport background, dating back many generations, adds a rich heritage to the tour business.
Today, in addition to managing office procedures and booking tours, Cecilia serves as First Mate on many of the cruises.
She balances her time with children and grandchildren.
Not surprisingly, Cecilia is also a jogger and occasional marathon runner.
CAPTAIN CHRIS FRENCH
[U.S.C.G. 100-Ton Master; Tour Narrator]
Capt. Chris was born and raised in Fernandina Beach.
He has been a boat captain for seven years and has worked for Amelia River Cruises since day one.
While serving as captain, Chris is also a knowledgeable narrator during some of the cruises. As he weaves in his personal experiences of growing up here, he makes every tour light-hearted and entertaining.
Chris is an avid surfer and can be seen riding the waves when he’s not on the tour boat. He and his wife, also a Fernandina native, are raising their family on the island
ELLYN MORGAN
[First Mate; Tour Narrator]
Ellyn has been First Mate and narrator for Amelia River Cruises since 2002. Her captivating, educational narrations are legendary, illustrating her extensive knowledge and love of the area’s waterways. Her familiarity with the nature and history of Cumberland Island has also put her in demand as a tour guide there.
A Florida native, Ellyn is a devoted lap swimmer. When she's not on the water, she spends time on her artwork. She is also a highly-accomplished artist and sculptor, with works displayed in the White House and in museums. She lives in Fernandina Beach.