Captain: Paul Hannum

M/Y CynderElla Crew Profiles Winter 2024-2025

Captain Paul Hannum grew up boating with his family in Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay and Mid-Atlantic Coast. A lifetime of boating & fishing has exposed him to beautiful destinations around the world, with the Caribbean being his winter home for the past decade. He has great local knowledge of the areas they cruise and can offer unique itineraries for new and repeat guests alike. As Master aboard M/Y CynderElla, Capt Paul looks forward to sharing his passion for the water with his guests. He promises a First-Class vessel & crew, outstanding locations, and a fun time for all.

Stewardess Brooke Bulas is originally from Michigan but relocated to St Thomas a few years ago. Island life has been good to her but eventually the call of the sea led her to Yachting where her experience in customer relations and hospitality is showcased by her ability to provide exceptional service to onboard guests. Brooke is an award-winning expert mixologist. Her magical concoctions will keep your whistle wet, while her sunny disposition and friendly smile will make you feel right at home.

Stewardess Francis Romero calls Miami home but originally hails from beautiful Venezuela. With a strong background in yachting, hospitality and events planning, Francis’ attention to detail, passion for life & taking care of others makes her the ideal person to ensure those aboard CynderElla have an exceptional experience. Her joyful attitude makes everyone feel welcome and her towel & napkin art will make you smile.

Mate Jack Hannum is from Maryland, just outside of Annapolis. Jack spent his childhood boating and fishing on various vessels such as center consoles, large sportfishing boats and motoryachts on the Mid-Atlantic Coast, Chesapeake Bay, and Palm Beach, Florida. His enthusiastic outgoing personality and attention to detail ensures a wonderful time for all onboard. Jack splits his time yachting in the winter & spring months and charter & tournament fishing in the summer, so there is a good chance guests will be able to catch their dinner! Capt Jack holds a USCG Master License and enjoys sharing his passion for sport fishing and watersports with guests on board.

Chef Patrick Wilson was born and raised in Central Missouri. Growing up, his father was the main cook in the house, so from early childhood he gravitated to the kitchen helping his father prepare meals for the family. At the age of 15 he took his first job in the culinary industry. He worked in a commercial bakery producing artisan breads for restaurants and grocery stores in his community. Realizing from an early age that he had a talent and passion for cooking, he decided to attend Chicago’s Le Cordon Bleu program at The Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago (CHIC). At the age of 19 Patrick took a job at one of Chicago’s most respected Michelin Star rated restaurants called NAHA where he spent 4 years working under local celebrity Chef Carrie Nahabedian. After moving to Portland, Oregon at the age of 24, he quickly gained the title of Executive Chef at one of downtown Portland's most prestigious “wine & dine” restaurants named OLEA. For three years Patrick continued to hone his culinary skills at OLEA while utilizing Oregon's bounty of fresh local and organically sourced ingredients. In 2014 Chef Patrick picked up and moved to St. John in the US Virgin Islands. It was here that he became the Chef de Cuisine at one of St. John’s best-known restaurants La Tapa, a Spanish Caribbean fusion tapas restaurant in Cruz Bay. At La Tapa Patrick learned to utilize local island produce and incorporate traditional Caribbean flavors into his style of cooking. It is from Chef Patrick’s extensive travels throughout Europe and South/Central America that he has developed his unique style of cooking. He loves blending traditional dishes with non-traditional flavors while attempting to maintain the cultural atmosphere of life in the Virgin Islands. Chef Patrick is always excited to share his talents, because for him there is no greater joy than bringing people together around a table to enjoy each other and great food (with a couple of drinks of course).