Raindancer has prospered over the last few years with two captains: Owner John Whitsett (U.S. Coast Guard # 1132645) and his associate, Kevin Dakin (RYA/MCA 200gt # 32373).
Captain John Whitsett grew up in southern California where he first started sailing as a teenager. After a tour of duty in the Navy, John moved to northern California where he started actively sailing and eventually purchased Stone Boat Yard in Alameda. During this time, the yard built six boats including: one of the last wooden 6-meters and 3 cold-molded yachts including his own racing boat - "Rolling Stone".
Captain Whitsett then left the marine industry to pursue other business opportunities until he was swayed to join a fellow sailor in the restoration of the 103' schooner "Eros". During this reconstruction period, Whitsett located "Raindancer" in Grenada, purchased and started restoring her.
Captain Kevin Dakin grew up in England where he started sailing at the age of 11. While in the Royal Navy, Kevin was selected for the navy's sailing team and participated in such races as the Fastnet, Cowes, RORC series and Round Britain races as well as being a sailing instructor. He then taught sailing for the British Outward Bound program before participating in the 1981 Whitbread Round the World Race. Captain Dakin then went back to "other endeavors" until he was swayed to join a fellow sailor in Antigua, W.I. and eventually sailed down to Grenada.
Whitsett and Dakin met in Grenada during the restoration of Raindancer. Both men, with the help of a boat builder from Trinidad, spent close to a year in rebuilding her. Since this refurbishment the schooner has been sailed in numerous Classic Regattas, as well as carried charter guests and friends between the various islands of the Caribbean, logging more than 6,000 nm since the restoration.