About the Company

North Pacific Expeditions

Captains Aspin & Erik

Owners and Captains Erik and Aspin envisioned a lifelong dream of sharing their passion of sea journeys with others which led to the creation of North Pacific Expeditions.

Erik has spent much of his life on the water where he has learned to listen and feel the nuances of the sea. This ingrained knowledge and experience enables Erik to navigate confidently while his enthusiasm and personable demeanor creates a delightful and inviting atmosphere. While skippering the F/V North American in Prince William Sound for salmon tendering season, he fell in love with the dramatic beauty and diversity of wildlife of Southcentral Alaska and his vision of providing small vessel cruises became a reality.

Aspin hails originally from Telluride, Colorado where growing up in a pristine mountain environment has made her particularly attuned to the specialness of wild places. She has also always felt an affinity for the ocean and its creatures, especially the whales and dolphins. Having both mountains and the sea, Alaska became the perfect magical place for exploration. With a guest services background, Aspin understands the details and needs of what guests desire for an exceptionally wonderful trip.

Erik and Aspin look forward to offering specialty wilderness cruises with North Pacific Expeditions aboard the classic M/V Sea Star.  They hope to exceed your expectations and are excited to share their home away from home.

 

About the Crew

 

Erik Teevin –  Captain and  Ship’s Engineer

Captain Erik – SS Virginia V

Captain Erik Teevin fell in love with the sea when he went on his first sailboat ride at the age of ten in Southern California. He continued to sail after moving to the Seattle area at the age of 13 around the Puget Sound area and greater Pacific Northwest and spent over 10 years racing sailboats.

He also skippers the Fishing Vessel (F/V) North American, a 110 foot Marco built vessel (that was featured on the Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch”) through the Inside Passage, and around the waters of Southeast, Southcentral  and Southwest Alaska.  As well, Erik volunteers his time as captain of the well-known 125 foot wooden Steamship Virginia V built in 1922 (a Seattle and National Historic Landmark) that is the last operational USCG inspected steam-powered, propeller driven vessel on the west coast.

Erik’s knowledge, experience and passion for the sea along with his navigational skills ensures a pleasurable and safe cruise aboard the M/Y Sea Star.  His mechanical and electrical talents ensures that Sea Star is properly prepared and safe for any voyage and that the vessel always meets or exceeds all USCG regulations.

Erik currently holds a US Coast Guard 200 ton Master – Near Coastal Merchant Mariner Credential (license) and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.

 

Tracy Meyer  –  Mate

First Mate and Naturalist Tracy on Sea Star Foredeck

Captain Tracy’s earliest memories include riding the waves on southern California beaches. Loving all things in, on or around the water, Tracy learned to sail and then race sailboats with the University of Washington Navy Sailing team. She then joined the U.S. Navy to become a Surface Warfare Officer, qualifying as an Officer of the Deck to operate larger ships in oceans around the world.  Tracy served for eight years in the Navy, traveling extensively, broadening her skills and always increasing her love for the sea. She finally returned to Seattle after a 15 year absence and is thrilled to be back to sailing the waters of the Pacific Northwest.

Tracy also volunteers as a crew member onboard the Steamship Virginia V.  She currently holds a US Coast Guard 100-ton Master, 200-ton Mate Merchant Mariner Credential (license) and is a certified NOLS Wilderness First Responder and has two Masters degrees.

 

Doug Brusig – Mate

Captain Doug fell in love with sailing during the year of 1982. He started his sea adventure aboard small sail boats racing Santana 20’s, J22’s, Thistles as well as the small Lasers. As the sea grew upon Doug, he later became the sailing instructor for the Neptune Sailing Club in Kirkland, Washington and was known to be called “Spinologist” given his attention to detail and love of trimming and teaching in the art of flying the spinnaker.

As an avid Aerial Helicopter photographer, Doug worked with the local magazine, 48 Degrees North, San Francisco for the Big Boat Series, and in Hawaii for the Kenwood Cup capturing the action photographs of the sailboat races. Doug also has been an active volunteer of the historic Steamship Virginia V for since 2008 making his way from deckhand to captain. It is a great pleasure to have Doug as mate aboard Sea Star during our Inside Passage cruises.

Doug with be assisting North Pacific Expeditions on Sea Star on the Inside Passage journeys.

 

Steve Carter – Chef

Steve’s varied background has brought him across the globe during his time in the Army and his culinary career. Originally from north Idaho, Steve’s hometown environment immersed him in the outdoors. Rugged mountains, deep lakes and flowing rivers were all within walking distance, as well as time in the kitchen with his grandparents. Every fall the freezer was packed with deer and elk meat, and during the summer smoked trout and huckleberries were regularly included on the dinner table as well as fresh vegetables from his grandfather’s garden.

Following high school Steve attended the University of Idaho for civil engineering where upon completion he served in the US Army for five years. Steve spent most of his military career either stationed in Germany, where he often explored other parts of Europe or in Iraq leading soldiers throughout the Baghdad area. The diverse cultures of these places gave Steve a further appreciation for food that he would carry throughout his culinary career.

After completing his military service Steve decided to pursue his passion for food and travel and attended the Art Institute of Seattle where he completed his culinary arts degree and began a career that has taken him across the US. In his ten years of professional cooking Steve has worked in some diverse locations including cruise ships, billion-dollar ski resorts, luxurious oceanfront hotels, private catering and even a commercial fishing vessel on the Bering Sea.

Outside of the summer season in Alaska Steve can be found hunting in the mountains of north Idaho, preparing meals aboard scuba dive vessels in the Caribbean or catering banquets in more remote winter locations.

 

 

Meredith Roberts – Stewardess, Naturalist & Kayak Guide

This is Meredith’s second season as a member of the North Pacific Expeditions team. Meredith has always had an affinity for spending time on the water. In 2019 she drove from her home state of Pennsylvania to Valdez, Alaska to intern for a Sea Kayaking outfit. During this internship she fell so deeply in love with the “Last Frontier,” that she decided to stay.  Since then, Meredith has been working in Alaska’s tourism industry in various capacities and is thrilled to be serving as the Sea Star’s Stewardess, Naturalist and Sea Kayak Guide.

Meredith is a certified Wilderness First Responder, and is currently a student at Alaska Pacific University, gaining a Bachelor of Arts in Outdoor Studies, in addition to actively working towards gaining her US Coast Guard 100GRT Master Mariner Credential.

 

 

Sara Teevin – Deckhand

This is Sara’s fourth year with Sea Star.  Born and raised on the waters of the Pacific Northwest, Sara has always felt a deep love and connection with the ocean. She grew up boating with her family in the San Juan Islands and Puget Sound learning about deck work and navigation. With her interest in marine life and the outdoors, Sara relishes her time working and exploring in Alaskan waters.