Freedom and Her Crew
Schooner Freedom under full sail.
The Freedom
Freedom is an authentic replica of a 19th-century blockade-runner. She is a double masted, gaff-rigged, topsail schooner. Naval architect Merritt Walters and his marine construction company, Rover Marine, Inc., designed and built Freedom, the first of his many Rover schooners, in 1982 in Norfolk, Virginia. The Schooner Freedom is built of steel with aluminum masts and spars. The Freedom’s sparred length is 76 feet while her length on deck is 64 feet. Freedom’s beam is 15 feet 4 inches and her draft is 6 feet. Her main mast height is 62 feet and she carries a total sail area of 2400 feet. Freedom was built with stringent attention paid to water depth and bridge height along the Intracoastal Waterway, making her the perfect vessel for both inland and offshore sailing. The Freedom was the first sailing tour boat to be certified under the Coast Guard sub-chapter ‘T’ to carry passengers for hire since the great days of sail. Under this certificate she is licensed to carry forty-one passengers and required to have a master and two crew members.
The Captains and Crew
Captain John & Admiral Sarah
John & Sarah have been sailing for most of their adult lives. Over the years, John and Sarah owned and sailed on a 32 foot West Sail they rebuilt and named Athene, which they quickly outgrew as their family grew. They currently sail on their 56′ Ketch TARA, when not aboard the Freedom.
They have logged thousands of miles under the keel, sailing between Texas to the Florida Keys and up to Ma. They have also had the privilege to sail with their daughter in the Med on the super yacht she works on. John and Sarah purchased the Freedom in 2000, completed a year-long refit, and launched her in 2001 as a charter boat in St. Augustine, FL.
We are very humbled by the fact we get to sail for a living. As we start our 24th year of business we invite you to join us and our family as Capt. Jack, our son, is now at the helm as well.
Freedom isn’t just a boat, Freedom is a labor of love! She is considered to be one of the Family! We are blessed to be able to do what we love and share that passion and joy with all of you!
Welcome aboard!
Capt. Jack Zaruba
Jack, the youngest child to John and Sarah, and is a graduate from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, with a degree in Business, with a discipline in Tourism and Hospitality. He has been on ships his entire life, and joined the ranks of the crew at a young age of 2, being the favorite of many a passenger aboard the ship. Jack is a 3rd generation Waterman. When not sailing Jack loves to work on his 1970 TR6.
Freedom Crew Fun Fact:
Jack has eaten macaroni in 45 states! Jack is also a
7th generation Floridian
Captain Steve Groh
Capt. Steve; orginally from Chicago has worked off and on the Freedom since 2018. Steven is an avid sailor and boat refurbisher. When his not working onboard Freedom he is enjoying his own sailboat. Steven has cruised the Caribbean several times with his trusty sidekicks; Frankie the Cat and his new edition; Camper his golden retriever.
Freedom Fun Fact:
Frankie his rescue Cat has sailed with Capt Steve to 5 countries!
Capt Evan Mackenzie
Captain Evan, was born and raised in New Hampshire. Evan purchased his first boat at the age 14 and was hooked! He is new to, but already in love with St. Augustine, relocating here to skipper the Freedom in 2021. Evan has been a full-time liveaboard sailor off and on for the last 10 years, enjoying his own 38’sailboat Cordelia. He travels have taken him to the Caribbean, as well as the South Pacific to the French Polynesia, where he was a Catamaran Captain , logging over 12,000 ocean miles. For the last few years, in the offseason Evan has been a snowboard instructor in New Hampshire, enjoying the best of both worlds! Evan loves to share his deep passion and love for the ocean and sailing with our guests aboard Freedom.
Fun Fact:
Evan studies the Art of Jiu-Jitsu, and has a brown belt!
Sydney Zaruba
Sydney has been sailing her entire life. Born and raised on her parents’ boat, the Athene, Sydney went sailing for the first time at the tender age of 6 days old and hasn’t stopped since. Since the Freedom’s launch in 2001, she has been either below decks, doing homework, above decks, working the sails, or behind the scenes, working the office and as our resident blogger and social media expert. She graduated from the University of Florida in 2017 as a Broadcasting and Communications major and is a world traveler and yogi, always looking for the next adventure. Sydney also owns her own as a travel agency The Boho Traveller. Sydney currently works on Super Sailing Yachts, upgrading her license , she is based in Palma, Mallorca. Sydney is our behind the scenes gal and keeps our website up to date.
Fun Freedom Crew Fact:
Sydney has visited over 30 countries and is a
7th generation Floridian
Martin B.
Martin is a Georgia transplant and
a recent graduate of Flagler College with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing. He works both the office and is a senior crew onboard the boat. He is looking forward to owning his own upscale dinner cruise one day.
Freedom Crew Fun Fact:
Martin plays the trumpet and loves working on old cars!
Jackson B.
Jackson was raised on the island of St. John in the US Virgin Islands. Jackson grew up with a passion and love for the sea. In St John he learned to sail, surf, and scuba dive and every other oceanic activity from a young age. Jackson moved to St Augustine in 2015 to attend Flagler College where he recieved a degree in Business Administration. When he’s not sailing on Freedom he’s likely at the beach, skating, surfing, or flying his drone. Jackson is working on his captain’s license and intends to have a career around the sea.
Freedom Crew Fun Fact:
Jackson’s first word was “BOAT”
Peter E.
Peter is a Florida native from New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Peter loves anything outdoors; camping, sailing, and surfing.
Peter is getting his degree in Business Administration and Phycology at Flagler College. When not sailing onboard Freedom Peter enjoys playing his guitar and attending outdoor concert festivals.
Freedom Crew Fun Fact:
Voted by Crew: Best Hair on the Boat
Mary T.
Mary was born and raised in Massachusetts. She moved with her family to St Augustine in 2021. She graduated from the University of Dallas with a degree in Politics and a Minor in Drama. She enjoys reading a good book in her spare time.
FREEDOM CREW FUN FACT:
Loves doing community theater; anything Shakespeare is her favorite! “To thine own self be true”
Taylor E.
Taylor is a Florida native hailing from New Smyrna. She is attending Barton College in North Carolina were is studying political science and pre law; with a minor in business. Taylor enjoys everything outdoors; paddle boarding, surfing, sunrise beach walks. Taylor also plays on a semi-pro soccer team.
Freedom Crew Fun Fact:
Taylor is also crew member Peter’s older sister and took his place this summer while he is sailing on a boat in Maine this summer!
Molly M.
Molly is originally from Pittsburgh Pa. Molly came to St Augustine to attend Flagler College. She graduated this past May with a Bachelor of arts degree in Early and Deaf Education with a minor in Coastal Environmental Science and American Sign Language. Molly loves making connections with people who are passionate as she is for ocean conservation and learning all she can so future generations can enjoy our beautiful oceans. Molly loves playing all sports; sailing, soccer, tennis, horseback riding, and lacrosse
Freedom Crew Fun Fact:
Grew up on the lakes of Pa sailing Hobie Cats and small slopes ** Also she will challenge anyone to a mean game of pickle ball!
Gina Manz
Office Manager
Originally from New York, Gina attended Belmont in Abbey, NC with a BA in psychology. She moved to St. Augustine from NY in 2013 after owning a spa for 7 years. Gina Has one fur baby named Lucy. Gina Loves to bake, be in the sun, travel, and living close to the beach is a dream come true. She is currently learning Italian, and is happy to be the Freedom’s Office gal extraordinaire. 
Lucy
Office Mascot and Generator of Spontaneous Smiles! Lucy is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
She keeps Gina on her toes full time.