Mothership Adventures - Our Crew

Our crews are M.O.T. certified with marine emergency duties (MED A2) , radio operators licences (ROC), and marine first aid. We comply with applicable Parks and Land Use Permits. The Columbia III complies with Transport Canada's Steam Ship Inspection passenger carrying vessel requirements.

Ross Campbell

As soon as you step aboard the Columbia III, you notice the loving care and thousands of hours of attention that Ross has poured into this solid and beautiful ship. And after a few days at sea you continue to discover more thoughtful details and more complex systems that keep the ship running smoothly - all Ross's doing. He is equally competent captaining the Columbia III as maintaining her to the highest standards. His familiarity with the B.C. coast and with safety as a priority comes from owning and operating a 35' tug, the Ella Mackenzie, crewing on a 52' salmon troller, the BC Pioneer, and 17 years as a helicopter pilot, flying locally with Jet Rangers, Hughes 500's and Boeing Labradors. He's been skippering the Columbia in summer and upgrading her in the winter, since 2005, and enjoys every moment of life at sea. While on board, his responsible nature will keep you safe and his sense of humour and stories will keep you entertained.

Fern Kornelsen

Fern has been chef and kayak guide on the Columbia III since 2005, equally at home serving sumptious meals from the galley and paddling and exploring from her kayak. She is especially at home in the remote landscapes of the BC coast, and her passion for the beauty of these wild places and the creatures who live here is infectious. When she is not on the Columbia III, you can find her in the wilderness of high mountain ridges and alpine meadows. Every spring as the Columbia is painted and varnished and a hundred details are attended to, she is trying out new recipes, much to the delight of the hard working crew who enthusiastically give their opinions. Fern compiles the recipes, creates the menus, food orders are picked up and stowed, and another season begins! She delights in creating delicious and healthy meals and her priority is happy, well-fed paddlers and adventurers.

Tavish Campbell

From the decks of expedition sailboats, fishing vessels and research boats, to charter vessels, dive operations, tall ships and kayaks, Tavish Campbell has spent most of his life exploring the coastline of British Columbia above and below water. Over 25,000 miles of offshore sailing has taken him from ports in Papua New Guinea to Norway, traveling aboard tall ships and delivering sailing yachts. Growing up on a boat-access-only island gave Tavish an early start on the ocean. While marine ecotourism continues to be the focus of Tavish's work, his love for the sea has lead him to work as a commercial diver, underwater videographer and research assistant. Tavish's energy and enthusiasm for the natural world is almost as contagious as his love of sharing a good adventure with his travel companions as both skipper and kayak guide.

Farlyn Campbell

Farlyn, another of our competent Columbia III captains, has been drawn to all things marine above and below the water from an early age. Driving skiffs and sailing lasers as a child led to captaining her own 20' sailboat at age 12. Working several seasons aboard the SALTS schooner Pacific Swift as a teenager was followed by various sailing expeditions across the Pacific. A few seasons crewing on an offshore salmon troller prepared her for operating, along with her husband, her own troller and log salvage boat. As well as skippering the Columbia III, she is deeply committed to conservation issues on our coast and gives much time and energy to research and advocacy for our Pacific salmon and coastal old growth forests. As one of Columbia's chefs, she's just as happy in the galley producing delicious meals and seeing everyone is well fed as she is behind the wheel of the Columbia III looking out for whales. Her calm nature, confidence and twinkle in her eye are well suited to keeping guests safe, at ease and smiling.

Luke Hyatt

Luke Hyatt grew up on the Queen Charlotte Islands where he spent his childhood working on his father's fish boat and developing his passion and extensive knowledge of the natural world. As a teenager he worked as a biologist's assistant before becoming a kayak guide and boat captain. He has lived on Sonora Island with his wife Miray for the past 13 years and has been with Mothership Adventures since the beginning. He works as guide, skipper, naturalist and wood worker on the mothership and has built a beautiful island home for his family.

Miray Campbell

Miray Campbell grew up on Sonora Island and became a sea kayak guide at the age of 17. For four summers she expedition kayak guided (mostly in the Johnstone Strait area) and worked at the local Orca whale research station before she promoted the idea of Mothership Adventures to her parents. She has played a key roll in the company for the past 12 years as guide, cook and company coordinator. She currently takes care of the mothership office at her Sonora Island home while raising her two young kids and growing an enormous garden!

Robin Humphreys

Robin is one of our guides on the Columbia III. She grew up "just down the channel" on Maurelle Island. Having spent a childhood messing about in boats Robin has been kayak guiding for the past 6 years. She is a SKGABC Level 3 guide and loves to paddle in her "spare time". One of her recent kayaking adventures took her many miles up the coast from her home on Maurelle Island to Skagway, Alaska. She has spent her winters doing a variety of things from leading snowmobile tours in Whistler, kayak guiding in Chilean Patagonia and the Bahamas, and most recently ski patrolling on Vancouver Island. In her free time Robin loves skiing and mountain biking where she lives in the Comox Valley.

Steve Schellenberg

Steve is an avid lover of nature, remote places and adventure. He has been guiding kayaking expeditions all over the British Columbian coast, in addition to running zodiacs and grizzly bear watching tours. His adventurous pursuit of work in the wild has allowed him to guide on the barrier reef cays and the whitewater rivers of Belize, as well as New Zealand's beautiful South Island coastline. In addition to the warm climates, Steve takes guests hiking and photographing the polar bears of Hudson Bay in the Canadian Arctic. Steve enjoys spending his spare time at his land on Sonora Island, cruising on his sailboat, and surfing. Always prepared to crack a smile, Steve will be looking forward to helping you explore the wilds of our beautiful coast.

Erin Rowsell

Moose meat, fish, caribou, berries from the backyard, homemade pasta and a 20 layer cinnamon torte were some of my earliest food memories. All of my family members were born in Newfoundland and we ended up in New Brunswick when I was quite young. Family meals were ever present including extended family 30 person meals on the weekends. I was brought up knowing that food was love. Fast forward a number of years later and I find myself with Dietitian training but longing to not just talk about my food but be closer to its roots. I run a small Cookery on Quadra Island as well as working in Food Security, dabbling in food photography and catering. I strive to know as much about local Vancouver Island producers as I can. Food for me sparks creativity, passion and friendship. This will be my 4th season cooking for Mothership Adventures and I can't wait to see what this summer will bring!

Luke Roman

Born and raised in Vancouver, Luke's love for the natural world began at an early age. Over the past 14 years, he has found himself guiding in remote and beautiful places like Guatemala, Belize, and New Zealand. In addition to many years of leading kayak tours in BC, he also leads youth outdoor education programs with various local schools. With keen know-how and a warm sense of humour, Luke will keep you safe and smiling on the water all day long. Luke and his wife Erin, along with their dog Lucy, now reside in Cumberland on Vancouver Island. He will be back in 2016 for his sixth season with Mothership Adventures.

Go To Top of Page
Home | Columbia III | BC Sea Kayaking | BC Cruising Tours | Rates/Dates | Custom Charters | About Us | Food | Comments | In the Press | On the Web | Journal | Registration | Kayaking FAQ | Cruising FAQ
Toll Free: 1-888-833-8887 Phone: 250-202-3229
P.O. Box 30, Heriot Bay, BC Canada V0P 1H0
Contact: info@mothershipadventures.com Web Page: Dave Marshall
Website ©2005-2023 Mothership Adventures