T H E S H O R E T E A M

B E N T O W I L L;

D R E A M B O A T # 1

As a chef and restauranteur, Ben has always been fascinated by food, where it comes from and how it affects us - the foundation of his restaurants depends on the relationships developed with farmers and fisherman of the area. In 2014 set off on a cross-country bike tour to get in touch with US food systems, the role and importance of restaurants and to engage with growers across the states. Upon finishing the tour, he left New York with his wife Kate, moved down to Charleston and went on to build Basic Projects, Basic Kitchen and Post House.

Having always admired people who break outside their comfort zone to accomplish a goal, Ben has held to a longstanding goal of rowing the Atlantic. Witnessing his friend, Bobby Melville’s (Founder of IGO Adventures) journey across the Atlantic and experiencing firsthand the fact that setting big goals and surmounting obstacles, can change the course of one’s life quite positively -- Ben is now making his 10 year dream a reality and getting down to work.

 

C H A R L E S L A Y T O N;

D R E A M B O A T # 2

Charlie has long been interested in food-based education and the importance of healthy eating but it wasn’t until arriving to work at Basic Kitchen that his passion was truly realized. Without a car for transport, Charlie borrowed the “company car”- Peggy - the bike that took Ben across the United States. He began cycling 100 miles per week, exercising for the first time in 12 years, and transforming his diet as he worked to develop the menu and identity of Basic Kitchen. 

Leading the helm at Basic Kitchen, Charlie has intertwined his love of veggies with creating playful-quality dishes that excite customers about eating better, from cauliflower wings to corn-ribs. With approachable dishes that highlight local ingredients, Charlie’s warmth and personality shines through his cooking and invite a broader audience to enjoy healthy eating. 

Over the course of three years, Charlie has whipped into the best shape he’s ever been with a longstanding goal on the horizon. Back in 2018, Charlie’s friend, Andy Grant, a chef as well, completed the challenge with the Atlantic Seamen, and planted the seed for Charlie to set his determination towards. Working closely with Ben, Charlie spoke of his goal of rowing the Atlantic and it just so happened shared the same dream. And the dreamboats were born!

 
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R O B E R T S W A N;


C H A I R M A N ; B A S I C P R O J E C T S F O U N D A T I O N , 5 0 1 C 3


Raised in Yorkshire, England, Robert Swan is the first person in history to walk to both the North and South Poles. After seeing first hand the effects of Climate Change, Robert has dedicated himself to protecting Antarctica and our planet at large. Positive participation and a committed team have enabled Robert to educate and stimulate people across the globe.

His contribution to education and the environment have been recognized through his appointment as UN Goodwill Ambassador for Youth, a Visiting Professorship of the School of Environment at Leeds University and in 1994 he became Special Envoy to the Director General of UNESCO.

It is through his expeditions and lectures that Swan works to inform, engage and inspire the next generation of leaders to take responsibility, be sustainable, and know that now is the time for action in policy development, sustainable business generation and future technologies.

 

J O E Y W E L L I N G


F I T N E S S T R A I N E R

With 16 years in the Fitness industry, Joey Welling is a key player in the shore team, keeping the Dreamboats right on track! After graduating from The Citadel, Military College of South Carolina with a B.S. in Business Administration, Joey went on to certify as a Strength & Conditioning Specialist through NSCA, has earned a Strong First Kettlebell Certification and Titleist Performance Golf Certification.

Joey specializes in work ethic and is the Founder of Ethos Athletic Club, a revolutionary workout space in downtown Charleston. Ethos is built on a foundation of determination, consistency and willpower. Joey has built a team of uniquely trained professionals committed to seeing Ethos members conquer their goals - breaking boundaries to unlock a stronger, healthier lifestyle.

The Dreamboats have trained with Joey for years and now work directly with him on a daily basis. Joey’s mantra ‘move your mountain’ is a constant push to face your challenge head-on with strength and determination - in this case moving a mountain means rowing the Atlantic Ocean.



 

R A N D O B L Y T H


R O W I N G I N S T R U C T O R

Rando grew up on the Atlantic — son of a Marine, he bounced back and forth between Japan and the United States, learning to sail, row and pilot. He is the Founder, Commodore and Senior Rowing Instructor for both the Charleston Rowing Club and the Shem Creek Rudder Club and is now in charge of preparing the Dreamboats for their audacious trek.

Rando has always been interested in transoceanic voyages made by small sailboats, kayaks and rowboats.  He shares the name of the first man to row across the Atlantic in recent history: Chay Blyth.  Rando was enthralled with the story of Blyth’s journey from Nova Scotia to England in the face of a hurricane rowing in an open dory.  

Rando followed the history of all the early transoceanic rowers eagerly , eventually meeting Roz Savage who rowed solo across the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Indian oceans. Meanwhile Rando was busy establishing the Charleston Rowing Club .  The club rowed out of Shem Creek for 10 years- out in Charleston Harbor and the surrounding waters before moving to Horlbeck Creek.  So when Ben and Charlie asked him to help them prepare for this adventure, they were talking to the right guy on the Shiny Atlantic!

 
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K A T Y N A S T R O


P R O J E C T D I R E C T O R

A New York native (Long Island, to be exact), Katy has been surrounded by water her entire life. Learning to sail at a young age, Katy took her skills and smarts with her to Boston College where she competed in a National Championship winning collegiate sailing program all four years.

After receiving a double major in English and Communications, Katy worked for the largest regional newspaper in New England, the Boston Globe. There she thrived on-camera as a correspondent and account executive working with small to medium sized businesses on advertising and sponsorships. Yearning for a life more traveled and full of that salty water, Katy left corporate America for life by the sea working for over 4 years on some of the biggest sailing events in the world including the America’s Cup, SailGP, and with some of the biggest athletes in the sailing world including the Olympic US Sailing Team.

Katy is a proud member of US Sailing, supporter of the Women in Sport Foundation, and an even prouder member of the Boston College Athletic Alumni Association giving back her time to student athletes when she can. Katy loves all water sports in general, and is wildly supportive of making ocean based projects come together - cue the Dreamboats.

 
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J A C K S O N M E T C A L F


F I T N E S S T R A I N E R

Jackson, a North Carolina native, attended Francis Marion University where he played baseball and then spent a short stint in independent professional baseball. After seeing much of the country from the window of a bus spending hours dreaming of the next adventure, Jackson found his way to Charleston and Ethos.

It is fitting that shortly after reading about Shackleton’s excursion, he would meet two Brits embarking on a journey of their own. With his knowledge of Strength and Conditioning from Westside Barbell, Jackson is in charge of programming for the Lads and his inept ability to be a welcome distraction on the ergo machine. Jackson is spent a year as an athletic coach at Erskine College and is Strength and Conditioning certified, certified in Athletic Coaching from Westside Barbell.

 
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K A T E T O W I L L ;


F O U N D I N G P A R T N E R ; B A S I C P R O J E C T S
F O U N D A T I O N , 5 0 1 C 3

A Delaware native, Kate moved to NYC to receive her BA in Communication Design from Pratt Institute - spending 6 years in the film industry as a set designer working on commercials, music videos and feature films. Kate and Ben founded Basic Projects when they moved from NYC to Charleston in 2013. Kate heads up the design team, who work in both commercial and residential design.  

Kate has designed multiple restaurants, boutique hotels, and residential properties all over the States and the UK. Basic Projects’ offices are based in Charleston, SC and together the team work closely to make spaces that are not only beautiful but functional and comfortable too. More recently, Kate has founded the Basic Projects Foundation, dedicated to using her media platform to benefit social causes, with an emphasis on environmental change and mental wellness. Kate’s happy place is walking through the great Rocky Mountains with Ben, their little ones Oscar and Iris and their sheepdog, Daisy.

 

E V A S U A R E Z ;


C A M P A I G N L E A D

Born in a hurricane and raised in Miami, Eva developed a strong willed sense for management through her education at the University of Florida. Studying Business and Food & Resource Economics, Eva fell into the local food movement, working on a small biodynamic farm while helping host farm to table dinners and community oriented events. With a love for sustainable design and hospitality, Eva found her way to Basic Projects, joining the team as Director of Operations and resident go-getter. Having helped open and develop Basic Kitchen and Post House, Eva earned the title Ginger Ninja, and hasn’t turned back.