Duncan and Annie Muirhead
Annie and Duncan have believed in a simple philosophy. Take good young people and train them to work together in a friendly atmosphere but never forgetting that good service is paramount. That has been a great pleasure in their lives – to see young people develop their characters so well. Also to provide a boat for their guests that mimics a small luxury hotel with lots of activities to try. Treat non diving companions as equally as important as divers. Add really good food and the latest in a long line of amazing chefs certainly provides that!
Cuan Law Philosophy
The demand for this type of diving tourism exploded so Annie and Duncan got together with a charterer, Hal McCarney who built boats. In 1978 they created their first effort, the Lammer Law, designed by Duncan and built by Hal. But Annie needed more beds so in 1988 the second aluminum trimaran, the Cuan Law was built. After some changes in demand the Lammer Law was moved to the Galapagos, the Misty Law was sold along another trimaran they owned and had also operated in the BVI.
In 2017 Annie and Duncan retired but their legacy lives on and both are very free with advice to daughter Sasha and manager Kim who has almost grown up with the company having been around for 30 years and counting. Both do a fabulous job.
The heart of any ship is its crew and this is even more important in a Floating Hotel. All our crew are very energetic and fun loving with a great service attitude. They have their individual specialties but all pitch in as a team and cover for each other. We normally carry a crew of seven: Captain, Chef, Engineer, First Diver, Second Diver, and two Stewards or Stewardesses.
Cuan Law Crew
Scott
Captain Scott over many years has done everything and every job on the Cuan Law except Chef. We owe him a huge dept of gratitude as he has been the foundation stone of the crew. He has trained up dozens of our crew over the years. Scott started off as steward on board and then, after getting his Divemaster rating, he led many dives in addition to his work as steward. Scott still loves to dive and will certainly do some dives with you whilst on board. He then moved on to Engineer as he had always had a great interest in, and aptitude for, the ship's machinery and equipment. He has fixed numerous problems, installed much new equipment and machinery and done many upgrades. He still likes to mess around below decks playing with machines! After a few years as Engineer and then First Mate, we promoted him to Captain and added the job later of Captain Trainer. Scott has done many, many charters as Captain, has as much knowledge as Trimarine’s founder Duncan, and really understands "The Cuan Law Way". He has a great sense of humor and is very fun-loving, and he runs a well organized and motivated team. Years ago he married our then Chef, Kellie, whom many of our past guests will remember and future guests might get to meet as she and Scott continue to fill in as relief crew. Scott’s sister, Kim, is our Operations Manager.
Kim
A few years after graduating from college when she decided to take some time to start traveling Kim first joined Trimarine the same year that Cuan Law was completed - 1988! She worked on board Lammer Law initially as stewardess and then worked on Cuan Law as relief chef on and off for several years interspersed with some great trips including 3 years in Japan, before making the BVI her permanent home in 1994. Her BVI adventures include working with small businesses, building a vacation villa and running the guest house style villa Annie & Duncan Muirhead owned, Serendipity House, until its sale in 2014. Her move to the Trimarine office in 2000 started off as a part time thing, but as time has passed and most recently with the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017 Kim has taken on more responsibility. It is most likely that you’ll reach her when you email or call us!
Kellie
Kellie grew up on the move, but never beyond the Florida border until after she graduated university with her degree in Studio Art. From there she went on to live and work with other artists in New York, France, and finally the British Virgin Islands, with interspersed trips to India, Southeast Asia, and Central America. Her love for adventure (and very little convincing from Captain Scott) landed her aboard Cuan Law back in 2009, where she has worked as both stewardess and chef. She’s now part of the Kellie and Scott relief crew and training team, finding joy in sharing tales of her own adventures aboard to both new crew and guest alike, including some fantastic down island trips with Annie & Duncan! When not on Cuan, she most likely has her hands covered in clay while she runs her pottery business, Sugar Sand Pottery, back in her Florida home with Scott.
Sam
Captain Sam grew up in a small fishing village on the north coast of Cornwall, England so has been in and on the ocean his entire life. With many jobs & interesting stories along the way, he joined Cuan Law in May of 2021 after gathering a wealth of diving experience in Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, Spain, Greece & Egypt, amongst other places. Ask him about his worldwide diving adventures! He worked as Cuan Law’s Dive Instructor and First Mate before taking the helm, so he knows all of the BVI dive sites inside & out. Expect him to show you the best spots for hiding turtles and sleeping nurse sharks! Although he dives a lot less now that he has the reins, he is likely to join you on a couple of dives a week, as he has been known to get a bit “twitchy” after a few days without blowing bubbles. He is a passionate teacher, who loves to share his knowledge for all things diving and sailing to anybody who will listen. The personal & professional development of the crew is a key focus in his leadership style and we are sure you will notice how exceptional our crew works together. Sam is also a fully qualified plumbing & heating engineer, and enjoys diagnosing and fixing all manner of problems that occur whilst running the largest sailing trimarine in the world. Over his time with us, Captain Sam has curated a treasure trove of local knowledge, above and below the water & we guarantee he will give you an unforgettable charter experience with the best spots the BVI has to offer.
Jacques
All the way from sunny South Africa, Jacques joined the team in September 2021. He has an extensive background in the hospitality industry and was the founder and creator of several land based, beach themed restaurants across South Africa. He had the privilege to sharpen his culinary adventure under experienced chefs specializing in African, American, and Mediterranean cuisine. With his zest for life and sense for adventure, he decided to take his experience and expertise from shore to ocean. His dream has always been to excel in the yachting industry and to create an exceptional guest experience, whether it’s leading a dive adventure, enjoying water sports, preparing epic cocktails, and of course, his specialty, creating unforgettable culinary creations. As an endurance athlete, he likes to challenge himself and set challenging goals for himself. It’s no surprise then that Jacques has obtained his Dive Master certification with Cuan Law over the years and is currently studying for his Master of Yachts 200GT. Be sure to see this all-rounder up on deck, behind the bar, and in the water!
Teagan
Meet Teagan, our engineer aboard Cuan Law. Teagan grew up in a small costal village near Cape Town in South Africa. He is very passionate about the ocean and has discovered scuba diving since working with us - something he can’t get enough of! After school, he completed a plumbing apprenticeship and went on to run a small business of his own before coming out to the BVI to join us. His hobbies are water sports, snowboarding, going to the beach, fishing, off roading, and having a good time with friends and family. Teagan has just passed his AEC 1&2 Engineering courses and will be moving on to the next engineering courses soon!
If you have any engineering related questions, Teagan will be happy to answer them for you.
Ryan
From a young age, Ryan grew up being in and around boats and the water. From lakes, rivers, and the ocean - anything to do with water, he would be there! Fishing, wakeboarding, and diving were few of the activities he loved growing up. He then became a Dive Instructor and a Skipper on the East Coast of South Africa. With many years experience and working in exotic locations such as Egypt, Zanzibar, Mozambique, and Madagascar, as these roles go hand in hand, this has allowed him to travel & work in many different locations, improving his knowledge and skill set. As our Senior Dive Instructor, he not only loves being underwater, but above water you can catch him sailing one of the Hobie Cats or out on the wakeboard catching a wave. Be it diving or any other watersports, he is always keen! Teaching is a passion for Ryan and any diving course you would like to do, or even learning how to paddle board, Ryan is your guy to ask! From diving the incredible wreck of the RMS Rhone to blowing minds with spectacular night dives in and around the BVI, there is always a good time involved. Be sure to ask him about his favorite night dive critter, The Cryptic Teardrop Crab! Working with Cuan Law, Ryan has discovered a new passion for sailing and exploring the British Virgin Islands and its stunning surroundings.
Darren
Gys
Gys grew up in a very small farming town in the heart of the Free State in South Africa, nestled among fields and hills on their family farm, where he grew to adore animals. Even though the ocean was far away, his family holiday's on the coasts made him fall in love with the ocean. From a very young age, Gys loved being in the water, with his family struggling to keep him out of the pool. In High School, Gys worked on a Private Game Farm over school holidays, where he found his passion for the hospitality industry. After school, Gys was faced with the decision to go study or to do something way more exciting and decided to go into the yachting industry. From a very young age Gys dreamt of traveling and seeing the world outside his home country. Joining Cuan Law changed everything for Gys – it introduced him to diving, a skill he never imagined having, and he instantly fell head over heels for it.
As one of our esteemed Stews, Gys possesses a genuine knack for making guests feel extraordinary with his impeccable service, ensuring they bask in relaxation under the radiant BVI sun. He eagerly anticipates extending a warm welcome aboard, ready to craft delightful cocktails and create unforgettable memories as you embark on a journey through the breathtaking BVI's.
Aphra
Aphra grew up in a city called Sheffield, in the north of England. She lived right by the peak district, one of the UK’s best most idyllic countryside spots, so would often enjoy escaping city life to go on hikes or runs. Although she loved where she grew up she always knew that she wanted to travel the world, which is what drew her to the yachting industry. She began this career in 2023 as a stewie, cruising the beautiful islands of Croatia across the Adriatic sea. She then joined Cuan Law in 2024, and is super excited to learn more about sailing and explore a part of the world she’s never seen before!
Cuan Law Specifications
Owner, Designer
Designer: Duncan Muirhead
Owner: Trimarine Boat Co. Ltd.
Size
Length on deck: 105 feet
Beam: 44 feet
Displacement: 75 tons with fuel and water
Sailing & Cabins
Rig: Equal masted stay sail schooner
Working sail area: 5,200 sq. feet
Mast height: 103 feet
Speed under power: 8-10 knots
Speed under sail: 6-14 knots
Guest Accommodations: Ten two person staterooms with private bathroom, all available as either Queen or Twin.
Power & Diving
Engines: Two 210 hp Caterpillar diesels to drive two feathering propellers
Generators: 4
Air fills: Two electric Mako compressors of 18 cfm capacity and full Nitrox capability