Send us a Facebook Message
Call : 704-870-7091
Address: 1057 E Morehead St, STE 110, Charlotte NC 28204
Connect on ASA’s GoSailingApp
Get our Email Newsletter !
We were recently named as Number 18 on FeedSpot’s Top 90 Sailing Blogs! Guess it is worth the blood, sweat and tears!
About Us
Captain Stephen and his First Officer/Wife Dawn Bell currently own a 48’ Leopard Catamaran SV PILAR. They are advanced scuba diving certified and have spent years together diving worldwide – Galapagos, Belize, Caribbean, Mexico, Raja Ampat to name a few.
Captain Stephen and his First Officer/Wife Dawn Bell currently own a 48’ Leopard Catamaran SV PILAR. They are advanced scuba diving certified and have spent years together diving worldwide – Galapagos, Belize, Caribbean, Mexico, Raja Ampat to name a few.
As of March 31, 2023, Stephen is officially retired while Dawn is working on the boat. Extensive cruising life aboard PILAR begins in April!
First journey is up the northeast US coast Spring/Summer 2023, followed by a Salty Dawg rally in Fall 2023 to Antigua, and plans for an Atlantic crossing to the Mediterranean Sea in May 2024.
Captain Stephen Bell
was born and raised on the US East coast where the majority of his seamanship training and experience was achieved. Holding a USCG Merchant Marine Credential since 1986, Captain Stephen has extensive experience in yacht deliveries and charter operations. Sailing and sport fishing yacht deliveries along the east coast, Bermuda, Caribbean and west coast/Panama Canal for these years has offered vast experience seamanship, navigation and of course in-route repairs. Captain Stephen spent many years hosting sailing yacht charters and training for beginning sailors and new yacht owners.
A mechanical engineer by trade Stephen is handy in the bilge and the engine room. He’s a “go to” man for many boat owners from mechanical repairs to yacht handling at sea, in the shallow east coast inlets and at the dock in those 3-4 knot east coast tidal currents. Stephen is a passionate fisherman as well and he’s always trolling a line on his sailboat for a fresh meal or a trophy bill fish release. When he gets to shore, you’ll find him throwing a fly for tarpon and bonefish or collecting blue crabs and oysters.
Dawn Bell
has been sailing since 2014, diving in quickly with her first trip being from Green Turtle Bahamas to Charleston SC. Dawn has sailed to Cayman Islands and Cuba, as well as in the Bahamas and BVI.
Although originally from Michigan’s great lakes area, she did not spend much time on boats as a child. Her knowledge and love of the water ocurred upon moving to North Carolina in 2011. A whole new world was discovered.
In addition to managing her own digital marketing consulting business, Dawn also manages the business side of Blue Dot Voyages. She loves doing extensive trip planning, specifically finding those places that are often overlooked, but you really shouldn’t miss. She also enjoys arranging charter trips for their guests, including all of the supplies, food and entertainment. She writes the blogs and produces the videos documenting the voyages.
