Captain James Pizzaruso holds a USCG Master 1600 GRT/3000 GT ITC License (Oceans) and a Master 200 (GRT) with a Sailing Endorsement. To date he has logged over 200,000 nautical miles and earned his PADI Divemaster certification.

James started sailing at twelve years old in Wickford, RI. As a teenager, he would resurrect small derelict sailboats, and then test them with mixed results on Narragansett Bay. In 1994, James began what he promised his parents would be a short career in yachting, before returning to university.

After serving as crew on the likes of the 1930 America’s Cup challenger and J-Class "Shamrock V," he earned his first Captain’s license in 1999. A year later at twenty-six, he became the Captain of “Keewaydin” a 110’ Palmer Johnson sailboat. He successfully piloted and managed all aspects of operations aboard Keewaydin for seven years.

In 2007, James took over command of the Royal Huisman Motor Yacht “Arcadia” (120’, 308GT). He piloted and managed all aspects of running the yacht for fifteen years.

In due course, aboard these vessels he criss-crossed oceans for adventure in the Caribbean, the South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, Alaska, the East and West Coast’s of the US and Canada amongst other destinations. He has made multiple transits through the Panama Canal and has visited most countries around the Mediterranean.

James is also credited with being the 145th Captain to transit the Northwest Passage over Canada and has led several expedition style trips into the Arctic. During this time at sea, he maintained exceptionally low crew turnover and is recommended by his owners, owner’s guests and crew alike.

Being a technically minded person, James consistently managed his vessels' maintenance periods, as well as maintenance for other affiliated boats. He has overseen several successful multi-million dollar vessel refits, including four full paint jobs and numerous smaller haul-outs in several locations around the world. Having worked for owners with an appreciation for technology and on technically challenging boats, James developed a keen interest in technical systems. He enjoys finding practical solutions to complex problems and designing and installing new systems.

He looks forward to returning to college if, or when, he ends his maritime career. However, there is no present discussion of that option and it remains unclear if his parents have forgiven him for leaving college in the first place.