About > Our Story
The CruisersLINK Story
There are people who make things happen, there are people who watch things happen, and there are people who wonder what happened. To be successful, you need to be a person who makes things happen.
Where in the world do I find that?
– Every Cruiser on arriving at a new port
The CruisersLINK Vision
To be the app that best understands and satisfies the destination based information, product and service requirements of the cruising community.
The Beginning
The vision for CruisersLINK came from the first hand experience of a new full-time cruiser arriving in new destinations, unable to easily access basic information such as where to clear in and where the dinghy dock is to where to dispose of rubbish.
From this humble beginning, the idea of an app for cruisers began and a partnership was formed with another full-time cruiser with over 20 years experience and knowledge. With the same vision and intent, Version 1 was developed and launched in late October, 2021
CruisersLINK was founded on the principle that it remains cruiser-generated content, for cruisers by cruisers and be flexible enough to incorporate firsthand knowledge and input of services etc. from cruisers the world over, whilst remaining a free community service.
The Team
Rene Tuerlings
Vice President
Co-Founder
Rene started life in Holland and began sailing with his father at age 11. Arriving in Canada at 21, sailing became his business in the form of wholesaling sailboards and accessories, leading to boat ownership and sailing the great lakes with his wife and three sons. In 2006 he and his wife embarked on a sabbatical which has become a way of life, taking them to the Caribbean for 5 years where he got involved with running a Marina in Grenada and 2 winter seasons at Island Water World in Sint Maarten. In 2012 aboard Gypsy Blues they sailed west as far as New Zealand. Finding that the islands of the South Pacific beckoned they sailed back to French Polynesia which was not a nice trip but enabled another fabulous full year in FP followed by a glorious sail to Hawaii. In 2015 the folks at Island Water World asked him to come back so Gypsy Blues carried them to San Francisco, down the west coast of the USA, and back through the Panama Canal to Sint Maarten, where they have been since. Yes, lots of miles under that keel, many places visited, many interesting people met, many waters snorkeled and dived, many boat repairs done, many fish caught, many unforgettable and valuable experiences. Rene loves and understands the cruising life and sharing his experiences through the development of CruisersLINK.
David Rose
Co-Founder
David is a New Zealander, hailing from Auckland – “The City of Sails” meaning David was around and involved in sailing early on. This included many races around the cans and three Auckland to Fiji races, Auckland to Noumea, and delivering the 100’ super Maxi Maximus from Sydney back to Auckland. After a long career in print, TV, digital, and music media he found himself running the largest charter operation in the central Great Barrier Reef, Australia. When it was time to exit David and his better half moved to the Caribbean and bought a yacht to begin the life of full-time cruising. After getting everything ready David’s shakedown sail took him from Antigua to St. Martin only to discover he didn’t even know where the dinghy dock or customs were.
When David met Rene, a long-time cruiser with vast experience in Canada, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. They joined forces and over the following 20 months, with many sundowners, laughs, and discussions on developing the business, it evolved to become CruisersLINK.
Cheryl Tuerlings
Secretary
Cheryl was born and raised in Canada where as a child she developed a love for the outdoors. Sailing was introduced to her life through the first business that she and her husband built, importing and wholesale of 2 brands of sailboards plus several lines of accessories. Through several sailing courses and years of sailing the Great Lakes with Husband Rene and their 3 sons on 5 progressively larger boats, knowledge, skill and love of the sport was developed, leading it to become a lifestyle. In 2006 Cheryl and Rene moved aboard their sailboat, Gypsy Blues and set off for a life of adventure.
After sailing many many thousands of nautical miles and experiencing hundreds of tropical islands throughout the Caribbean and the Pacific she put her extensive cruising knowledge to work in St. Maarten in the marine canvas industry and as an integral part of the CruisersLINK Team. Being involved with the creation of CruisersLINK from the start is a very exciting and interesting endeavor for Cheryl and husband, Rene.
Sohail Aslam
CTO / Product Manager
Sohail Aslam brings seven years of expertise in software engineering to his role as the Head of Engineering at Staunch. As a seasoned professional, he specializes in software architect design and successfully leads complex software development projects. Sohail oversees the software engineering efforts at CruisersLink, ensuring a seamless fusion of technical prowess and effective leadership in crafting innovative solutions.
His commitment to excellence propels the team towards achieving and surpassing project expectations. In the past, Sohail has worked with big names like Fiverr, Pepe Jeans London, Repair Pricer & Instashowing.
Usama Imam
Mobile Apps Developer
Usama Imam is the Mobile Apps Development Lead at Staunch and boasts five years of expertise in cross-platform mobile app development. Leading mobile app development teams at CruisersLink, he blends innovation with functionality, ensuring our mobile applications are at the forefront of technology.
In the past Usama has worked with big names like Frontier, Instashowing, StellarGRE & more.