The Captains & Crew

Palm Tree Charters was founded by John and Sue Brandi in 2005. John and Sue built a successful business that has become a favorite of visitors and locals on St. John. Captain John Brandi retired in 2014 and sold the business and Palma Bella to Jimmy & Bridgett Key. Since then we’ve added a second charter boat, Palma Bella II, and additional captains. Jimmy, Bridgett, and Sara will make sure your day is relaxing and fun, and you will enjoy their company.

Captain Jimmy

Jimmy Key


Raised near the Tennessee river in West TN, Jimmy grew up in and on the water. After a rewarding career in computer programming and business management, Jimmy obtained his US Coast Guard license and moved with his wife Bridgett to St. John in 2014. He enjoys island life and sharing his knowledge of the islands and stories passed down to him from Captain John. Jimmy is a 50 GT U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain.

First Mate Bridgett

Bridgett Key


Bridgett spent her early childhood in central Mississippi. She moved with her family to Tennessee in high school. She worked in restaurant management, and was a real estate agent. However, if you ask her, she will tell you her best career was being a full time mom. She always dreamed of living on an island in the Caribbean. A dear friend once told her not to wait until she was too old come now. Bridgett and Jimmy followed that advice and moved to St. John in 2014. She loves being on the boat and sharing her love of the Virgin Islands with our guests.

Captain Sara

Sara McCutcheon


Sara grew up in Boise, Idaho and after becoming scuba certified went on a dive trip to Cozumel, Mexico where she discovered warm water! After graduating high school she moved to Hawaii to get a degree in Biology and Marine Science and further her diving career. Sara moved to the Florida Keys and worked as a Marine Field Instructor at a camp for school kids, where she took the students out on day excursions to learn about the ecology of the seagrass beds, mangrove stands, and coral reef. During these trips, Sara was the captain, lifeguard and marine educator. She later became a scuba instructor and dive boat captain. After working in the Florida Keys for about 10 years, Sara moved to St. John where she joined the Palm Tree Charters team in 2016. Sara is a 50 GT U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain.