Joyride's next chapter, and a little about me

Hi friends,

As the new sole owner of Joyride Boat Club, this felt like the perfect moment to reintroduce myself and tell you a little more about who I am and why Joyride exists. (And if you've booked with us, nothing changes for you: same charters, same captains, same care.)

A little about me

I grew up in Upstate New York and Southern Maine, then went to college and lived in England, Mexico, Arizona, California and New York City. I'm a culinary school grad, with an undergraduate degree in political science from Arizona State University and an MA in Philosophy & Education from Columbia University.

My husband, Justin, and I met in college and have been married for almost 25 years. We have two incredible kids: our son is now in college, and our daughter is finishing high school and plays ice hockey for two teams here in the region. My 84-year-old father lives with us too, along with two sweet pups who take their job of barking at everyone who walks past the house very seriously.

I spent years in higher education leadership and leadership development education. When my son was diagnosed with brain cancer at four years old, I left that work to found MaxLove Project, which supports childhood cancer families with integrative care, emotional health and culinary medicine.

I don't have a degree in business. What I've learned comes from building things and collecting formative experiences along the way. I learn best when forged by fire.

These days, if I'm not on the water, working on the business or traveling for my daughter's hockey, you might find me at Conscious Dance Savannah, which I collaborate on with Justin and DJ Jose Ray.

Through all of it, I keep coming back to the water, and I'm always reminded that water is medicine, water is life.

How Savannah found me

I first came to Savannah in August 2019. I flew in from California for MaxLove Project to work with our partners at the time, Memorial Health, on in-hospital culinary medicine programming. It was mid-August, and I distinctly remember the mystery and allure of condensation dripping down the windows of my hotel. The rich history, the trees draped in Spanish moss, and the winding waterways – I fell in love right away. That pull actually surprised me a little. I was born in Virginia into a family that has lived and worked on the water for generations, and somehow none of us had ever made it to Savannah. Still, it felt like coming home.

The idea

In October 2020, my family came back to see whether Savannah could be home. During a visit to The Wyld, looking out over the marsh, I wondered where all the little electric cocktail boats were, the ones I loved so much in Newport Beach. There weren't any even remotely like those candy-colored electric boats. I remember thinking what an amazing opportunity it would be to start a business here offering leisurely, luxurious, eco-friendly private cruises.

We moved on January 1, 2021, and started putting down roots. I brought my nonprofit work with me, and Justin was building his Internal Family Systems coaching practice. By 2023 I felt the call to start Joyride, and I began shaping the brand and business model.

Our first Joyride guests stepped aboard in 2024. In the two and a half years since, we've hosted birthdays, proposals, bachelorettes, anniversaries and plenty of quiet sunset cruises, earned a spot in Savannah Magazine's Life on the Water issue, and built a crew of captains I'm proud of. It's been a joy, and I'm ready for what comes next.

What I love about Joyride

The hidden side of Savannah. Before Joyride, whenever friends visited, I'd drive them over the Thunderbolt Bridge, point down at Grays Creek and say, "Look how gorgeous!" That was as close as we could get. I knew people would love a picnic-and-cocktails experience out on that water. Our boat is basically the Moke of the water: smooth, quiet and eco-friendly, perfect for winding through the creeks and marshes. We're just 10 minutes from downtown, and most people don't realize they can have the cobblestones and the creeks in the same afternoon. I always wanted someone to fill that gap, and filling it is the heart of what we do.

The journey is the destination. A Joyride isn't about getting somewhere. It's the slow glide, the birds, the light on the marsh grass, and the conversation you can have when there's no engine roar to talk over.

Our guests. Locals celebrating a milestone, couples getting engaged, families seeing the marsh for the first time, visitors who came for the cobblestones and found the creeks. We love hosting locals who own a boat but want a break from the captain's chair and gas prices. Every cruise is someone's special day, and we get to be part of it!

Our captains. Our captains are the heart of every Joyride. Captain Taryn, our lead captain, along with Captains Ellie, Dylan and Malcolm, know these waters by heart. Most of them grew up between Tybee Island and Savannah, and many are certified CARE guides. They read the tides, give the wildlife room and always find the best spot for a sunset toast, and they make every guest feel taken care of. They're the best in the business, and I'm deeply excited to keep working with them as we grow Joyride together. Meet the crew.

Electric, and a little vintage. Quiet, electric cruising is unique in Savannah, and our boat itself is a rare find, which I love. So is our vintage, classic look. It sets us apart.

Hospitality. I've been a cook, a server and a bartender. Taking care of people has always been part of who I am, and Joyride lets me do it on the water.

Our partners. Joyride is better because of the Savannah businesses we work with: Provisions and Sarandipity Fare for our catered cruises, the hotels and vacation rental hosts who send their guests our way, and photographers like Sunny Lee, Gabi Jones and By Bonnie who capture it all. Meet them all here.

Lifting women up. I was a line cook in four-star kitchens where every one of my colleagues was a man. Later I worked in higher education administration and founded a nonprofit. In every one of those sectors, leadership was male-dominated. As a woman-owned business in an industry where women are underrepresented, I've loved elevating women on the water, and I want to do even more. I'm especially passionate about supporting women entrepreneurs and small business owners, and that's part of why I'll be writing here about the business side, too.

What's next

I'm excited to take Joyride in a few new directions:

• A brand-new website. You're reading this on it, so take a look around!
• New partnerships and experiences. I'm building new and expanded partnerships with Savannah's hospitality community, and creative experiences on the water that go beyond the classic cruise.
• Artist collaborations. I'll be partnering with local artists and makers. Savannah is full of creative energy, and I'd love to bring more of it onto the creeks.
• A growing fleet. Our second boat is coming soon. It's the first step in building out the fleet, and it opens the door to tandem charters for larger groups.
• A nonprofit partner each year. Each year, a portion of our proceeds will benefit a new nonprofit partner. Our 2027 partner will be announced soon!

I also want to share more of the journey with you here. I'll write about the ins and outs of running a small, woman-owned business on the water, including what's working, what I'm learning and what surprises me along the way. If you're an entrepreneur yourself, especially a woman building something of your own, I hope some of it is useful to you.

If you have questions about a booking or an upcoming cruise, you can reach us as always at hello@joyrideboatclub.com or (912) 712-1272.

Thank you for being part of Joyride. I'm looking forward to a wonderful season on the water with you!

All my best,

Audra DiPadova
Founder & CEO, Joyride Boat Club