Anitelu is the Captain’s First Mate or Quartermaster. The First Mate is second in command aboard the vessel and must be capable of assuming full command should the Captain become incapacitated. The Captain relies heavily on the First Mate to supervise and coordinate day-to-day activities of all members of the crew, and to participate fully in those activities.

Anitelu is the Tongan form of Andrew and means ‘manly’. He immigrated to California in 1866, and joined the captain in 1868 and they have been together ever since the captain showed him true comradeship during their many days at sea together.

Anitelu first sailed with the Captain aboard another merchant ship where the captain was first mate and was finalizing his knowledge so as to be the best captain he could of his own vessel. Likewise, Anitelu was learning alongside the captain how to run a ship, lead the crew, and improve his navigational skills.

Anitelu is a fan of a good knife and is never without one, he’s often found carving something out of wood while walking the deck and overseeing one task or another.