On the high seas: Waterville native makes career as private chef

For more than a decade, Waterville native Jonmorgan Smith has been sharpening his cooking skills below deck.

The private yacht chef started this journey when he was just 19-years-old, and has since traveled to around 30 countries as he’s prepared restaurant-quality meals for the crew and guests.

Now 32-years-old, Smith has worked on seven boats in this time, cooking anything from homemade pastas and traditional curries to fresh fish and wagyu steak. He most recently worked on the “Ice Bear” yacht traveling to Costa Rica and/or Mexico in the winter season and Alaska for fishing in the summer months.

“In the yachting world, there’s basically no budget,” he explained. “Yes, you have to watch what you’re spending for the crew, but for the guests it’s a free for all.”

Lobster tails, fre