Mark Christopher Drewelow

Mark Christopher Drewelow was born on March 24, 1964 in Kingsville, TX. The son of a US Marine fighter pilot, David, and a teacher, Alice, he grew up on military bases around the US. The third of four siblings, he sailed, bodysurfed, swam and surfed as a young kid and became a lifeguard at 15 years old.

Mark was a talented violinist and water polo player. His athletic skills earned him a place on the  Dolphin wall of fame at Dana Hills HS in Dana Point, lettering in swimming & water polo all 4 years. Mark was a part of the NCAA championship water polo team at UCI in 1982 before he transferred to Saddleback College.

In 1984 he joined a friend on a bike trip around the Mediterranean. After their adventure, he stayed in Europe traveling and searching for the best surf spots. It was at that time that he started working on yachts and made his way up to Captain.

Mark spent 20 years circumnavigating the world until he finally met his wife Cristina while in Australia. They married in 2001 in the backyard of the house they bought in Encinitas and they raised their 2 daughters Julia and Lucy and started their business C2C in 2003.

With C2C, a super yacht support company and agency, Mark always aimed to operate to the highest standards of ethics. His vision was to create a network of agents helping each other and working together because together we are stronger. Three years later he created Yacht Aid Global as a way to give back to the communities he visited around the world and to bridge the gap between the superyachts and the people who needed help along the way - Changing the World without Changing Course. For many years Mark financed these projects by himself and with the help from his wife and daughters they would buy and pack supplies to be taken by the yachts all over the world. YAG grew from his garage into a worldwide power force in the yachting industry and the disaster relief world. Mark had a vision and he accomplished it all.  

Mark used to say he wasn’t made to walk on land. He had a deep connection to the ocean and used to say that the ocean ran through his veins. Most mornings he could be found bodysurfing at Seaside beach, in Cardiff. You could spot his yellow cap jumping in and out of the water. Bodysurfing was his meditation, his relaxation, a time where he was always trying to become one with the ocean. He was a true waterman. Mark competed for the first time on a bodysurfing competition in 2016, while visiting Brazil. He got 4th place and he was hooked. He worked hard to improve his performance and his style was very distinct, swimming underwater and doing his trademark jump - the flying squirrel. He was fearless and beautiful to watch. Mark soon became a very well known, respected and accomplished athlete, winning several awards and being named the First Bodysurf Coach for Team USA. 

When Mark wasn’t in the water, he loved to travel or go camping or explore the outdoors with his family. He collected rocks, shells and beach wood. He loved to sleep under the stars and to chase the best spots to watch the meteor showers. What an exceptional human being and what a beautiful soul he had. The way his mind worked was brilliant. He was loved and respected by many, touched lives and served as an inspiration to people all over the world. Mark saw beauty in everything and always looked for the positive and good in people. He lived a full life and lived several lifetimes in one, as a family man, a businessman, a philanthropist, an artist, a waterman, a traveler, an explorer. He aimed to live his life with ethics, passion, love, kindness, respect, positivity. And as he always said: Be Good and Do Good.

Mark is survived by his wife Cristina, daughters Julia and Lucy, parents David and Alice, sister Kelly, brother Richard and husband Mark, brother David and wife Vania, nieces Sophia and Vivian.

A rosary for Mark will be held Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM at St John's Catholic Church, 1001 Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas, California 92024. A funeral mass will occur Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 10:30 AM, 1001 Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas, California 92024. A celebration of life will occur Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Ther Grauer School - Encinitas, 1500 S. El Camino Real, Encinitas, Ca 92024.

Mark will be laid to rest in Paddle Out at Seaside Beach in Cardiff.