Crew

Meet Our Dedicated Crew

Meet Sam and Zina, our experienced crew who have been sailing professionally together for over a decade. With their passion for hospitality and extensive maritime expertise, they ensure every guest enjoys a luxurious and memorable experience.

Sam and Zina with guests on Mymlan

Our crew

Sam and Zina met on holiday in St Marten where they romanced on the beach and dreamt of a life together in the sun. They married almost immediately, in Little Bay, Anguilla, and hatched a plan to team up in what is their dream job, which they call "running a floating 5-star hotel in paradise". They have been sailing professionally full-time, side-by-side, for more than ten years, all over the eastern Caribbean, across the Atlantic and around most of the Mediterranean.

  • Sam

    Sam

    Captain

    Professional captain with over ten years of experience navigating luxury yachts in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. Background includes a Physics degree from Manchester University and prior teaching experience at a leading UK private school.

    • Yachting Licences & certification
    • RYA MCA Yachtmaster Offshore with commercial endorsement for both sail and power vessels
    • STCW 10 Basic Safety Training
    • ENG 1 Medical Certificate
    • MCA Approved Engine Course
    • Food hygiene level 2
    • GMDSS General Operators Certificate (for long range marine radio)
    • OOW General ships knowledge
    • Operational HELM
    • OOW Advanced sea survival
    • RYA Cruising instructor
    • RYA Dinghy instructor
    • RYA Personal Water Craft (Jet Ski) Instructor
    • RYA Start Windsurfing Instructor
    • PADI Scuba instructor
  • Zina

    Zina

    Chef

    Professional chef and sailor with over ten years of experience on luxury yachts in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. Prior to this, she gained hospitality experience as a hotel concierge in Crimea and Italy. Her culinary training is international, encompassing gastronomic cuisine (France), Thai cuisine (Thailand), and yacht cookery (UK), and she holds certifications in Food Hygiene Level 2 and Food Allergy Awareness.

    • Culinary training
    • Diploma in Gastronomic Cuisine - Gastronomicom school, France
    • Yacht Chef Course - Ashburton Culinary School, UK
    • Superyacht Advanced Cookery - Galley Gang, UK
    • Thai Chef Diploma - Bangkok Thai Cooking Academy, Thailand
    • Food hygiene level 2
    • Food Allergy Awareness Training
    • Yachting certification
    • STCW 10 Basic Safety Training
    • ENG 1 Medical Certificate
    • RYA Day Skipper
    • RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased training
    • RYA Marine Radio Short Range
    • ENG 1 Medical Certificate
    • PADI Scuba Open Water
  • Third Crew Member

    Ray

    Deckhand

    Meet Ray Niemand, our 19-year-old deckhand, who makes sure every charter is both safe and fun. From ages 10 to 19, Ray gained valuable experience with the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) in Cape Town, South Africa. This gave him hands-on skills in maritime safety, navigation, and first aid from a young age. His strong focus on safety is a key reason he's such a vital part of our team.

    Ray also has a knack for engines and loves restoring classic vehicles in his free time. This passion means he's great at keeping our boat in excellent shape, giving you peace of mind. Ray is an energetic person who enjoys watersports, a competitive game of tug-of-war, and playing guitar. With Ray on board, you're in truly capable and engaging hands, ready for a fantastic time on the water.

See More of Our Crew

Explore our photo gallery to see Sam, Zina, and Ray in action

View Crew Gallery

Stunning photography • Authentic moments • Real crew experiences