I have had a lifetime of experience working at sea, both in the Merchant Navy & onboard sailing yachts. At a young age, I learned to sail on the south coast of England and had a keen interest in other water sports including kayaking & windsurfing and then sailing on cruising yachts.  At 18 years old, I started a brief career in the Merchant Navy with Mobil Oil qualifying as an officer of the watch (OOW unlimited). After being made redundant I went traveling and fell into the private & charter yacht scene which I have seen develop considerably over my 35-year career into the Superyacht Industry it is now.

I joined the Seahawk mission as a relief captain in January 2021 leading to my current rotational captain’s position on Seahawk in September 2021. I have worked on many yachts but for me Seahawk is very special.

Firstly, the yacht is currently executing a fantastic itinerary taking us to far-flung islands and places around the Pacific. Secondly, the owners decided to have the yacht involved in various marine science projects along our cruising route and also projects where we contribute to the various communities we visit. Becoming involved in marine conservation and research has added a fantastic new dimension to the usual yacht work experience. As crew, giving back to the environment we work in is very satisfying, interesting and educational. Hopefully what Seahawk achieves during her mission will inspire other yachts to also become involved in various projects during their world travels to remote places where scientific-led research is essential.

When on leave, I enjoy spending time with my family and various outdoor pursuits including kite-surfing, skiing, diving, cycling, and hiking. I also have a keen interest in current affairs, global and environmental issues.

I grew up sailing and racing dinghies in South Africa since a very young age. The sea has always been a big part of my life and I spent my youth surfing as much as possible.

After graduating from the Cape Town University of Technology and working in South Africa for 3 years, I decided to follow my passion for the sea and pursued a career in yachting on large sailing yachts.

I started off as a junior deckhand on a 65m Stay Sailed Schooner, built in 1927, and worked my way up through every rank. Today, I find myself with extensive large sailing yacht experience, including a large amount of time onboard Perini Navi’s.

The Seahawk mission appeals to me as it combines adventure, protection and research of marine life, doing good along the way and contributing to communities worldwide.

During my off duty periods, I enjoy spending time with my family, in my garden pursuing permaculture ideas, landscaping projects, and various outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking, surfing and windsurfing.

I grew up in an ostrich farm in South Africa. After graduating in economics from Stellenbosch University I realized I wasn’t ready for the financial sector. I decided to trade a life of vineyards and ostrich feathers for a life of sand and coconuts. I have a bit of a reputation on board as a coconut forager and rarely come back from shore without one.

Working on Seahawk means always being on the lookout for new adventures and places to explore; from hiking and golfing on land; to diving, wing foiling, or sailing at sea. We are always on the move and ready to make the most of the places we visit.

After completing my degree in Commercial Photographic Practice in the UK, I started my working career as a cruise ship photographer cruising the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. I was introduced to the yachting industry in 2014, my first job was on a 70-meter motor yacht in Cannes, France. Shortly after I joined SY Seahawk and found my love for sailing and being on the ocean. I decided to peruse a career in the industry and have been lucky to travel the world. After working on different yachts I had the pleasure of returning to Seahawk at the beginning of 2020 in Palma and have since continued non-stop exploring West. SY Seahawk has given me unique experiences and the opportunity to mix with different communities and cultures around the world, embracing their way of life and working together to protect and preserve the ocean for our future. The Seahawk mission and our involvement are very rewarding, full of fun and adventure.

Growing up in Durban, South Africa, I spent all my holidays and free time on the beach or in the bush around it. My mother’s side of the family are keen sailors, and my father works in commercial shipping; so I guess I was always destined to spend some part of my life working at sea.

After obtaining my degree in Geography, Psychology, and Sociology, I was a bit confused about what to do with it. So I set off to sail the world in the hope that I would find a purpose and avenue to apply these learned skills. Not long after, my passion for the sea and sailing had taken over and this became my career path.

Working on Seahawk gives me the opportunity to interact with the environment and societies we visit, which not many boats in this industry come close to. It gives me hope that I will be able to apply my academic learning to help the Seahawk mission leave a positive footprint everywhere we go.

After completing my Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design in 2012, I landed a job with an independent fashion designer in London. The company had an eco-friendly approach towards design and lifestyle, and I have since adopted the same ethos.

I developed a deep love for the ocean during my travels to Australia. I settled in Airlie Beach and began working on dive boats that took trips out to the Great Barrier Reef. It was there that I learned to dive and became passionate about reef conservation.

I have been fortunate enough to have an exciting career that has allowed me to explore various parts of the world, including the Caribbean, America, Galapagos, French Polynesia, Alaska, and many other places. Experiencing so many different cultures has been an incredible privilege.

I am thrilled to continue my journey as a member of the Seahawk Crew. The preservation of our oceans is of utmost importance, and I take pride in being part of a team that is making a positive impact on the environment.

I’ve been working in the Yachting Industry for nearly 30 years. Originally, I was qualified as
an Electrical Engineer in South Africa (1986). Later I added Mechanical and Chemical to my
arsenal in the UK. Not only have I been working on Yachts but was also Owner’s
Engineering Representative on the following Perini Navi builds: THETIS (40m),
PANTHALASSA (56m), MELEK (56m) and ENTERPRISE (50m).

I love sailing, diving and motorcycling. I am married with two children.

I was born in Cape Town, South Africa where I developed a love for the sea from a young age through spearfishing and free diving. After school I joined the South African Navy as a Marine Engineering Officer and gained a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Since then I’ve worked in the fishing industry, the offshore oil industry and for the last 16 years in the super yacht industry.

I’ve seen first hand the negative impact humanity can have on the marine environment and I’m very fortunate and grateful to be involved in our mission on Seahawk to give back to the oceans and coastal communities through the various marine science and philanthropic projects.

I graduated from University in New Zealand with an Advanced Certificate Level IV in Commercial Cookery over 20 years ago!

Since then, I have travelled and studied different cuisines from around the world, I especially enjoy preparing Thai, Vietnamese and Japanese dishes.  I have also gained certificates in Indian, Mexican, Italian and French cuisine to add to my repertoire.

When I am not in the galley, I enjoy playing the drums, mostly Pearl Jam, Green Day and AC/DC.  I’m pleased to be part of the great programme onboard SY Seahawk where we can make a positive impact upon the places we visit… and I even got to learn to dive!

I was born and raised in San Diego, California with a deep love and appreciation for the ocean.

I studied at the University of Washington in Seattle, where I competed on the women’s rowing team and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business.

After working for a couple of years in marketing, I decided to quit my office job and take off traveling to see the world. While living in Australia, I visited the Great Barrier Reef, and quickly fell in love with scuba diving. I moved to Cairns and became a scuba diving instructor, and then worked as an instructor and underwater photographer.

I am thrilled to be a part of Seahawk’s journey; to travel to remote corners of the globe, and take part in the projects on board that contribute to ocean research.

I was born and raised in West Auckland.
Growing up on the rugged west coast of New Zealand, I developed a love and respect for the ocean from a very young age.

As a family, we spent the majority of our weekends during the summer out walking the dogs along the black sand beaches or exploring the local islands of the Hauraki Gulf on our family boat.

I grew up with my parents traveling a lot for their work, as they were both in the Royal New Zealand Air Force. So it’s fair to say that I caught the travel bug from them.

A mixture of growing up by the water and having a shared interest in engineering with my father led me to become an engineer on Superyachts.

I was particularly drawn to Seahawk due to the values that they strive for. The vessel’s program is all about the safety and conservation of the marine world and participating in science projects, so I’m happy that now I get to be a part of it too.