Meet Captain Iain, a true mariner with a heart as vast as the ocean. Born in New Westminster, Canada and brought up in a small town called Maple Ridge, a true maple syrup loving Canadian! He now calls the vibrant city of Vancouver, British Colombia home. Iain has spent years honing his craft on grand yachts and cruise ships alike.Spending 8 years of his career on Princess Cruises, Iain soon turned to obtain his OOW license followed by a move to the UK to complete his courses in 2012. Captain Iain found himself immersed completely with the yachting industry, working on one of the world’s largest bespoke super yachts, a testament to his expertise and dedication to the craft. When he’s not charting new courses, Captain pedals through scenic trails on his trusty mountain bike, savors the flavors of different cuisines throughout Vancouver, takes his personal boat out for a spin, and shares adventures with his loyal furry companion, Gunnar. With a wealth of experience, and a zest for life, he’s ready to steer your journey to unforgettable destinations.
Fun fact: Has such a bond with his bottle of sriracha, the crew refers to it as “the real first mate.”

Iain Patterson
Captain
Meet Marty, our all-around legend and true-blue Aussie with a spirit built for adventure. Born in Brisbane and raised in the laid-back country town of Toowoomba, Marty’s early years were filled with muddy boots, footy fields, and a love for the great outdoors. After a stint chasing athletic dreams, he pivoted into the world of sales—until a mate’s seafaring tales sparked something deeper. In 2020, he swapped cars for keels, diving headfirst into the yachting world and never glancing back at the outback.Since then, Marty has fully embraced life on the water, thriving in the hands-on nature of deck work and the ever-changing rhythm of life at sea. His passion for adventure goes well beyond the ocean—whether it’s snowboarding down alpine slopes, tackling a mountain trail, lifting at the gym,or jetting off to explore a new city, Marty’s always on the move. With his laid-back energy and can-do attitude, Marty fits the yachting lifestyle like a glove. He’s the kind of guy who makes fast friends, keeps the crew laughing, and brings genuine warmth to every guest interaction. A natural team player with a heart for hospitality, Marty is always ready to roll up his sleeves, face the elements, and create epic memories along the way.
Hidden Talent: Pickleball MVP—you’ve been warned.

Marty Higgins
First Officer
Matt grew up inland in South Africa but was always drawn to the ocean. After school he moved to the coast, became a sailing instructor, and then a charter captain on sailing yachts in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. From there he crossed to motor yachts, working as First Officer on vessels up to 80 metres before taking command. Over 26 years he has operated across the Mediterranean from east to west, the Caribbean island chain, and Central America. He lives with his wife in Cannes, on the French Riviera. In his free time, Matt is a keen photographer, enjoys sailing, and heads back to Cape Town, his other home, as often as he can for overland camping road trips across Southern Africa. For all of that, being on the water is always where he feels most at home. He is happiest when cruising aboard motor yacht Alta and making sure every guest has the best time possible.
Hidden talents: Possesses an almost mystical talent for selecting the exact checkout line that will grind to a complete halt.

Matt McDougall
Captain
Born in Odesa by the Black Sea, Sofiia grew up spending her childhood between her grandmother’s garden and the nearest beach. She equally loves adventurous road trips, loud art festivals and quiet and cozy evenings with a cup of tea and a good book. She is carrying her Ukrainian roots and traditions everywhere she goes. Her foundation in Tourism Management was followed by a successful career as a hairdresser and a trainer-colorist and later with Disney Cruise Line, where precision service and emotional intelligence became second nature. She has since served on 37m to 112m yachts across the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Western Mediterranean, progressing to Chief Stewardess. Her approach to hospitality is rooted in anticipation rather than reaction. With a background in both luxury service and high-pressure environments, Sofiia brings calm presence, discretion, and consistent standards everywhere she goes. She is known for creating fun and enjoyable atmosphere for everyone onboard.
Hidden talent: Can effortlessly write backwards like Leonardo Da Vinci in his diary.

Sofiia Skorokhod
Chief steward/ess
Cesar hails from the picturesque nation of Mexico, nestled in the historically significant town of Durango. With a career spanning numerous years in the yachting industry, Cesar's journey began aboard tanker vessels traversing the globe. Despite being of Spanish origin and often collaborating with Spanish crews, Cesar places great emphasis on embracing diverse languages, exhibiting a perpetual thirst for learning. He is always keeping us on our toes, teaching us new Spanish words and making us laugh. When not dedicated to his maritime duties, Cesar cherishes moments spent with his beautiful family, prioritizing quality time above all else. Armed with a radiant smile, Cesar is ever-prepared to utilize his extensive engineering expertise to tackle any challenge that comes his way, embodying the essence of a reliable problem-solver.
Fun fact: Cesar loves to give us all Spanish nicknames and rarely will call us
by our real names!

Cesar Onesimo
Chief engineer
Vicky brings a grounded warmth and quietly adventurous spirit to the Alta crew. Born and raised in a small farm town in the South African countryside, she grew up with wide horizons, big skies, and the kind of practical know-how you only get from learning to drive a tractor before you master a bicycle. After a gap year spent nannying in the Netherlands, her love for travel and connection only grew. Yachting became the perfect next chapter: a career where she could combine hospitality with adventure, meet people from all corners of the world, and swap farm dust for ocean air. Since stepping into the industry, she's earned a reputation for calm Efficiency, genuine kindness, and an instinct for creating a welcoming atmosphere for guests and crew alike. Off the boat, Vicky's happiest exploring new coffee shops, clocking a run, or losing herself in a good Pilates session.
Hidden Talent: Can spot the best coffee shop in any city with zero research and
unnerving accuracy.

Vicky Muller
Stewardess
Carolina is a true citizen of the world, with a boundless curiosity that’s taken her across continents. After five years of backpacking and collecting stories from every corner of the globe, she stumbled into the yachting world thanks to an unexpected source — a bittersweet film called ‘Adrift’. Originally from Argentina, often referred to as “the end of the world,” Carolina finds joy and wonder in every new destination she explores. An active soul, she’s passionate about tennis, snorkeling, and hiking, always ready to dive into the next outdoor adventure. But don’t let her sporty side fool you — hand her a microphone and the crew might just be treated to an impromptu concert. Carolina brings warmth, wanderlust, and a spark of fun wherever she goes.
Hidden Talent: An impressively accurate Shakira impression, capturing the tone and signature nuances with remarkable precision.

Carolina Sueyro
Stewardess
Meet Herman Smit – though on board, he’s affectionately known as Harry or Smitty, depending on who’s calling and how much trouble he’s in. Born in the sunny town of Pinetown and raised in Middleburg, Harry’s roots are proudly South African. Before stepping into the world of yachting, he spent several years honing his work ethic and people skills in the fast-paced restaurant scene of Potchefstroom – where he learned that keeping calm under pressure is just as useful behind a bar as it is on deck. A lifelong lover of sport and the outdoors, Harry’s background in rugby and long-distance running gives him the stamina and teamwork mentality that make him a natural fit for deck life. These days, when he’s not elbows-deep in lines or launching toys, you’ll find him scuba diving — a hobby that quickly turned into a full-blown passion. If there’s an ocean nearby, he’s probably in it. With four Atlantic crossings under his belt (and counting), Harry is no stranger to open water. Harry speaks Afrikaans and English fluently, and can hold a surprisingly decent conversation in Spanish – especially if it involves giving directions, talking about food, or asking where the nearest dive spot is. Always first to laugh, last to complain, and forever up for a challenge, Harry is a team player through and through – the kind of guy who makes long days feel shorter and good vibes last longer.
Hidden talents: Reading people’s body language with uncanny accuracy and pulling obscure facts out of nowhere that somehow always ends up being useful (or at least hilarious).

Harry Smit
Bosun
Nadiia is an experienced chef with over 7 + years in the culinary
industry, specializing in Japanese, French, Italian cuisine. After graduating from Le Cordon Blue and working her way up through roles at high-end restaurants and hotels, she developed a strong ability to lead kitchen teams, maintain high standards, and create innovative, seasonal menus. Nadia is particularly passionate about quality and is eager to bring her creativity and dedication to your dining table at M/Y Alta.
Hidden talent: Nadia is running her own Cleaning Company back home.

Nadiia Tatikian
Chef
Meet Travis – born and raised in New Zealand, with a lifelong appreciation for the ocean and the outdoors. Growing up around boats, fishing, diving, and water sports, it wasn’t long before he found himself drawn towards a career at sea. After several years working in the trades, Travis made the move into yachting in search of new challenges, opportunities to travel, and the chance to build a career doing something he genuinely enjoys. He brings a practical mindset, strong work ethic, and positive attitude to every role he takes on.
For Travis, yachting combines many of the things he enjoys most — the ocean, travel, teamwork, and the opportunity to challenge himself. He values the friendships formed onboard, the chance to experience new places and cultures, and the unique lifestyle that comes with working at sea.
Away from work, he enjoys staying active in the gym, surfing and diving and spending as much time outdoors as possible, whether it’s exploring a new place or planning his next adventure. He is always happiest when he’s busy living life.
Hidden talent: Put him in front of a good wave with a surfboard and there’s a fair chance he won’t be seen again until sunset.

Travis Eccleshall
Deckhand