Hailing from Poole on the picturesque south coast of the United Kingdom, Captain Tristian’s passion for the water began at a young age. Whether it was sailing, surfing, diving, wakeboarding, or fishing, the sea has always been his second home. His love for aquatic adventures only deepened as he moved to New Zealand with his family, where he continues to indulge in his favorite pastimes with those closest to him.
Tristian’s expertise is built on a strong academic foundation, earning a degree in Marine Technology from the University of Plymouth. After completing his studies, he initially honed his skills as a sailmaker, but the lure of the open ocean soon called. In 2012, he embarked on his first superyacht adventure in the UK, marking the beginning of his professional journey in the yachting industry.
Over the years, Captain Tristian has accumulated vast experience navigating some of the world’s most sought-after cruising destinations, including the Mediterranean, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and the East Coast of the USA. His leadership and proficiency were further solidified when he earned his Masters qualification after five years serving as Chief Officer aboard some of the industry’s most renowned yachts. Most recently, he spent several years at the helm of the prestigious charter yacht, M/Y Elixir.
As a captain, Tristian is committed to ensuring the highest standards of safety for both guests and crew. His goal is simple: to deliver unforgettable adventures on the water while maintaining an atmosphere of professionalism and care. With Tristian at the helm, every journey promises to be an experience to remember
Tristian Mather
Captain
John was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and grew up in, under, and on the waters around the Cape. After trying his hand at a Bachelor of Commerce degree, he decided he was wasting his time and his father’s money. He could no longer deny his true calling, which was on the high seas. Since his start in the yachting industry, John now has more than 25 years of experience, which has taken him from the coral-rich and biodiverse waters of Indonesia and Southeast Asia to the frigid waters of Alaska and Norway. John lives aboard his 38-ft sailboat with his wife and 12-year-old son. They spent 15 years sailing in the Caribbean and have twice transited the Panama Canal onboard his sailing boat, “Katemba.” They are now cruising Guatemala’s Rio Dulce and planning to sail to the Mediterranean next summer. John is an expert in spear-fishing and diving. Be sure to chat with him on the subject if you share this same interest!
John Penman
Captain
Johnathan grew up in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, UK, an area known for rhubarb farming and its role in the War of the Roses. He spent much of his childhood exploring the countryside and enjoys outdoor activities like skiing, golfing, cycling, tennis, diving, and staying fit. His love for water has been evident since childhood, with family holidays spent on small boats around the UK and Southern Europe.
With a decade of yachting experience, Johnathan has worked on five different yachts since 2015. He enjoys providing exceptional service to guests and ensuring smooth operations onboard, with a focus on safety and continuous improvement. He has moved into management roles, leading teams to deliver top-tier guest experiences.
Johnathan is reliable, professional, and calm, with a strong work ethic and attention to detail. His career goal is to develop further in the Chief Officer role and eventually take the Master examinations.
Fun fact: Johnathan loves touring in in his van, whether skiing in the Alps or heading to the West Coast of Scotland with the family boat.
Jonathan Atack
First Officer
Nicolas is a highly skilled maritime professional with extensive experience and a steadfast dedication to safety, well-being, and leadership at sea. He began his career in the Royal Navy, serving for five years before transitioning to the superyacht industry, where he has spent the last decade honing his expertise. Currently a Chief Officer, Nicolas is working towards his ultimate goal of becoming a Captain, with a strong focus on upholding the highest standards of safety, delivering exceptional guest service, and prioritizing crew well-being.
Outside of his maritime career, Nicolas is passionate about fitness and resilience. An avid sailor, long-distance runner, and cyclist, he thrives on physical challenges. A former Royal Navy boxing champion, he is no stranger to pushing his limits and enjoys climbing mountains to test his endurance. Nicolas firmly believes that both physical and mental well-being are essential for success at sea. When he's not on the
water or training, he finds tranquility in the beautiful Forest of Bowland in England, which he proudly calls home.
Nicolas Crabtree
First Officer
Born and raised in sunny Vilamoura, Portugal, Sergio grew up surrounded by the sea—making a life in yachting a natural path. With over five years of focused maritime experience, he started working on yachts at just 15 and has steadily built his career through hard work and determination.
Now a qualified Deck Officer, Sergio is passionate about mentoring others in the industry and is actively pursuing his Chief Mate certification. Off the water, he values time with family, staying fit, and reconnecting with old friends. Fun fact: he once squatted three times his body weight at age 15—and nearly became a vet!
Sergio Sousa
Second Officer
Phil grew up in Hoedspruit, the safari capital of South Africa, nestled at the foot of the Klein Drakensberg. Known for its wildlife estates and unique town logo featuring three warthogs, Hoedspruit offers unforgettable safari experiences.
Since starting in yachting in 2017, Phil has gained experience on yachts ranging from 40 to 90 meters, traveling across the Mediterranean, Baltic, Bahamas, and Caribbean. His skills include navigation, safety management, leadership, and maintenance, with a strong focus on people and team dynamics.
Fun, outgoing, and caring, Phil loves meeting new people and helping junior crew members grow. His next career goal is to gain his Chief Mate qualification, with the aspiration to become a superyacht captain. A former semi-professional cricket player, Phil enjoys all sports.
Philip Nel
Second Officer
Javi grew up between England, Spain, and Colombia, with Colombian/Scottish parents, which sparked his love for languages, cultures, and meeting people from all walks of life. With 5 years of experience in yachting, he has worked on a variety of motor yachts ranging from 55m to 92m, most recently spending 2.5 years with one vessel. His favorite cruising destination has been the Caribbean, with the Mediterranean
coming in a close second. Javi has a deep passion for the ocean and is dedicated to traveling and creating unforgettable memories while advancing his career at sea.
In his spare time, Javi enjoys kitesurfing, scuba diving, and photography. When he's back home in Leeds, England, he can typically be found spending quality time with family and friends while enjoying a pint of Guinness.
8. Lead De
Javier McIntyre-vera
Bosun
Rafal was born in a small farming village in northern Poland.
He enjoys spending time with his daughter, doing various sports activities with her. Apart from that, he likes improving his car and motorcycle. He enjoys all kinds of sports, with gym, cycling, and skiing being his top interests.
After graduating university as a marine engineer, Rafal started working on commercial ships, including bulk carriers, container ships, roro ships, scientific ships, and ships powered by alternative fuels like LNG. After going through all the levels on commercial ships, he started working on yachts. His skills are limited only by imagination.
Rafal is rather calm and quiet, respects the work of others, and demands that others respect his work as well.
He hasn't worked on large passenger ships yet and would like to see what it's like. In a few years, his ideal goal would be to open his own company, possibly a car repair shop.
There are many funny facts about Rafal, but one worth mentioning is that he chose maritime school and work on ships, only to discover he suffers from significant seasickness, which still bothers him.
Rafal Fudala
Chief engineer
Jaro was born in Warsaw, Poland where he still resides to this day. His interest in tinkering with spanners and screwdrivers from an early age kept him earnest in his pursuit to work with machinery and anything power-driven. In consequence, Jaro started working on cargo ships right after he finished high school for four years before he transitioned to the cruise industry where he began running the day-to-day operations on some of the biggest cruise ships in the world. After spending seven years on cruise ships, an opportunity arose for Jaro to work on private yachts, which he did not hesitate to accept, as this was something he dreamed of for a long time. A lover of nature and spending time outdoors, you will likely find Jaro partaking in a plethora of adrenaline-raising, activities such as yoga and pilates. You can throw anything his way and it is inevitable he will excel, needle-point and textile weaving are some of his common practices,
Jaro loves his food, and when he isn’t onboard you will find him washing down perogi’s with vodka while immersing himself in the rich culture of Poland.
Jaro Najmula
Chief engineer
Kris was born in Malbork, home to a historic Gothic Teutonic castle. Growing up in the Żuławy region, he developed a passion for mechanics and nature.
An avid motorcycle enthusiast, Kris enjoys long rides and works on his family's collection of six motorcycles. He is also a keen hunter, spending time in the forest observing wildlife.
Kris began his maritime career at the Maritime University in Gdynia and has since worked on cargo ships and yachts as a chief engineer. His goal is to gain experience on larger vessels to earn his Chief Engineer Unlimited certificate.
He values organization and clear roles but is also adaptable in different environments. Kris dreams of touring Europe by motorcycle and once rode on a tractor's trailer, proving it was the better choice when seven people crowded the cabin.
Kris Warzynski
Engineer