Crew Profiles

Herbert Magney // Captain

Born Californian, Herb has been a “Waterman” from the start. Power boating and sailing since 1966. Being a Charter Yacht Captain is his calling and this has been what he has focused on since his first Charter Show 1996. A proven dedication to the yachting community and the charter guests time and again over the past three decades.
He brings to the table the vast experiences having been a pilot, “Hard Hat” diver, industrial engineer, industrial salesman and public relations for resorts since the mid 70’s, his level of expertise and diversity in experience mean he can adjust to any situation. His maritime experience covers, yachts private and commercial, high speed passenger vessels, casino ships, oil field supply and seismic vessels. He is a current member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. He has held captain licenses in 8 countries over a thirty year span of time.
He has worked in and around the Bahamas, all the Caribbean, Western Med and Central America dating back to 1989 with the resort company CLUB MED. The past 20 years have been devoted to the exploring, sharing, and promoting cruising and yachting from the islands of Croatia to the Florida Keys, and most everything in between. Herb’s job is to turn the charter dream into a memory come true. This is where there is no substitute for solid successful experience.

Fernanda Cruz // Chief Stewardess

Fernanda is originally from Mexico and started her career in the cruise industry, working in customer service with luxury brands, where she built a strong base in guest service, attention to detail, and working in fast-paced environments. Later, Fernanda moved into yachting, where she continued growing and developed a more personal approach to hospitality. As Chief Stewardess, she leads the interior team with a positive attitude, good communication, and a strong focus on keeping everything running smoothly. Fernando takes pride in maintaining high standards, making guests feel comfortable, and creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere onboard. She speaks both Spanish and English, values teamwork, respect, and adaptability when working with guests and crew from different backgrounds. Outside of work, Fernanda enjoys wellness, staying active, and discovering new places.

Paula Gomez // Second Stewardess

Paula was born in Colombia, where she graduated in advertising before finding my way into yachting, an industry she was could share her love for creating meaningful experiences and connecting with people. Pauls has now been in the industry for over six years.
Paula is multi-lingual, speaking Spanish, English, and French.
She brings an intuitive approach to service, always aiming to make guests feel cared for and at ease from the moment they step on board.
Having grown up as a twin, teamwork has always come naturally, and she truly values a supportive crew dynamic.
In her free time, Paula loves reading, Pilates, going on adventures, and has a soft spot for dogs. She also loves curating experiences for friends and family by creating moments that make people feel special, appreciated and uplifted.

Maria // Second Stewardess

Born and raised in Lima, a beautiful coastal city in Peru, Maria grew up by the oceans as she used to spend her summers jumping to the sea as often as she could. Before beginning her career in yachting, she had a strong background in costumer service, hospitality and is even a licensed bartender. You can count on Maria to keep spirits high. Her passion for service and attention to detail are matched by her mixology -so do not hesitate to challenge her cocktail making skills! Maria takes pride in delivering top tier service, and brings enthusiasm, professionalism and a warm personality to every charter.
When she is not working, much of her time off is spend traveling the world sampling new cuisines, immersing herself into diverse cultures, scuba diving and capturing her travels with her camera and drone.

Alex Lopez // Chef

Alex is a professional Charter & Private yacht Chef, raised in Tijuana, Mexico. With a professional degree from Culinary Art School University, he made his way into fine dining restaurants and hotels as Head Chef.
Alex won a chefs competition in Tijuana and got offered a 1 year contract as the Head Chef in an up and coming restaurant.
Looking for a better life and new adventures, Alex moved to Ensenada and found himself working on a project of an organic based, seasonal menu restaurant in Valle de Guadalupe for a year contract. He was then offered to lead the kitchen of Hyatt Place in La Paz, Baja Sur.
Since the day of arrival to La Paz, Alex fell in love with the idea of being a yacht chef. After two years of trying he received his first yacht contract in 2016 which led to his thriving career with seasons in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, South America, California, Vancouver and Alaska.
Alex enjoys preparing his meals with local and fresh ingredients and exploring varied types of cuisines. He always maintains a positive attitude and pushes his limits aiming to set him self apart from other Chefs in the industry.
Alex is married to his lovely wife and has a beautiful daughter, his inspiration to his success in the galley and serving his culinary delights to guests.

Ogliver Ovalles // Chief Engineer

Ogliver is Marine Engineer with over 15 years of experience, including 9 years with Royal Caribbean as a 3rd Engineer on large cruise vessels, followed by 6 years in the yachting industry. He has built a solid technical foundation managing high-capacity engine room operations, including Wärtsilä main engines, fuel and oil systems, steam generation, and water production, with extensive experience in structured maintenance, safety procedures, and watch keeping in demanding operational environments.
Ogliver transitioned into yachting, bringing his large-vessel expertise into private and charter yachts ranging from 118’ to 143’, successfully managing full engineering operations, shipyard periods, and refits. His strong hands-on experience spans across mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems, including MTU engines, generators, HVAC, water makers, and auxiliary equipment. Ogliver has proven his ability to support busy charter programs in the Caribbean while maintaining reliability, efficiency, and minimal downtime.
Ogliver is a calm and solutions-driven professional with strong leadership and communication skills working effectively with captains, crew, owners, and contractors.

Emiliano Lizarraga // Chief Officer

Emiliano was born in Mazatlán,Sinaloa, Mexico, and has always found the sea fascinating and inspiring. He completed four years at the Merchant Marine Academy, graduating as a Deck Officer, and has gained over six years of maritime experience as an Officer.

Emiliano began his career in the commercial sector and offshore oil field operations before transitioning into yachting, where he has continued to grow professionally while genuinely enjoying the industry.
He is passionate about his life at sea and takes pride in supporting the overall operation of the yacht. Outside of work, he enjoys music and playing instruments such as the saxophone, guitar, and piano, as well as staying active through sports like basketball and fitness. Emiliano enjoys combining his skill and passion for being at sea and turning that into exciting and memorable experiences on board.

Gilbert Mata // Bosun

Gilbert is originally from Venezuela and has been working in the yachting industry since 2022.
He thrives on both physical activity and enriching experiences. You'll often find Gilbert pushing his limits with a good workout or hitting the pavement for a run, always eager to adapt and excel in any sport or professional challenge that comes his way. Beyond the personal bests, he finds immense joy in the simple beauty of a landscape or the breathtaking hues of a sunset. Gilberts’ curiosity extends to the latest technological gadgets, as a lifelong learner, he is constantly seeking opportunities for personal and professional growth.
When not immersed in a new skill or a captivating piece of music, Gilbert’s adventurous spirit calls me to explore new places, connect with diverse people, and immerse himself in different cultures around the globe, always creating everlasting moments to the people in his surroundings including his fellow crew and guests on board.

Eduardo Garate // Deckhand

Being born and raised in the Mexican Pacific coast is how he found his love for the sea. As a child, he fell in love with practicing every kind of sport, including fishing, snorkeling and surfing. During his teenage years, his passions revolved around playing on professional minor baseball leagues in Mexico. As a good adventurer, he likes to explore nature through kayaking, hiking and other outdoor activities loving document his travels and explorations with his action camera and drone.
Eduardo has been working in the super yacht industry for almost 3 years. Now with a Caribbean seasons under his belt, he brings his energy and experience to all those on board.
Eduardos skills create a safe and professional environment while providing a fun, comfortable, and high quality experience.