Alex has grown up in a family where sailing was their number one hobby, he learned to sail at the age of 7 on the river crouch, Essex. This is where his love for the sea was sparked. As he grew up his interest in the nautical world increased, eventually he studied navigation and maritime science at university. When Alex cut his university experience short due to the lack of practical learning, he moved to Turkey to teach children and adults dinghy sailing. He then completed his yacht master offshore in 2018 before joining a classic motor yacht, where he spent 2 years. Alex joined Eleni in 2022 and is a big part of the Eleni team with his positive and charismatic personality.

Alex Dalman
Second Officer
Gavin grew up near the coastal towns of South Devon in the UK. After a brief stint in finance he decided a career in the sun would be much more enjoyable, so he packed his bags for the USA in 2004 and has never looked back. He has worked on busy charter yachts ever since then, working his way through the ranks from deckhand to getting his Captains licence in 2020. Gavin has cruised the Caribbean, Bahamas, East Coast USA and Europe and looks forward too many more adventures at sea. He enjoys hiking, going to the gym and keeping fit during his time off.

Gavin Taylor (Rotational)
First Officer
Ben Faulkner grew up on the Isle of Wight, immersed in the world of yachting from a young age. He began racing dinghies at the age of eight and continued until his early teens. After working in his local harbour to fund his ambitions, he achieved his Yachtmaster Offshore certification in the Solent. Ben then spent two seasons as a lead skipper in Greece, leading flotilla sailing trips. He has now joined yacht Eleni to further his career in the industry, eager to work alongside others who share his passion for life on the water.

Benj Faulkner
Deckhand
Simon comes from Newcastle, England. He came from a merchant navy background before deciding to join the yachting industry. He has worked on all kinds of vessels from large crude oil tankers to standby vessels in the North Sea. Simon is very interested in all aspects of engineering and thoroughly enjoys all challenges which come his way. He is a big supporter of his local football team Newcastle United who he follows religiously on and off season. Simon joined Eleni in 2020 and has shown himself to be a great asset to us the yacht, being promoted to Chief Engineer this year.

Simon Henderson (Rotational)
Chief engineer
David (Sparky) joined Eleni in 2019 and brought with him 25 years of yachting experience. He has been fortunate to visit many destinations worldwide, including Alaska, The Galapagos Islands and the South Pacific, just to name a few. He enjoys being on and off the ocean, diving, free diving and surfing whenever he gets the chance. He has had many memorable experiences, free-diving with whales, experiencing the underwater life of the Galapagos and surfing in Mexico being some of his favorite memories. When he is not working, Sparky enjoys the outdoors, in summer he cycles, golfs and plays tennis. Sparky is full of remarkable stories.

David Marwood (Rotational)
Chief engineer
Sean has over 15 years of experience working in the hospitality industry in various establishments such as exclusive private members clubs, restaurants up to 2 Michelin stars, super yachts and private homes. Sean’s style of cooking is classical with a modern edge; he also has a wide knowledge of traditional worldwide cuisines. His passion is foraging and creating dishes from natural, local ingredients. Sean also has a strong pastry, dessert and bakery repertoire after receiving training from some of the world’s top pastry chefs. Sean rejoins Eleni this year, to the excitement of all the crew and guests alike, he cannot wait to showcase all he has learnt in the last 2 years and bring a new flare to Eleni.

Sean Stevens
Chef
Originating from Tasmania, Australia, Lane started his career on the water at age 23 in the beautiful Whitsunday islands instructing water sports and as a deckhand for Sport fishing charters on the Great Barrier reef. This lead to his first Captain position in 2005. Lanes passion for fishing has made for a natural transition into the yachting industry and has taken him to many destinations around the world. Lane has a lot of nautical miles under his belt and cruising knowledge across a multitude of remote locations and many ocean crossings. Lane’s cruising knowledge, coupled with his technical and engineering experience, will ensure all guests are in capable hands. Lane’s enthusiasm for his role and experience advising an itinerary will ensure guests have an enjoyable time onboard. He enjoys fly-fishing, trail running, snowboarding and enjoys the outdoors with his family.

Lane Olding (Rotational)
Captain
Jazz was born in England and raised in Thailand and Portugal. She worked in her family’s beachside restaurant, where she developed a natural flair for hospitality and a strong work ethic from a young age. Passionate about running, Jazz founded her own run club, raising money for charities and bringing people together for a good cause. Creative and full of energy, she has a great sense of humour and isn’t shy of a sing-along or spontaneous dance. In her downtime, she enjoys drawing and spending time with dogs, and one day hopes to open her own dog sanctuary. Friendly, hardworking, and always ready to help, Jazz brings warmth, positivity, and team spirit to every experience onboard.

Jazmin Brundle
Stewardess
Andy was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and grew up with the ocean on one side and mountains on the other. Her love for sailing began at the Royal Cape Yacht Club and quickly turned into a career in yachting in 2020. She has since gained experience across private and charter yachts, bringing energy, organisation, and a positive attitude to the interior. Andy also holds a degree in Psychology, adding another layer to her curiosity about people and the world around her. When she’s not onboard, you’ll likely find her surfing at sunrise, diving in clear blue water, hiking rugged trails, or planning her next adventure. She loves good laughs, great conversation, and making every moment memorable, both on and off the yacht.

Andria Weppenaar
Stewardess
Zoe grew up in Mozambique, never too far from the shore. She had a colorful upbringing, moving all around the Indian ocean at a young age and eventually attending high school in South Africa. This is where she quickly realized her passion for hospitality. Zoe started yachting at the ripe age of 18 after 6 months of traveling around Italy exploring her country of birth, eating, drinking wine and adventuring. With over 11 years in the yachting industry she has truly made this her career. She loves being around vibrant people and entertaining, as well as immersing herself in other countries cultures. Zoe loves learning new languages and can speak 4 so far. Yachting is her passion, and she will do anything necessary to ensure your time onboard Eleni is one you will never forget.

Zoe Macchiarulo
Chief steward/ess