Christie grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa, before moving to Stellenbosch where she completed her Honours degree in Finance. After university, she decided to take a break from the corporate path and headed to France for a ski season in the Alps. Not quite ready to return home afterwards, she discovered the yachting industry and hasn’t looked back since.
Having grown up very sporty with a love for the outdoors, Christie thrives in the adventurous yachting lifestyle. She enjoys meeting new people, exploring beautiful places, and creating unforgettable experiences for charter guests.

Christie Firth
Stewardess
Sean comes from a small town on the south coast of South Africa called George and has always had a love for cooking and the desire to perfect a craft. Now his second position in yachting, Sean loves the opportunity to work with relatively few guests and make a personalised experience with his impressive culinary skills.
Sean creates delicious and visually stunning meals, curated for the taste of the guests onboard. He loves the intimate nature of the galley on KING BENJI and how it allows him to form strong relationships with guests to ensure the best culinary experience possible. Sean's phenomenal sense of humour makes him and his galley a delightful place to eat and relax.
Sean believes that laughter is the best way to connect with others. Both Sean's laughter and passion for food are contagious; no charter is complete without his company.

Sean Connolly
Chef
Growing up on the coast of Durban, South Africa, Grant found himself partaking in watersports and boat driving from a very young age. He competed in the South African lifesaving championships and later became a qualified Divemaster.
Grant found his way into the yachting world in 2012, he has travelled throughout the waters of the Mediterranean, Pacific West Coast, Canada, Mexico, Atlantic US East Coast as well as the Caribbean, Bahamas & Norway. Grant's inbuilt lust for adventure led him to a solo trek through the wilderness mountains of the Pyrenees, spanning 1000km from coast to coast. Grant feels its important to see how far he can push his body and mind.
Grant’s broad maritime experience, strong work ethic & positive attitude will ensure your voyage aboard KING BENJI will be both exciting and memorable.

Grant Du Preez
Captain
Lara grew up in the vibrant city of Cape Town, where living on the doorstep of the ocean and beneath the iconic Table Mountain nurtured her love for outdoor adventures and nature.
After competing as a student athlete for many years and finishing her Masters in Neuromarketing she decided it was time for a greater adventure! The industry allowed her to follow her passion for travel, food, adventure and connecting with people. Her vivacious energy helps create a welcoming atmosphere, making guests feel right at home.

Lara Abbot
Chief steward/ess
Edgar is from Tampico, Mexico - famous for UFO sightings, and as the legend says, an alien base 40 km from the city’s, beaches deep underwater. He loved the sea since he was a child, so when it was time to choose his career, he decided to attend the Maritime Academy, and he became an Engineer.
Before moving to yachting, Edgar worked on bulk carriers and offshore vessels in Mexico, Singapore and Egypt, where his dream to travel the world started to come alive. As a brand new boat, Edgar has delighted in working with some of the latest high-tech equipment on board KING BENJI and was instrumental in preparing hers for delivery. Very few people know what makes KING BENJI tick better than Edgar.
In his free time, he loves diving, sandboarding, and camping, and he drives off-road vehicles.

Edgar Fajardo
Chief engineer
Daniel grew up in Hilton, a charming town near Durban, South Africa, where his lifelong passion for the water first began. From an early age, he and his family were avid boaters and water sports enthusiasts, spending most of their time on the water since he was just six years old. With over 10 years of professional yachting experience, Daniel has built an impressive career navigating diverse waters across California, Mexico, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and Europe. His calm leadership style, strong seamanship skills, and deep respect for the ocean ensure that every guest enjoys both a safe and unforgettable experience on board.
When he’s not at the helm, Daniel enjoys spending time outdoors, hunting, fishing, water sports, extreme enduro motorbike racing, and playing golf. His adventurous spirit and genuine love for the ocean shine through in every charter he leads.

Daniel Bure
Captain
Josh was born in East London, a town on the East Coast of South Africa. A dedicated sportsman, he initially pursued a professional Rugby career but in 2014, inspired by his travel to the USA he decided to begin a career in yachting.
Now having expanded his experience to Europe, Josh has continued to excel in the yachting industry and looks forward to continuing his professional growth while embarking on new adventures and challenges.
Alongside his passion for rugby, Josh is also a keen golfer, padel player, and is an accomplished triathlete. Since joining the industry, he has also picked up fishing as a hobby and is keen to sink his teeth into more watersports going forward.

Josh Van Rooyen
First Officer
Cory was born and raised on the Sunshine Coast, Australia. Growing up surfing and fishing turned into a no brainer to move into the yacht industry. Cory started yachting in the beginning of 2018 where he found a love for travel, watersports and cruising the high seas. Prior to yachting Cory was a savoury pastry baker for 4 years. Cory has a passion for diving, fishing, toy voyaging and golf.

Cory Finlayson
Bosun
Hailing from a background rich in adventure and hospitality, Brandon brings energy, enthusiasm, and a passion for creating unforgettable experiences. A true sports lover and adrenaline seeker, he thrives in any environment that keeps him active—whether it’s on the water, in the mountains, or on the field. His diverse background has shaped his ability to connect with people from all walks of life, ensuring that every guest feels welcome and engaged.
Brandon is always ready to dive into an adventure, whether it’s wakeboarding, snorkelling, or organizing a beachside workout, he’s the go-to crew member for guests looking to stay active and have fun. If you’re up for a challenge and don’t mind getting a little sweaty, he’s your guy! With his infectious energy, dedication to top-tier service, and passion for adventure, Brandon is here to make sure every moment on board is one to remember.

Brandon Mackay
Deckhand
Jordan was born and raised in Tampico, Mexico, and also resides in Cabo San Lucas, where he enjoys spending most of his time traveling around the Baja California Peninsula and exploring the beautiful beaches in the area.
He decided to pursue a career in the maritime industry by enrolling in a nautical academy in Tampico, where he earned his engineering degree. After graduating in 2015, Jordan began working on oil tankers and bulk carrier vessels within the commercial shipping industry. Seeking new challenges and the opportunity to work with diverse nationalities, he transitioned into the yachting industry, where he has now been working for over 10 years.
In his free time he loves to work out, play chess and he’s very keen into cars and motorbikes.

Jordan Jones
Chief engineer