Crew Profiles

GRAEME AFFLECK | Rotational Captain | Scottish
Graeme grew up in a small fishing village on the East Coast of Scotland. He was brought up on and around boats and was destined for a career at sea. He now lives on the south coast of England with his wife and two young boys. Graeme has been in the yachting industry for over 12 years and has a wealth of experience cruising worldwide on both private and charter yachts. He takes pride in providing the highest standard of service for the guests onboard, while not compromising safety. Graeme joined MY OKTO at the start of the 2022 Mediterranean season, after running a busy 55m charter yacht for the past two years. His door is always open to discuss cruising plans or pass on his knowledge of local restaurants and great locations to visit. He is a keen sports man who loves team sports and when time permits, he enjoys a round of golf or some time on the padel court. He loves being in and around the water and is a keen diver. He looks forward to welcoming you onboard.

SAM PIERCE | Rotational Captain | English
With over 15 years of experience navigating some of the world’s most prestigious waters, Captain Sam is a highly skilled and dedicated leader in the yachting industry. Holding a Master 3000 GT license, he has expertly captained a diverse range of superyachts. Renowned for his meticulous attention to safety, seamless voyage planning, and unwavering commitment to guest satisfaction, Captain Sam’s extensive knowledge of cruising area; from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean islands, ensuring every itinerary is thoughtfully tailored to exceed expectations. Captain Sam leads his crew with professionalism, enthusiasm, and a warm, welcoming demeanor. Whether guiding a serene sunset cruise or organizing a thrilling water sports adventure, he ensures that guests are always in expert hands. Approachable and accommodating, Captain Sam goes above and beyond to make every charter truly special.
In his free time, Captain Sam enjoys staying active and spending quality time with his young family. With Captain Sam at the helm, guests can be confident of a world-class charter experience defined by professionalism, safety, and unparalleled hospitality.

SAM STEWARD | Chief Officer | English
Sam was born in Cheltenham, United Kingdom, but now spends most of his time in Mallorca. At the age of 13 his parents began home educating him and his sister so they could travel around every country in Western Europe in a
Campervan. This was where he found his love for the sea and eventually the yachting industry, which he has been in since 2014. Prior to yachting Sam played American Football in the UK for 8 years, for 2 of these years he was the starting Quarterback for Great Britain, playing in tournaments in the Netherlands and Serbia.
In his free time, he enjoys writing, and has been working on several different screenplays which he hopes to one day make into a movie.

STUART GELDART | Rotational Chief Officer | South African
Stuart comes from a small town just outside of Durban. With 9 years in the industry, and a wide range of cruising experience he is excited to bring his knowledge to the guests of Okto.
Stuart has a keen thrill for all things adventurous and spends all of his off time in the bush, cruising through campsites around South Africa, paddling rivers or riding a horse.

GEORGE ATKINSON | Bosun | English
George comes from a quiet village outside of London and already has his foot in the yachting industry with a few years of experience under his belt.
One of George’s favourite things about being onboard MY OKTO is teaching water sports and seeing the pure enjoyment on guest’s faces when they get it right. George enjoys nothing more than a sunrise paddle board, he describes himself as adventurous and enjoys exploring new places.

JEAN MARITZ | Deckhand | South African
Jean grew up in Durban South Africa coming from a very sporty family. He is an avid fisherman and loves spending time in and around the water.
Sailing all over the world has been a thrilling experience for him as he has cruised the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas and hopes one day to add the Indian Ocean to the list.
As a deckhand onboard OKTO Jean is looking forward to giving you an experience you will never forget through their wide range of water toys and days filled of adventures.

MATTHEW KNAPP | Deckhand | South African
Matthew grew up along the beautiful coast of Ballito, South Africa. He spent his mornings to evenings in the water. Matt absolutely loves watersports and helping guests wherever he can, whether it be teaching, encouraging or making the guests laugh. He takes pride in his work onboard OKTO, always working with a smile and enjoys meeting new people and creating special memories.

JESSICA WILLS THORNTON | Chief Stewardess |English
Meet Jessica, born and raised in North Yorkshire, an adventurous spirit who thrives in the great outdoors. Whether hiking, skiing or horse riding, she finds joy in every natural setting. This love for adventure is complemented by a competitive edge, driving her to embrace challenges in outdoor sports and creative pursuits. With a keen eye for detail, Jessica transforms gatherings into memorable experiences. As a kind and caring natural host, Jessica takes pride in curating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Whether it’s a walking trip or a cozy dinner party, Jessica brings enthusiasm and joy to every
moment, welcoming guests onboard MY OKTO and
providing a seamless, luxurious experience.

TATE LONG-LINES | 2nd Stewardess | South Africa
Meet Tate, she is a city girl who then moved to the beautiful Cape Town, South Africa. She studied at a
culinary school in the wineries of Stellenbosch and became a qualified pastry chef. Soon after Tate realised
yachting was her next step and she dived into it with an open mind and soon fell in love with it. Her
creative side from cheffing has allowed her to take on being a stewardess with all the detailed orientated
and creative aspects that come with the job.

SOPHIE ATKINSON | Stewardess | English
Meet Sophie, our dedicated stewardess born in England, who quickly found a love for adventure and meeting new people while volunteering and studying abroad in China, Madagascar, and Canada. Sophie’s enthusiasm goes perfectly in hand with her passion for guest interaction and delivering exceptional service, discovered while working in hospitality alongside her studies at The University of Edinburgh. Since then, she has built the foundations of a long lasting career in yachting, refining her skills and showcasing her creativity all throughout the Mediterranean.
Sophie brings her passion and dedication to OKTO, ready to welcome guests and create memorable experiences.

MONIQUE BEKKER | Stewardess | South African
Meet Monique, she is a dedicated individual wanting to grow in her yachting career, she found her passion for service and guest interactions quickly whilst cruising the Middle East and Mediterranean. Monique has a creative flare with a degree in nail design which she hopes to eventually incorporate into yachting, she also has a love for animals and volunteers at her local animal shelter. With her many interests and passions Monique is determined to keep growing and succeed in anything she puts her mind to.

KELLY SINGLETON | Stewardess | South African
Kelly is a super sweet South African that is always seen with a smile on her face. She has a passion for travelling the world, meeting new people and most of all doing everything she does to the best of her ability.
In her spare time Kelly enjoys working out, painting and dog walks on the beach.
Kelly is fully invested in working hard to building her career as a stewardess and making your experience on OKTO as amazing as possible.

WILLIAM PITT-BROOKE | Head Chef | English
William joins MY OKTO having perfected his trade over the past 12 years. Will has worked in 1, 2 and 3 Michelin star restaurants, with his proudest position being Head Chef at a 1 Michelin star restaurant in Birmingham. He loves all types of cuisine and is continuously discovering and experimenting with new ones! His favorite type of food is street food. In his spare time William enjoys playing football, skiing, hiking and challenging crew members on the Padel court.

OWEN NYAKUDYA | Sous Chef | Zimbabwean
Owen started his career in Africa where he worked in 2 restaurants ranked 22nd and 56th best in the world. During this time Owen grew into his own personal style of intuitive and creative cooking as he worked closely with farmers, fishmongers and foraging around Cape Town. In his free time Owen enjoys creating digital content, sand-boarding, snowboarding and keeps fit by mastering the skill of Calisthenics.

BEN CUDD | Chief Engineer | English
Ben joined OKTO as 2nd Engineer in 2023. With 11 years of experience under his belt he was the natural choice for the promotion to Chief Engineer when it became available. He has passion for everything related to marine engineering and is dedicated to ensuring that the yacht’s mechanical systems are functioning at their best. Outside of work, Ben enjoys mountain biking, cars, and spending time with his family, especially his growing young son who at the age of 2 keeps him on his toes. Ben is an adventurous person who enjoys seeking out new locations and pushing himself to the limit!

VASI MIC | Second Engineer | Romania
Vasi has spent the last 5 years in the large yacht sector and prior to his yachting career he lived in Australia for 12 years, working in the mobile telecommunications industry. Since joining yachting he has specialized in working with various high-tech technical systems. Engineering runs in the family with his sister also working in the superyacht sector as a Chief Engineer. In his free time, Vasi enjoys cycling, diving, snowboarding, and travelling.

ETHAN WYLIE | Third Engineer | South African
Ethan began his career on deck before discovering his true passion for engineering, which has since guided his professional journey. With almost four years of experience, His love for the sea and its vast opportunities has shaped his work ethic and drive, and he continues to grow within the industry, focusing on combining his maritime expertise with engineering innovation. Outside of his career, Ethan is an avid sports enthusiast, enjoying a variety of athletic activities and adventurous pursuits. Whether it's playing sports or exploring the great outdoors, he is always eager to challenge himself physically and mentally.