Born and raised in the Southwest of England, Charlie has always lived just a stone’s throw from the sea. This marks her third season chasing the sun, but her first aboard a sailing yacht.
With a background in hospitality and a passion for silversmithing, Charlie brings creativity and care to her work, truly embodying the phrase “service with a smile”
Charlie Gilbert
Stewardess
Jacob grew up in Dorset, on the Southwest Coast of England where he used to sail Lasers as a child. Ever passionate about the sea, Jacob pursued Sports Coaching in college where he further expanded his skills into watersports and now, he is a qualified Paddle sport Instructor.
Following his family’s footsteps, Jacob joined the yachting industry and found himself hooked and wanted to pursue a long-term career.
Jacob is an avid Water Polo player, football enthusiast and keen outdoorsman. In his free time, he enjoys powerboating, biking, driving and listening to music.
Jacob Baldwin
Bosun
Originally from Gdynia, a seaside city in Poland, Piotr graduated from Maritime University with a degree in Navigation. After completing his apprenticeship aboard various commercial vessels, he earned his officer's license and began his yachting career on a sailing catamaran, later transitioning to motor yachts to further develop his expertise in the industry.
Over the years, he has worked aboard several successful charter yachts, including M/Y Sarah, M/Y Formosa, and M/Y The Wellesley. Now rejoining sailing yachts to chase his childhood hobby, Piotr is excited to welcome you aboard S/Y Zenji and sail with you to unforgettable destinations.
Having grown up by the water, Piotr has been passionate about sailing from an early age, whether racing dinghies or cruising. Outside of yachting, he enjoys basketball, squash, and videography.
Piotr Sikorski
First Officer
James grew up in South Africa with a passion for dirt bike riding from a very young age. He competed in various Hard Enduro events across the rugged South African wilderness and even conquered the challenging mountain ranges of Lesotho.
Before joining the yachting industry, James worked as an engineer in South Africa. His love of adventure and travel eventually led him to pursue his dream of sailing the globe aboard a yacht.
James Rautenbach
Deckhand
Jeannine hails from a charming seaside town just outside London, known for its Royal Harbour and picturesque sailing boats, and has always felt a strong connection to the sea. Before earning her degree in Media, she embarked on a solo adventure through Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji, an experience that ignited her passion for travel and cultural discovery. While studying at university, Jeannine worked as a restaurant and cocktail bar manager in the South West of the UK. It was during this time she discovered a love for hospitality, service, and event planning. After graduating, she joined the yachting industry, combining her love of service with a desire to explore the world.
Since joining ZENJI in 2022, she has travelled extensively throughout the Mediterranean and Caribbean. While she continues to appreciate sailing more each day, her true expertise lies in delivering exceptional service and maintaining a beautifully presented interior.
Jeannine’s attention to detail, warm demeanour, and dedication to excellence are at the heart of every guest experience on board.
Having worked on various other yachts and travelled all corners of the world, Yuliana is a true asset to the team on ZENJI, bringing both enthusiasm, energy and drive to the interior team.
Jeannine Hyde
Chief steward/ess
Abriella grew up along the coast of South Africa in a small town called St. Francis Bay. Her deep love for the ocean began early, and she spent two of her teenage years sailing the U.S. coastline with her family.
This formative time at sea strengthened her love for sailing, her desire to travel, and her interest in exploring different cultures. Abriella is also a long-distance open water swimmer and thrives on new challenges.
Abriella Bredell
Stewardess
Hamish, originally from South Africa, grew up on a small cattle farm in KwaZulu-Natal. From a young age, he developed a love for the outdoors, riding horses and playing polo fostering a deep appreciation for nature.
At just 16, Hamish became the youngest South African to represent his country at the World Marathon Canoeing Championship. Between 2017 and 2020, he earned three silver medals. Today, Hamish is an avid water sports enthusiast and loves spending time in and around the ocean.
Hamish McKenzie
Deckhand
Finn was born and raised on the island of Ærø in Denmark. After completing his school studies, he began a four-year apprenticeship as a Ship’s Mechanic at Søby Shipyard. Following this, he served in the Danish Army for nearly two years. After his military service, Finn attended marine engineering school, during which he gained sea time in the Merchant Fleet.
His passion for travel and dedication to his craft led him to pursue a career in the yachting industry. Finn joined Zenji in February 2024 and has since embraced the opportunity to meet people from around the world and explore some of the most beautiful destinations.
Finn Abramsson
Chief engineer
Peter grew up in the northern part of Zealand, Denmark.
Peter has a background as a mechanic, but with a with bachelor’s degree of technology management in marine engineering, he has now joined the crew at ZENJI.
Peter loves working around engines and all the other technical equipment onboard and combined with the possibility to experience and see the world, ZENJI was the ideal match for Peter.
During time off Peter loves spending time with his family, going to sporting events with his friends and fix old cars and motorcycles.
Christian Blynov
Engineer
Oliver is a Michelin-trained chef with a background in some of the UK’s top kitchens. He specialises in both Mediterranean and Japanese cuisine, offering guests a diverse and elevated dining experience rooted in precision, seasonality, and clean, bold flavours.
Oliver Potter
Chef