Captain: Pete Grunow - Rotational
With a proud heritage rooted in both Italy and South Africa, Captain Pete is now based in Cape Town, where he lives with his wife, their dog, and newly born twins.
Pete began his career in the yachting industry in 2013 and has since grown into a highly experienced and respected leader. Over the years, he has logged thousands of nautical miles, sailing on vessels across the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and the Bahamas. Known for his calm leadership, operational expertise, and passion for the sea, Pete brings a wealth of cruising knowledge and a deep commitment to safety and guest experience onboard OKTO.
His love for exploration and the ocean is matched by his drive in personal pursuits. A dedicated endurance athlete, Pete has completed several ultra-distance trail running events in remote and rugged terrains, including New Zealand and Nepal. When not at sea or on the trails, he enjoys time at home, playing golf, or competing on the padel court.
Captain: Zane Gray - Rotational
Zane grew up on the coastline of Perth, Western Australia, where an early life around boats and the ocean set the foundation for his maritime career.
His passion for the sea led him into professional yachting, where he has now spent over a decade working on both private and charter motor yachts worldwide.
Zane’s career has taken him across four of the world’s five oceans aboard yachts ranging from 50 to 91 metres. He obtained his Masters licence in 2022 and has since served as Captain of M/Y Avalon (46m) and M/Y Soundwave (63m), developing broad charter experience across the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and high-latitude cruising regions, before joining M/Y OKTO. Zane takes great pride in delivering a safe, seamless, and memorable onboard experience, with a strong focus on professionalism, crew leadership, and attention to detail. He enjoys sharing his knowledge of cruising areas and marine life.
Outside of yachting, Zane is an avid waterman and dive instructor, with a passion for diving, kitesurfing, foiling, and surfing.
He looks forward to welcoming guests on board OKTO and creating unforgettable experiences.
Chief Officer: Sam Steward - Rotational
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. 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. On OKTO you will find Sam hosting many events, including quizzes, karaoke and our world famous OKTOlympics!
Chief Officer: Josh Davies - Rotational
With close to a decade of experience in the yachting industry, Josh brings strong leadership and a calm, capable presence to OKTO. As Chief Officer, he manages all deck operations, safety procedures, and navigational support with precision and professionalism. His background in sailing and watersports, combined with a hands-on approach, ensures every charter runs smoothly and safely.Off duty, Josh enjoys life on a small farm with his wife, their dog, and a few beloved animals. A passionate surfer who enjoys teaching watersports, he loves getting guests out on the water for paddleboarding, snorkeling, or beach days. Josh enjoys helping guests experience the adventurous side of life onboard OKTO, whether thatʼs getting out on the water, exploring new destinations, or simply making the most of each day.
Bosun: George Atkinson
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 Georgeʼs favourite things about being onboard OKTO is teaching water sports and seeing the pure enjoyment on guests faces when they get it right. Whether itʼs an early morning paddle or a snorkeling session, George is always encouraging guests to make the most of life at sea.
Chief Officer: Josh Davies - Rotational
With close to a decade of experience in the yachting industry, Josh brings strong leadership and a calm, capable presence to OKTO. As Chief Officer, he manages all deck operations, safety procedures, and navigational support with precision and professionalism. His background in sailing and watersports, combined with a hands-on approach, ensures every charter runs smoothly and safely.Off duty, Josh enjoys life on a small farm with his wife, their dog, and a few beloved animals. A passionate surfer who enjoys teaching watersports, he loves getting guests out on the water for paddleboarding, snorkeling, or beach days. Josh enjoys helping guests experience the adventurous side of life onboard OKTO, whether thatʼs getting out on the water, exploring new destinations, or simply making the most of each day.
Captain Rotational: Zane Gray
Zane grew up on the coastline of Perth, Western Australia, where an early life around boats and the ocean set the foundation for his maritime career.
His passion for the sea led him into professional yachting, where he has now spent over a decade working on both private and charter motor yachts worldwide.
Zane’s career has taken him across four of the world’s five oceans aboard yachts ranging from 50 to 91 metres. He obtained his Masters licence in 2022 and has since served as Captain of M/Y Avalon (46m) and M/Y Soundwave (63m), developing broad charter experience across the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and high-latitude cruising regions, before joining M/Y OKTO.
Zane takes great pride in delivering a safe, seamless, and memorable onboard experience, with a strong focus on professionalism, crew leadership, and attention to detail.
He enjoys sharing his knowledge of cruising areas and marine life.
Outside of yachting, Zane is an avid waterman and dive instructor, with a passion for diving, kitesurfing, foiling, and surfing.
He looks forward to welcoming guests on board OKTO and creating unforgettable experiences.
Deckhand: Jean Maritz
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.
Head Chef: William Pitt-Brooke
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.
Rotational Chief Stewardess: Aly Nielsen
Meet Aly, a passionate adventurer from the beautiful Hibiscus Coast in New Zealand.
With a lifetime of adventure both in and around the water, she developed a strong love of travel and
exploring the world. As an experienced yachting professional with 12 years in the industry, Aly’s impeccable
service skills are second to none. She adores welcoming guests onboard MY OKTO and providing a
seamless, luxurious experience. Thanks to her love for exploring and being on boats, yachting became the
perfect opportunity to turn her passion into a thrilling career. Join Aly and her team for an unforgettable
voyage.
Chief Engineer: Ben Cudd - Rotational
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!
Rotational Chief Stewardess: Alice Johnson
Meet Alice, born and raised on the coast of Melbourne, Australia. Alice comes from a background of being
on the water with a family of sailors. Through this it was how Alice discovered the yachting industry and
landed her first position in yachting cruising South East Asia and the Pacific for her first three years. Alice
thrives on leading the Interior team and is excited to bring her wealth of knowledge to MY OKTO, guiding
her department to deliver seam- less, luxury service in true OKTO style. In her free time, you can find Alice
staying active and outdoors, travelling to off the beaten track countries, often to get below the sea level
scuba
diving
Second Engineer: Vasi Mic
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.
Chief Officer - Rotational: Josh Davies
With close to a decade of experience in the yachting industry, Josh brings strong leadership and a calm, capable presence to OKTO. As Chief Officer, he manages all deck operations, safety procedures, and navigational support with precision and professionalism. His background in sailing and watersports, combined with a hands-on approach, ensures every charter runs smoothly and safely.Off duty, Josh enjoys life on a small farm with his wife, their dog, and a few beloved animals. A passionate surfer who enjoys teaching watersports, he loves getting guests out on the water for paddleboarding, snorkeling, or beach days. Josh enjoys helping guests experience the adventurous side of life onboard OKTO, whether thatʼs getting out on the water, exploring new destinations, or simply making the most of each day.
2nd Stewardess: Tannah Metzler
Growing up in sunny South Africa, Tannah enjoys anything from a good book, to hiking, to exploring
beautiful places. She has a special love for the ocean and outdoors. Tannah completed her degree in Clothing
Consumer Science and worked in the fashion industry prior to joining MY OKTO. Tannah is passionate
about High End fashion and in her free time enjoys sewing and growing her knowledge in sustainable
fashion.
Rotational Chief Engineer: Sam Steward
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. 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. On OKTO you will find Sam hosting many events, including quizzes, karaoke and our world famous OKTOlympics!
Second Engineer: Stuart Geldart
Stuart hails from a small coastal town just outside of Durban, where the ocean and vast landscapes sparked his lifelong love for adventure. With 9 years of hands on experience in the industry and a diverse background in cruising, he brings both skill and passion to his role onboard OKTO all whilst studying for his masters ticket. When heʼs off duty, Stuart is rarely still – heʼs out chasing the next thrill. Whether heʼs deep in the bush, exploring remote campsites across South Africa, paddling untamed rivers, or riding horseback through open landscapes, he thrives in the wild spaces he calls home, having even spotted a rare blue-footed booby!
Stewardess: Emma West
Emma is our most recent to join the MY OKTO team, securing her first full time stewardess position. Emma
grew up in Central Drakensberg and considers herself very privileged to call Champagne Sports Resort, a
resort her parents managed, home for 25 years. Emma likes to keep fit and prides herself by having 2 half
marathons under her belt. She also enjoys swimming, reading, and dancing. Emma is excited to start her
yachting career and hope to one day become a Purser.
Bosun: George Atkinson
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 Georgeʼs favourite things about being onboard OKTO is teaching water sports and seeing the pure enjoyment on guests faces when they get it right. Whether itʼs an early morning paddle or a snorkeling session, George is always encouraging guests to make the most of life at sea.
Deckhand: Rachel Wood
Born in England and raised in Durban, South Africa, Rachel grew up immersed in a lifestyle shaped by sun, sea and adventure. Rachelʼs love for the ocean started at a young age where she competed in many surfing national competitions throughout her teen years all around South Africa. Rachel is currently working towards her Yacht master qualification and is committed to progressing within the yachting industry. Rachel brings a positive and energetic presence to the deck team and enjoys sharing her love of the ocean with guests onboard OKTO.
