Captain: Michael Foster
Captain Michael grew up in Seattle and Arizona and boated all along the way. After studying business at the University of Arizona, he moved to Grand Cayman and the Turks & Caicos Islands to work as a PADI Dive Instructor running dive trips from the islands and aboard the Aggressor Fleet. He began his yachting career in 2001 and has travelled extensively throughout the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mediterranean, New England and Canadian Maritimes. Captain Michael currently holds a USCG 1600 ton Oceans license and continues to pursue additional credentials.
He is at home doing anything around the water or working on the family house. Michael and his Australian wife live in Florida with their teenage son and daughter.
Previous Yachts: TC, ALL IN, JUST ENOUGH, W, DAYS LIKE THIS, TOP TIMES, DAYS LIKE THIS
Chief Officer: Niel Moolman
Niel was born in Pretoria, South Africa and he grew up in Botswana and Bahrain. He went to boarding school in Paarl, South Africa for the last 3 years of high school after which he earned a degree in logistics management at Stellenbosch University.
Niel joined the yachting industry in 2021. He has holds his Yachmaster Ocean and is studying for his OOW 3000 while aiming towards becoming a Captain. Niel loves taking guests on excursions and showing the hidden gems of unique locations. He has a creative side aimed at painting and loves fitness, specifically HIIT, tennis and skateboarding.
Previous Yachts: STEALTH, ALL IN, QUINTESSENTIAL, ANDIAMO, LOON
Chief Engineer: Eric Reynolds
Eric was born in South Africa where he grew up and served in the armed forces with 3 deployments in the Angola war as a paratrooper. From there, he started his engineering career and has been Chief Engineer on superyachts for over 20 years. He is passionate about travelling and experiencing different cultures.
His happy place is close to the ocean and he loves hiking, swimming and scuba diving.
Previous Yachts: HIGHLANDER, NURI, CORINTHIAN, ARION, CONSTANCE, LEGEND
Deckhand: Gert Pretorius
Gerhard grew up in Stellenbosch. It is known as the Wine Capital of Africa and South Africa's oldest town. He grew up always around the mountains and nature. After leaving school, he studied hospitality and found a great passion for the service industry.
He then made the decision to join yachting in 2022 and hasn’t looked back since. Gerhard holds his Yacht Rating and is an advanced scuba diver. When
he isn’t working onboard, he loves to spend time at the gym, in nature or playing chess.
Previous Yachts: STEALTH, C-STAR, NANA 1, ANDIAMO
Chief Stewardess: Piymas (PJ) Phakdee
PJ grew up in a very small town in Thailand. She has had a big dream of becoming a backpacker since she was 15 and only saw the ocean for the first time when she was 17. PJ worked on two different cruise ships for 8 years before she transitioned onto superyachts in 2012. She joined her first yacht called Pangaea (59 meters) then followed by Incentive (43 meters) and Odessa (49 meters). PJ loves her career as a “yachtie” and always has a big smile on her face. She does come from the “Land of Smiles” after all. She is at a point
in her career that she wants to help guide the junior stewardesses to
become confident leaders. PJ is very active and loves to experiment with food, making drinks, cooking, reading and scuba diving.
Previous Yachts: MILAGROS, NQEA, STARSHIP, ODESSA, INCENTIVE, PANGAEA
Chef: Maximillien Caamano
Maximilien Caamano is a passionate chef with experience in Michelin starred restaurants, luxury hotels, and on yachts. He was born and raised on the island of St. Martin in the French Caribbean. Max left home at age 18 to go to journalism school in Bordeaux, but
instead discovered the vast “terroir” and traditions of French Cuisine. After graduating from Francois Mitterrand culinary school, he proceeded to work in Paris for two years before joining his first yacht at 23 as a sole chef. Being raised in a Franco-Spanish household, his cuisine is naturally Mediterranean inspired, but he holds a strong interest for pan-Asian and Thaï cuisine. Max is dedicated to his craft, yet constantly searching for a new flavor to dazzle charter guests. Recently married, Max and his wife live on St. Martin. They enjoy traveling and hold a passion for food.
Previous Yachts: NENINKA, DEEPSEA, KOKOTEA
Chief Engineer: Luke Topham
Luke is a British engineer who started his maritime career at age 16 in the British merchant navy aboard oil tankers. He has experience on various types of vessels, including ferries, dredgers, tankers and cruise ships before finally settling into yachting around 2012. Luke prides himself on keeping a well-maintained, friendly and clean environment in the engine room. He is always happy to welcome anyone for a visit down below.
Previous Yachts: LARS, LA DEA II, ENDLESS SUMMER
2nd Stewardess: Tiffany MacDonald
Tiffany was born and raised in Coral Springs, Florida and not far from the water’s edge, she often went jet skiing with friends and fishing with her grandfather. She has danced since she was a little girl and still loves getting into the studio to teach younger kids. She joined her first superyacht Grand Illusion (44m) completing back-to-back charters in the Bahamas before taking her current role on Patience. With her adventurous spirit, Tiffany is ready to embrace the challenges and responsibilities of the superyacht industry and make each voyage an extraordinary lifetime experience for all charter guests.
Previous Yachts: GRAND ILLUSION
