Crew
Meet our crew: 11 passionate professionals that make your stay unforgettable and make you feel at home on board of Seven Sins.
Seven Sins complies with the British Maritime and Coastguard Agency regulations for charter vessels, (MCA code) a guarantee for the safety of her guests.
Discover the crew:
Robert (Bobby) Chapman - Captain (Rotation)
Ireland
Robert grew up in a small seaside village in Ireland and has been around boats and the sea all his life. He comes from a family of seafarers, and at the early age of 17, he became one of Ireland's youngest qualified deep- sea mariners. With 15 years in the yachting industry, Robert is Master 3000 GT qualified and has been on board Seven Sins since October 2021. Robert is always looking forward to taking guests on a discovery of the many beautiful bays,anchorages, and towns of the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Captain Robert loves spending his free time in the mountains, enjoying outdoor sports and staying active.
Xavier Penez - Captain (rotation)
France
Captain Xavier Penez, a seasoned mariner with over two decades of maritime expertise, commands respect as a distinguished Captain with 15 years of illustrious service. His career spans across various private and charter vessels, showcasing a remarkable mastery of worldwide navigation and itinerary planning finesse. Meticulously handling operations, service, and compliance, Captain Penez stands out for his unwavering commitment to excellence. With a robust Naval background, he effortlessly oversees yard projects and orchestrates onboard entertainment systems, showcasing a versatile skill set. His leadership is marked by a blend of precision and professionalism, making him a beacon of reliability in the maritime industry. Captain Xavier Penez, a true maritime virtuoso, continues to navigate the seas with expertise, leaving an indelible mark on every voyage.
Lyke Schamrel - Chief officer
South Africa
Lyle is from Durban South Africa and has always lived a life by the sea.
In his down time he enjoys surfing remote locations and snowboarding in Europe.
Lyle loves to travel and finds joy being at sea.
He has worked on yachts ranging from 110m all the way down to 35m. Lyle is passionate about yachts as a career and hopes to become a captain in the near future.
Lyle holds his chief mate 3000gt endorsement and has served as an officer for the past 3 years, climbing the ranks from junior deckhand to today. Onboard he loves to use the Flite board and teach guests how to glide through the water, so ask him about that!
Frederick Kriel - Bosun
South Africa
Frederic is a 22-year-old man who grew up in a small town on the southwest coast of South Africa, where the ocean played a significant role in his life. He has a passion for fishing and spearfishing. As a water sports instructor, he will do his best to keep you entertained both in and on the water. Frederic began his career in 2019 and has since cruised through most of the Mediterranean and Caribbean. He is always up for an adventure and enjoys exploring new places. When ashore, Frederic likes to play golf and tennis. He is fully bilingual and is consistently seen with a smile on his face.
(MJ) MarthinusJacobus Strauss - Deckhand
South Africa
Mj grew up in a small farming town in the heart of South Africa. Before joining the yachting industry, he played professional rugby in South Africa for two years before deciding to make the move to the yachting industry. He started off by doing sailing races and deliveries across the world before landing on Seven Sins. He has a strong passion for diving, kiteboarding and videography.
You will always find him with a camera in his hand and a smile on his face. He will always aim to make your time onboard as memorable as possible.
Greg Bennett - Deckhand
South Africa
Greg is 21 years old and grew up on a livestock farm in south Africa. With a strong passion for the outdoors and nature, his hobbies include dirt bikes, hunting, diving, water sports and travelling. Greg joined the yachting industry in 2022 and has since travelled extensively around the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Bahamas. He is proud to be part of the Seven Sins crew and is looking forward to providing you an unforgettable experience on board.
Alexandru-Marian Stefan - Chief engineer (rotation)
Romania
Alex, 35-year-old, with vast experience on commercial vessels and cruise ships, joined the yacht industry in 2022.
Dedicated and ambitious to solve any kind of technical issues in a professional manner, his experience helps him to find the best solutions. His motto is: “wherever I put the hand, a flower needs to grow up”.
Cristian Tofan - Chief Engineer (Rotation)
Romania
Cristian, born and raised on the coast of the Black Sea in Romania, is a 31- year- old man. After graduating as an electro-mechanical engineer from the Maritime University of Constanta, Cristian began his career in the commercial industry. After traveling worldwide on large crude oil tankers, he discovered his true calling within the yachting industry, where he thrived. He has gained experience from various super-yachts and has worked in places like the Mediterranean, Dubai, the Caribbean, and Turkey. Cristian enjoys outdoor activities and sports.
Sarah Alcock - Chief stewardess
South Africa
Sarah grew up in a small coastal town called Knysna in the garden route area of south Africa. After high school she moved to the Netherlands to be an au pair looking after 3 boys, she also played field hockey during her time spent abroad. The years following, she studied a marketing degree and graduated 3 years later. Sarah then started her yachting career in the beginning of 2020, in Fort Lauderdale and hasn’t looked back since. She has been lucky enough to explore multiple super yacht locations and meet amazing people from all backgrounds along the way. Sarah is a very active individual that loves the outdoors. She also loves to keep fit by going running, hiking, and cycling. Sarah loves to travel the world and immerse herself in different cultures and cuisines that each destination has to offer.
Lauren Bird - 2nd stewardess
Great Britain
Lauren grew up in the West Midlands with her mother and father. After studying and living in London for a few years in her late teens/early twenties she moved to Vieques, Puerto Rico, it was during this time on the tiny island off the mainland that she decided city living wasn’t for her! Upon her return to England, she moved to the south coast where she spent 3 years working as a first-class flight attendant for British airways. This job took her all over the world and one trip to St Lucia introduced her to a yacht crew who were also working there. After telling her all about life as a yachtie she decided that was her next move and she haven’t looked back since! In her spare time she enjoy practicing yoga and meditation, she love being out in nature whether that’s hiking through mountains or swimming in the ocean! She is devoted foodie and love to try out all the local cuisine from the beautiful places she visit! When guests are on board, she love to teach yoga and share all the skills she learnt whilst studying in India! Entertaining guests with delectable cocktails and world class food from the chefs on board is a huge passion of her and being able to create a memorable trip with theme nights and beautiful tables is an honor!
Zoe Laurier - 3rd stewardess
Great Britain
Zoe is a 23-year-old woman from the southeast coast of England, with a unique upbringing that took her between Kent, Cape Town, and Durban, South Africa. After 8 years of working in the hospitality industry, where she developed a passion for high-quality service and creating memorable experiences for clients, she transitioned into the yachting industry in 2022. Since then, she’s had the opportunity to explore stunning locations like the Maldives, Seychelles and the Mediterranean. Zoe has a deep love for the ocean, a passion for immersing herself in different cultures, and enjoys learning new things and building meaningful connections along the way.
Anli Van Zyl - Stewardess
South Africa
Anli grew up in the beautiful Karoo, a vast and captivating region of South Africa known for its rugged landscapes, endless horizons, and serene beauty. After completing her marketing degree, she spent two years in the corporate world but found herself yearning for more specifically, the chance to travel and see the world. In May 2023, after finishing her courses in Cape Town, she took the leap. She and her best friend flew to Antibes, eager to find her first yachting job. To her surprise and delight, she secured a position in just one week, marking the beginning of an incredible new chapter. Since then, Anli has sailed across the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, even completing an Atlantic crossing. For her, the most rewarding part of this adventurous career is the opportunity to meet people from all over the world each encounter contributing to her personal growth and enriching her experience. Looking back one day, Anli will undoubtedly view this period of her life as the «good old days,» filled with unforgettable moments and memories from her travels across the seas.
Luca Mansueto - Head chef (rotation)
Italy
Luca is a passionate chef whose culinary journey began at an early age, growing up in his father’s restaurant. His career as a yacht chef started in 2017 when he joined a 60-meter expedition vessel as a deckhand, eventually transitioning into the galley as a birthday gift—what he calls his «Day Zero.»
Since then, Luca’s goal has been to continuously elevate his skills and deliver exceptional dining experiences. He has honed his craft through training in Michelin-star restaurants, extensive reading, and countless hours of cooking classes.
With an unwavering commitment to learning, Luca sees the culinary journey as one without an end, always striving to reach the next level in his craft. His cuisine style blends Mediterranean flavors with an Asian fusion, creating unique and vibrant dishes that reflect his diverse culinary influences.
Tomislav Veseljak - Head chef (rotation)
Croatia
Tomi was raised in Croatia and mediterranean food is in his blood. He worked in many different countries, form Croatia to USA, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria and finally ten years ago he settled in Barcelona, Spain. In addition to being a savoury chef, he is also a chocolatier, studied at CIA (Culinary Institute of America) and worked in famous Kollar’s chocolates in Yountville, Napa Valley.
Also graduated from Tokyo Sushi Academy and studied Peruvian cuisine at Le Cordon Bleu in Lima. He has been in yachting since 2015.
When he is not working he’s traveling around the world and exploring local cuisines.