Hey, I'm Luke Nienaber, your South African adventurer extraordinaire! Born and bred in the heart of South Africa, I made my way to the coastal town of Port Elizabeth, also known as the Windy City, where my love for the ocean kicked into high gear.
Since I was a kid, I've been all about harnessing the power of the wind for some seriously fun play. Picture flying all sorts of kites and even propelling myself on a skateboard with a homemade sail – you could say I've always been a bit of a thrill-seeking, adventure-loving spirit. I'm all about meaningful social interaction and soaking up every bit of excitement life has to offer.
My sailing journey kicked off a bit later at 19, but it was the perfect mix of all my passions. By the end of 2021, I snagged my sailing Yachtmaster Offshore and a bunch of other cool qualifications. Ready to dive into the yachting scene, I headed to Antibes, France, on the lookout for my first gig. Three weeks later, thanks to some serious hustle and dedication, I snagged the role of sole crew member and captain on a Nautitech 54ft sailing Catamaran. For six months, I sailed the entire Croatian coastline and cruised the waterways around Venice, Italy – talk about an adventure!..read more
Back home early this year, I had the chance of a lifetime – delivering a 44ft catamaran from Cape Town, South Africa, to Grenada at the bottom of the Caribbean chain. A whopping 49 days on the ocean, covering 5833 nautical miles – now that's what I call a wild ride!
Armed with sailing expertise, a taste for adventure, and exposure to diverse cultures, I'm pumped to offer you an experience that's not just memorable but downright fun. Get ready for a journey filled with laughter, excitement, and some serious good times!
Hey there, I'm Eddie, your culinary maestro on Hazel Della! Originally from Philadelphia, I spent my early days balancing football on the field and jamming with friends in bands. Music was my thing, and I even studied modern music production in university.
But life had a surprise in store for me. At 20, I fell head over heels for cooking and decided to give the culinary world a shot. Since then, I've been cooking up a storm in fine dining atmospheres, with a highlight being part of the chef team at Vernick Food & Drink at 26. We snagged the Best Chef James Beard award in 2017—a culinary dream come true!
My journey took a turn to Fort Lauderdale, where I discovered the exciting yachting scene. Soon, I landed my dream gig—cooking on charter catamarans in the US Virgin Islands. The beauty of the Caribbean islands fuels my daily inspiration, and I'm all about embracing hard work and dedication.
Looking ahead, I've got big plans to earn my commercial Captain's license, opening doors to travel and work worldwide. When I'm not whipping up delightful dishes in the galley, catch me exercising, strumming my guitar, belting out tunes (karaoke fan right here!), free diving, snorkeling, spearfishing, line fishing, and making connections with everyone I meet.
After a break from yachting, I realized there's nowhere else I'd rather be than cooking up a storm on a yacht in the Caribbean. Ready for a culinary adventure? Let's make it happen!
