Power Yacht Pura Vida

Nichola Gibson – Chief Stewardess

Nic, who grew up in the southeast of England, has been in the yachting industry since 2013. She was brought up around water and learned to love everything it has to offer from her early years. Her affinity for the ocean and keen interest in marine conservation led her to obtain a degree in Zoology from the University of Manchester. Wanting to focus her studies towards marine conservation and with a love for travel, Nic undertook a 6-month placement as a research assistant studying the dolphin population in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand – where she met Jordan – and which also provided her first opportunity to live and work on the water. After graduation, Nic stepped into the retail world – spending one year at a British chocolate company – before the opportunity came to join the yachting world. She began her career as a stewardess aboard a busy 130ft charter yacht, aboard which she and Jordan worked together for nearly four years. Having gained the valuable skills and the experience necessary to provide an exceptional service to guests, Nic and Jordan were presented with the opportunity to establish and run their own program onboard Pura Vida as a Chief Stewardess and Captain team. Delighted to welcome you onboard and show you all that Pura Vida and her crew have to offer, Nic will ensure your vacation is one to remember.

Telana van Wyk – Chef

Telana was born and raised on a farm in a small town in the Northen Cape next to the Orange River, South Africa. Growing up, she had a great interest in cooking and food and would help out at restaurants, where her big love for cooking began. Telana studied at the Institute of Culinary Arts, Stellenbosch and went onto work for four years in Cape town under some of South Africa’s top chefs. Following her studies and restaurant experience, she decided that she wanted to travel the world but still be able to do what she loves, so she pursued a career as a chef onboard a private yacht. Telana has been working as a yacht chef since 2016 and enjoys the opportunity it provides for expanding her culinary experience and knowledge. Having traveled extensively through Asia, she has a flair for Asian/Thai cuisine but loves experimenting with new foods and sharing her delicious meals with guests onboard. While on charter, her meals are influenced by the location and tries to incorporate local food if possible. In her spare time, Telana like to stay active and enjoys tennis, swimming, canoeing, river rafting, trail walking and skateboarding. She also enjoys learning new languages and speaks English/Afrikaans.

Stefan Najbicz – Deck/Engineer

Stefan grew up in Pietermarizburg, South Africa where he spent a lot of time as a child by the water. He quickly developed a love for the ocean and and avid sense of adventure. This spurred him to take his first step towards yachting by completing his Day Skipper and Power boat courses in Cape Town. On completion of his courses, he joined a 42ft Leopard and embarked on an Atlantic crossing from Cape Town to Tortola, totaling 4,000 nautical miles. This led to his first official season in yachting onboard a 95ft Pershing in the Mediterranean in 2010. Since then, he has completed many seasons onboard heavily chartered yachts, gaining extensive experience in all areas and in particular, the Caribbean. Stefan’s loves being outdoors, camping, hiking, snorkeling and helping to promote a healthy environment. He has a fun and light-hearted personality and looks forward to bringing the good vibes to your vacation.