Catamaran Zingara

Maxime Hughes, Chef

Born and raised along the coast in the Eastern Cape of South Africa - Maxime thrived as she came to realize her love of the sea.

After completing a Hospitality Management degree and working a further 3 years in various luxury environments, she finally combined her passion for the ocean with experience gained and grew her skillset to work in yachting and explore the rest of the world.

She started her career as sole stewardess on a sailing yacht in Monaco and began her first circumnavigation, embarking on an extraordinary adventure sailing the world. Following which she joined the Oyster World Rally, also participating in the Oyster Antigua Regatta which really ignited her passion and love for sailing.

Having done a circumnavigation while first working as a stewardess and then becoming chef, she has prepared food in various parts of the world and therefore her cuisine is beautifully diverse and influenced by global flavours.

During her career she has sailed over 50 000 nm thus far, sailing through the North and South Atlantic, the South Pacific, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean and Caribbean Sea. Maxime is a vibrant and positive individual, whose caring attitude shines even while working under pressure. She strives to create a guest-centred environment, catering to your needs and specific tastes.

She looks forward to having you onboard and satisfying all your culinary needs.

Deckhand & Dive instructor Kyle Lello

Kyle was born in South Africa and while growing up along the South coast he grew a passion for the ocean. During this time Kyle took up lifesaving where he learnt valuable skills and became competent with many water toys such as jet skis, stand up paddle boards and kayaks. If Kyle wasn’t busy with lifesaving he would be at the docks growing a keen interest in sailing and water sports. Kyle attended a prestigious boarding school for high school which moulded him into a well mannered, respectful young man always willing to lend a helping hand.

After completing school he studied marketing and ventured into the business world. He then moved up the coast of South Africa to Sodwana Bay, which is where he started his career in the scuba diving industry. He grew a passion for working with guests and being able to show them the beauty of the underwater world. He worked his way up to become an instructor at a 5 star PADI center. After gaining ample experience as an instructor, he was invited to qualify as a PADI staff instructor where he trained and assisted Divemasters to become qualified instructors.

Kyle also loves fishing and is also a keen spear fishermen, which has come from his free diving experience. He is keen and always willing to take guests out to enjoy any water sports and experience the beauty of the open ocean.

Kyle’s goal is to gain experience in the industry and to one day become a captain, but for now, he enjoys his time on the water with his crew and the guests that come onboard. He is always ready for adventure, loves a challenge and is never shy to try something new.

Stewardess and dive instructor Gabi Cox

Gabriella was born and raised in a small town on the coast of South Africa called Knysna . Growing up by the sea, her love for the ocean is unmatched. Almost every moment of her free time was spent surfing, swimming, paddle boarding or kayaking. Gabriella has always loved the sailing world and feeling the freedom the wind brings while being on the water. While in school Gabriella played water polo, further strengthening her swimming skills. After school, Gabriella went on to become an Au Pair, living in several countries including, England, the United States and France. In 2019 Gabriella won Au Pair of the Year while caring for four children in New Jersey. This is national award where she was recognized by both her host family and Au Pair International.

Gabriella has a knack for building relationships and making everyone in her presence feel as though you know her your whole life. Her ability to assimilate into families, juggle responsibilities and always being two steps ahead propelled her into setting goals and conquering them. In 2021

Gabriella returned to South Africa to pursue her ultimate dream of becoming a professional scuba diver. She went on to complete her diving courses in Sodwana Bay, KwaZulu Natal where she became a PADI Scuba Instructor. This where she gained ample experience while having many great life experiences. Later on she furthered her qualifications and obtained her PADI staff instructor, one of the highest level of certification in diving. In this role she is qualified to teach students to become instructors which has only expanded her knowledge and experience in the ocean and diving world. Additionally, she is an Emergency First Response Instructor putting safety at the forefront, always vigilant and always making sure her guests are happy and safe. All of this had lead to her dream job of combining diving and the yachting industry.

Gabriella is tenacious, hardworking and is always up for an adventure. She has a fun loving and kind nature, loves working with people and makes a great cocktail, always making sure you have a refreshing drink in hand. Gabriella loves to lend a hand making unforgettable experiences for guests in and out of the water whether it be taking them on an unforgettable dive or making them a cocktail while the sun sets. Gabriella can’t wait to share the beautiful Zingara experience with her crew and the guests doing her utmost best to make the experience an incredible and unforgettable memory.