Meet the Crew!
Hailing from Limpopo in South Africa, Francois comes from a small farming town in the Afrikaans area of the country. He grew up close to the nature and the breathtaking wildlife of the area, and has carried his love of the outdoors throughout his life.
Francois began his maritime career working as a commercial diver, flown out to the BVI to assist in the mass clean up and yacht salvage in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. As a qualified class 2 Commercial Bell Diver he is more than comfortable below sea level, and has recently transferred his skills to qualify as a Dive Master, ensuring all guests are in more than safe and experienced hands.
One of his proudest achievements is his involvement with a non-profit charity in the BVI creating artificial reefs and interactive dive sites including the sunken wreck of the ‘Willy T’ and ’Sharkplano’, he has unwaivered local knowledge of the sites and will ensure to show you the very best spots.
Being an incredibly calm and collected character, Francois will always be at your service with a smile and will make sure his guests feel well attended to and safe, whilst giving them their own tailored trip of a lifetime.
Katie’s love for yachting started in her early teens where she spent family holidays sailing the Ionian in Greece
Her sailing career began where she worked as a hostess in Lefkada, then moving across to seek new challenges in the windy Saronic Gulf and Cyclades. From there she moved to the British Virgin Islands, during her downtime between seasons she studied at Culinary school in Devon and on the Isle of Wight, developing and refining her love for cookery.
Katie began cheffing professionally in 2016 in the Caribbean where she found a love for the culture and flavours of the area.
She has been working in the Caribbean ever since, spending her downtime diving, kiteboarding and exploring all of natures little secrets that the BVI has to offer.
She is also a qualified Day Skipper and Rescue Diver so you’ll be sure to be in safe and competent hands across all elements of the yacht.
Whatever your requests or requirements Katie is more than happy to tailor her menu for her guests every need, using only the freshest and most vibrant local ingredients Katie’s dishes will guarantee to wow!
Captain Francois Botha
Qualifications and Skills
STCW-HLSCC Tortola
PADI DIVEMASTER-Aquanauts Grenada
Certification of Commercial Class II Diver, Jacks Dive Chest
Commercial Diving School (Member: NO M-JDC)
-Decompression Chamber Operator -Underwater Welding Proficiency
-H2S-Hydrogen Sulfide Induction Course -SSDE Nitrox Diver Class III
-Compressor Operator -Pre Sea Induction Course
DMT-IMCA Diver Medic (PDC-DMT-950) Professional Diving Centre, Durban Harbour
Diving First Aid & First Aid at Work (Level 3)
Commercial Diver Advanced 02 Administration Certificate
Diving Medical Certificate Class II (Air) with Decompression Chamber, Dr MJ Pravetz PhD
Chef/ First Mate Katie Harrison
Qualifications and Skills
Certificate in Intermediate Cookery, Ashburton Culinary School
-Mastery of Core Skills
-Premium Fish, Poultry, Butchery and preperation
-Pasta and Pastries
-Sauces, Vinaigrettes, Marinades, and Garnishes
USKA Superyacht Cookery Foundation
-Sundowners and Canapes
-Sushi
-Menu Planning and Food Provisioning
-Packing Hazards, Regulations, and Stowage
USKA Superyacht Interior Foundation
-RYA Powerboat Level 2
-MCA STCW Basic Training
-VHF Short Range Radio
-CIEH Food SafetyLevel 2
-All Service styles including Silver
-Floristry and Table presentation
-Wine, Port, Cigar Study
-Cocktails-presentation and mixology
PADI Rescue Diver
Emergency First Response-CPR and First Aid
Crew fully vaccinated
Francois began his maritime career working as a commercial diver, flown out to the BVI to assist in the mass clean up and yacht salvage in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. As a qualified class 2 Commercial Bell Diver he is more than comfortable below sea level, and has recently transferred his skills to qualify as a Dive Master, ensuring all guests are in more than safe and experienced hands.
One of his proudest achievements is his involvement with a non-profit charity in the BVI creating artificial reefs and interactive dive sites including the sunken wreck of the ‘Willy T’ and ’Sharkplano’, he has unwaivered local knowledge of the sites and will ensure to show you the very best spots.
Being an incredibly calm and collected character, Francois will always be at your service with a smile and will make sure his guests feel well attended to and safe, whilst giving them their own tailored trip of a lifetime.
Katie’s love for yachting started in her early teens where she spent family holidays sailing the Ionian in Greece
Her sailing career began where she worked as a hostess in Lefkada, then moving across to seek new challenges in the windy Saronic Gulf and Cyclades. From there she moved to the British Virgin Islands, during her downtime between seasons she studied at Culinary school in Devon and on the Isle of Wight, developing and refining her love for cookery.
Katie began cheffing professionally in 2016 in the Caribbean where she found a love for the culture and flavours of the area.
She has been working in the Caribbean ever since, spending her downtime diving, kiteboarding and exploring all of natures little secrets that the BVI has to offer.
She is also a qualified Day Skipper and Rescue Diver so you’ll be sure to be in safe and competent hands across all elements of the yacht.
Whatever your requests or requirements Katie is more than happy to tailor her menu for her guests every need, using only the freshest and most vibrant local ingredients Katie’s dishes will guarantee to wow!
Captain Francois Botha
Qualifications and Skills
STCW-HLSCC Tortola
PADI DIVEMASTER-Aquanauts Grenada
Certification of Commercial Class II Diver, Jacks Dive Chest
Commercial Diving School (Member: NO M-JDC)
-Decompression Chamber Operator -Underwater Welding Proficiency
-H2S-Hydrogen Sulfide Induction Course -SSDE Nitrox Diver Class III
-Compressor Operator -Pre Sea Induction Course
DMT-IMCA Diver Medic (PDC-DMT-950) Professional Diving Centre, Durban Harbour
Diving First Aid & First Aid at Work (Level 3)
Commercial Diver Advanced 02 Administration Certificate
Diving Medical Certificate Class II (Air) with Decompression Chamber, Dr MJ Pravetz PhD
Chef/ First Mate Katie Harrison
Qualifications and Skills
Certificate in Intermediate Cookery, Ashburton Culinary School
-Mastery of Core Skills
-Premium Fish, Poultry, Butchery and preperation
-Pasta and Pastries
-Sauces, Vinaigrettes, Marinades, and Garnishes
USKA Superyacht Cookery Foundation
-Sundowners and Canapes
-Sushi
-Menu Planning and Food Provisioning
-Packing Hazards, Regulations, and Stowage
USKA Superyacht Interior Foundation
-RYA Powerboat Level 2
-MCA STCW Basic Training
-VHF Short Range Radio
-CIEH Food SafetyLevel 2
-All Service styles including Silver
-Floristry and Table presentation
-Wine, Port, Cigar Study
-Cocktails-presentation and mixology
PADI Rescue Diver
Emergency First Response-CPR and First Aid
Crew fully vaccinated