CREW PROFILE

Captain:  Don Anderson
American

Don has been involved with yachts his whole life and has over 30 years in professional yachting. He has had many years experience cruising worldwide and can recommend cruising areas and provide local knowledge for any interest. Besides his many years on private and charter luxury yachts, he was heavily involved in the promotion and management of the Americas Cup challenge for Il Moro di Venezia, Prada, America One, and Oracle.
He has trained Deck Officers for the US Navy and for commercial companies alike.
With several years in the restaurant industry, he has a strong knowledge of fine dining and wines. Don has spent time living and working in Italy and New Zealand. He comes from San Diego, California and speaks Spanish and Italian. He likes to surf.

1st Mate Hans Degenaar
                                                         
South African
Hans speaks English, conversational Dutch, and Afrikaans and has a College degree in Agriculture and Police Administration. He was previously an Inspector in the South African Police Service. He has been involved in yachting for 5 years and is a qualified diving, first aid, and CPR instructor. He likes to dance and enjoys sports.

Deckhand Johnny Tatham deWaal                          
South African

Johnny speaks 3 languages, English, Afrikaans and Zulu. Before working on yachts he worked on Game Reserves and Safari Lodges in his native South Africa. He has a great love of his native history and culture. He has been working on yachts for a year. He is an avid sports fan who enjoys fishing and snorkeling.

Chief Stewardess Damian Persinger American                                                                                           
Damian began working on yachts 6 years ago when she moved from Austin, Texas to sunny Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She has worked on yachts traveling the east coast of the United States up to Canada and Nova Scotia, Bahamas, Caribbean, Turkey and the Mediterranean.  Damian is also a Master Scuba Diver Trainer and Specialty Instructor, rescue diver and CPR and oxygen provider.  She speaks basic Spanish and enjoys meeting people of all cultures.  She loves to scuba dive and enjoys all types of water sports and fun!

2nd Stewardess Joanne Mill British                                                  

Joanne has been working on both sail and motor yachts for 4 years. Previous to that she was a Catering & Hospitality Manager. She has spent time living and working in Malaysia and Spain. Joanne can speak basic Spanish. She likes to surf and dance having taken classes in Belly Dance, Ballroom and Salsa. Performs fire poi (dancing with fire)

Engineer Brando Leone American                                                  

Brando moved to south Florida in the early 90’s and got into the marine commercial field before working on a wide variety of yachts from Feadships to jet boats.

Chef Michael P. Patterson British

Michael has 23 years experience, ranging from European cooking to oriental and American cuisine. He attended the Le Cordon Blue in Paris and has worked all over the world from Hong Kong to France and on many private yachts. He was the head chef and co-owner of a contemporary French restaurant in St Maarten. Michael speaks 6 languages fluently, holds his commercial helicopter pilot license as well as his PADI Dive Master license.