Captain’s Name:
Number in Crew:14
Crew Profiles:

Captain’s Nationality:Australian
Languages Spoken: NA

CAPTAIN | STEPHEN BURKE | Australian
Stephen was born and raised in rural New South Wales, Australia. He was always one to be involved in various sports and learned how to sail small catamarans at the age of 10. Notably, he represented his home state in Field Hockey as a teenager. Immediately after graduating from High School, he attended The University of Wollongong NSW, to study Exercise Science, where he later he received a Bachelor of Science and worked as a Personal Fitness Trainer, before the overwhelming urge to travel overseas grew.
At 24, Stephen set forth on a traveling adventure beginning in Europe. While in the Balearic Islands of Spain, he discovered the once unknown life of yachting and completed his first trans-Atlantic crossing on a 75ft sloop in 1996. Shortly after that he began working as a junior Deckhand on 40-50m motor yachts.
Along the way, Stephen has been well mentored by prolific Captains in the industry and worked his way through the ranks steadily for over 18 years from Deckhand and Bosun to Deck Officer and Captain. His welcoming demeanor, enthusiasm for travel, and keen sense of leadership lend itself perfectly to the role of Captain.

FIRST OFFICER | WARREN GARMANY | Zimbabwean
Warren was born in Zimbabwe and at the age of 7 moved to Kenya then onto Swaziland, Mozambique, South Africa and finally back to Zimbabwe to finish his schooling. He then attended the University of Cape Town where he got his bachelors degree in Human Resources Management.
After graduation Warren moved to Thailand for 3 years where he became a Corporate English teacher, a Dive instructor and a fire-dancer! He then returned back to South Africa and started his sailing courses after which he sailed across the Atlantic with a friend on a 7 week epic journey on a 44ft catamaran where he arrived in America and started working on Super Yachts. Over the years he continued to upgrade his qualifications to Chief Mate after which he decided to return home to follow in his fathers footsteps and complete his Masters in Business Administration.
Over the ensuing years Warren became a resort manager in Mozambique excelling in his diving and hospitality career after which he joined the corporate world utilizing his recently acquired MBA. After 3 successful years in the corporate sector Warren decided to return to his passion and complete his Master 3000 captains ticket where he has finally found his true calling!

CHIEF ENGINEER | HERVÉ NIACADIE | French
Hervé originates from the Ivory Coast in West Africa but calls Brittany, Northern France home. He is multilingual in French, Italian, Spanish, and English which has been a great asset for him during his twenty years of experience in the yachting industry. Being a MCA qualified Marine Engineer, Hervé takes great pride in overseeing Sovereigns technical department ensuring the ultimate comfort and safety of the owners, guests, and crew.

CHIEF STEWARDESS | PETRONELA SIVAKOVA | Slovakian
Nella grew up in a small town called Humenne on the eastern side of Slovakia. After graduating from The Economic Academy at the age of 19, she moved to London to improve her English. While studying she worked as a Nanny and then got introduced to the top hospitality services by working in Hotel and BP offices as a receptionist.
She always loved traveling and by pure luck she became a Stewardess on a private yacht. She joined her first Motor Yacht in 2006 in Barcelona and still retains the love and passion for the yachting lifestyle 13 years later.
With a keen eye for creative detail and an innate ability to anticipate the needs of others, Nella will be sure to make your vacation on Sovereign unforgettable.

HEAD CHEF | MARKUS ANDERBERG | Swedish
Markus was born in a little town in the heart of the southern forests of Sweden. He is a professionally trained chef with 14 years of experience in the service industry. He started young and has worked his way through many restaurants. He was former Head Chef at two of them. After years of working in the basements of some of the top Swedish restaurants, his burning interest for traveling the world took over and encouraged him to join the yachting industry. He is trained in French and modern Scandinavian cooking styles, but with years of traveling and influences from former workplaces he is able to create flavorful and extravagant dishes within most of the worlds cuisines as well as any diets or specifications of your liking. He also has a big passion for desserts and loves experimenting with bread. From a fresh and healthy meal to an extensive several course dinners or parties he will use his knowledge to create the highest quality dishes for you to enjoy. The techniques he uses are often the latest with the help of an extensive molecular gastronomy background, but he is still a massive fan of the old traditional French way.

SOUS CHEF | CRISTIAN STOICIU | Italian
Cristian was born in Oltenita, Romania and grew up in Rome, Italy. After high school, Cristian attended the cooking Institute I.P.S.S.E.O.A Michelangelo Buonarroti, where he graduated with a 5-year Diploma. He also gained his 600 Hours First Pastrycook certificate.
Since then Cristians trade has taken him all over the world, including Italy, Germany, London and Sydney, Australia. He worked at many luxury venues such as Private Chalets, Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants. In 2018, Cristian decided to take his passion of cooking to the sea and began to work on Super Yachts. He is well experienced in Italian and Mediterranean cooking techniques and has a broad knowledge of all world cuisines. He is no stranger to pastry and kneads the fresh pasta dough with experienced hands just like his Grandma did. His cooking style is rustic and pure, well flavored and often prepared the traditional way but served with a modern twist. Hes joined Sovereign with great enthusiasm to present amazing culinary experiences.

SECOND ENGINEER | JACOB MCLAUGHLIN | AMERICAN
Jacob was born in Panama City Beach, a coastal tourist town on the Gulf of Mexico. His mechanical background started young fixing trucks with his father and rebuilding electronics. Making a living as a carpenter and cabinet maker until he studied engineering in Louisiana in 2008, he served as 2nd engineer on an 85m supply vessel for Edison Chouest Offshore from 2010 to 2015. While taking training courses in Fort Lauderdale he networked with classmates and made his transition into yachting, helping with crossings and as relief engineer. Since then he has worked as Chief Engineer based in Newport California and Nassau Bahamas. Between yachting contracts, he has worked as a yoga and surf instructor in Ecuador, Peru and Colombia.

BOSUN | KATLIN DAVIS | South African
Kat has been in yachting for 10 years. His love for the water springs from where he grew up. Melkbosstrand on the west coast of Cape Town, RSA. A small surfing town just outside of the citys footprint. His passion for traveling has afforded him the opportunity to gain a very unique job, this one in particular. Allowing him to fish, surf, kiteboard and do all the watersports one can think of whilst also furthering his career as an Officer and one day becoming a professional Captain and run his own vessel between 130ft and 190ft. At 20, Katlin left Cape Town and went to work on an adventure vessel operating the Mozambique channel on a wave piercing, semi planning stabilized mono-hull, running adventure trips of up to three weeks to some of the most remote places along the East coast of Africa, Including Seychelles, Maldives, Madagascar and Mozambique. After 2 years and many priceless journeys it was time to start his yachting career in Antibes, France. This opened up a world previously unknown to him and started up a passion that has led him to what has become his dream job. Currently Katlin is working towards his Officer of the watch and forever expanding his knowledge and skills on deck and life.

STEWARDESS | KASIA KAPUSCINSKA | Canadian
Kasia was born in Montreal, Canada but raised Polish. She graduated with 2 Bachelors degrees in Psychology and Sociology from Concordia University and completed her last semester in the Netherlands in 2013.
To further her experience, she worked in shelters, transition homes and taught Psychology in Ecuador. Kasia has also traveled to some exciting places like Tibet, Bhutan, Japan, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Nepal all parts of Asia & Africa.
Having worked in many restaurants and a planner for private events and Kasia really found her stride when she joined the yachting industry in 2015. With her worldly experiences, kind personality and a creative eye for detail, Kasia is an asset and the newest member of the Sovereign crew.

STEWARDESS | MIMI TRUNG | British
Although born in Vietnam to Chinese parents, Mimi grew up in London so she often tells people she experienced the best of both Eastern and Western cultures in her childhood. She speaks Cantonese as well as English. Growing up in London she was always curious about different cultures. After graduating from University her adventurous spirit took her backpacking throughout Australia, New Zealand, SE Asia, South Africa, and Central America. Mimi enjoys learning new skills which means she has had various careers from being a Kiwi fruit sorter in New Zealand, Manicurist in England, to Caregiver for the elderly in the US. Her segue into yachting was a perfect fit and the greatest adventure of her life to date!

STEWARDESS | ROSA GURROLA ORTEGA | Mexican
Rosa was born and raised in Durango, Mexico. While completing a bachelors degree in Architecture, she decided to spend time abroad, studying French and au pairing in the South of France.
It was during this time that Rosa´s employer, a yacht Captain, offered her the opportunity to work on his vessel as a stewardess/nanny. Rosa fell in love with life at sea and promised she would return after her studies. In 2011, she relocated to Barcelona, Spain to complete her Master´s degree in Structural Engineering.
Shortly after completing this degree, she began freelancing on several large yachts around the Mediterranean and Caribbean and South Pacific. Rosa then decided to continue building on her career as a Structural Engineer and Architect mainly in Mexico and having some international placements in California and London.
She started her own company based in Mexico in 2017 and successfully made many weddings and parties fun & magical. She loves reading, water sports and travelling. She speaks intermediate French and Portuguese, and fluent Spanish and English.

DECKHAND | DANIEL WEATHERSBY | American
Daniel was born in Atlanta, Georgia. At the age of 25 he moved to the Bay Islands of Honduras to pursue a career as a Scuba instructor. There, he developed a deep passion for the ocean. After working on dive boats for 5 years, he wanted to move onto bigger and better things and the yachting industry was the next logical step. Because of his experience with watersports and his 8 years of working in hospitality, Daniel is perfectly suited to meet any requirements our guests might have.

DECKHAND | CHRIS PARKER | British
Chris comes from Cornwall, the South-West coast of England. He grew up in a large family with five brothers, enjoying boating and water sports. Prior to yachting, he was a former High School Drama Teacher and that ability to entertain certainly comes through in his colorful personality. Chris is a good boat handler and communicator, although firmly focused on guest comfort and safety at the same time. He returns to the Sovereign crew, this time as a Seasonal Crew member, having served as Bosun from 2018 to 2019.

CHASE BOAT CAPTAIN | DREW THACKRAY | British
Drew was born and raised on the South West coast of England in a small town called Salcombe. As a young boy he showed great enthusiasm for spending time on the water by joining the Salcombe Island Cruising Club Cadettes where he learned the basics of dingy sailing. At the age of 7 he was granted a scholarship for singing at a boarding school in the city of Exeter where he was involved in a vast amount of school performances and developed a love for acting.
At the age of 16 he went to Exeter College to study Performing Arts alongside Business Studies but always had a longing to get back out on the water. After graduating at the age of 20, Andrew traveled to Antibes, France to pursue a career in yachting and hasnt looked back. Since joining the yachting community Drew has traveled to many beautiful countries, but his favorite and most recent, was the island of Koh Samui in Thailand, SE Asia. He went to train for an intensive Muay-Thai course, learning advanced technique and discipline!
Drew loves the potential places that this industry can take him and looks forward to helping the guests onboard Motor Yacht Sovereign have the best experience possible in every way he can.