Captain: Benjamin "Benny" Dalton

Captain: Benjamin "Benny" Dalton
Nationality: American

Captain Benny has been travelling the world from a young age having lived in Egypt, Great Britain, and Australia, where his love for sailing took off! At just 16, he began sailing and racing dinghies in addition to spending weekends and holidays with his family aboard their monohull off the Queensland coast.

Benny's credentials include completing his RYA Coastal and Yachtmaster Ocean in England, and his Yachtmaster Offshore in Australia. He used celestial navigation to sail across the Atlantic Ocean from The Bahamas to Europe and has captained a number of Luxury charter yachts, where he enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with guests over one of his specialty cocktails.

In addition to his sailing expertise, Benny is a PADI divemaster and looks forward to sharing his local knowledge of wrecks and unique marine life. He's an avid kiteboarder and spear fisher, you might be lucky enough to enjoy fresh lobster and fish caught by the captain himself.



Chef/First Mate: Hannah O'Connor
Nationality: American

Hannah began scuba diving after moving to Australia from her native home in England, she decided she wanted to spend as much time on the sea as possible. What better way than working on board charter vessels in the Mediterranean? It was here she shared her passions for cooking and for meeting new people in a remarkable and beautiful environment.

With culinary skills honed at Ashburton Chefs Academy and more than 10 years of extensive travel, Hannah wows guests with impeccably presented meals that reflect flavours and cuisines from throughout the world. Having spent years in the Caribbean, she gathers the freshest local ingredients and customises her menu based on the guests preferences. In addition to her culinary talents, Hannah is a certified Divemaster and yogi.

Having an experienced, personable crew with a passion for sailing, food and drinks can take your dream vacation to the next level. Benny and Hannah met while sailing in the Mediterranean, since then they have sailed across the Atlantic together and they have traveled to more than 20 countries. Their attention to details and knowledge of the Bahamas has earned them rave reviews from countless guests!”



Mike Haith: Engineer/Mate

Mike Haith has always had a love for the ocean. He grew up lobstering off the coast of Maine and he has recently graduated from Maine Maritime Academy with a concentration in engineering. Mike also holds a medical person in charge certificate and is happy to assist when needed on board. In addition, he was a member of the Maine Maritime off shore sailing team and a company commander in the regiment. On board Mike is responsible for the mechanical operations of the yacht, but he also serves as the water sports extraordinaire and the Captains right hand man! Mike is extremely happy to be a part of the Blue Gryphon team and he looks forward to welcoming you aboard!




Stew: Michelle Hartz

Michelle treks all the way from Melbourne, Australia to join Blue Gryphon. Michelle previously worked in the Caribbean on Board Sailing Yacht Lir and Sailing Yacht Foxy Lady. Her radiant smile and genuine warmth make guests feel immediately at ease aboard Blue Gryphon. She’s a natural with small children and when there’s a bit of spare time she’s always keen to teach paddle boarding and show guests the islands. During her career she has traveled extensively and made lifelong friends along the way. Whilst in Australia Michelle focused her studies and Career in Business Management, Hospitality and Retail.