Captain: Daniel Rawlins

CAPTAIN - ROTATIONAL | Daniel Rawlins | South African
Daniel grew up on the coast of South Africa and got involved in sailing with the Royal Natal Yacht Club at the young age of eight. His career in yachting started in 1998 when he quickly completed three transatlantic crossings and two busy charter seasons before taking a permanent captain’s position on S/Y Gitana, a 120ft Perini Navi, in late 2000. Daniel has extensive experience in a multitude of cruising grounds. He joined Hyperion in 2010 and has remained here ever since. He has a calm nature, easy-going personality and is approachable and confident. He follows the belief that the best way to lead is by example and with passion. When not onboard, you will find Daniel cycling, paddling or surfing.


CAPTAIN - ROTATIONAL |Nicholas Jacklein | Canadian
Nico has been onboard Hyperion since 2011. He has worked his way through the ranks and now rotates as captain with Daniel. Growing up sailing on the Great Lakes in Canada, Nico spent many years racing and coaching at his local yacht club before discovering the world of yachting. Some of his favourite cruising grounds are the Balearics, Greece, and the Caribbean. Beyond Nico’s enthusiasm for sailing in any capacity he spends as much time as possible with his family watching the chaos a little baby can cause. His various hobbies include classic cars, skiing, cycling and kite surfing.


CHEF | Sarah Carey | Canadian
With a passion for the culinary arts and seven years of experience as a yachting chef, Sarah brings a unique blend of skill and creativity to the galley. Her culinary journey is deeply rooted in her love for baking, which she embraces not just as a profession, but as a cherished hobby.
Beyond her professional expertise, Sarah is an avid traveler, with El Salvador holding a special place in her heart as her favorite destination. The rich culture, stunning landscapes, and warm hospitality of El Salvador have left a lasting impression on her, inspiring her culinary creations and broadening her culinary perspective.


CHIEF ENGINEER | Thomas Dawson | British
Thomas has a wealth of experience on large sailing yachts, he joins us from a long-standing position as chief Engineer on 55m Marie, he is familiar with the systems found on vessel with big sailing plans. He brings a calm and confident set of skills to Hyperion’s engineering systems. He is a very personable crew and takes pride in keeping the vessel operating like clockwork.
Any questions about Hyperion’s complex systems don’t hesitate to ask him. He is fluent in both French and English and conversational Spanish. Thomas returns home to the UK when he is off rotation to his family and 2 daughters. In his spare time, he enjoys just about any water sport a good run and of course Sailing.


CHIEF ENGINEER | Gavin McIntosh | South African
Gavin grew up in Durban, South Africa and started sailing in the Southern Ocean soon after finishing high school. His career onboard superyachts started in the Caribbean after completing multiple trans-Atlantic deliveries of 35-foot catamaran sailing yachts to the northern hemisphere. He joined Hyperion in March 2021 as one of our rotational Chief Engineers. When Gavin is off rotation, he returns to his adopted home city of Amsterdam. He enjoys golf, cycling and a good run around the squash court, as well as spending valuable time with his wife and young daughter.


FIRST OFFICER | Tim O'Loarie | Irish
Tim grew up in a coastal town in Dublin, Ireland where he first learned to sail at age 4 in a red Optimist dinghy called Ketchup. Somehow, the frigid temperatures and sideways rain of winter didn’t sour his enthusiasm & after a lifetime of messing around in boats, it is perhaps no surprise Tim settled on yachting as a career eight years ago. First working on Jim Clarke’s second yacht, the 90m Gaff Rigged Schooner Athena. While happily playing with PLC controlled, hydraulic powered sailboats boats while on the clock, Tim is a Luddite at heart and dreams of owning a classic wooden sailing yacht, navigating by the stars.


CHIEF STEWARDESS | Gemma Sheene | New Zealand
Gemma joined Hyperion after falling in love with the yachting industry back in her home country of New Zealand during the 2020 America’s Cup. With a welcoming and charismatic personality, Gemma takes pride in connecting with guests and crew, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere on board Hyperion. Her background in event management and business means she will make your trip on Hyperion one to remember. Onboard, Gemma enjoys curating wine lists and putting together elegant table settings, but off duty, Gemma loves a good murder mystery novel, dolphin-spotting and singing along to the best musical numbers.