Captain: Umberto Genovese

*Book your vacation with an award-winning crew! We're excited to announce that Umberto won Honorable Mention for Best Crew at the 2023 VIPCA Show!!*


Captain Umberto Genovese

Born and raised in Sicily in the south of Italy, Umberto has spent a great deal of time around the water. Even as a young child he was passionate about watersports, fishing and outdoor activities. After he received his bachelor’s degree in business administration in Milan, he traveled to Australia to work in hospitality at the famous Sydney Opera House, he also lived in Hong Kong for 4 months while interning for a digital start-up.

In 2017 he found himself back in Italy and decided to spend more time on the water and thus started working for The Yacht Week, a popular flotilla company that operates in the Mediterranean but also in other locations like BVI, Martinique and Tahiti. Starting as a Skipper and moving quickly to higher positions such as Lead Skipper and Route Manager. For 2 years he also held the role of Instructor for Quarterdeck, a company that trains and mentors professional skippers.

In the 6 years he worked for Quarterdeck and The Yacht Week, he completed more than 80 charters in several locations around the Mediterranean and abroad, covering more than 100,000 nautical miles. When not on the water, he also likes to drive motorbikes. One of his most memorable trips was in India driving through the highest motorable pass in the world at +5.000 meters of altitude.

C E R T I F I C A T E S
-RYA Yachtmaster Offshore
-Commercially Endorsed
-Short Range VHF CertificateSTCW


Chef Daryl Surtees

Daryl is a Le Cordon Bleu London trained chef from beautiful Cape Town, South Africa. After gaining experience at a number restaurants, including being the chef for South Africa’s first plant-based zero-waste sushi restaurant, she decided to follow her passion for ocean and adventure, and work abroad sailing yachts.

She has worked two seasons abroad yachts in Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Tahiti, St. Lucia and the BVI. With her niche interest in healthy food and gut health, she also worked as an instructor at Stir Crazy Cooking School, hosting healthy food classes in Cape Town. Daryl loves creating food that is fresh, delicious, colorful and innovative. She has travelled to over 30 different countries and has learnt a great deal about differing food cultures. Her favorites that inspire her cuisine the most are Thai, Japanese, Mediterranean, Caribbean and Middle Eastern.

She believes food has the potential to elevate any experience, and she is confident that her food will bring immense joy and satisfaction to the table. When she is not in the galley crafting her magic, she loves surfing, hiking, snowboarding, yoga and hosting quiz nights! She is very much looking froward to being a part of this incredibly unique and joyous experience on charter with you!

C E R T I F I C A T E S
-PADI Open Water Diving Certification
-Quarterdeck Host Academy
-Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene
-STCW 10
-Superyacht Culinary Academy Chef Course in Cape Town
-Diploma in Plant-Based Culinary Arts at Le Cordon Bleu, London
-Thai Cuisine + Professional Chef Training at Blue Lotus Plant-Based Learning Centre, Thailand
-Truth Coffee 5-day Professional Barista Course