Captain: Sam Aldred

Name: Sam Aldred
Position: Captain
Nationality: Australian
Description: Sam brings a wealth of knowledge and a positive energy to his leadership role onboard M/Y Northern Escape. Leaving Australia at just 17 years of age to pursue a career in yachting, Sam has since been travelling the world working on yachts ranging in size from 25m – 85m gaining his qualifications in both his role as Captain and also engineering. With both parents working as Captains on vessels in Australia, Sam’s life always revolved around the water, this is his true passion and first love. It gave him an insight into what the role of a Captain entails from an early age. Sam’s career started in the Mediterranean and since then he has travelled the waters extensively gaining a wealth of knowledge of the local areas and the most exclusive anchorages. He has a love for fishing, diving and all things water and is racing off to the closest golf course in his time off. With an emphasis on attention to detail and safety onboard, Sam and his crew are always attentive to the guests’
needs and aims to create a safe and unforgettable experience.

Name: Grant Logan
Position: Chef
Nationality: South African
Description: Grant hails from Port Elizabeth, a coastal city in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. In 2007, he completed his culinary education at The South African Chefs Academy, and went on to hone his skills in upmarket restaurants in Cape Town for two years. He then spent three years as a private chef in a prestigious residence in the same city. Driven by his love for the ocean and a thirst for adventure, Grant joined the culinary crew of seafaring vessels in 2013, embarking on a career that allows him to pursue his passion for cooking on the water. He has since gained valuable experience on various charter vessels, including M/Y Lady Sara and M/Y Double Down. Grant is passionate about providing guests with the freshest produce sourced from local markets, ensuring that their meals are not only delicious but also memorable. He has a particular love for seafood and meat, and takes great pride in baking artisanal breads from scratch. In addition to his culinary skills, Grant is an accomplished yachtsman, having been part of the award-winning crew of M/Y Lady Sara, which was named the Best Charter Crew in the Mediterranean in 2018. In his free time, Grant enjoys surfing, snorkelling, and fishing.

Name: Emily Jaye
Position: Chief Stewardess
Nationality: Australian
Description: Growing up in Sunny North Queensland, Australia, Emily always enjoyed the sun and the sea. She decided to give up her job in banking back in 2011 and take on a completely different adventure in the yachting industry. Joining her first vessel in the Mediterranean as a deck/stew and gaining her Yachtmaster, she switched to an interior role, stayed focused and within a few years gained her first role as Chief Stewardess. Emily has a passion for all things wine and has recently completed her WSET level 2. With a strong attention to detail, Emily loves to interact with the guests and ensure they always have everything they need to make their trip a memorable one. She enjoys the comradery of working within a team who all have the same goal of making the experience for the guests the best it possibly can be.

Name: Ste Booker
Position: First Officer
Nationality: British
Description: As the son of a Master Mariner, it was only fate that Ste would embark on a career on the ocean, sharing the same passion and dedication within the maritime industry as his father. From a young age, Ste has been in a leadership role teaching Kitesurfing in Wales and then in 2015 began his career on board his first Superyacht. As the Chief Mate on board M/Y Northern Escape, Ste has a great understanding of seamanship and safety and places a significant emphasis on the guests’ overall experience, ensuring their enjoyment levels are always as high as possible and, of course, include some water sports. Ste loves to spend his downtime kitesurfing, fishing or having a round of golf.

Name: Tom Pilz
Position: Engineer
Nationality: Australian
Description: Growing up on the Northern Beaches of Australia, Tom’s life has always gravitated towards the water. Born into a family of engineers, Tom’s love for the water would soon take his engineering mind where it feels most at home. Tom’s career has not been your run-of-the-mill superyacht career, having started aboard one of the oldest superyachts in the world. With experience in both diesel and steam engines, Tom brings a plethora of knowledge and experience to the Northern Escape team. When he’s not running around behind the scenes, he enjoys spending his time exploring both above and below the water. Whether it’s sailing the oceans or motorbike riding through the remote mountains of Cambodia, Tom’s thirst for adventure is never truly quenched. His career has taken him to some of the furthest reaches of the planet, teaching him invaluable skills along the way. From the AV to the engine room, no task is too big or too small for Tom ensuring that you enjoy your uninterrupted experience aboard Northern Escape.

Name: Rebekah Sayle
Position: Second Stewardess
Nationality: British
Description: Rebekah (Bex) grew up on a small Island in Wales which immediately taught her to appreciate the smaller things in life. From a young age, Bex always had a passion for the sea, water sports and travel and realised she could combine all 3 within the luxury yachting industry whilst travelling the world. Working in 5-star holiday accommodation, Bex was able to gain experience in what would lead to a role on board her first vessel as a stewardess in 2015. Bex has an effervescent personality which is highly contagious. She genuinely loves to see her guests enjoying themselves. In her spare time, you will always find Bex taking part in water sports be it kitesurfing, wakeboarding or soaking up the sun on a Stand-up Paddle.

Name: Kate Hawkins
Position: Stewardess
Nationality: South African
Description: Kate, originally from the coastal town of Plettenberg Bay in South Africa, made the decision to move to London after finishing school to pursue a career in travel and tourism. Driven by her passion to explore the world and soak up the sun, she eventually found her calling in yachting. Since joining her first boat in Europe in 2015, Kate has embraced the opportunity to travel and has never looked back. With a background in interior design, Kate has developed a keen eye for detail which she applies in all aspects of her work. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure excellence. During her free time, Kate loves to immerse herself in the beauty and adventure of the ocean and its beaches, cherishing the tranquillity it offers. Her top priority is to guarantee a pleasurable experience for all guests on NORTHERN ESCAPE, making every effort to enhance your experience and ensure your satisfaction.

Name: Liam Tyler
Position: Deckhand
Nationality: South African
Description: Liam is an exuberant and dynamic 20-year-old hailing from South Africa. He spent his formative years in a charming suburb before relocating inland to a quaint farm nestled in the scenic midland’s region, where he resides with his close-knit family. After completing his high school education in 2021, he set his sights on pursuing a career in yachting and has already made significant progress in achieving his goal, having obtained a 200t Yachtmaster certification. He is now actively working towards ascending the ranks to become a Captain. Water activities have been a longstanding passion for Liam, who grew up indulging in water skiing and wakeboarding with his younger sister. As a self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie, he finds great pleasure in engaging in heart-pumping activities. Liam possesses an unbridled enthusiasm for water sports, especially those that involve water toys, and is committed to ensuring the safety of everyone onboard, making their experience unforgettable and one-of-a-kind. In his leisure time, Liam can be found either playing golf or riding his motorbike through the picturesque mountains.