Barefeet Retreat
Crew profile

Captain: Jage Martin
Jage grew up in Scotland in the 70s and 80s. Having very mixed ancestry he inherited an insatiable passion for the unknown and adventure. He began traveling at the age of 15 by hitchhiking to France. Drawn by the great mountains, oceans and peoples of the word he has travelled and worked in every continent since. Even taking an old VW van and driving from Europe to Australia through Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Asia.

He has done many jobs from a lowly kitchen hand in the Greek islands to a ski guide in the French alps to qualified construction worker in Australia. Eventually putting down roots in the French Alps and starting a construction business and a family, he pursued his dreams of becoming a sailor by qualifying as a captain in 2009 and buying his first yacht “Nomad”.

He then took his young family to experience the wonders of this world by sail, voyaging all over the world including the Seychelles, Thailand, Greece, Turkey and the Caribbean. Settling for a while in Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines where he began working in the yachting industry. He is a commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster and Dive Master with a huge respect for our oceans and all life in them.

Loving the feeling and freedom of life on the water he likes nothing more than to share that passion with others. Very much a fun loving person he enjoys meeting new people from all walks of life and having a good laugh. He has clocked up over 35,000 logged miles including 3 ocean crossings most recently in November 2024. He is also a qualified SCUBA Rescue Diver, Marine Engineer, Electrician and Stone Mason (not much use on a yacht). He is fluent in English, French and also speaks Spanish. He is really looking forward to making sure you have a truly unforgettable vacation.

Chef/First Mate: Janine Emmerich
Janine is an adventurer at heart, equally drawn to the land and sea. She grew up in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, where she planned events for top South African bands and DJs. In her spare time, she could always be found on the beach spearfishing along the Wild Coast, cooking fresh fish, crayfish, mussels or whatever she caught that day.

A former national representative for Drum Majorettes, Janine was also part of “Friends of the Bull” performing fire dancing for Red Bull – an experience that sharpened her ability to entertain. She studied Banqueting Management, Customer Relations and Communications, receiving classical training with Blue Ribbon. Highly technical and hands-on, Janine has a logical mindset and a keen eye for detail. Her passion for cooking and event planning stems from her large Irish family, many of whom have worked in the hospitality industry in various capacities.

In 2024 Janine moved to Cape Town and in 2023 she completed a 42-day transatlantic sail from Cape Town to the British Virgin Islands aboard a 59ft catamaran. She was introduced to yachting by her uncles and aunt, who have been in the industry, sparking her own love for the profession.

In her free time, Janine enjoys exploring, hiking, paddleboarding, creating art and playing the ukulele. She takes pride in cooking wholesome food, infusing her African flavors into every dish she creates. Janine looks forward to expanding your culinary experience and looks forward to meeting you.