Captain: Ryan Hayes
Ryan was born and raised in the southernmost tip of Africa and was immediately drawn to the ocean. Having grown up catching lobster before school, then surfing each afternoon, it seemed only natural that he would pursue a sea centric career. After completing his Yacht Master Ocean certification in 2015, Ryan began sailing professionally along the East African coast. He’s got a bounty of stories to share from his extensive cruising around Mozambique, Tanzania, Mauritius and the Seychelles.
Ryan later moved to the Mediterranean, where he spent 5 years there establishing himself as a reputable captain within the charter industry. His sails and passages have taken him over 4,000m across the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, through the beautiful islands of French Polynesian and over the treacherous water of the Southern Ocean before he started calling the Virgin Islands home in 2021.
Chef: Paula Milovac (Nov-Mar)
Paula’s upbringing in Gothenburg, Sweden, was steeped in the world of food and culinary arts. Her father’s profession as a skilled chef and her mother’s unwavering passion for baking created the perfect environment for her culinary journey to unfold. This journey commenced at the age of 14 when Paula secured her first job at a local French café in Gothenburg. Through this experience, she embarked on a trajectory that led her to incredible destinations, where she encountered remarkable individuals and gained invaluable insights. It was during these travels that Paula also became acquainted with the captivating yachting industry.
In 2017, Paula sought admission to the Quarterdeck Host/Chef Academy. Fast forward seven seasons in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, and she has cultivated an impressive mastery of both cooking and presentation. Her extensive tenure in the service industry is evident in her adeptness at delivering exceptional service with finesse. Paula’s distinctive approach contributes profoundly to the triumph and enjoyment of each charter. Her innate warmth and nurturing demeanor create an atmosphere akin to being welcomed into one’s grandmother’s home – a sentiment that’s difficult to resist. Paula’s allure is hard to overlook, and her track record of accomplishments speaks for itself.
Chef: Abrye Redecker (Apr-Jul)
Returning for her fourth year aboard, Bree, our Florida gal, has a lifetime of passionate hosting experience and has always been a natural in the kitchen. After 9 years working in advertising strategy, Bree pivoted from her NYC desk job in ’17 and found new bliss working as a chef on the sea. She’s spent the last 4 years hosting charters at sea, programming wellness retreats on land, and sharing her skills as a host instructor for Quarterdeck’s host and skipper academy in Croatia. Entertaining is Bree’s forte and she finds it such a privilege to nourish her guests with mindfully curated meal plans using only the freshest and most wholesome ingredients.
