Respite at Sea
Crew profile

Captain: Sam Collins (UK)
Chef/First Mate: Zina Lynkova (Ukraine)

Captain: Sam Collins
British-born physics graduate, Sam, has worked as a full-time captain for more than a decade, accumulating thousands of miles at sea, including a transatlantic passage. He is committed to ensuring the highest level of safety, service and fun for every guest. As soon as you step on board he will help you to feel relaxed and at home. His long list of interests include BBQing, making cocktails, stargazing and talking about how stuff works (his former life was spent teaching kids in London). For fitness he enjoys water sports, especially diving & anything with a sail. Sometimes he plays the guitar, quite badly, so better not to ask him for a song.

Captain Sam Collins
Qualifications
RYA MCA commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Offshore
MCA Approved Engine Course
STCW 10 Basic Safety Training
ENG 1 Medical Certificate
GMDSS
General Operators Certificate
OOW General ships knowledge
Operational HELM
OOW Advanced sea survival
RYA Cruising instructor
RYA Powerboat Level 2
RYA Dinghy instructor
RYA Start Windsurfing Instructor
PADI scuba instructor
Food hygiene level 2

Chef: Zina Lynkova
Chef Zina is Ukrainian and grew up in the seaside town of Yalta in Crimea. She worked in the hotel business from a young age and lived in Italy before meeting Sam and then training as a yacht chef in France, England and Thailand. Guests love Zina’s kindness and her prowess in the galley, where she consistently produces beautiful and delicious meals. Her other interests include music, dancing, swimming and diving.

Sam and Zina met on holiday where they spent long romantic days alone on the beach, dreaming of a life together in the sun. They married almost immediately on Little Bay Beach, Anguilla, and hatched a plan to work together in their dream job, which they call “running a floating 5-star hotel in paradise”. They have been sailing professionally side-by-side, full-time for eight years, all over the eastern Caribbean, across the Atlantic and around much of the Mediterranean. They consider themselves very lucky to be living in beautiful places, sharing their happiness, excellent food and a good vibes with their guests.

Chef Zina Lynkova
Qualifications
Diploma in gastronomic cuisine
Thai Chef Diploma
STCW 10 Basic
Safety Training
RYA MCA Day Skipper
ENG 1 Medical Certificate
Food hygiene level 2
Food allergy awareness training

Crew fully vaccinated