Reach
Crew profile

Captain: James Minkley
Born in Cape Town, South Africa, James grew up at the beach, surrounded by nature and the ocean. With these surroundings how could he not fall in love with everything to do with the ocean – sailing, surfing and so many other water activities. Following his studies and degree in multimedia and marketing, he decided to further his sailing skills and has been working on the ocean ever since.

In 2022, after concluding a crew position on a 40m sailing yacht James decided to switch to a more “hands on” sailing position and accepted a captain’s role on smaller charter yachts which took him to Croatia and French Polynesia.

James is a fun-loving, warm hearted and adventurous person who is not afraid to try something new and create wonderful once in a lifetime memories for all who charter on REACH.

Chef/First Mate: Matilda Kopra
A private chef with ten years of experience in the food and hospitality industry. Matilda’s career has taken her across Europe, from private chalets in the French and Swiss Alps to yachts along the Mediterranean, where she has had the pleasure of cooking for guests in some of the most beautiful settings in the world.

Matilda’s culinary approach is rooted in creating food that not only tastes great but also makes you feel good. She specializes in wholesome, health-forward cuisine that’s vibrant, balanced, and deeply satisfying. Mediterranean flavors are especially close to her heart. She loves working with fresh, seasonal ingredients to create dishes that are both nourishing and full of character.

Matilda is happy to cater to any dietary preferences or restrictions, and always aims to create meals that align with the tastes and needs of each guest. Whether she is preparing a relaxed family-style or an elegant dinner menu, Matilda tailors every experience with care and attention to detail — always making food a highlight of your time away.

James and Matilda can’t wait to meet you and guide you on the Vacation of Lifetime!