About the Crew
PETER GRUNOW | Rotational Captain| South African
With a proud heritage rooted in both Italy and South Africa, Captain Pete is now based in Cape Town, where he lives with his wife, their dog, and newly born twins. Pete began his career in the yachting industry in 2013 and has since grown into a highly experienced and respected leader. Over the years, he has logged thousands of nautical miles, sailing on vessels across the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and the Bahamas. Known for his calm leadership, operational expertise, and passion for the sea, Pete brings a wealth of cruising knowledge and a deep commitment to safety and guest experience onboard OKTO. His love for exploration and the ocean is matched by his drive in personal pursuits. A dedicated endurance athlete, Pete has completed several ultra-distance trail running events in remote and rugged terrains, including New Zealand and Nepal. When not at sea or on the trails, he enjoys time at home, playing golf, or competing on the padel court.
ZANE GRAY | Rotational Captain | Australian
Zane grew up on the coastline of Perth, Western Australia, where an early life around boats and the ocean laid the foundation for his maritime career. At the age of 18, he embarked on an extended overseas sailing voyage, an experience that deepened his passion for life at sea and eventually led him into the yachting industry in 2013. Since then, Zane has built extensive experience aboard both private and charter motor yachts worldwide, cruising across four of the world’s five oceans on vessels ranging from 50 to 91 metres. He obtained his Master’s licence in 2022 and has since served as captain on two yachts, with OKTO now his third, developing broad charter experience throughout the Mediterranean, Caribbean and high latitude cruising regions. Known for his calm and approachable leadership style, Zane takes pride in creating a professional yet relaxed atmosphere onboard while ensuring every charter runs smoothly and safely. He particularly enjoys sharing his knowledge of cruising destinations, marine life and life at sea with guests, helping them make the most of their time onboard OKTO. Outside of yachting, Zane is an avid waterman with a passion for diving, kitesurfing, foiling and surfing. He looks forward to welcoming guests onboard OKTO and creating unforgettable experiences.
SAM STEWARD | Rotational Chief Officer | British
Sam was born in Cheltenham, United Kingdom, but now spends most of his time in Mallorca. At the age of 13 his parents began home educating him and his sister so they could travel around every country in Western Europe in a Campervan. This was where he found his love for the sea and eventually the yachting industry. Prior to yachting Sam played American Football in the UK for 8 years, for 2 of these years he was the starting Quarterback for Great Britain, playing in tournaments in the Netherlands and Serbia. In his free time, he enjoys writing, and has been working on several different screenplays which he hopes to one day make into a movie. On OKTO you will find Sam hosting many events, including quizzes, karaoke and our world famous OKTOlympics!
JOSH DAVIES | Rotational Chief Officer | British
With close to a decade of experience in the yachting industry, Josh brings strong leadership and a calm, capable presence to OKTO. As Chief Officer, he manages all deck operations, safety procedures, and navigational support with precision and professionalism. His background in sailing and watersports, combined with a hands-on approach, ensures every charter runs smoothly and safely.Off duty, Josh enjoys life on a small farm with his wife, their dog, and a few beloved animals. A passionate surfer who enjoys teaching watersports, he loves getting guests out on the water for paddleboarding, snorkeling, or beach days. Josh enjoys helping guests experience the adventurous side of life onboard OKTO, whether thatʼs getting out on the water, exploring new destinations, or simply making the most of each day.
STUART GELDART| Second Officer | South African
Stuart hails from a small coastal town just outside of Durban, where the ocean and vast landscapes sparked his lifelong love for adventure. With 9 years of hands on experience in the industry and a diverse background in cruising, he brings both skill and passion to his role onboard OKTO all whilst studying for his masters ticket. When heʼs off duty, Stuart is rarely still – heʼs out chasing the next thrill. Whether heʼs deep in the bush, exploring remote campsites across South Africa, paddling untamed rivers, or riding horseback through open landscapes, he thrives in the wild spaces he calls home, having even spotted a rare blue-footed booby!
GEORGE ATKINSON | Bosun | British
George comes from a quiet village outside of London and already has his foot in the yachting industry with a few years of experience under his belt. One of Georgeʼs favourite things about being onboard OKTO is teaching water sports and seeing the pure enjoyment on guests faces when they get it right. Whether itʼs an early morning paddle or a snorkeling session, George is always encouraging guests to make the most of life at sea.
JOE COTTON | Deckhand | Australian
Joe grew up in Brisbane, Australia, where his love for the ocean and an active outdoor lifestyle began at an early age. Before entering the yachting industry, he spent three years playing professional rugby union, developing teamwork and discipline that he now brings to life on deck. Now in his fourth year of yachting, Joe has cruised some of the worldʼs most beautiful destinations including Indonesia, Thailand and the Maldives. His passion for the water extends beyond work – he enjoys scuba diving and wakeboarding. Joe loves showing guests tricks on OKTOʼs Jet Skis!
RACHEL WOOD | Deckhand | South African
Born in England and raised in Durban, South Africa, Rachel grew up immersed in a lifestyle shaped by sun, sea and adventure. Rachelʼs love for the ocean started at a young age where she competed in many surfing national competitions throughout her teen years all around South Africa. Rachel is currently working towards her Yacht master qualification and is committed to progressing within the yachting industry. Rachel brings a positive and energetic presence to the deck team and enjoys sharing her love of the ocean with guests onboard OKTO.
ALICE JOHNSON | Rotational Chief Stewardess | Australian
Born and raised by the coast in Melbourne, Australia, Alice inherited a lifelong passion for the ocean through generations of sailors in her family. Through this, she discovered the yachting industry and landed her first position in yachting, cruising South East Asia and the Pacific for the first three years of her career. Alice thrives on leading the interior team and guiding her team to deliver seamless, luxury service in true OKTO style, whether it be themed dinner parties or beach BBQʼs, ensuring every guest experience is thoughtful, personalized, and executed to not be forgotten. She also places a strong emphasis on health and wellness, maintaining an active lifestyle that supports both physical and mental wellbeing —essential for life at sea and in high-performance environments. In her free time, you can find Alice staying active and outdoors, travelling to off-the-beaten-track countries, often below sea level, scuba diving.
ANA SIRVENT | Rotational Chief Stewardess | Spanish
Hailing from Alicante, Spain, Ana brings vibrant energy, warmth, and a true passion for hospitality onboard. Deeply connected to her Spanish roots and Mediterranean lifestyle, she loves music, culture, gastronomy, and meeting people from all over the world. Her early years in yachting were spent backpacking and exploring different countries during off-seasons, giving her a love for authentic experiences, local traditions, and international cuisine, although her style of travelling has evolved over the years, she still loves discovering unique places, restaurants, and the culture behind them. Being adventurous and active by nature, this helps her maintain good energy and positivity both during charters and in everyday life, always bringing beaming energy and enthusiasm wherever she goes, especially whilst creating a seamless and exciting atmosphere onboard OKTO.
Niamh Delaney | 2nd Stewardess | British
Born in England and raised in Ballito, South Africa, Niamh has also spent time living Portugal and Dubai, shaping her global perspective and passion for travel. Niamh has enjoyed working on both private and charter yachts in her career, she is known for her bubbly personality and ability to make guests feel immediately comfortable onboard OKTO. Outside of work, she enjoys running, water sports, surfing, diving and travel. She has also attended yoga and surf retreats in Portugal, Sri Lanka and Costa Rica combining her love for wellness, adventure and the outdoors.
Ava Wass | Stewardess | British
Ava was raised in Cheshire, England, with a passion for travel and life on the water. Growing up in an active family who enjoy hiking and cycling, Ava developed a strong work ethic and love for the outdoors from a young age. Her travels throughout Southeast Asia inspired her to pursue a career in yachting, combining her sense of adventure with her long-standing background in hospitality and housekeeping. With a natural enthusiasm for guest service, Ava takes pride in ensuring guests feel comfortable and well looked after throughout their stay onboard OKTO, down to even the smallest details.
TABBY SAGAR | Stewardess | British
Tabby is a warm presence from the charming spa town of Harrogate in North Yorkshire. Tabbyʼs passion for hospitality started early and grew through her experience in luxury golf clubs around the UK, shaping her attention to detail onboard OKTO and her passion for refined hospitality and attentive service. Outside of her role onboard, Tabby enjoys staying active through gym classes, scenic walks in nature, and expressing her creativity through painting and sketching. She also loves travelling and immersing herself in new, different cultures.
EMMA HORNLUND | Stewardess | Swedish
Hailing from the beautiful northern Swedish city of Umeå, Emma brings Scandinavian warmth, professionalism and a genuine passion for hospitality to every guest experience. After several years in the service industry, she joined the yachting industry in 2023, where her attentive nature, eye for detail and friendly personality allow guests to feel instantly at home onboard. A former member of the Swedish National Badminton Team and Swedish Junior Champion, Emmaʼs sporting background instilled the discipline, resilience and teamwork that continue to shape her approach to exceptional service onboard OKTO.
WILLIAM PITT-BROOKE | Head Chef | British
William has been the heart and soul of the galley department onboard OKTO for the past five years, his food has often been the absolute standout for many guests, even resulting in guests returning to OKTO time and time again for his culinary creations. Before this he had perfected his trade over a twelve-year career in 1, 2 and 3 Michelin star restaurants, with his proudest position being Head Chef at a 1 Michelin star restaurant in Birmingham. He loves all types of cuisines and is continuously discovering and experimenting with new ones! His favourite type of food is street food. In his spare time William enjoys being the workplace comedian and challenging crew to a game on the padel court, often for hours on end.
GEORGE ELLIOT | Sous Chef | British
With a background in Michelin-starred and some of Londonʼs most prestigious restaurants, George has developed a reputation for delivering exceptional cuisine with precision and creativity. He trained at the renowned Le Manoir aux Quat ‘Saisons where he refined his classical techniques, and his passion for cooking started to really grow. Outside of the galley, George tries to stay active with his interests, including running, padel, tennis, golf, and skiing.
BEN CUDD | Rotational Chief Engineer | British
Ben has always had a passion for marine engineering and enjoys the fast-paced environment of life at sea onboard OKTO. Before joining the yachting industry, he gained valuable experience working with Gardline on exploration and research vessels, before moving to Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited, where he further developed his engineering knowledge in highly demanding commercial operations. Since then Ben has built strong experience across vessel engineering, maintenance, and AV/IT systems, always striving to keep operations running smoothly for both guests and crew. Outside of work, Ben enjoys an active lifestyle and is always happiest outdoors. Whether itʼs mountain biking, playing golf, working on cars, or clay pigeon shooting, he enjoys anything hands-on and challenging, his biggest challenge being keeping up with his two young sons.
THOMAS BRO OVERGAARD | Rotational Chief Engineer | Danish
Thomas is a Danish Marine Engineer and a graduate of the Copenhagen School of Marine Engineering. His career has been a mix of the superyacht and oil and gas industries, gaining experience both onboard yachts and offshore on oil rigs in the North Sea. With a strong technical background and experience across several yachts, Thomas has always had a passion for engineering, solving problems, and constantly looking for ways to improve. Outside of work, Thomas enjoys diving, hiking and is always up for a game of padel. Always keen for a new adventure, he enjoys travelling and exploring new places whenever the opportunity arises.
VASI MIC | Second Engineer | Romanian
Vasi has spent the last 5 years in the large yacht sector and prior to his yachting career he lived in Australia for 12 years, working in the mobile telecommunications industry. Since joining yachting he has specialized in working with various high-tech technical systems. Engineering runs in the family with his sister also working in the superyacht sector as a Chief Engineer. In his free time, Vasi enjoys cycling, diving, snowboarding, and travelling.
JOSHUA O’REILLY | Second Engineer | British
Josh is a London-born marine engineer who studied in Glasgow and has a background in both commercial and recreational maritime environments. He grew up near the coast in Sussex alongside his twin sister and younger brother and sister, developing a lifelong connection to the water through sailing. Having previously played rugby professionally Josh has a strong interest in outdoor pursuits, music and scuba diving. After working on cruise ships, Josh transitioned into the yachting industry in 2019, bringing with him a solid technical foundation to OKTO.
ETHAN WYLIE | Videographer/ Third Engineer | South African
Ethan began his career on deck before discovering his true passion for engineering, which has since guided his professional journey. With several years of experience, His love for the sea and its vast opportunities has shaped his work ethic and drive, and he continues to grow within the industry, focusing on combining his maritime expertise with engineering innovation. Outside of his career, Ethan is an avid sports enthusiast, enjoying a variety of athletic activities and adventurous pursuits, he is also a keen videographer and has the pleasure of capturing guest experiences onboard and creating lasting OKTO memories.
