ELENA of LONDON

Alex is from Düsseldorf and grew up sailing with friends and family. Drawn to the traditional sailing culture of the Netherlands, he took a position as Mate aboard a three-masted schooner after graduating from university, sailing around the Frisian Islands. Since then, Alex has worked across a wide range of sailing disciplines, including flotilla skippering in Greece, delivering RYA training in Italy, and commissioning a new Oyster yacht directly from the factory. A passionate photographer, Alex works exclusively with analogue equipment, developing and printing all of his work by hand. This season, he hopes to capture the beauty of Elena of London under sail.

Originally from Mallorca, he is a passionate and dedicated chef with a lifelong love for cooking. Professionally trained in restaurants and hotels across Europe over the course of eight years, he has spent more than a decade working within the private hospitality industry, refining his craft and developing a distinctive culinary style. Inspired by the approach of Jamie Oliver, he believes in creating relaxed, enjoyable dining experiences centred around fresh, high-quality ingredients and Mediterranean cuisine. His philosophy is rooted in simplicity, allowing natural flavours and carefully selected produce to speak for themselves. Through years of experience, he has come to value quality above quantity, taking pride in delivering thoughtful, memorable meals that guests genuinely appreciate. For him, simplicity is the key to success. Outside the kitchen, he enjoys spending time in nature, watching cinema, and being with family.I prefer this response

Originally from Poole in the South West of the United Kingdom, she has always lived by the sea and feels most at home on the water — especially in climates a little warmer than the UK. Adventurous by nature, she loves exploring new places and spending her time off hiking, snorkelling, and discovering the outdoors. A keen sailor, she enjoys being on the water with friends and crew, whether dinghy sailing or aboard small pleasure boats. Photography is another passion of hers, often combined with her other hobbies, capturing dramatic coastal landscapes and waterside views during her travels and hikes. She began her yachting career as a sole stewardess, an experience that gave her a strong understanding of every aspect of life on board and shaped her into the capable and hands-on chief stewardess she is today. Always willing to step in wherever needed, she takes pride in creating memorable experiences for guests at sea. What she loves most about working on yachts is the rewarding sense of teamwork shared with crew and guests alike, as well as the incredible places the job allows her to experience. Seeing the world from the coastline offers a unique perspective and a deeper appreciation for the ocean and its surroundings.

Grace is originally from a town in Shropshire and has a strong passion for travel, creativity, and coastal living. After leaving home at 18 to attend university, where she earned a degree in Fine Art, she began travelling independently, sparking a lasting love for adventure and exploration. Working and living abroad further deepened her appreciation for dynamic environments, different cultures, and life by the ocean. Her transition into yachting felt like a natural progression, combining her passion for travel with hands-on, ever-changing experiences at sea. Grace brings five years of customer service and hospitality experience, alongside a background in event design, allowing her to create welcoming and memorable experiences for guests on board. In her free time, she enjoys spending time at the beach, staying active, creating art, and discovering new destinations around the world.

Sailing aboard traditional boats as a teenager sparked his fascination with the freedom and adventure that sailing can offer. Learning to harness the wind and travel vast distances under sail inspired a lifelong passion for classic yachts, both on the water and in their maintenance and preservation. Over the years, he has logged more than 17,400 nautical miles across two oceans, including an Atlantic crossing, with sailing experience throughout the United Kingdom, Australia, the Caribbean, the Baltic Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. He also trained at the International Boatbuilding Training College to become a traditional boat builder, further deepening his connection to classic vessels and craftsmanship. Having learned from highly experienced sailors and boatbuilders throughout his career, he is passionate about sharing that knowledge and helping preserve traditional maritime skills for future generations. After many years of racing against, and often just behind Elena of London, it is now a genuine pleasure for him to race and work aboard her. Outside of sailing, he can usually be found climbing mountains or playing music.

Having grown up on a houseboat on Tagg's Island in South West London, he developed a natural connection to the water from an early age. He is an enthusiastic young sailor with more than 5,000 nautical miles of experience to date. Much of his sailing has taken place in the Mediterranean Sea aboard modern racing yachts, including the Elan 450 and Hanse 470. Over the years, he has competed in a number of renowned regattas and offshore races, including the Fastnet Race, the Middle Sea Race, the King's Cup Regatta, as well as various races throughout the Solent. Outside of sailing, he enjoys a wide range of outdoor pursuits, including fishing, skiing, climbing, hiking, and scuba diving.

Nicolas is from Menorca. Since entering the yachting industry in 2003, he has worked aboard a variety of yachts across the Mediterranean Sea and the Caribbean Sea, steadily developing his nautical experience.He values being part of a close-knit crew and takes pride in contributing to a professional yet enjoyable atmosphere on board. With a background in engineering, alongside extensive sailing and hands-on yacht experience, he is keen to continue developing his career within the international yachting industry.

Stephane grew up sailing in his hometown of Poole and has spent more than twenty-five years racing and sailing classic yachts across the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Pacific, and British Isles. In 2015, he won the Panerai Transatlantic Race aboard S/Y Altair, which he commanded for 11 years. New to the helm of Elena of London this season, Stephane has nevertheless been closely involved with the yacht since her launch in 2009, racing aboard her for over a decade. A lifelong surfer and passionate snowboarder, Stephane is fluent in both English and French. He lives in Poole with his partner and two children.