Ignatius Marais — Captain (South African)
Captain Ignatius Marais, who was born in South Africa in 1985, joins M/Y PANGEA with over a decade of hands-on experience on both sailing and motor yachts, ranging from 37ft to 95ft, in private and charter operations.
A commercially endorsed RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore (Sail & Power), he has held command positions across a variety of busy charter vessels, including extensive work with Sunseeker Malta.
Ignatius is well-versed in managing fast-paced itineraries and quick turnarounds between charters, ensuring vessels remain impeccably maintained and guest-ready. His cruising experience spans the Mediterranean, Caribbean, South America, the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and several Atlantic crossings.
Respected for his calm, positive leadership, strong technical background, and excellent guest rapport, he brings a dynamic, service-driven mindset to every charter.
He speaks English and Afrikaans.
Djenna Nahari — Stewardess (French)
Djenna Fatima Nehari joins M/Y PANGEA, bringing long standing experience on both motor yachts and sailing yachts, with a practical and guest focused approach developed across the South of France, Malta, Italy and Greece.
Since 2006, Djenna has worked in yacht and sailing boat stewardess roles, supporting both interior and operational duties on board. Her experience includes guest service, housekeeping, provisioning, inventories, budgeting and accounting, as well as assisting the Captain during mooring, anchoring and docking manoeuvres.
She is also accustomed to working closely with the Chef or Captain on menu planning, helping to design meals around the guests’ preferences and dietary requirements. Her background in guest house management further supports her ability to organise guest stays, activities and special occasions with attention and discretion.
Djenna holds the STCW certification, covering onboard safety, emergency response, firefighting, sea survival, first aid and passenger care. She speaks French as her native language, fluent English and Arabic, with basic Italian.
In her free time, she enjoys cooking, tennis and swimming.
Saikou Minteh — Deckhand (Gambian)
Saikou Minteh joins M/Y PANGEA as Deckhand. Originally from Gambia and currently based in Malta, Saikou speaks English and Italian, with additional knowledge of Arabic and Mandinka.
Since 2019, he has worked extensively within the Sunseeker charter fleet in Malta, gaining solid experience in mooring operations, navigation support, tender driving and day to day deck maintenance, as well as contributing to engine room checks and preventative maintenance during winter periods. His experience spans multiple yachts including MAMY, ANA LIZA G, ELEGANCE and others.
In addition to his deck experience, Saikou has commanded Axopar 37 and luxury tenders, as well as smaller motor yachts up to approximately 70 ft, developing a practical understanding of yacht handling and guest operations, with good familiarity of Mediterranean cruising areas and the demands of active charter operations.
He holds STCW certification, a Boatmaster licence, VHF radio certification, and an IYT Yachtmaster Offshore (200 GT), along with a Maltese seaman’s book.
Solana Alvarez — Chef (Argentinian)
Solana Alvarez joins M/Y PANGEA as Chef, bringing over ten years of experience across restaurants, private chef assignments and yachting, with a culinary style rooted in Mediterranean and international cuisine.
Italian and Argentinian, born in 1985 and currently based in Paris, she speaks Spanish natively, with fluent Italian and strong English and French. Her professional path began with formal training in Argentina, followed by international experience that led her to settle in Paris.
Solana has held Head Chef positions in several Paris based restaurants, including L’Equerre, Malena and Ferona, where she was responsible for menu creation, provisioning and full kitchen organisation, often leading small teams. In parallel, she has been working as a private chef, delivering tailored dining experiences for international clients, as well as supporting high end hospitality operations on a freelance basis.
Her yachting experience includes roles as Sole Chef on a private yacht in Cannes and Head Chef on a sailing yacht in the Mediterranean, where she managed all aspects of the galley, from provisioning to daily meal preparation for guests and crew, with attention to dietary preferences and seasonal products.
Her cuisine reflects a modern, ingredient driven approach, combining Mediterranean influences with international flavours, and a particular attention to presentation and balance. She is also confident in pastry and baking.
Organised and adaptable, Solana is comfortable managing a galley independently and adjusting to the rhythm of life on board, bringing a calm and reliable presence to the team and a refined yet approachable dining experience for guests on PANGEA.
