Renee Simon — Stewardess (Filipino)
Renee is a calm and steady presence on board Sherakhan, bringing years of yachting experience and a genuine passion for guest comfort. With a background in both luxury housekeeping and massage therapy, she moves effortlessly between her roles—whether she’s creating perfectly polished cabins or delivering blissfully relaxing treatments in the spa. Trained in Swedish, Shiatsu, and combination massage techniques, Renee takes great care in every detail, always working with a quiet confidence and kind smile. Her work is thoughtful, graceful, and precise—she notices the little things and makes sure everything feels just right. Guests often leave her care feeling completely refreshed and at ease. Outside of work, Renee enjoys nature, calm moments, and staying connected with her family. She brings a wonderful sense of calm and consistency to the Sherakhan experience, helping to make each trip effortlessly relaxing from start to finish.
Darius Abello — Chief engineer (Filipino)
Darius brings decades of expertise and rock-solid reliability to Sherakhan as Chief Engineer. With a career spanning over 30 years at sea and service on a wide variety of offshore and DP vessels, he’s the quiet force ensuring everything below deck runs smoothly, efficiently, and safely. Originally from the Philippines, Darius has held senior engineering roles on advanced propulsion vessels operating across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. His technical depth covers everything from diesel-electric systems and azimuth thrusters to emergency response and engine resource management. Whether powering through the open ocean or docked for guest embarkation, Darius keeps the heartbeat of Sherakhan steady.
Kevin Van Luijn — Captain (Dutch)
Kevin completed his education as Maritime Officer at the Maritime University in Terschelling in 2009. During his traineeship on board cruise ship MS Volendam owned by Holland America Line he knew that he wanted to stay in the passenger ship business. But he missed the personal contact with the guests like he used to have during his summer holidays as deckhand. So, after his graduation he chose to apply for a job as 2nd officer on board Sherakhan. After about a year he was promoted to Chief Officer. Further in his career he worked as 4th, 3rd and 2nd engineer on yachts as well as commercial vessels, but his passion lies on the bridge. After sailing the world as staff captain on board Legend, Kevin returned to Sherakhan. During his experiences he has seen that a happy and motivated crew immediately reflects on the quality of the service and success of the charter for our guests. Besides his love for his job, he loves water sports and likes to spend any free moment on a wakeboard.
Loretta Findlay — Stewardess (Dutch / Zambian)
Loretta was born in Zambia and raised along the banks of the beautiful Kafue River, but her roots also trace back to the Netherlands. Growing up surrounded by nature, she developed a love for the outdoors and an active lifestyle early on. After completing her A-level studies in Biology, Psychology, Physical Education, and Geography, Loretta set her sights on the sea—trading textbooks for travel and embarking on a career in yachting.Now entering her third season, Loretta has quickly proven herself to be a valuable team member aboard Sherakhan, where she currently serves as a service stewardess. Her previous freelancing experience on vessels ranging from 20 to 60 meters helped shape her preference for larger charter yachts, where she thrives in a dynamic, guest-focused environment. Whether she’s curating five-star service, sharing a sunset moment with guests, or exploring a new city during downtime, Loretta does it with enthusiasm, elegance, and a warm smile.
Grace Hemingway — Stewardess (New Zealand)
Grace was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and brings a warm, caring, and energetic personality to the interior team. Before joining the yachting industry, she spent three years working in Early Childhood Education, where she developed strong attention to detail, organisation, and exceptional interpersonal skills. Naturally service-oriented, Grace enjoys creating welcoming environments and building genuine connections with guests. Her background has made her highly empathetic, approachable, and confident in working with people from all walks of life, qualities that translate seamlessly into high-level guest service onboard. Creative and enthusiastic, Grace has a passion for performance and the arts, having been involved in community theatre, dance, and musical productions, as well as working as a showgirl in Auckland. Outside of work, she enjoys trying new experiences, exploring new destinations, and bringing positivity and structure—often in the form of well-organised lists—to everything she does. Dedicated, loyal, and eager to grow within the yachting industry, Grace takes great pride in contributing to a memorable and comfortable charter experience
aboard Sherakhan.
Ruby Van der Wiel — Stewardess (Dutch)
Ruby brings a fresh, positive energy to her role as Service Stewardess onboard Sherakhan. With a naturally friendly manner and a strong willingness to learn, she focuses on delivering attentive and professional guest service throughout every charter. She takes pride in maintaining high service standards in all interior operations, including table service, guest interaction, and daily interior routines. Ruby approaches her duties with enthusiasm, attention to detail, and a proactive mindset, ensuring guests feel comfortable, welcomed, and well cared for at all times. Adaptable and reliable, she works well within a team and responds positively to guidance from senior crew.Her calm presence and positive attitude contribute to a smooth and enjoyable onboard atmosphere. Ruby’s dedication, professionalism, and service-oriented approach make her a valued member of the interior team, supporting the overall guest experience aboard Sherakhan.
Ninik Rimawati — Stewardess (Indonesian)
Ninik is from Sorong, Indonesia, and works as part of the housekeeping team on board SHERAKHAN. She focuses on maintaining the cleanliness and presentation of guest cabins and shared spaces, and has become a steady presence after several seasons on board. Outside of her regular duties, Ninik loves to cook. Whether it's traditional Indonesian dishes or something new she's picked up along the way, she's happiest in the galley when there's time to spare. She occasionally lends a hand to the chefs when things are busy and in her down time she enjoys nothing more than cooking up a storm and sharing good food. Yachting has allowed her to see new places and meet people from all over the world, which she values. When she has time off, she often heads to Jakarta or Bali to spend time with her family and enjoy a change of scenery.
John Bossaerts — Chief engineer (Belgian)
John brings extensive technical expertise and a steady, solutions-driven mindset to his role as Chief Engineer onboard Sherakhan. With a calm and methodical approach, he is responsible for the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of all mechanical, electrical, and technical systems onboard. Highly experienced in managing complex engineering environments, John places strong emphasis on preventative maintenance, system reliability, and operational safety. His attention to detail ensures that machinery, propulsion, power generation, and auxiliary systems perform optimally at all times, both during charter operations and long-range cruising. John works closely with the bridge team and crew to ensure seamless operations, responding efficiently to technical challenges while minimizing disruption to guests. Known for his professionalism, dependability, and practical problem-solving skills, he plays a critical role in maintaining the yacht’s performance and comfort standards. His commitment and technical leadership contribute significantly to the smooth running of Sherakhan and to delivering a safe, enjoyable experience for guests and crew alike.
Dindi Timon — Stewardess (Filipino)
Dindi has a strong background in luxury hospitality with her experiences working at hotels, and high end cruise lines. She joined Sherakhan in 2023 in housekeeping and spa therapy. Dindi also enjoys helping out in the galley, as she has extensive knowledge of Japanese cuisine. Her favorite place on earth is the Philippines, her home country. In her free time, Dindi enjoys dancing, volleyball, and animal watching. Dindi is a team player with a smile always on her face!
Miguel Zoer — Deckhand (Dutch)
Miguel was born in Veenendaal, the Netherlands, and has been on the water from a very young age. He began windsurfing early in life and later went on to compete at a high level, developing strong seamanship, discipline, and a natural confidence around the ocean. With a deep passion for surfing, foiling, and travel, Miguel brings youthful energy and enthusiasm to the deck team.
He enjoys working hands-on with guests during water sports activities and takes great pride in helping create safe, fun, and memorable experiences onboard. Eager to learn and highly motivated, Miguel is building his career in yachting with a strong focus on guest interaction, teamwork, and professional growth, making him a valued addition
to the Sherakhan crew.
Ben Bocken — Head Chef (Belgian)
With over 30 years of experience it is fair to say that Ben is a real expert in the galley. With lessons from top chefs and a wide interest in different cuisines he is a talented chef who cooks with a lot of passion and always strives to surprise his guests. Ben’s career started back in 1985 when he signed up for the hotel school in Belgium. During his study he did internships in different Michelin-star restaurants. Very eager to learn new things he worked his way through the various divisions of different kitchens and even today Ben still loves to learn new recipes, styles and cuisines. Having owned his own successful restaurant previously, Ben now delights in making creative dishes for guests on board Sherakhan and always strives to impress.
Toine Smulders — Head Chef (Dutch)
Beginning at the renowned Amstel Hotel in Amsterdam at just 15 years old, Chef Toine Smulders embarked on his culinary career. He honed his skills at the 2-Michelin-starred Restaurant Parkheuvel in Rotterdam and the 3-Michelin-starred Pre Catelan under the tutelage of the esteemed Chef Gérard Vié in France. Toine then served as a sous-chef at Chateau Neercanne before venturing into entrepreneurship, establishing several successful restaurants that rivaled top establishments globally, earning multiple Michelin stars. He showcased his talents on cooking television shows and clinched prestigious titles, including:
SVH Meesterkok (Master Chef), Gouden Koksmuts (Golden Chef’s Hat), and Zilveren Champignon (Silver Mushroom). Notably, he was a finalist in renowned competitions such as the Bocuse d’Or in Lyon and the Prix Taittinger in Paris. Toine also secured first place as European Champion in Budapest and was crowned “Chef of the World” in Dubai. Furthermore, he received the Dutch Royal Decoration, appointed as Royal Chef for the Dutch House of Royals, and was honored with the title of Knight in the Order of Oranje Nassau, a distinguished Dutch Royal decoration.
Rubee Ryan-Frost — Stewardess (Australian)
Hailing from Australia, Rubee brings an infectious energy and professionalism shaped by over two years of yachting experience and six years in luxury hospitality. With a dynamic background in service roles ranging from sole stewardess to second stew on charter and expedition yachts, Rubee has built a reputation for poise, precision, and a wholehearted commitment to guest satisfaction. Rubee’s past roles have also given her valuable deck experience, assisting with anchoring, docking, and watchkeeping—skills she mastered aboard M/Y Aura and M/Y Sweet Caroline. Her warm personality, attention to detail, and initiative make her a trusted and adaptable team player. Rubee joins Sherakhan ready for new adventures, excited to deliver five-star service with heart, soul, and a smile.
Zandrex Laud — Deckhand (Filipino)
Zandrex is one of the key hands behind Sherakhan’s quiet, seamless operation—keeping things running smoothly with his technical know-how, steady work ethic, and calm reliability. With a background on vessels like MV Evrima of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and extensive experience with both mechanical systems and hotel maintenance, he brings a rare versatility to the engineering team. Always one step ahead with routine checks and mechanical upkeep, Zandrex is the type of crew member who never waits to be asked—he’s already on it. When he’s off the tools, you’ll find him lifting weights, playing sports, or out on a hike—always moving, always pushing himself. Zandrex is a strong and steady part of the Sherakhan family, keeping the gears turning (quietly) behind the magic.
Dax Van Leest — Deckhand (Dutch)
Dax was born in Leiden, the Netherlands, and grew up around boats, spending his time driving and fixing them for fun—an interest that naturally developed into a passion for a career on the water.
From a young age, he gained hands-on experience and a strong practical understanding of vessels and marine equipment. With a particular love for water sports and deep-sea fishing, Dax enjoys sharing his knowledge with guests, especially when teaching e-foiling or talking about his fishing adventures.
His approachable attitude, technical curiosity, and enthusiasm make him a valuable member of the deck team. Motivated and eager to learn, Dax is focused on developing his skills within the yachting industry while ensuring guests enjoy safe, engaging, and memorable experiences onboard Sherakhan.
Niceas Garte — Bosun (Filipino)
After finishing his Bachelor of Science Marine Technology at the DAVAO Merchant Marine Academy, Niceas started his career in the Indian Ocean where he learned all his sailing skills. From 1999 until 2006 he worked as a sailor in Dutch waters. He decided to move to the yachting industry and he started working on board Sherakhan. With more than a decade of experience on board Sherakhan, Niceas has proven to be a friendly, hardworking and very motivated person who is always smiling. He is an excellent tender driver and he knows how to pamper his guests.
Eyyup Yilmaz — Deckhand (Turkish/German)
Eyyup basically grew up on water. His father gifted him his first boat at the age of 9. While still attending school, Eyyup would always find himself helping with daily/weekly charter boat trips during school breaks. Later with 18 years of age, Eyyup received his seaman certificates and has been working on sailing and motor yachts ever since. During all these years he has been able to travel to numerous countries and gather loads of experience tending to high-profile guests needs. For Eyyup working and living on a boat is a team effort. All these individuals from different walks of life are coming together to work for the common goal; making the guests happy by ensuring they have an unforgettable time on board!
Noel Fundal — Chef (Filipino)
Noel has proven to be a great sous chef and an excellent add to the team! Before joining Sherakhan, Noel was working in local high end restaurants and then he decided to try his skills on the sea. His interest and wanderlust brought him on board passenger vessels, where he’s been working for over five years as second chef before joining Sherakhan. He is very dedicated to his job and has a lovely personality. Always smiling and singing. He is very polite and gentle. The results are stunning and every day he manages to blow the guests’ minds, because good food makes guests happy!
Manon De Wit — Chief steward/ess (Dutch)
Before finishing her Bachelors Degree, Manon got a chance to join Sherakhan in 2008 and worked her way up over the years to become hotel manager while traveling all over the world with Sherakhan. After a period away which included completing her degree and studying for an MBA, we are happy to tell you that she’s back on board, more experienced and more passionate than ever before! Manon loves to put her experience to use to ensure a perfect charter! She really knows how to make our guests feel at home and very often, a teardrop is shed when a week of joy and happiness comes to an end. Running around being active in almost all departments on board, Manon never loses her smile and always keeps a great eye for detail!
Finn Van Leest — First Officer (Dutch)
Having been surrounded by boats all his life, Finn is an enthusiastic, energetic young Maritime Officer All Ships student whose main goal is to become a Yacht Captain. Working during school holidays at his father’s shipyard, he has gained a lot of knowledge of the ins and outs of the boating industry. Finn is into all water sports, and enjoys teaching people the tricks of the trade. He’s made sure his 2 younger brothers master the kneeboard, wake-surf and water-ski as he does. He has done his first trainee ship with us and he like it so much, he is back for his final traineeship onboard. In between he has been doing day charters in South of France, and we are happy to have him back more experienced and eager than ever. He knows the yachting world is for him, and cannot wait to finalize his papers to kick of his career. He’s happy to join Sherakhan and creating his path of a seaman’s’ life towards being Captain on a Yacht.
Erwin Ledesma — Second Officer (Filipino)
Erwin completed Maritime School in the Philippines in 1998. He then took a job on a passenger / cargo ship as a cook and deckhand. He worked there for 6 years, before he joined us on board Sherakhan. Erwin started off in the galley, but he was soon transferred to the deck department, because of his passion and skills for being outside and taking care of the exterior. He puts all his love into delivering perfect work. Whenever he is working alone, a real perfectionist rises and when he’s working with a team, he takes an important role guarding the ships quality. He is a softly spoken man with an enormous smile and an encouraging attitude. After 9 years we are glad that he is with us for another year round!
Maridyn Carodan — Stewardess (Filipino)
Maridyn was born in a small town in the Philippines. After finishing her education she first started as a massage therapist working in various luxurious spas with international clients. Later, Maridyn decided to switch careers into the yachting industry. She joined the crew on board Sherakhan’s sister-ship sailing yacht Thandeka in February 2020, where she was able to explore the world from a different angle while still offering guests her hospitable skills. She’s keen to take on challenges and adapted to life on board. In her free time Maridyn enjoys to read books and she loves singing. Since May 2021, Maridyn embarked Sherakhan and takes pride in providing excellent service to the guests staying on board.
Jester Montano — Deckhand (Filipino)
Jester is positive, motivated and enjoys helping out wherever he can. He is the righthand man to our Chief Engineer and continues to learn more in this role. In 2000 Jester graduated from Maritime School in Manila. Since then he has worked mainly offshore. In 2011 he worked on board the sister vessel to Sherakhan, Legend, before joining the Sherakhan team. His passion for his job is shown in his perfection. Jester is completing school and certificates to eventually become Chief Engineer. In his free time he enjoys sailing. His hobbies are music, travelling and exploring new cultures.
Maarten Binksma — Chef (Dutch)
Maarten lives in Curacao but is originally from Holland. He actually studied criminal and economical law but found his real passion was cooking and so he changed direction and went to school in Amsterdam for 4 years, also completing his teachers certificate so he can teach students in cooking as well. Maarten soon started his career in restaurants in Holland, worked his way up through the ranks and moved to Curacao where he became the head chef of Karakter Restaurant. Maarten has cooked on board Bagheera, Sherakhan and Legend for several years.I n his spare time Maarten likes to play tennis and he volunteers as a park ranger in Curacao national park where he measures coral, teach children about the nature and does guided tours.
Elaine Ramos — Chief steward/ess (Filipino)
Elaine completed a Bachelor of Science. After her studies she joined the yachting industry in 2010 because she wanted to travel the world. In 2014 she joined Sherakhan and she has not left since. She loves to provide good hospitality to guests. She worked her way up to Chief Housekeeping, and in her leave she makes sure she keeps her heart for massages up to date. She loves to give massages and train the crew onboard to become better in their treatments. She loves cooking and making things. She is very good with the sewing machine and loves to recycle things to give them a second purpose. When she is home, she plans her time mostly around her family, travelling and discovering new things for adventure! Being with her siblings that are sailing as well, a travelling heart is dearly shared amongst them. In her free time she enjoys to watch movies, shop and play badminton.
