ECLIPSE 114

CAPTAIN WILLEM STRAUSS:
Willem grew up in a very small town in the semi-desert of the Western Cape of South Africa. At a young age the family moved to Namibia and at age 7 Willem started diving for lobsters off the Natal Coast every holiday. Thus be-gan his love of the water. As a young man he participated in rugby, tennis, cricket and the national karate team! In 1996 he bought his first ocean going sailing cata-maran, and for the next 6 years he owned and operated a charter business in Madagascar and Mozambique. To this day Madagascar’s remote and uncommer-cialized waters are one of his favorite yachting destinations.

With a degree in engineering, it was only a matter of time before Willem combined his technical skills with his water-based skills, becoming doubly qualified as both yacht captain and engineer in 2013. As a true professional, Willem is comfortable with either an interactive or a more discreet silver service style charter. He particu-larly likes sharing sea skills and stories with his guests. His friends and crew de-scribe him as strict, but also friendly and helpful. A caring person, one of his favor-ite boating related jobs was, when working as a dive instructor, he would train children that were afraid of the water to scuba dive. He runs an excellent ship, his motto is “Finish what you can today, tomorrow has its own challenges”.
When not aboard Eclipse, Captain Strauss can be found enjoying golf, sailing and even building boats!

CHEF: YVONNE SWART:
Yvonne grew up on the Free State on a South African farm with her 2 brothers and 2 sisters. She played tennis and loved art and poetry. After graduating high school courses, she studied at Kulunya Culinary as well as Somatology Beautiko in her native South Africa. She used her skills well, working on a Game Farm and owning a Day Spa, where she did the personalized catering for guests.

Yvonne has now been working on yachts as a chef for 7 years with her partner Captain Willem. Besides her great cuisine, everyone remarks on her beautiful smile, which she shares often! She is a friendly, giving person who is comfortable to provide the guests with either an interactive charter or a discreet silver service as required. She has a passion for cooking and seeing that her guests enjoy their time aboard.

Guests rave about the food. Some favorites are her Grilled Lobster with Mango Salsa and her Grilled Fish with Leeks and White Wine Sauce. Like dessert? Try her Flourless Chocolate and Pear Cake with a side of Vanilla Ice Cream, or the Homemade Tiramisu. Mediterranean style and seafood are specialties, but a personal favorite that Yvonne loves doing is a lively Beach Barbeque!

Chef Yvonne’s goal is to “Better herself every day”. A fitness buff, she loves the gym and workout time, and is an avid researcher of health and diet.

MATE/DECKHAND: SIEG STRYDOM
First Mate Siegfreidt Strydom hails from Potchfdtroom in Northwest South Africa. You can just call him Sieg from Potch if that is easier…

Sieg grew up with two older brothers who inspired him through example and brotherly love. Following in their footsteps, he developed an affinity not only for sports and athletics, but for the arts as well. From sketching and drawing to skateboarding, cricket and fishing, from being a musician and photographer to horseback riding, gymnastics, swimming, karate, and rugby, Sieg remained a very active person in his youth! Weekends on the family’s boat developed a love of the water that still exists today and inspired his move into a career in yachting.

After completing school in Potch, Sieg worked as a sales rep for an international supplements company, where he learned a lot about athletes and nutrition. In the end he also learned he did not want a desk job. With a desire to see more of the world, Sieg moved to the coast of South Africa, where he completed the below coursework:
-SAS DAY SKIPPER LICENSE.
-RYA YACHTMASTERS COASTAL (SAILING). -RYA PWC/JET-SKI LICENSE.
-RYA POWERBOAT LEVEL 2 LICENSE.
-RYA DIESEL.
-RYA RADAR.
-SAMSA VHF.
-YOA DECKHAND COURSE.
-STCW SA: ELEMENTARY FIRST AID.
MARINE FIRE FIGHTING.
PERSONAL SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES.
PERSONAL SAFETY AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
DESIGNATED SECURITY DUTIES.

Arriving in the Caribbean, Sieg has fallen in love with the “warm beautiful blue waters and majestic underwater scenery”. Hosting any and all water sports for the guests on board is a job this athletic young man loves. He truly enjoys the interaction he has with people from different places and cultures. His friends describe him as determined, compassionate, and friendly.

Sieg’s favorite word is the Greek term Apokaradokia – intentionally looking away from any negativity by focusing and believing always in the positive, which lies ahead when looking forward!

STEWARDESS – TBA

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