The perfect team.

Captain — David Hutchison

COUNTRY — Scotland/USA
Master Power and Sail 3000 tons ITU

Captain David Hutchison, or Hutch as he is known, started competitive sailing at the age of 16. Racing around the world in all the classic races on Maxi yachts and breaking quite a few race records along the way. He has also been a  captain for 40 years and has over 750,000 sailing miles as captain. 
Hutch has captained 6 Perinis from the 64m Felicita West  to the 52m Liberty, along with 52m Squall, 49m Andromeda la Dea, the old 50m Perseus, the new 60m Perseus 3, and  now Rosehearty. These boats averaged 10 weeks of charter a year, and eight weeks of owner use. Sailing is his life and his hobby. When not working, Hutch travels frequently with his chef wife Raya. He has also been the Owner’s surveyor on 6 Perini new builds, but  sailing and exploring are his real loves. Hutch also enjoys cycling, swimming, occasional diving, travel and reading.

Rotational Captain — Mike Hutchins

COUNTRY — British
Master Power and Sail 3000 tons ITU

Mike was born in London and moved to the south coast as a boy. He is married with three daughters. Twins studying at university and a 3-year-old, Rosie. Mike is grateful to be working alongside a great team and is looking forward to the season and many to follow where they will all gain the skills and knowledge to operate like a well-oiled machine. At the age of 18, Mike completed a training program which kick started his on-water career as a windsurfing and dinghy sailing instructor in the South of France. Mike continued to sail and work on smaller yachts, culminating in his first trans-Atlantic crossing on a 30-foot sailing boat where he then discovered “big boats”. Qualifications were sought, job offers increased and his journey into the world of yachting began. For fun, Mike likes to hike, dive, ski and camp with his family in the woods where they can escape, climb trees and make fires.

Chief Officer - Lee Merrifield

COUNTRY — Canadian

Lee, originally from Ottawa, Canada, studied political science before deciding it was time for a change. His passion for travel naturally led him to a career onboard yachts, where he began as a deckhand and worked his way up to first mate, earning his Officer of the Watch ticket. He is now completing his Master 3000-ton modules to become a captain. With experience on both sailing and motor yachts, as well as private and charter vessels, Lee brings a well-rounded skill set to his role. He takes great pride in his work and is always available to assist with anything you might need. In his free time, he enjoys exercising, practicing yoga, skateboarding, playing hockey, and, of course, traveling.

Rotational Chief Engineer — Andrew Cochrane

COUNTRY — Fijian

Andrew was born on a small Island in the South Pacific. Taveuni Island is known as the garden island of Fiji. He spent 10 years in the NZ Army honing his skills. Andrew has extensive offshore experience on boats of various sizes. This includes the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans as well as the Panama and the Suez Canal. When Andrew is not onboard, he resides with his family, six dogs, two pigs, two beehives and 100 sheep on Taveuni island. The ocean and rainforest are a big part of his life. Andrew enjoys surfing, spearfishing, fishing, and hunting in his spare time. He loves to cook what he catches.

Rotational Chief Engineer — Peter Box

COUNTRY — New Zealand

Peter was born in Waitangi, Chatham Islands.  He was educated at Massey University, NZ Military Academy, NZ Maritime College and Warsash Nautical College.
Peter to some degree is following his father who was a Master with the NZ Shipping Co.  Both by chance attended the same nautical college in Warsash, Southampton. When not onboard Peter lives with his wife and 2 children in North Eastern Thailand hobby farming rice and other crops. Peter gained a commission in the Royal Corps of Engineers and represented New Zealand as a cyclist for 5 years winning the Oceania Games in 2000.  He has always had a ‘knack’  for engineering and lives for the ocean environment.

2nd Engineer — Brendan Eggersglusz

COUNTRY — Zimbabwean

Brendan is our African bushbaby from Zimbabwe. He joined the yachting industry as a deckhand in San Remo, Italy in 2019 but quickly transferred to the engineering department. Since childhood, he had a love for tinkering and taking things apart. He fixed boat motors, bikes and even built his own boat and trailer. He completed his engineering qualifications at Warsash Maritime Academy in Southampton, UK. Brendan has always loved the water. The rivers and lakes of Zim provided ample entertainment and opportunities for sailing, rowing and fishing. He loves all water sports, including spearfishing, scuba diving and freediving. He is a keen hiker and jogger and loves exploring new and interesting places and cultures. When he has the opportunity, he returns to the country of his heart to spend time with friends and family, enjoying activities such as fishing and camping safaris!

Bosun — Molly Brindley

COUNTRY — Scottish

Molly grew up in the Shetland Isles, off the north coast of Scotland spending most summers with her family in and on the sea. Molly began sailing at her local sailing club. She would spend her summers on a local sail training vessel, completing trips across the North Sea to Norway, Denmark and around Scotland. Following this, Molly knew she wanted to work and live at sea. Over the last few years, she has worked on both large sail and motor yachts gaining great knowledge and experience, more than two of those years have now been spent here on Rosehearty. When not onboard Molly enjoys swimming, photography and travelling.

DECKHAND - Stephanie Topal

COUNTRY - American

Stephanie grew up by the ocean in New Jersey, where her love for the water began at an early age. As a kid, she sailed Optis on the Raritan Bay, which introduced her to sailing. This connection to the sea led her to study marine biology in both college and graduate school. Over the years, she’s been lucky enough to turn her love for the ocean into a career, and now she’s excited to share her knowledge and passion for the sea with guests. For the past four years, Stephanie has worked aboard sail training vessels, teaching marine science and scuba diving to college students. It was during this time that she rediscovered her joy for sailing, which eventually led her into the world of yachting. Along the way, she’s had the incredible opportunity to circumnavigate the globe, with some of her favourite spots being Fiji and Mozambique. When she’s not working, you’ll find Stephanie in or around the water, whether it’s scuba diving, free diving, or simply enjoying the ocean. She also enjoys staying active through yoga and hiking, while reading, cooking, and exploring new countries bring her joy on land..

Rotational Chef — Freek van den Brenk

COUNTRY — Dutch

Hi, my name is Freek, pronounced as Frake. I am a Dutch chef that grew up in a hospitality family with my parents owning a very good Michelin rated restaurant. The love for food and hosting people was there from a young age. After culinary school I started travelling and back packing around the world. It was bound to happen that I ended up in the yachting industry where I can combine my passion for cooking and travelling. I consider my self and all-round chef that loves to work with fresh produce straight from the market. When I am not onboard, I spent my time in Botswana where I live with my wife.

Rotational Chef — Simon Crunkhorn

COUNTRY — British

Simon grew up in a picturesque farming village in Yorkshire, where he developed a deep appreciation for locally sourced, seasonal ingredients that reflect the natural beauty of his surroundings. His culinary journey began in Michelin-starred restaurants, where he honed his craft with a focus on classic French cuisine. After completing his studies at catering college, Simon embarked on a journey of exploration, combining his passion for food with adventure. He participated in Arctic expeditions and marine conservation research campaigns in the Pacific. Simon takes pride in crafting vibrant, flavourful, and nutritious meals, drawing inspiration from regional ingredients and global cuisines to create exceptional diningexperiences

Co-Chief Stewardess — Licia Brynard

COUNTRY — South African

Licia is from Durbanville, the heart of the Sauvignon Blanc region of Cape Town. After obtaining a diploma at a makeup artist academy, she started working in the hospitality industry. A water baby with a deep love for the ocean and a keen interest in the conservation of ocean life, Licia was drawn to the yachting industry. This also stood out due to her prior land-based experience and wealth of transferable skills from the hospitality industry. She quickly secured her first position onboard a yacht based in Barcelona. Licia has now been in the industry for six years. In the off season, she tries to complete niche courses such as yoga instructor and holistic massage therapy to diversify her skill set. She enjoys most water sports, including free diving and angling. Licia exudes warmth and hospitality.

She absolutely loves what she does and strives to make guests feel welcome and cared for.

Co-Chief Stewardess — Margaret Kennedy

COUNTRY — American

Margaret grew up close to the mountains in Tennessee spending her summers hiking and going to a lake with family and friends. After university, she decided to explore the world and moved abroad to teach English in Barcelona, Spain for almost four years. With her love for the sea and sense of adventure, Margaret joined the yachting industry in 2018 and hasn’t looked back ever since.

Margaret has worked on motor and sail yachts of various sizes ranging from 50m to 80m. She has travelled all over Europe, the Caribbean, Central America and the South Pacific and doesn’t want to stop any time soon. In her free time, she enjoys diving, surfing, swimming, hiking, music, and travelling.

2nd Stewardess — Brittany Holmes

COUNTRY — South African

Brittany grew up in the vibrant coastal city of Cape Town, South Africa, where the ocean was always within reach. Spending most of her childhood by the Hout Bay Harbour, she developed a deep connection with the sea through fishing, exploring boats, and dreaming of a life on the water. Her yachting career began in 2016, and she has never looked back. With a decade of experience in the hospitality industry and a natural love for the ocean, yachting became the perfect fit . In her free time, she can be found surfing, hiking, running, or enjoying time with friends. Brittany feels incredibly fortunate to have travelled the world through yachting, with favourite destinations including the rugged beauty of Alaska, the serene landscapes of Finland and Sweden, the exotic charm of Madagascar, and the vibrant energy of the Caribbean. With a positive attitude, she brings a strong work ethic and a genuine passion for creating unforgettable experiences for guests. Her adventurous spirit and dedication ensure every moment on board is exceptional.

Tender Captain — Emerson Carlin

COUNTRY — South African

Emerson was born and raised in South Africa, and started sailing at the age of six years old. Emerson loves the yachting lifestyle, having done two Pacific Ocean crossings and ten Atlantic Ocean crossings, including one on a 45ft catamaran. He worked on 47M M/Y Coral Island for three and a half years, followed by 86M M/Y Ecstasea. He also captained a number of smaller vessels throughout his varied yachting career.

In his spare time Emerson enjoys running, swimming, free diving, scuba diving and cycling. Emerson is always smiling, because he believes life is too short to not enjoy it as much as we can. His happy disposition will ensure your ride on Panthera is a pleasant one.