 CAPTAIN DAVID RHYS HANNA, New
Zealand, 43
David's early yachting experience is a bit
different than the usual dinghy sailing progressing to racing, etc. He left
New Zealand at the age of eleven for a five year trip around the world with
his parents on their own 36 foot yacht. Living on or around the sea all his
life, he feels the voyage has never really finished.
In 1982, David was 19 years old, enjoying the
summer working as mate on Sea Victory, a 112 foot motor yacht
chartering out of Cyprus. By the end of the summer Civil War was raging in
Lebanon and Sea Victory was running refugees between Beirut and
Cyprus. Perhaps it was this experience that led him to join Her Majesty's
Forces and serve two years in Cyprus and Lebanon.
Over the last 22 years, David has compiled an
impressive resumé as deckhand, mate and captain on private and charter sail
and motor yachts, most over 100 feet in length. He has served as first
officer aboard a thousand foot general cargo ship from the Arabian Sea to
the Baltic and as captain on a 160 foot supply vessel engaged in
seismograpihic survey, offshore refueling and deep water salvage. But
sailing - whether on the J class sloop Endeavour, the 72 foot
Herreshof Ticonderoga, Swan 68's, an 84 foot Maxi or a 41 meter
Dubois sloop - is his passion. Captain Hanna has sailed all over
the world, from Singapore to the West Indies via the Suez Canal, from
Antigua to New Zealand via the Panama Canal, Northern Europe, all around the
Med, and extensively in the Pacific.
Since 1993 David has trained steadily to
advance his professional qualifications. He holds a Class IV, MCA license
for Yachts 3000 gross tons, with certificates in Advanced Fire Fighting,
Advanced Sea Survival and Medical First Aid. It comes as no surprise that
most of his hobbies are water oriented. He is ‘mad keen’ for yacht racing,
diving and all water sports. He has an intense interest in ancient
cultures, ancient history and archaeology – mainly in the Mediterranean.
Captain Hanna is proud to be in command of
Galileo and has brought together an outstanding crew whose goal is to ensure
that guests enjoy an incomparable sailing vacation.
Chef Petra van Wouden,
Dutch, 39
Where to
start with Petra’s very impressive qualifications? A year cooking at
Mollies Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand is at the top of the list. Mollies,
a ‘boutique’ hotel and home of the Auckland School of Opera, was chosen 2005
Best New Small Hotel in the World by Harper’s Hideaway. As chef, Petra was
responsible for breakfasts, exclusive dinners and gala functions for VIP
clientele from around the globe.
From 1989
to 2002 Petra was a partner in a highly regarded catering company operating
in Holland, Belgium and Germany. She was responsible for everything from A
to Z: Decorations, party tents, entertainment, and staff, plus creating
high level menus and recipes. Petra has held two positions as managing
director: first of a 220 foot, three deck passenger ship chartered for
private functions in Holland and Belgium, and later of a 35 acre golf and
shooting club booked by large corpoations for teambuilding sessions. In
both of these companies she had total responsibility for running the
restaurants and bars and did all the bistro cooking.
Although
sailing with her family in the North Sea and inland waters of Holland was
part of her life from an early age, Petra’s entry into the yachting industry
was “David’s fault”. Her yachting career began in 2002 working with David
as chef/stewardess aboard a 37 meter (122 foot) expedition motor yacht
cruising from the Caribbean through the Pacific to Australia. Prior to
joining GALILEO she cooked on two 41 meter (135 foot) high performance
sloops launched in 2004 and 2005 respectively.
Petra is
very creative. She studied floral design, fashion design and art at Breda
Art Academy in Holland and completed several courses in pastry, chocolate
and sushi at the Auckland Cooking Academy. She has cooked professionally
at a high level since 1990, becoming proficient in fine European,
Mediterranean, Japanese and Indian cuisines. She easily accommodates
vegetarian, gluten free and other diets. Friendly, polite and always
cheerful, she "knows how to meet guests' needs without intruding in their
privacy."
Petra
speaks fluent English as well as basic Spanish, Italian and German. Her
hobbies include scuba diving, yoga and reading.
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Galileo
