Crew Profile

CAPTAIN - Chris O'Reilly- (US)
Christopher John O’Reilly has been described by yacht owners and guests as a “true yachtsman”. He was boating by the age of six and sailed competitively even as a child. He earned numerous Sailing Optimist and Vanguard 420 Sailing trophies. By the age of 18, Chris had earned his first maritime license. He grew up in Greenwich CT, on the Atlantic coast of Long Island Sound, so naturally, his most beloved cruising grounds are the waters of New England.

Chris worked in the Marine Department at Riverside Yacht Club for many summers, serving as a launch driver at one of Connecticut’s oldest yacht clubs. Hailing from New England, Christopher, developed a deep appreciation for classic yachts and later went on to work as a mate and captain on some of the oldest, restored, classic, wooden motor yachts around. He enjoys cruising New England, The Mid Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, South Florida, Bahamian and Caribbean waters where he can exchange sea stories and local knowledge with guests.

In addition to his mastery of the sea, he is also trained in the control of another element – fire. He has been a volunteer firefighter from the age of 18. He was also Special Olympics of Connecticut Skipper—2006 gold medal winner. He practices yoga regularly, Bikrum and Vinyasa power yoga. Step on board LADY SHARON GALE. The warmth and energy that radiates from Chris and his professional crew put guests immediately at ease. In addition to expert qualifications, Chris is a remarkable host who makes lifelong friends everywhere he goes.

ENGINEER FRANCISCUS PETRUS CORNELIUS - (Netherlands)
Frans is a seriously talented Jack-of-all-trades. If you’ve got some gizmo that you can’t quite figure out how to fix, Frans seems to have a sixth sense about those things. He’s held a lot of interesting jobs over the years that have demanded exactly this sort of adaptive genius.

As a young man in the Netherlands, Frans worked for a few years in construction before joining the military and training in first aid. After completing his service, he joined a traveling carnival, working with customers and building, maintaining and repairing the rides and attractions. Then he became a truck driver and after that he was the maintenance manager of 90 apartments in Amsterdam. In 2014, Frans moved to Dutch St. Maarten to manage a private villa that was also rented to guests. All of these experiences placed a critical emphasis on safety, which is also first priority on LADY SHARON GALE.

CHEF JOHANN ROEBERT - (South Africa)
Charter guests aboard LADY SHARON GALE should plan for irresistible cuisine. Pack the linen pants with the elastic waistband. You are about to embark on a gourmet yacht charter. Chef Johann grew up in Durbanville, South Africa, surrounded by vineyards. His father frequently enjoyed taking his two sons to dine at “fancy restaurants”. Johann’s sophisticated palate and passion for cooking developed early on. He knew he wanted to be a chef, and as soon as he completed high school he enrolled at the ICA (Institute of Culinary Arts) in Stellenbosch.

Johann owned a very successful, upscale restaurant in St. Maarten for 11 years. Last year it was destroyed by hurricane Irma. He has catered to villas, private jets, and also worked as a yacht chef on several different yachts. His versatility and innovative talents are well known in the industry. Recently he has started making favorite South African recipes. Charter guests might sample Biltong, a jerky-style snack, or Boerewors, a special sausage. Barbecue is another South African tradition. Johann says, “I love cooking in nature over open flames or “Braai”, as we say. Cooking on a campfire is one of the most enjoyable things to do. I have a special spot in my heart for traditional South African cuisine (Cape Malay), but my favorite cooking style is French cuisine. Japanese cuisine is also a favorite.

“I have always been drawn to the kitchen”, says Johann, “If I have to choose one reason that I’m so into cooking, it’s because everyone loves good food! I immensely enjoy the happiness I bring with this skill. Secondly, cooking has taught me so much about different ways of life, and about cultures and histories through traditional recipes. I grew up around yachts, so a career in the yachting industry is a perfect fit. I get to cook at my highest level for the pleasure of wonderful guests from all over the world.”

STEWARDESS: PAULA SADA MARTINEZ DEL CAMPO (Spain)
Paula was born in Madrid, Spain. Despite living in a landlocked metropolis, she fell in love with boating at an early age. Her father owned a power boat and she grew up having wonderful experiences exploring Mediterranean ports of call with her family. It was a natural joy to her to land in new places and meet many, different people.

After completing her elementary education, Paula attended the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas and was awarded a degree in Psychology and began a career in social work. A natural linguist, she enjoyed opportunities working in Morocco and France, where she quickly became fluent in both languages. She used her language skills for the benefit of others in Spain and Morocco, working with a nonprofit organization that helped foreigners with immigration assistance.

Traveling in different countries Paula worked with all different types of people from all over the world. While living in the Caribbean, she decided to combine her passion for hospitality with her love of yachting. She says, “ I figured there is no better place to be a hostess and show off my bartending skills than on a motor yacht. I can showcase my warm hospitality skills with others that enjoy the natural beauty of the Leeward islands.

Paula is deservedly proud to have crossed the Atlantic Ocean at just 22 years old and launched a successful career in the marine industry. She is a peaceful, happy person who puts her heart into caring for her charter guests. Because she speaks fluent English, Spanish, French and Moroccan Arabic, she makes guests of almost every nation feel at ease and at home. One of her favorite activities on charter is to serve fresh, tropical cocktails on a sunset cruise. There’s almost nothing that compares to watching a crimson sun sink into the turquoise Caribbean Sea. Especially from the deck of Lady Sharon Gale, with one of Paula’s signature cocktails in hand.