Crew Profile

Leon and Wendy Venter are South African and Zimbabwe born. Both are outgoing and have a love for sailing and water sports, deciding to leave their corporate and business world behind in South Africa to pursue their love for the outdoors in the stunning Caribbean.
In South Africa, Leon had his own engineering business for thirty years plus, doing on-site machining for the sugar, petroleum, paper and marine industries in South Africa and other African countries. Leon has been sailing recreationally since a young boy and has always had a passion for the sea and diving.
Wendy was involved in the corporate world of Mercedes Benz, being on the financial side for several years and with the Barlows Group previously. Her love for the outdoors, sailing since a young girl with her family in Zimbabwe and then South Africa, as well as her love for diving, made their decision to re-locate to the Caribbean, an easy one.
Wendy and Leon have sailed extensively up the East African coastline on their own catamaran and have raced several Vasco Da Gama yacht races, from Maputo in Mozambique to Durban in South Africa. They have sailed their own catamaran from Durban on the east coast of Africa, around the tip of Africa, up to Walvis Bay, Namibia, crossing the southern Atlantic Ocean to St. Helena and Ascension. Upwards to Suriname in South America and upwards to the bottom of the Caribbean chain, to Trinidad. Leon has his Master of Yachts Offshore to 200 tons Captain’s license as well as his South African Coastal Skippers License. Leon is a PADI certified Instructor of several years and Wendy has her Small Powerboat and Rib MCA certification. Both he and Wendy have been in the charter industry in the Caribbean since 2011, working from St. Vincent and the Grenadines to St. Martin and then the British Virgin Islands. Leon and Wendy have sailed various yachts from the British Virgin islands to Florida and back to the Islands, loving the adventures the trips had to offer.
Leon and Wendy look forward to having you on board the luxurious Vacoa, to pampering you and tempting your taste buds with the delights from the galley, indulging you in your favourite water sport, whether it be diving and re-living the history of the Virgin Islands, snorkeling with the abundance of sea life, testing your skills at paddle boarding, kayaking and exploring the coastline with your partner or just simply relaxing on the trampolines, soaking in the sun.

Chef Lisa Mead
Originally from Queensland, Australia, chef Lisa Mead has spent the past 25 years cooking between Australia, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. She has created epicurean delights for all walks of life including royalty, heads of state and celebrities on board luxury yachts, in 5 star villas and restaurants. In addition to her time spent living in South East Asia, where she gained valuable experience with the local cuisine, if asked Lisa would describe her cooking as global, pulling from different cultures, using only the freshest of ingredients.
Currently Lisa is being filmed in her own cooking show as chef and host of a series titled: Galley Gourmet With Chef Lisa.

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Joining Sail Away in November, 2019

Chef Lisa Mead will continue on aboard Sail Away, and she will be joined by Mike and Lizzy Hill.

Mike and Lizzy Hill have been sailing together for nearly 10 years – in fact they met as crew racing on a yacht! Together they have sailed around Greece, through the Dalmatian islands of Croatia, along the picturesque Amalfi coastline of Italy and the timeless French Riveria within the Mediterranean, and in the Caribbean from the Virgin Islands, to the Leewards Islands including St Martin and St Barts, and onwards to the Windwards Islands including the stunning Grenadines. They have so far logged in excess of 30,000 Nm and over 100 charters. Most of this time has been enjoyed on charter yachts providing luxury vacations. Welcoming guests aboard with a friendly, warm attitude and an eye for detail they consistently provide holidays of a lifetime for their delighted visitors

Capt. Mike
Having sailed from an early age, Mike’s passion for boating in general has gained him a wealth of knowledge on sailing & motor yachts up to 80’ long. He likes to pass on his enthusiasm to everyone aboard, encouraging and teaching others more about sailing. Mike has been lucky to have sailed in many areas of Europe and the Caribbean, including logging over 20,000nm in the last 4 years alone on crewed yacht charters. A great sense of humour combined with a professional approach, an open and relaxed manner, not to mention his skills behind the bar, ensures Mike gets guests to enjoy every moment aboard.

1st Mate Lizzy
Following a degree in Outdoor Pursuits where Lizzy learned to sail, she travelled the world by land & sea. The experiences Lizzy had at this time influenced her expanding repertoire. She adding finishing touches at the prestigious Ashburton Chefs Academy in the UK, Lizzy now takes great delight in serving her charter guests and of course, sailing!

Chef Lisa Mead
Originally from Queensland, Australia, chef Lisa Mead has spent the past 25 years cooking between Australia, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. She has created epicurean delights for all walks of life including royalty, heads of state and celebrities on board luxury yachts, in 5 star villas and restaurants. In addition to her time spent living in South East Asia, where she gained valuable experience with the local cuisine, if asked Lisa would describe her cooking as global, pulling from different cultures, using only the freshest of ingredients.
Currently Lisa is being filmed in her own cooking show as chef and host of a series titled: Galley Gourmet With Chef Lisa.