The Ruya crew
The Crew on board Ruya were hand picked by the owners for their depth of knowledge in their field, strength in social skills and their understanding of the quality of customer service to meet your highest expectations.
Captain Michael Hay
Nationality: Australian
Interests: Snowboarding, Surfing, Riding his Motorbike and Sailing
Michael grew up in Australia and has always loved the ocean. He has an ongoing passion for visiting surf spots all over the world and taking on adventures riding his motorcycle throughout. Michael, being the ambitious human that he is has many exciting projects happening on the side with the most exciting one being the renovation of a 95 year old wooden sailing ship. Sailing her half way across the world already, she remains an ongoing mission to sail to his homeland, her final destination. As a Captain, Michael’s mission is to make things happen. Commitment and a can-do attitude is a special element that our Captain possesses and we are very excited for you to experience.
Bosun Iain Maclean
Nationality: South African
Interests: Surfing, Hiking, Canoeing, and Swimming
Iain was born in Cape Town, South Africa. Growing up by the ocean and mountains, he developed a deep love for water and nature.
Following in his father's footsteps, he became a lead river guide on the Breede and Orange Rivers.
Iain also competed in downhill mountain biking until a major crash shifted his focus to water polo, slacklining, and fitness. Iain began his yachting career in 2018. Surrounded by water and great people, Iain thrives with his positive energy and infectious smile.
Deck Engineer Jacob Taff
Nationality: New Zealand
Interests: Surfing, wakeboarding, sailing and traveling
Jake is a dedicated marine electrician and deckhand who has spent his life around the water. Growing up in New Zealand, he developed a deep passion for the ocean, adventure, and hands-on problem-solving. Yachting combines everything he loves—engineering, teamwork, and the thrill of being at sea. Known for his calm and professional approach, he takes pride in keeping a yacht running smoothly while ensuring that the guests have a blast exploring new places.
Chief Stewardess
Isabella Latimer
Nationality: New Zealand
Interests: Travel, Wine, Food, Tennis and Diving
Bella was born and raised in Auckland where she grew up on a family-run inner-city farm. With a background in Graphic design, she transitioned into yachting in 2017 and since enjoyed many seasons in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Bella loves the sunshine, has an upbeat nature and always smiling, Bella brings warmth, humour and great energy to every situation. In her spare time, she loves to explore to the nearest beach, watching sunsets, trying new cuisines and dancing to some jazz. She will make your experience unforgettable with her service and smile.
Captain
David Coates Palgrave
Nationality: Zimbabwe
Interests: Kayaking, sailing, rugby and adventure sports on land and sea .
Born in Zimbabwe, David left at age 3 for South Africa where he grew up and developed his love for life on the ocean. His 22 year career has allowed him to crew on not only the world’s largest sailing yachts but also several large superyachts which has allowed him to travel the world’s oceans from the Mediterranean to the USA and Pacific and New Zealand. Since gaining his 3000GT master license in 2015 he has Captained several vessels both Private and Charter up to 255 Ft mainly in and around the USA and Caribbean and Mediterranean. He is looking forward to an exciting first season on Ruya and promises an enjoyable and adventurous vacation.
Chief Engineer Thomas Said
Nationality: Malta
Interests: Sailing, Mountain biking, Rock climbing, Kayaking, Woodworking
Tom has had a deep love for the sea since his teenage years, spending much of his time around boats. He enjoys hands-on projects, from restoring classic boats to working on cars and motorbikes. An outdoor enthusiast, he’s also passionate about sailing, mountain biking, and rock climbing. Hardworking and always eager to learn, Tom thrives in a team environment and takes a careful, safety-first approach to everything he does. His practical skills and problem-solving mindset make him a great asset in the yachting world
Chef Linda Nilsson
Nationality: Swedish
Interests: Yoga, Fitness, Hiking and Cooking
Linda was born and raised in a small coastal town in the south of Sweden but followed her teenage dream of travelling and left for Spain after completing culinary school at the age of 19. She lived in Costa Brava, Spain at a ski resort where she was running a restaurant at age 26. She is currently based in Mallorca and has since been a yacht chef for nine years. She is passionate about cooking and enjoys taking classes from Michelin chefs specialising in different cuisines. She is the utmost professional and cannot wait to delight your taste buds and amaze your sensory experience at the table.
Second Stewardess
Denille Patterson
Nationality: Gibraltar
Interests: Pilates, Hiking, Swimming, Eating
Denille was born and raised in Gibraltar. Growing up surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea sparked an interest in travelling overseas and experiencing what the world has to offer. With an interest in hospitality from a young age, Denille found employment working as a private Butler for the Royal Family in Saudi Arabia. Shortly after this experience she entered the Yachting industry and has never looked back, working and travelling the world in different destinations. With a passion for her work and strong attention to detail, Denille strives to ensure all guests have the best experience onboard MY RUYA.
Chief Officer Brandon Ford
Nationality: South African
Interests: Snowboarding, running, tennis and rugby.
Brandon was originally born in Johannesburg, South Africa. Once finishing high school, he went straight out into the corporate world. While visiting family on the coast he heard about yachting at the local powerboat club and decided to make a drastic career change, opting for the wide-open seas as his new office space. Since then Brandon hasn’t turned back since and wishes you an experience like never before onboard MY RUYA!
Chief Engineer Nicolas Curmi
Nationality: Malta
Interests: Race cars, play instruments, building Lego sculptures.
With 15 years in the industry, Nick’s journey into yachting was driven by his love for engineering and hands-on craftsmanship. Growing up in Malta, he developed a passion for mechanics, which naturally led him to a career in engineering. Outside of work, Nick enjoys working on cars, racing, and spending quality time with his child. Dedicated and highly skilled, he brings a problem-solving mindset and a strong technical background to every project, making him a valuable asset in the yachting world.
Chef Asa Wiberg
Nationality: Swedish
Interests: Singing, Cooking, Playing Guitar
Asa grew up on the west coast of Sweden, where her passion for cooking ignited early in life. After completing her university studies and graduating from chef school in Stockholm, she embarked on her culinary journey in Rome.
Her career includes experience at esteemed restaurants such as Hotel de Russie and the Michelin-starred Open Colonna. Åsa’s dedication led her to the prestigious role of Head Chef at the Swedish Embassy in Rome, where she stayed for eight years.
For Åsa, food is more than just taste and presentation — it’s about health, respect for the raw materials, and preserving the nutrients that nourish us. Åsa invites you on a culinary journey around the world.
Second Stewardess
Aimee Mitchell
Nationality: South Africa
Interests: Pilates, yoga, fashion, digital marketing, travel
Aimee grew up in South Africa, spending a large portion of her life living in sunny Cape Town, which sparked her love for the sea. She studied and worked in digital marketing and hospitality management before joining the yachting industry. Aimee loves to travel and finds enjoyment in bringing happiness to others making yachting the perfect industry for her. With her meticulous attention to detail, Aimee is dedicated to ensuring your experience aboard Ruya is nothing short of exceptional.