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 Alan Mans
Nationality: South African
Interests: Sport, Travel and Technology
Alan brings a unique blend of experience to yacht chartering, with 8 years of service for NATO as part of a Fire/Crash/Rescue team, ensuring top-tier safety and crisis management skills. Transitioning to Health & Safety in the offshore oil and gas industry, he discovered his passion for the ocean, earning his Yacht Master certification. With 5 years in the yachting industry, Alan delivers exceptional experiences, prioritizing safety and guest satisfaction.
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 Adam Connolly
Nationality: English
With over ten years of experience as a captain and two circumnavigations completed. Captain Adam is passionate about sharing the joy of being at sea with guests. A keen snowboarder, he recently took up skiing alongside his daughter as she begins to learn. Adam has a genuine love for mechanical systems and gadgets, always aiming to keep the yacht running smoothly and comfortably. When not on board he is renovating his house outside of London and spends time with his wife and two kids. Captain Adam looks forward to welcoming you on board and helping create memorable moments on your charter
Interests: Snowboarding and DIY
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 | Frances Attwood
Nationality: English
Interests: Yoga, Pottery, Swimming, Kayaking, Horse riding
Frances was born in the UK and grew up cooking alongside her grandparents, where her love for food first began. Although she initially pursued a science degree, she soon realised that her true passion lay in the kitchen. For over a decade, Frances has worked as a chef in Michelin-starred restaurants, luxury ski chalets, and aboard private yachts. She also spent time living on a fully self-sustainable rare breeds farm, deepening her connection to nature and responsible food sourcing. A true adventurer at heart, Frances loves discovering new places and spending time outdoors, with a particular passion for foraging, birdwatching, and wildlife spotting. Nothing makes her happier than bringing joy to others through delicious, thoughtfully prepared food.
Third Stewardess
Ruby Griemink
Nationality: English
Interests: Hiking, skiing, travelling, shopping, and tennis.
Originally from the countryside of Lincolnshire, England, Ruby brings warmth and energy to her role as a stewardess. Ruby has worked for multiple years in the yachting industry and has several ski seasons as a chalet host under her belt. Ruby is currently training to become a primary school teacher, but her love for hospitality and life at sea brings her back to yachting every summer. She takes great pride in creating a comfortable, relaxed environment onboard and is always happy to go the extra mile to make your experience special.