Meet the Crew!
Captain Harry and Chef Kristen are an adventurous couple who met on a bus while traveling through Morocco and have been exploring the world together ever since, whether it is on land or at sea.
Captain Harry was born and raised in Sydney, Australia. Harry has always been drawn to the water. He began sailing at just six years old, racing Sabots and Flying 11 dinghies before progressing to larger yachts as a bowman. With over five years of professional experience in the industry, Harry has turned a lifelong passion into a rewarding career. After earning a degree in commerce, Harry quickly realized the corporate world wasn't for him. Instead, he chose to follow his love for the ocean, skippering yachts along Australia's east coast, working aboard charter super yachts, and completing sailing passages across the globe. A passionate ocean lover, Harry has been a certified SCUBA diver since age 17 and an instructor for over three years. He enjoys taking guests to vibrant reef systems and historic wrecks, sharing the unique marine life and stories of each cruising area. For Harry, the best part of skippering is discovering new destinations and uncovering hidden gems. Whether it's a secluded bay, a thriving reef, or a laid-back beach bar, he's always seeking out special places to share with guests.
Chef Kristen Born and raised in Maryland, Kristen developed her love for the ocean sailing with her family on the Chesapeake Bay. Her passion for cooking has always been part of her travels, whenever she visits somewhere new she immerses herself in local food traditions. After taking a break from her career as a software engineer to travel the world, Kristen's cooking career began during the pandemic when she worked as a chef at an eco-lodge in Colombia, preparing farm to table plant based meals. She later spent summers in Costa Rica at wellness retreats creating health-conscious meals. While building an app to teach sourdough baking, she was able to learn the skill on her own and now she loves finding a way to incorporate sourdough in any baked goods. Now, Kristen has combined her two passions of cooking and the ocean. She's excited to share her love of healthy and nourishing cuisine with her guests. When she's not cooking in the galley, Kristen is out with Harry exploring the world; hiking volcanoes, cycling, skiing, scuba diving and surfing wherever adventure calls.
Captain Harry Van Vliet
Qualifications
RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Sail & Motor
commercially endorsed
STCW 95+10
ENG 1
RYA VHF Short Range
RYA Powerboat Level 2di/SSI
SAMSA Skipper Category C 2014
PADI Open Water SCUBA Instructor
PADI Instructor Specialties: NITROX, Deep 40, wreck, equipment specialist, night, sidemount, photography
Technical Divers International TECH 45 &
Advanced NITROX Diver
Chef Kristen Cornelsen
Qualifications:
STCW95 + 10
ENG1
Food Hygiene Level 2
PADI Advanced SCUBA Diver
Captain Harry was born and raised in Sydney, Australia. Harry has always been drawn to the water. He began sailing at just six years old, racing Sabots and Flying 11 dinghies before progressing to larger yachts as a bowman. With over five years of professional experience in the industry, Harry has turned a lifelong passion into a rewarding career. After earning a degree in commerce, Harry quickly realized the corporate world wasn't for him. Instead, he chose to follow his love for the ocean, skippering yachts along Australia's east coast, working aboard charter super yachts, and completing sailing passages across the globe. A passionate ocean lover, Harry has been a certified SCUBA diver since age 17 and an instructor for over three years. He enjoys taking guests to vibrant reef systems and historic wrecks, sharing the unique marine life and stories of each cruising area. For Harry, the best part of skippering is discovering new destinations and uncovering hidden gems. Whether it's a secluded bay, a thriving reef, or a laid-back beach bar, he's always seeking out special places to share with guests.
Chef Kristen Born and raised in Maryland, Kristen developed her love for the ocean sailing with her family on the Chesapeake Bay. Her passion for cooking has always been part of her travels, whenever she visits somewhere new she immerses herself in local food traditions. After taking a break from her career as a software engineer to travel the world, Kristen's cooking career began during the pandemic when she worked as a chef at an eco-lodge in Colombia, preparing farm to table plant based meals. She later spent summers in Costa Rica at wellness retreats creating health-conscious meals. While building an app to teach sourdough baking, she was able to learn the skill on her own and now she loves finding a way to incorporate sourdough in any baked goods. Now, Kristen has combined her two passions of cooking and the ocean. She's excited to share her love of healthy and nourishing cuisine with her guests. When she's not cooking in the galley, Kristen is out with Harry exploring the world; hiking volcanoes, cycling, skiing, scuba diving and surfing wherever adventure calls.
Captain Harry Van Vliet
Qualifications
RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Sail & Motor
commercially endorsed
STCW 95+10
ENG 1
RYA VHF Short Range
RYA Powerboat Level 2di/SSI
SAMSA Skipper Category C 2014
PADI Open Water SCUBA Instructor
PADI Instructor Specialties: NITROX, Deep 40, wreck, equipment specialist, night, sidemount, photography
Technical Divers International TECH 45 &
Advanced NITROX Diver
Chef Kristen Cornelsen
Qualifications:
STCW95 + 10
ENG1
Food Hygiene Level 2
PADI Advanced SCUBA Diver