RISK & REWARD

Captain: Christian Mehlmann

Nationality: British

Christian Mehlmann | Captain

Having grown up on the Solent, UK on the family yacht, Christian has always had a passionate love and respect for the sea. It was only a matter of time before he entered into the professional world of yachting at the age of 17. A keen traveller and natural leader he raced through the ranks becoming captain at the age of 23. Since then he has travelled many parts of the world in both hemispheres and to this day doesn’t tire from the wonderful places to be seen and experiences to be had with hundreds of guests and owners from all walks of life.

Christian loves to provide that unique experience together with his energetic and vibrant crew and relishes in seeing the enjoyment that guests have on their unique holidays going that extra step to make sure it all falls into place.

His hobbies include cooking, hiking, golf and diving as well as being very handy with the DIY when at home.


Erica Mehlmann | Chef

Erica is a southern California girl, born and bred but one with a serious travel bug. She has traveled to over 40 countries and since graduating from UC Berkeley has lived in London, Hong Kong and Barcelona before finally settling in the sunny south of France and now to Florida. Her favorite things are sunshine, beaches, reading, scuba diving, new cuisines and cultures.

Her love of travel and fine food led her to be a Yacht Chef and she studied at Ashburton Culinary School and has been on boats ever since. She enjoys cooking fresh, vibrant, locally sourced foods with a focus on Mediterranean, Asian and healthy cooking. Her dream destinations in yachting would be the Maldives, Alaska and the Galapagos.

Marija Martens| Chief Stewardess | Macedonia

Marija was born and raised in Macedonia. She began her first journey to England after leaving home some
20+ years ago. Shortly after England, she set sail to the Caribbean and now counting 15+ years of
professional work experience in the yachting industry. Once she set foot on the beautiful island of St.
Maarten, she started bartending which resulted in winning two competitions. Her eagerness to travel,
explore and broaden her horizons led her to the first job as a stew on a mega yacht. The promotion to
chief stew came shortly thereafter and has been her passion ever since. As chief stew, she shares her
loyalty, enthusiasm, hard work, charisma, and positive energy with both the crew and the guests. You will
always be greeted by her smiling face and be prepared for the contagious laughter she enjoys spreading
on board.

Brandon Scholtz | Mate | South African

For Brandon, adventure and boating are his true passions. He has spent his whole life on boats for various reasons, with fishing standing out as his favorite activity. Born and raised in South Africa, he set off at 22 to travel and work abroad. When he’s not on a boat, he’s likely racing around on his MX dirt bike or spending quality time with family. He finds joy in yachting, especially in meeting new people and experiencing diverse cultures. His long-term goal is clear: to embrace this lifestyle for as long as possible, with his sights set on becoming a captain one day.

Xanthe Ibottson | Stewardess | South African

Xanthe is an outgoing and spontaneous person who dives headfirst into new experiences. She loves meeting new people and transforming ordinary moments into something fun and unpredictable. Her passion for water activities began early, growing up as part of a “boating” family. Before starting her yachting journey two years ago, she was a water polo player and coach—and she hasn’t looked back since. For her, life is about staying open to whatever comes next and making the most of every opportunity.

Divan Crous | Engineer | South African
Born and raised in South Africa, Divan grew up on a farm near Stanford, where the land meets the sea. Immersed in a community of seafarers, he developed a profound connection to both the waves and the wilderness, fostering a work-hard, play-hard ethos that has fueled his success as an automotive business owner. His love for speed extends to racing boats and competing as a professional driver. Surfing and fishing deepens his bond with the ocean, while travel broadens his perspective through diverse cultures.