JOHANNES BUYS | Rotational Captain | South Africa
The distinguished yacht captain began his yachting career in 1996. Growing up on a farm in South
Africa’s Free State, Joe was easily drawn to the yachting lifestyle. He began his yachting career as
an engineer and eventually became a yacht captain in 2002. Joe’s natural navigation and mechanical
skills combined with his positive attitude make him a true asset to the yachting industry. His dedication
to yachting is seen in his many achievements, including obtaining his Y3 Chief Engineer license.
These certifications have provided an impressive foundation for his yachting career. Today, Joe holds
20 years of captaincy under his belt. Boasting a Master Y4 3000 GT MCA Captain’s license, Joe has
travelled through the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mediterranean, along with most coastal waters. Wellversed
in navigating the world’s oceans, Captain Johannes is sure to provide the ultimate yachting
experience.
GRANT HEUNIS | Rotational Captain | South Africa
Grant grew up in East London, South Africa and joined Top Five II from a well-known and successful
charter yacht - M/Y Elysian. Grant began his career as a Deckhand giving him an invaluable understanding
of each position onboard. He gained his MCA Master 3000 Ton License in 2012 and took
over as full-time Captain of M/Y Passion. Having acted as a relief Captain for some time already,
this was a smooth transition for Grant, and he has since exceeded all expectations in the role. Grant
has extensive cruising experience in the Caribbean, Bahamas, East Coast of the USA, Mediterranean,
Adriatic, and Aegean waters. Grant is a qualified PADI rescue diver and RYA Jet Ski Instructor.
A keen sportsman, having competed for his provincial team in water polo, he enjoys the outdoors,
surfing, keeping fit and hiking.
ROB FULLER | Head Chef | England
Chef Rob has been a Chef for many years & has travelled all over the world. Originally from England,
where he was formally trained in the culinary arts, Rob seized the opportunity to be a Sous chef at
the prestigious Ritz de Paris. From Paris he joined the yachting industry where his culinary knowledge
has served him well. Mediterranean cuisine to Japanese cuisine is quite a diversification in the
culinary world. Having worked with employers such as the Fayyad family, Danielle Steele and Giorgio
Armani in their residences, villas and yachts, Chef Rob can supply high-end culinary masterpieces for
the charter and guests. Chef Rob understands the diverse requirements for the client regardless of
location or resources, creating menus from local ingredients is a fulfilling challenge.
ROBERT SOLOMON | Chief Officer (Rotational) | South Africa
Rob was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. Having grown up on a lake, Rob spent all day in and
around the water. He has a strong passion for all water sports and loves being outdoors. Rob joined
the industry in 2003 and now has his Chief Mate 3000 qualification. He has worked on a variety of
vessels over the years and has cruised the Adriatic, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Bahamas, east coast
of Africa and east coast of the USA. He was a crew member on the first Top Five so when the new
build was commissioned, he jumped at the opportunity to join the program again. His vast skillset
and very friendly nature make him a great asset to the team. Rob loves anything that involves being
outdoors and is an avid hiker. After summiting Kilimanjaro, he is planning to do the seven peaks culminating
in Everest. The next peak on the list is Aconcagua in Argentina.
LUKE DU PREEZ | Chief Officer (Rotational) | South Africa
Luke grew up on the East Coast of South Africa and has a passion for fishing and diving and often
combines the two to spearfish. Luke completed a degree in financial management and shortly after
graduating he went and taught English in Vietnam for a year. Luke then decided to pursue a career
in something that complimented his love for being at sea which led him to the yachting industry.
Luke holds his Chief Mate 3000 is a master tender driver.
NICO TRUETER | Second Officer | South Africa
Nico was born in a small town called Riversdale in South Africa. Nico developed a real passion for sport, especially rugby from a very young age. Building on his love for rugby, he always enjoys; swimming, water sports, shooting, hiking and running. He always enjoys relaxing and taking timeout while reading a book. Nico studied at the University of Stellenbosch, where he qualified as an account. He returned to his hometown to complete his three years of articles. Once he had qualified, he realised that being tied down behind a desk and crunching numbers was not for him, so in 2018 he took to the seas, where he could be physically and mentally stimulated and has never looked
back. Nico is embracing each day and learning as much as he can to build a firm foundation as he climbs the ladder to being a captain. Nico being as active as he is and enjoying a good challenge and can impressively do a handstand starting from a seated position.
MATTHEW DAVEY – BOSUN
Matt was born and raised in Boston Massachusetts and spent his teenage years and early 20’s growing up in Georgia. He attended Georgia State University where he received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, initially aspiring to become an attorney. After working as a paralegal for some time, he decided to pursue a life of travel and adventure and joined the yachting industry in 2014. He has journeyed the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and spent time in the Mediterranean, and Bahamas, gaining a great deal of knowledge, experience, and certifications along the way. Currently, he is pursuing his Officer of the Watch Yacht License. Matt enjoys spending his free time staying in shape and embracing the great outdoors. He is an avid runner, skier, camper, and hiker.
BROC MILLS | Lead Deckhand| South Africa
Broc Mills grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa. Broc joined the industry in 2021 after selling his
business which he ran during the early covid times in South Africa. This is Broc’s first boat, and he
has been a part of the Top Five II team since before she was officially launched. Although growing
up in-land he preferred to spend most of his time on the coast, diving, fishing and being outdoors.
Broc is a qualified Scuba Diving Instructor and holds his Yacht master 200GT license. Broc enjoys
freediving and surfing, along with a variety of other outdoor activities, during his free time.
MILO COEN | Deckhand | American
Milo grew up in Upstate NY, on the Finger Lakes. He started yachting after he graduated high
school. He hasn’t looked back and is enjoying being part of the Top Five II team. He is working
towards his future goal of being a Captain one day. Milo loves being in the outdoors and in his spare
time he enjoys spearfishing and freediving, and his newfound love of saltwater fishing. Milo has his
Able-bodied seafarer’s ticket under the USCG licensing and is working towards more advanced
qualifications.
NICHOLAS ADRIAENS | Deckhand / Kite Surf Instructor | South Africa
Nicholas grew up in Cape Town, South Africa and has been kiteboarding and surfing for over 10
years. He competed in both at a national level. He has a genuine enthusiasm for all maritime activities
including sailing and his happy to have recently joined M/Y Top Five II. Nicolas looks forward to
taking you for kiteboarding and surfing lessons.
JONA BRINK | Deckhand | South Africa
Jona grew up on a farm in the central part of South Africa called Senekal. Where he has been spending
most of his time fishing, diving doing water sports as well as improving on his carpenter skills
over the years. Jona loves the great outdoors and being in nature. He joined the yachting industry
shortly after finishing high School He wanted to pursue his passion to travel the world and learn
about new cultures which is why he joined yachting. Jona loves improving himself in his spare time
by learning and practising his wakeboarding skills. He has been working in America and the Bahamas
and would like to make a long-term career out of yachting and work his way up to Chief Officer one
day.
RIKUS VAN ZYL | Deck/Engineer | South Africa
Rikus grew up in George, a small town in South Africa. As a teenager he spent his summer holidays
working as a lifeguard on the numerous beaches in the area and it was during this time that he discovered
his love for the ocean. After graduating from High School, Rikus knew that yachting would
be the perfect fit for his future. He obtained the necessary qualifications to start this new journey
and thus his career in this industry took shape. Rikus has obtained his AEC Qualification which qualifies
him to assist the engineer, and he am working towards obtaining his Second Engineer Certification.
During his free time, he enjoys hiking and exploring new areas, especially in nature as well
as reading and learning new skills that he can apply to his professional and personal life. A fun fact
– Rikus is a qualified custom knife maker and during his free time he enjoys making these custom
knives from scratch.
JEREMY COLLISTER | Chief Engineer (Rotational) | New Zealand
Jeremy was raised in Auckland, New Zealand. Growing up he could be found either on the water or
pulling apart anything he could get his hands on; this combination naturally led him to a career as a
Yacht Engineer. Jeremy has his SVE 9000kW 3000GT. Jeremy has cruised The Mediterranean,
Caribbean, and the Pacific oceans. In his spare time, he enjoys sailing, kitesurfing and generally
exploring the area around us. His early love for sailing helped him understand and respect the ocean
in all forms. This love led him to sailing from Italy to Australia on his 44ft sail boat, much of it single
handed.
SEAN WEEKS | Chief Engineer (Rotational) | New Zealand
Sean was born and raised in the coastal town, Auckland New Zealand. After leaving school he did
a technical apprenticeship and attended university. After completion of his studies, he travelled to
North America with friends and ended up starting his yachting career while in Florida. He cruised the
East Cost of the US crossed the Atlantic Ocean and cruised the Mediterranean whilst continuing his
studies. Once Qualified he joined a world cruising charter sail yacht doing 20k miles per a year. Sean
has his MCA Chief Engineer 3000GT and a diploma in Electrical Engineering. Having spent the last
few years in Florida he now lives here permanently with his long-term girlfriend. Sean likes to spend
his free time outdoors, either on the mountains in the snow or biking as well as trying different foods
from different cultures. He loves the ocean, boating, fishing, and sailing as well as engineering science
and modern and historical engineering.
FILIP BANKS | 2nd Engineer (Rotational) | New Zealand
Filip was born in Poland and lived there for several years before moving with his family to the UK. This taught him to be bilingual as well as have an understanding for different cultures. That in-turn brought about a spark of interest towards being open minded as well as an appetite for travel. His first encounter with yachting came about at the age of 19, since then he has sailed in Asia, the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and the Caribbean. Fillips previous vessel, Teleost, took him across to the Caribbean where he had the opportunity to learn to dive and see some of the most amazing sites. Before this he gained his qualifications with cruise ships (Royal Caribbean) as Engineer Officer of the Watch Unlimited (Merchant Navy Qualification). Fillips interests tie into literature, nutrition, and fitness. In the winter he enjoys clipping into a snowboard and cruising down white slopes.
CASSIDY JERRAM | Chief Stewardess | South Africa
Cassidy was born in Cape Town, South Africa. Growing up on the beach she has always had a love
for the ocean through surfing and wakeboarding. After matriculating, Cassidy flew straight over to
the yachts and has been in the industry ever since. Since early 2015 she has cruised the Mediterranean,
USA, Seychelles, and the Bahamas. In her spare time, she loves spending time outdoors
in group sports, horse riding, nature hikes, and enjoying the local cuisines and cultures. She never
misses a Wordle and loves a good crossword puzzle. When she is home, she enjoys working on her
1971 Chevrolet L/S Edition. Cassidy is also a qualified Yoga Instructor, she holds her 200Hr YTT, she
is also the Medical Officer onboard M/Y TOP FIVE II.
MEGAN RALPH– 2ND STEW
After 5+ years of working onboard busy charter and private vessels, Megan joined the Top Five II team. Prior to yachting, Megan modelled with 20 Model Management. Megan enjoys fitness, hiking and staying active. Megan loves children and was an au pair in Cape Town, South Africa. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking for her friends and family. Megan is our number one go to for any organizational needs and is the relief Chief Stewardess onboard.
EMMA HAUPT – STEW
Emma was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa and studied Human Resource Management at Stellenbosch University. Due to her experience working with people in the hospitality, she knew that the yachting industry would be a great fit for her. Emma spent the past year travelling and working in the winter ski chalets in the French Alps, and for a water sports company on a Greek Island. Emma enjoys wakeboarding, surfing and being out in the ocean and sun.
JESSICA RUSTIN – STEW
Jessica is from the beaches of Sydney, Australia. Prior to yachting, Jess completed her Bachelor of Teaching Degree and loved working as a schoolteacher. She is extremely grateful to have worked closely with children and to be a part of their development. Jess’s love for the ocean and luxury hospitality, facilitated her interest in yachting. The industry allows her to meet new people and see new places. In her free time, Jess enjoys surfing, tennis, walks, watching sports and socializing with friends.
JAMIE VAN SCHOOR | Junior Stewardess/Masseause | South Africa
Jamie grew up in the beautiful Cape Town, South Africa with a passion for fitness and human
anatomy. Jamie went to study Sports science at Stellenbosch University where she graduated with
her degree and completed her sport massage courses. Jamie has a history of working in the fitness
and hospitality industry and decided to pursue a career in yachting as it appealed to all her passions
and skills. This yacht is a starting point in Jamie’s career where she is excited to grow and progress
in this industry. She is excited to join as a stew/ masseuse and treat people to make them feel better.
She has a passion for the water and loves all water sports like surfing and water polo.
CARLY BOOTH– STEW / NURSE
Carly has lived in several places around the US, but calls Evergreen, Colorado home. She enjoys hiking, camping, mountain biking and rock climbing. Carly has a background in health sciences, nursing, and Spanish. She has worked as a nurse and a medical volunteer for the past 5 years, and recently decided to pursue a career as a nurse/stewardess to meet people from all over the world and travel.
BRANDON POLLITE | Sous Chef | America
Brandon grew up in St Louis, Missouri and after High School he attended the Military. He has lived
in various states across the country and ended up going to culinary school in Colorado. It was here,
working on the Ski slopes, that he was introduced to the yachting industry. He decided to jump at
the opportunity and has loved every minute. Brandon likes spending his free time reading various
cookbooks, as well as bike riding and relaxing at the beach. Thanks to his time in Colorado, he is
also an avid skier.
NIKI YOURA | 2nd Engineer (Rotational) | Canada
Niki is an energetic Canadian whose heart has been longing for the sea as long as she can recall.
She attributes this longing to frequent family trips to Canada’s West Coast. Despite being raised in
Calgary, Alberta; a city surrounded by mountains and prairies; she always knew that her career would
take her seaward. Niki has always had a curiosity about how and why things work the way they do.
From a young age Niki was a tinkerer, choosing to work on her own cars rather than take them to
a mechanic, work on home projects, and dismantle anything she could, just to take a peek inside.
While attending a university transfer semester in Nice, France, she learned about the yachting industry.
It was clear to her then, that yachting was the perfect way to combine her love for the sea, and
constant curiosity into a rewarding career.
