Your Crew
CAPTAIN Jenine De Kock & CHEF Luka Niehaus
MEET YOUR CREW:
CAPTAIN: Jenine De Kock
CHEF: Ludeke (Luka) Niehaus
Jenine is an experienced sailor who has worked in all roles on charter yachts. Hailing from Cape Town, South Africa, Jenine completed her Bachelor of Commerce Degree and spent four years working in corporate retail. She left Cape Town for a brief traveling sabbatical and never looked back. She is an avid traveler and after spending six months in India she decided to enter the marine industry and took a role on super yachts. Although she initially joined super yachts as a way to work and travel, a deep love for being on the water is what kept her there. After working five seasons on super yachts, Jenine transitioned to sailing catamarans where she can have a more hands-on and intimate experience with both guests and sailing alike. This being her third season in the Virgin Islands, she enjoys sharing with guests her experiences of life on the water and her favorite spots. She also loves any activities to do with water, especially snorkeling and scuba diving. Jenine is highly outgoing, loves people and finding new and undiscovered places that she can share with those who visit the Virgin Islands.
Ludeke grew up in a nature conservancy near Gqeberha, a small coastal city in South Africa. From a young age, he was passionate about nature and water-sports, excelling in water polo and open-water swimming. Daily cooking has been a significant part of Ludeke's life since his teenage years, evolving into a profound passion that encompasses sourcing the finest and freshest ingredients and crafting delicious and visually captivating dishes from different cultures.
After school, Ludeke earned a Cordon Bleu Diploma from Silwood School of Cookery in Cape Town, an award-winning institution recognised by the Commandery of the Cordon Bleu of France. His culinary education included rigorous industry training at some of the world's top restaurants, such as The Test Kitchen, Pot Luck Club, Salsify, Beau Constantia, and Chef's Warehouse. This foundation fueled his goal to explore and experience diverse cuisines in their countries of origin.
Following his culinary training, Ludeke lectured and mentored chefs-in-training at Silwood. He also launched his bespoke chef venture, The Messy Chef Collective, providing private chef services. Despite the success of his venture, Ludeke missed the outdoors and the ocean, prompting him to combine his two passions and his goal to travel by becoming a chef in the yachting industry.
After obtaining his maritime qualifications, Ludeke worked as a qualified sole chef and deckhand on various vessels. His dedication to both his innovative culinary skills and maritime expertise ensures that he brings a unique blend of talents to enhance guest experiences.
Jenine and Luka look forward to hosting you on Salty Dog and creating wonderful memories for you all with their combined expertise.
