CAPTAIN - ROTATIONAL | Aldon Beukman | South Africa Captain Aldon was born in George, South Africa and grew up in Yzerfontien, a small fishing village on the west coast of South Africa. His parents owned a small shack on the beach so from an early age he was taught to love and respect the ocean, only taking what you really need. Following grade school, Aldon worked as a commercial fisherman, gaining beneficial knowledge of safety practices and proper vessel handling in high seas off the western coast of South Africa. In 2007, just before taking a position on an offshore oil rig, Aldon was presented with an open deckhand position through a friend. He then made the easy transition to yachting and has worked his way through the ranks to gain the title of Captain. Aldon has managed, planned and enjoyed the entire Eternity refit in 2018, and excels in creating a pleasant working environment for his crew. A generous and thoughtful attitude guarantee all ideas are heard and ensure the most practical solution to any problem is taken. Aldon strives to turn vacations into adventures, and dreams into memories. HEAD CHEF | Michael Machado | Canada Michael was born and raised in Canada. After graduating from the Culinary Institute in 2011, he traveled to over 20 countries. Michael started his yachting career in 2017 and has since spent several seasons in the Bahamas, Caribbean, and the East Coast of the United States. Passionate about quality ingredients, Michael relishes the opportunity to catch fresh fish for dinner. In his free time, Michael practices photography and Muay Thai, rides motorcycles, and tries foods new to him. Since joining M/Y Eternity in January 2024, Michael can always be found with a smile on his face, accompanied by a positive can-do attitude. SOUS CHEF | Nicholas Trybel | Canadian Nicholas is a Canadian chef with 15 years of culinary experience. He has worked both in small restaurant operations and alongside Michelin-starred chefs in larger, high-profile venues. Nicholas grew up farming and fishing in the small town of Ontario, and attended the Niagara Food and Wine Institute where he completed a two-year degree in gastronomy and hospitality. Nicolas went on to further his studies with a three-year degree in food science and innovation. Nicholas’ embraces the challenges that cooking aboard a yacht brings, and enjoys adapting his menus to suit different guest requirements and changing locations. CHIEF STEWARDESS | Jade McManus | Australia Jade grew up in Adelaide, South Australia, which meant she was never far from breathtaking coasts. Jade began her career in yachting at a young age and quickly acquired an extensive knowledge of the industry. Before working on yachts, Jade developed excellent customer service skills working at events and in restaurants. She enjoys collaborating with her team to provide guests with an outstanding experience. In her spare time, you may find her on a stand-up paddleboard, but Jade also enjoys yoga and Pilates; if you want a morning stretch, ask Jade for a few tips. FIRST OFFICER | Ben Herries | Maltese Ben grew up on the sunny Maltese islands in the middle of the Mediterranean. Surrounded by the sea, it was only a matter of time before he was able to turn his passion for sailing into a career. Ben now has over 10 years’ experience working on different yachts around the world. Ben recently travelled to Thailand to explore his interest in martial arts, and he lived in Phuket for three months whilst training in Thai boxing, wrestling and jiu-jitsu. Another hobby that keeps Ben occupied is scuba-diving, and Ben says the favourite aspect of his job is finding new anchorages. CHIEF ENGINEER - ROTATIONAL | Gonzalo (Gonzi) Mazzucco | Argentina Gonzalo is from Cordoba, Argentina. For 12 years he worked on different types of commercial vessels as a Nautical Engineer before joining the yachting industry in 2020 aboard Eternity. The move to yachting has brought new challenges and fulfilled his desire to continue to learn new skills. Gonzalo thrives on the comradery and team spirit aboard, as well as providing the best service so that guests can have an incredible experience during their charter. Gonzalo is fluent in Spanish, passionate about travelling and learning about different cultures. CHIEF ENGINEER - ROTATIONAL | Julian Stalhschmidt | German Julian was born in Germany and travelled the world on merchant ships with his captain father, until the age of six. At 14, Julian moved with his parents to Calabria in southern Italy and went on to study as the nautical college. Perhaps naturally, Julian’s career began on merchant ships before moving to cruise liners, residential vessels, and finally superyachts. For the last 10 years, Julian has been an engineer on a yacht in excess of 100m and particularly enjoys taking a vessel through a major refit, helping to identify new technology and equipment beneficial to a yacht’s efficiency and caliber. Julian is a keen kite surfer and scuba diver.