TESNI Yacht Charter

Captain: Kevin Gentles

Name: Kevin Gentles
Position: Captain
Nationality: Canadian / British
Languages: English

Kevin is an accomplished Captain/Engineer with extensive experience across luxury charter operations, vessel refits, and crew management. Based in the BVI, he holds an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore with Commercial Endorsement and has operated across the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Pacific, and Southeast Asia. Most recently, he has served as Captain/Engineer aboard the Lagoon 77 Mariah Princess III and Seaclusion Sunreef 80 in the BVI, where he received the vessel under new ownership and built a highly successful charter program, earning repeat bookings from guests and brokers alike.

Prior to this, Kevin captained and engineered a Sunreef Supreme 68 in the Mediterranean and managed a full refit of a Lagoon 630 Power Catamaran in Ft. Lauderdale, overseeing all major systems including the watermaker, generator, and electrical systems. He has also served as First Officer on the 68m M/Y Lady Christine and as First Mate on the 46m M/Y Q95 Mangusta in the Mediterranean, where he managed ECDIS passage planning and hosted high-profile Owner guests.

Earlier in his career, Kevin served as First Mate on S/Y Mystery 43M across Australia and the Pacific, leading a 16-month refit at The Yard Brisbane. He captained Moreton Bay Holidays Afloat in Brisbane, managing a fleet of catamarans and overseeing the full refitting of a marina. Additional experience includes passages from Cairns to the Solomon Islands aboard M/V Umbra 55M, Bosun work on M/Y Aquamarina 47M in Singapore and Brisbane, and roles as First Mate on M/Y Blue Sky 45M across Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Name: Nicole Bowman
Position: Chef
Nationality: American
Languages: English

Nicole is an accomplished yacht Chef with over 6 years of experience in the maritime industry, working across motor and sailing yachts throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Mediterranean. She brings a Caribbean Fusion culinary perspective, confidently adapting menus to all dietary requirements and provisioning in remote locations. Her experience spans back-to-back 7-night charter programmes, vessel refits, broker events, and multi-role positions covering interior and deck duties alongside her culinary responsibilities. She has a proven ability to manage provisioning budgets, train crew, and maintain the highest standards of food preparation and service for groups of up to 15 guests.

Name: Mark Kotzee
Position: Deckhand
Nationality: South African
Languages: English, Afrikaans

Mark Kotzee is an enthusiastic Deck/Engineer who transitioned into the yachting industry following a career in law, bringing strong organisational skills, professionalism, and a hands-on approach. Based in Fort Lauderdale, he has completed a full season of active yachting work across the Caribbean and US East Coast, gaining broad experience in deck operations, exterior maintenance, and engineering support. His roles have included luxury charter work, shipyard and refit periods, and engine room daywork at a professional diesel marine facility. He is comfortable performing line handling, anchoring, washdowns, teak care, bilge restoration, watermaker management, and assisting with mechanical repairs and component replacements.

Name: Carmen Kotzee
Position: Stewardess
Nationality: South African
Languages: English, Afrikaans

Carmen Kotzee is a motivated Deck/Stew with a background in law, bringing exceptional attention to detail, organisational skills, and professionalism to the yachting industry. Based in Fort Lauderdale, she has completed a full season across both interior and deck roles on motor yachts ranging from 68 to 124 feet. Her experience covers luxury charter guest service, cabin preparation, cocktail and bar management, provisioning coordination, laundry, formal table settings, and full interior upkeep to superyacht standards. She has also assisted on deck with line handling, docking, and washdowns, and has taken on galley responsibilities including crew meal preparation and provisioning management during shipyard periods.