CHARTER YACHT QUINTESSA

Captain Name: Desmond Greyling

Captain Nationality: South African

Number of Crew: 4

Desmond Greyling – Captain
Education/Certifications: City and Guilds Electronic Origination Degree in Graphic Design, PADI Master Scuba diver trainer, MCA – IYT Master of Yachts 200T Oceans
Languages Spoken: English, Afrikaans

Desmond Greyling was born and raised in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, the country’s headquarters for shipping located on the South Coast. His father was a shipping and ports enthusiast, and on the weekends, Desmond would accompany him to the harbors to watch the commercial vessels load and offload their cargo. This is where his love for boats and the sea began. His family moved away from the coast to Johannesburg as he started high school, and his mom bribed him to get higher grades in his graduating year by sending him to a scuba diving class. After a career in graphic design and advertising, he left the world of offices, cubicles and traffic for a more relaxed life in Southern Thailand. He sailed lasers and mirrors as a kid on lakes growing up, but only started boating after leaving his career in graphic design in 2002. He was drawn to the yachting industry by the opportunity to travel and meet interesting people, and has worked on private yachts, charter vessels, dive liveaboards and sailing catamarans since 2004. His two favorite destinations are the Chamonix Vineyard and Resort in South Africa, and the Exumas in the Bahamas. In his spare time, you’ll find Damon free diving and scuba diving.

Meghen McCombe – Stew
Education: Single and Multi-Engine (Land and Sea with Instrument) Pilot’s License
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish

Meghen McCombe was born in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada to a Bahamian mother and Canadian father. Her family moved to the Bahamas when she was a toddler. Bouncing between Nassau, the Exumas and Eleuthera, she grew up sailing, free diving, scuba diving, conching, spear fishing and horseback riding. She was primarily raised in her family’s home on Norman’s Cay where her grandfather helped develop the infrastructure of the island. Megs has worked in the hospitality industry for as long as she can remember, which includes a day spa and salon, and a management role at a boutique hotel and restaurant in Exuma. In her twenties, she went to flight school in Florida. She has been boating since she was a toddler, and began her career in the yachting industry in 2008. Since then, she has worked on private and charter yachts, power boats, and America’s Cup sailboats. Megs is happiest when she’s near the ocean, and her favorite place in the world is Whales Tail on Norman’s Cay in the Exumas.

Christopher Mark Penner – Mate
Education/Certifications: MCA – Master of Yachts 200 Ton Offshore; PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer; Film Production Diploma, Vancouver Film School.
Languages Spoken: English, some Mandarin

Chris Penner hails from Kelowna, British Columbia. His passion for scuba diving began in May 2004 when he spotted a shark while snorkeling in Hawaii. It was in that moment that he knew that working in the diving and boating industries would lead to a lifetime of “Wow!” moments. By December 2004, he was a certified PADI instructor and started his first job on a liveaboard dive vessel in the Bahamas. He has worked on motor yachts and sailing vessels since 2005, including private and charter yachts, dive liveaboards, and sailing catamarans in Turks & Caicos, Ft Lauderdale, Cayman Brac and the Bahamas. Chris has also worked in the film and TV industry, including a teaching role at Vancouver Film School’s Shanghai campus, and an Assistant Director position on the TV series, Supernatural.

In his leisure time, Chris enjoys photography and videography, snowboarding, kiteboarding, hiking and cooking. He is happiest when he’s on or in the ocean, and thinks the waters surrounding the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos are the most beautiful places in the world.

Chef coming soon!