Captain Name: ANDREA
Captain Nationality: Italian
Number of Crew: 4
Andrea – Captain
Andrea is Whitefin’s Captain. He was born in Padova, Italy 58 years ago. He started sailing at the age of 11 years on his family’s
boats. He graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Padua and was an industry director for many years before devoting himself full time to boating. He has always spent his free time sailing, especially in regattas, winning more than 80 trophies in all national and international
sailing classes. With more than 50,000 miles sailing in the Mediterranean, he knows in great detail the coasts and harbors of Italy, Croatia and Greece; the destinations proposed for Whitefin cruises.
He has a sunny and sociable character, always ready to engage guests and friends in the art of navigating. Andrea is happy to give enthusiastic guests tips on their sailing, from cruising to perhaps even racing aboard Whitefin.
He plays the guitar and loves all motorsports. In his spare time he likes to ski, garden and ride off-road motorbikes. He is very dynamic and always has his hands full.
Native Italian, Andrea speaks fluent English and good French. He has his RYA/MCA Yacht Master Offshore with Commercial Endorsement – STCW95.
Valentina – Chef
Valentina is 32 and was born in Santiago De Chile.
She studied Tourism at university Santiago, and worked as a tourist guide in the country’s northern desert. Inspired by her proximity to the Pacific Ocean, she pursued her international diving license. She also lived in the south of Chile, in Patagonia, where she learnt to cook in a tourist outpost in the famous Torres Del Paine National Park. In 2016 she moved to Spain, where she had her first contact with the nautical world. Since then she has worked on sail boats as a cook and stewardess, around the Caribbean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and then back in the Mediterranean.
Her menu is particularly varied and enriched with experiences and inspirations absorbed during her voyages all over the world. Her dishes are always made with fresh and natural ingredients. Mediterranean cuisine is her specialty.
Valentina holds her Seaman’s Book, STCW95 certificates and Health Certificate for Seafarers.
She speaks fluent Spanish (native language) and Italian.
Her character is particularly pleasant and she’s always very happy to be on board providing kind help to the guests and crew.
Discovering nature, especially animals, engaging with foreign cultures and art are what she loves to do in her free time.
Filippo
Deckhand
Filippo is 25 years old. He was born in Genova where he was always in touch with the sea. He got his masters in Environmental Anthropology at the Sorbonne University in Paris. His academic career led him to travel all over Europe and North Africa. He started sailing when he was 7 years old in Genova on the Optimist and has since grown from small dinghies to much larger yachts in France and in Italy. Today he finds himself working as a professional deckhand aboard Whitefin. He has a friendly, sociable and patient character, always ready to assist guests and colleagues. He speaks Italian and also English, French and Spanish. He is a keen dancer, often performing with a company in Milan. He is passionate about natural and ecological issues.
Carlo – Deckhand
Carlo is a deckhand on Whitefin. He was born in Palermo 31 years ago.
He has studied at University of Palermo and at Alma Mater Studiorum, in Bologna.
His experience and love for the sea began in dinghies in his home town when he was very young and continued in his teenage years with Windsurfing and Keelboat Racing. After years away from the sea at university he gladly returned as a charter skipper and on-shore crew
Before joining Whitefin`s crew he was working towards the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Qualification at UKSA in Cowes, UK, and aims to complete this by Winter 2019. He currently holds the RYA Day Skipper (commercially endorsed,) the Unlimited Italian Sailing Licence, as well as the STCW95 (2019) and European Health Certificate for Seafarers.
He is a friendly and sociable character, who loves to sail and work on board. He is always helpful and reliable to his crew mates and to guests.
He speaks Italian (Native), fluent English and Spanish, he is learning French. When he is ashore, he likes to spend his free time doing outdoor activities and sports like trekking, climbing or surfing.