Captain ANDRE BOLTAR, American
expatriate of South Africa, who is pursuing
his passion for the sea at the age of 34
years old. After a 2 year stint in the
military as a Physical Training Instructor,
he has been privileged to be in the yacht
industry for the last 14 years & has
served on yachts as a rigger or shipwright
& crewed in most capacities including
chef, masseur & steward. He currently
holds a 1600 ton USCG Masters license for any
ocean with a MCA Certificate of Competency to
be fully compliant with their requirements
for charter vessels. He maintains a home and
family in Ft. Lauderdale, FL & enjoys a
healthy lifestyle. He has captained yachts
ranging in size from 114'to 204' and will
ensure you a safe and memorable cruise
aboard.
Chef CAROL BIRCH, outgoing,
friendly and adventurous, she is a 33 year
old South African. After many years in the
clothing industry, she has turned her
creative talents to the galley. She joins
MIRAGE after successful charter seasons on
the US East Coast and the Caribbean. She
always strives to please, greatly enjoys
tailoring her cuisine to cater to her guests'
needs, with special attention to delicious
low-fat; healthy and vegetarian cooking.
Finding mood and setting imperative, she
works closely with the stewardesses to create
masterful and diverse dining experiences,
with cuisine gleaned from a variety of
cultures.
Chief Stewardess: ELAINE SCANTLEN
is also an American, 36 years old and lives
in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She has been
providing the four-star service expected,
from the cabins to the dining table and all
areas in between on mega-yachts such as
"Joanna Alexandra",
"Maupiti", "Destiny", and
"Southerly." With a keen eye for
detail and a philosophy to anticipate and be
prepared for every need be fore being asked,
she is superbly capable of providing the
level of service so well enjoyed aboard
"Mirage." She will work along with
the rest of the crew to make your cruise a
pleasurable experience not soon to be
forgotten.
Engineer: DARREN COULSON A 31 year
old Australian, Darren, has the
responsibility of maintaining
"Mirage" in every mechanical,
electrical and structural aspect. He performs
his function largely behind the scene,
continuously maintaining and repairing all
the systems to prevent any interruption of
the elegant atmosphere enjoyed by the guests.
High-speed jet vessels are his passion and
specialty. He started a 4 year engineering
apprenticeship at age 16, repairing;
maintaining and refitting a fleet of ferries
in Sydney, Australia. This included
high-speed Jet Cats, with KaMeWa water-jets,
propelling them to 40-knot speeds, and
surface-skimming 38-knot hydrofoils! At 23,
Darren moved to Lord Howe Island in the South
Pacific, 360 miles off the Australian coast.
He worked as engineer/deckhand aboard a 60
ft. charter boat. During this time, he set up
an engineering business that soon became a
full time pursuit. In 1998 he joined a 100
ft. motor-yacht in the Caribbean as engineer.
Darren spends his spare time underwater
filming, with a special interest in sharks.
He has assisted David Attenborough (BBC) and
has made good friends with Ron and Valerie
Taylor. He is particularly environmentally
conscious and was instrumental in placing the
Ballina Angelfish on the N.S.W.
fish-protection list. Darren will drop
everything to help a whale, shark or yacht in
distress. He also has his own 34 ft.
jet-boat.
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