Captain - Javier Forero
Javier joins us from Colombia! Javier began his career at sea while completing 8 years with the Colombian Navy in Cartagena, Colombia. He spent 19 years working his way up the ladder as a Deck Cadet, Lieutenant, and now to the Captain of our 40M motor yacht, Lady Leila.
Javier found his passion for yachting while captaining a Catamaran that cruised through South, Central, and North America. He spent the past 19 years at sea, sailing from Colombia to the Americas, the Pacific, the Caribbean, and Canada.
Learning how to maneuver through the water on multiple cargo vessels, some as large as 396 feet, has granted him many skills as a motor yacht captain. Javier holds his 3000-Ton Master License.
When not captaining the vessel, Javier enjoys diving and snorkeling as well as reading, catching up on movies, and spending time with his beautiful family.
First Officer - Nick Spaner
Nick has been working on yachts for over 20 years. He also holds a 100-Ton captain’s license, which enables him to change hats when necessary to drive the vessel and stand watch. During his years onboard, the yachts that he been has had a very busy schedule with Owners and Charter guests; often with 24 hr. turnarounds and working multiple weeks without a break. Onboard of Lady Leila Nick has cruised extensively along the Eastern Seaboard, Bahamas and the Caribbean. Nick has demonstrated fantastic skills in every aspect of repair – always able to solve the problem. Not to mention, he also makes a fine bartender. Nick loves diving and all water sports. He will make sure his guests see all the secret spots for the most memorable underwater experience.
Chief Stewardess: Raluca Ghenoiu
Raluca is from the capital Bucharest of beautiful Romania, an Eastern European country with a wonderful culture and touristic places that worth to visit. Ralu is passionate about working with people and she has spent a great deal of time in the hospitality and service industry. Ralu has a nursing degree from Romania, with various volunteering activities in the hospitals. She turned to waitressing because that helped her pay for school and since than she become expert in hospitality service.
With over 11 years’ experience in hospitality Ralu has traveled from Europe to the Caribbean, working in various restaurants and Cruise ships. She discovered and developed new skills that makes her be on top of any expectations. Her love for ocean and nature, all of her skills and experiences make’s Raluca be an exceptional member in yacht industry.
Raluca is very active, happy person, enthusiastic about life, and enjoys sharing her knowledge with others. During her free time, she enjoys hiking, swimming, reading, building puzzles and spending time with her friends and family.
Raluca professionalism, positivity and outgoing personality will welcome you onboard of beautiful Lady Leila and she will ensure you will have the most incredible vacation. Travel and special requests are her specialty, please use your imagination and our team will be happy to bring it in to your life.
Bosun/Mate: Kevane Bell
Raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Kevane has grown up around a lot of water sports and activities. His love for travel and the ocean, combined with his creative and mathematical interest, steered him towards a Marine transportation Degree, with the desire to one day become a Captain.
Kevane works closely with the other members of the Lady Leila crew in preparing the yacht to look and perform at its best at all times. He also takes an active role in maintaining safety and navigational equipment’s, launching, and retrieving tenders, jet skis and sea bobs. Qualifications: Diploma in Marine Transportation, yacht master 200t, GMDSS certificate Bridge resource management, Eng1 certificate, STCW 10, Powerboat level 2, Security Awareness
Engineer: Daniel Patino
Danny from the Capital of Colombia, Bogota start his career as an engineer in 2014 working for the Navitrans trucks in Colombia as a maintenance Engineer. In January 2017, Danny joins the yacht industry as an engineer who focused on provide highly valuable and practical work projects for the boat.
Daniel is commitment, his technical background and professionalism brings an essential value to the yacht industry. Always with a smile on his face, Danny is a genuine young man that cares for safety and operations of the vessel for guest and crew.
In M/Y Lady Leila, Danny is responsible for all mechanical, electrical, electronic, plumbing and computer systems aboard. It is his responsibility to work with both planned maintenance and emergencies to assure that the yacht is always in good, safe & working order.
Danny enjoys sailing, diving, reading, bike ride, all cultures and traveling the world.
Chef: Catherine Glowacki
Raised in Point Pleasant a small coastal town in New Jersey it only made sense to begin a career that took me out on the sea. Upon graduating Johnson & Wales University with a degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management I was offered the opportunity to relocate to the beautiful United States Virgin Islands to help open several new restaurants at a mega yacht marina. After spending 8 years as a chef in restaurants around Saint Thomas I made my transition to the yachting world. My first job was as a chef and dive instructor for live aboard dive yachts around the Caribbean. After years of working onboard dive yachts I made my transition to research, private and charter yachts which has since taken me around the world. When not working onboard I enjoy traveling and spending time in different locations leaning about cultures and foods of different countries and taking it back to create unique menus to please our guests and crew. I enjoy any activity on or in the water, hiking and photographing those experiences.
STCW 95, Ships Cook Certificate, Food & Hygiene levels 2&3, PADI Dive Instructor
Languages crew speak : English, Spanish, French, Romanian, Portuguese
