BLACK LION

Crew Profile

Captain
Alexandros Gkouveris - a Greek native - holds an RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Sail & Power Certificate up to 200GT and Master 500GT from Greek Naval Academy. As a proud sailor, he has been sailing for over 30 years and has been a charter captain for 20 years. Captain Alexandros offers an enthusiasm that blends well with the positive attitude of the entire crew. As the captain, he takes pride in creating tailor-made yacht cruise experiences for each charter. He works closely with his guests to ensure that all their wishes are met. In the off-season months, he works as a sailing instructor. He will be happy to teach you how to sail and show you all the stunning hidden coves in Greece. He enjoys windsurfing and loves to travel around the world experiencing new cultures. Alexandros is fluent in Greek and English.

Chef
Mihran Yaghjian is of Armenian descent and was raised in Athens. He has a cooking resume packed with experience in brasseries, boulangeries and Michelin star awarded restaurants in Paris and Dijon – working next to some of the best chefs in Burgundy. With a love of the sea and travel, Mihran returned to Greece and began in the yachting world as a chef on both sailing and motor yachts. Passionate about international cuisines and learning new techniques to blend with traditional food, his creations will excite the palate. For many years, he volunteered in the Armenian community in Greece. Mihran is looking forward to welcoming you aboard and creating exceptional dishes to complement your incredible holiday on board BLACK LION. Mihran speaks English, Greek and conversational level French.

Steward
Thomas Saati studied Interior Architecture at Aul University. His love for the sea brought him on board. He has been working as a steward and deckhand and has certification of the IAMI Guest Program. He is committed to a life at sea and is working to climb the career ladder. Thomas is a great steward with an eye for detail and he loves making cocktails. He enjoys kitesurfing and snowboarding he is also keen on photography and videography. With his warm-hearted smile Thomas will make the guests’ experiences unique and memorable.

Engineer - Deckhand:
Nikolaos Kalafatis is a deckhand with vast experience. On board many vessels, he has proved how hard working and focused he is. Some of those vessels are “Hanse”, “The Moorings”, “Jeanneau Monohull”, “Lagoon Catamaran”. His qualifications include RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Power/Sailing and Ocean Power/Sailing. He has had great experience regarding maintenance and boat repair (over 5 years). He was a skipper on a Power Catamaran for the Filming of “Gordon go Greek) with Gordon Ramsay, Gino Da Campo, Fred Sirieix for ITV. He is interested in sailing and windsurfing at which sports he has won races, both national and international and a Championship. Easy going and team spirited.