Your Crew
Francois Meyer Head Captain
Crew Profile
MEET YOUR CREW:CAPTAIN: Francois Meyer (previously on Esperanza II)
Chef: Eleanor Thomson (previously on Sweet Ann Marie)
Life for Francois started out on the sunny east coast of South Africa. Living in Richards Bay with the ocean on his doorstep and a fishing rod in his hand, it quickly became a way of life. Soon thereafter his family decided to trade the beach for the "bush" and they moved to a small town in the south-west of Kenya called Magadi where he spent the rest of his childhood growing up in the wilderness.
After school he decided to try his luck as a professional rugby player. Unfortunately an injury ended his short career and it was time to move on. Thankfully the ocean had never stopped calling and soon he was back with a passion that only grew.
He gained his experience as a deckhand on Superyachts in the Mediterranean initially, and then as both a chef and a captain on charter catamarans in the Caribbean and he has completed a couple of Atlantic crossings too.
Francois is extremely excited to get back to the Caribbean to meet new people, hearing their stories and creating lifelong memories for guests.
Eleanor grew up in the small seaside town of Dover in the Southeast of England. She grew up with a great appreciation of the outdoors, nature and adventure. Her mother, born and raised in Africa, and her father, having a military background, she has lived and worked internationally. As such, trotting round the world on her own adventure is something that has come very naturally to her!
At nineteen she left the UK to study Mandarin at Nanjing University in East China, a real-life highlight and a great food tasting opportunity. Since graduating Eleanor has travelled most of Far and South East Asia and has worked in China, organising cultural programmes for westerner students - a very rewarding role. She is passionate about authentic experiences and the best of local food and culture.
During the pandemic, she took a corporate travel job in London. It gave her a detailed understanding of the travel and hospitality industry, however she needed to get back to the frontline. She was keen to do something that combined all that she loves most; cooking, meeting great people, good weather, and an adventure! Since starting her dream job, she has worked as a chef on private charters in Greece and Croatia, and now the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Francois and Eleanor are looking forward to making sure you have a truly unforgettable vacation with them on Neptune's Escape.
