Your Crew
Nick Nelson Head Captain
Crew Profile
MEET YOUR CREW:CAPTAIN: Nick Nelson
CHEF: Ludeke (Luka) Niehaus
Nick has been closely connected to water his entire life, growing up on a small island on Lake Superior. He started driving boats at age 11 and has been in love with cruising waves ever since. He went on to get his captain’s license and began guiding tours in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore on power boat and kayak trips, eventually moving on to sailing charters.
In the off-season Nick would often escape on his sailboat seeking warmer waters; completing the Great Loop and twice sailing to Cuba and the Bahamas. He has more recently captained 40 + yacht charters in the Virgin Islands since 2022.
Living and working on the water provides the trifecta of endless novelty, challenges and rewards. For Nick there’s no better way to keep life simple yet interesting at every turn, to slow life down and fill it up. Captaining has allowed Nick to meet and share life with people all over the world and he loves to bring his excitement for life to every charter he captains in the USVI.
Ludeke grew up in a nature conservancy near Gqeberha, a small coastal city in South Africa. From a young age, he was passionate about nature and water-sports, excelling in water polo and open-water swimming. Daily cooking has been a significant part of Ludeke's life since his teenage years, evolving into a profound passion that encompasses sourcing the finest and freshest ingredients and crafting delicious and visually captivating dishes from different cultures.
After school, Ludeke earned a Cordon Bleu Diploma from Silwood School of Cookery in Cape Town, an award-winning institution recognised by the Commandery of the Cordon Bleu of France. His culinary education included rigorous industry training at some of the world's top restaurants, such as The Test Kitchen, Pot Luck Club, Salsify, Beau Constantia, and Chef's Warehouse. This foundation fueled his goal to explore and experience diverse cuisines in their countries of origin.
Following his culinary training, Ludeke lectured and mentored chefs-in-training at Silwood. He also launched his bespoke chef venture, The Messy Chef Collective, providing private chef services. Despite the success of his venture, Ludeke missed the outdoors and the ocean, prompting him to combine his two passions and his goal to travel by becoming a chef in the yachting industry.
After obtaining his maritime qualifications, Ludeke worked as a qualified sole chef and deckhand on various vessels. His dedication to both his innovative culinary skills and maritime expertise ensures that he brings a unique blend of talents to enhance guest experiences.
Nick and Luka look forward to hosting you on Salty Dog and creating wonderful memories for you all with their combined expertise.
