GRACE

Name: Anastasios Gkotsioulas
Nationality: Greek
Position: Captain
Position details: Rotational Captain
Languages: Not specified
Description: (on board for charters 4-12/07, 14-28/07, 16/23/08, 24-31/08, 1-8/09)

Captain Anastasios “Tasos” Gkotsoulias, 37, is an experienced, dedicated, and highly professional yacht captain with a lifelong connection to the sea. Growing up in a family of fishermen in Greece, Tasos developed a deep respect for the ocean from an early age, spending his childhood sailing, racing dinghies, and exploring the waters of the Aegean. With more than 11 years of professional yachting experience and over 90,000 nautical miles logged throughout the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts of Europe, Tasos brings extensive knowledge of both sailing and motor yachts. His career has included yacht deliveries, private yacht management, charter operations, racing campaigns, and captain positions aboard a variety of monohulls and catamarans up to 80 feet. He has successfully completed numerous offshore passages, including multiple deliveries from French shipyards to Greece, and has spent many seasons cruising the beautiful waters of the Ionian, Cyclades, and Aegean islands. Holding a Master of Yachts Limited 200GT license alongside advanced offshore sailing, powerboat, safety, medical, and security certifications, Tasos combines exceptional seamanship with strong leadership and technical expertise. He is particularly skilled in yacht maintenance, troubleshooting, winterization, voyage planning, and ensuring the highest standards of safety and guest comfort on board. Known for his positive attitude, attention to detail, and discreet professionalism, Tasos takes pride in creating memorable experiences for guests while maintaining his yachts to the highest standards. Fluent in Greek and English, he enjoys swimming, cycling, diving, watersports, and outdoor adventures. Tasos is delighted to welcome guests aboard Grace and looks forward to sharing the beauty of the Greek seas while delivering an unforgettable sailing experience.

Name: Nikolaos Papaspyrou
Nationality: Greek
Position: Chef
Position details: Chef
Languages: Not specified
Description: Chef Nikolaos brings over 20 years of culinary experience at sea, combining a passion for hospitality with a talent for creating memorable dining experiences. Having worked across both commercial vessels and luxury yachts, he understands the importance of delivering exceptional cuisine while adapting seamlessly to the unique rhythm of life on board.
Specialising in Mediterranean and international cuisine, Nikolaos enjoys crafting menus that reflect each guest’s preferences, dietary requirements, and lifestyle. Whether preparing fresh seafood, traditional Greek favourites, healthy family meals, or elegant multi-course dinners, he focuses on quality ingredients, flavour, and beautiful presentation.
His culinary philosophy is centred on creating a relaxed and enjoyable dining atmosphere where every meal becomes part of the overall charter experience. From leisurely breakfasts on deck to sunset dinners and special celebrations, Nikolaos takes pride in providing food that brings people together and enhances time spent at sea.
Known for his friendly personality, professionalism, and attention to detail, he works closely with guests to ensure every aspect of their dining experience is personalised and effortless. His calm and adaptable nature allows him to thrive in the dynamic environment of luxury yacht charters while maintaining the highest standards of service.
Nikolaos holds professional culinary qualifications from Le Monde Culinary Institute, along with a valid Seaman’s Book and STCW certification. Fluent in Greek and proficient in English, he communicates comfortably with both guests and crew from around the world.
Passionate about great food and genuine hospitality, Chef Nikolaos is dedicated to creating unforgettable moments on board through thoughtfully prepared cuisine, attentive service, and the warm Mediterranean spirit that defines his cooking.

Name: Aoife Stringer
Nationality: British
Position:
Position details: Deck/Stewardess
Languages: Not specified
Description: Born and raised in Ireland, Aoife has always had a passion for hospitality, travel, and life on the water. With several years of experience in customer-facing roles, she has built a reputation for delivering exceptional service while maintaining a positive and professional attitude. Aoife's background includes hospitality management, retail supervision, and café service, where she developed strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and a genuine passion for creating memorable guest experiences. Her experience managing teams and working in fast-paced environments has made her adaptable, reliable, and calm under pressure. Drawn to the marine industry by her love of sailing and water sports, Aoife gained her maritime qualifications and quickly began building experience on the water. She has worked aboard yachts in Monaco and operated RIB transfers for cruise ship guests in Dublin Harbour, giving her valuable experience in both guest service and deck operations. When not working, Aoife enjoys scuba diving, sailing, hiking, and exploring new destinations. Friendly, hardworking, and always willing to go the extra mile, she is perfectly suited to a deck/stew role and is committed to ensuring every guest enjoys a memorable experience onboard.

Name: Bruce Rocherieux
Nationality: French
Position: Captain
Position details: Captain
Languages: Not specified
Description: Bruce Rocherieux, the 38-year-old captain of S/Y Grace, is a reliable, meticulous, and professional sailor dedicated to a career in the yachting industry. With more than ten years of experience in the yachting industry, Bruce comes with a rich background in yacht racing, as well as offshore cruising. He began his journey in 2000 with dinghy racing and has since worked as a scientific expedition skipper in 2017, serving as charter skipper, first mate, second captain, and engineer on various sailing and motor vessels across Australia, the Mediterranean, and the Red Sea. Notably, he has completed transatlantic crossings and many deliveries all over the world. He has his RYA Yachtmaster and has completed all the safety training necessary to work on yachts. Bruce excels in maintenance and troubleshooting of all onboard systems, leads safety and crew management successfully, and handles engineering duties and cruise planning. He holds a bachelor's degree in Business Management for Sustainable Tourism and is fluent in English and French, with good proficiency in Spanish. Bruce possesses excellent tender driving skills, comprehensive mechanical and electrical knowledge, and is adept in watersports like windsurfing, surfing, foiling, and wakeboarding, holding a PADI Open Water certification. His goal is to gain experience on larger yachts while working toward higher qualifications in the industry. He is excited to be working on Grace in Greece and to provide memorable sailing experiences for his guests on board.