CALADAN

Johan has an Austrian background and grew up on a family-owned sailing yacht traveling around the world. 

Infected by travel fever, he chose to start a career in professional yachting when he was only 19, working on both sailing and motor yachts. In the past decade, he has worked his way up to a captain’s position, always committed to ensuring the best possible guest experience and valuing the high professionalism of every crew member. His main priority, aside from maintaining the vessel to the highest standard, is drawing from his seafarer’s background to find the best routes, sheltered bays, and special anchorages to make his guests enjoy a truly unique experience onboard. 

In his free time, you will find Johan sailing his own sailboat, which he always keeps close, following his biggest passion.

Born in 1979, Matt serves as rotational Captain aboard CALADAN, sharing command responsibilities with Captain Johannes and ensuring continuity in the yacht's operation and guest experience. 

His connection with the sea began through scuba diving. A qualified diving instructor, Matt started working on boats in 2005 before moving professionally into the yachting industry in 2011. He has since built extensive command experience aboard motor yachts in the 35-37m range, including 5 years running yachts throughout Asia. During his earlier years in yachting, Matt explored Southeast Asia extensively, cruising through Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand and the Philippines before turning his focus towards the Mediterranean. Today, he particularly enjoys introducing charter guests to the diversity of Mediterranean cruising - from finding secluded anchorages along the Croatian coast to experiencing the energy of Ibiza and Saint-Tropez. 

Matt takes particular pride in maintaining the yacht in immaculate condition and ensuring she is always prepared for the next adventure. His approach combines safety, professionalism and attention to detail with an enthusiasm for discovering exceptional destinations and adapting each itinerary to the interests and expectations of the guests aboard. 

Having worked alongside Alina since 2022, the pair brings an established professional relationship and valuable continuity to their rotational roles aboard CALADAN. 

Matt speaks: English, French and Spanish and has a working knowledge of Italian.

Roberto Ostricki, born in Croatia, was raised in Germany and in the Netherlands and has a German/Austrian family background. From a young age, he was driven by cooking and the sea, so here he is, after so many years - combining both. He has worked on cruise ships and yachts for over 17 years, yet he can’t get enough of visiting new places, trying new dishes, and meeting different people from different countries to share memorable stories about a beautiful fact called - LIFE. Over the years, he has been living in many European countries, as well as in Colombia, where he got to learn a lot about different cooking styles, cultures, and lifestyles. He loves to cook Mediterranean, French, Spanish, Italian & German-style cuisines and is most excited about Vegan cuisine since he has been following a vegan lifestyle for over seven years. 

Roberto is truly passionate about healthy lifestyles, vegan cuisine, yoga, reading, exploring, diving, traveling, and a lot of outdoor sports. In his free time, he can be found volunteering for the Red Cross, at the gym, cooking, or practicing some yoga exercises - a lifestyle as multi-faceted as his food. 

Roberto speaks fluently German, Croatian, Spanish, Italian, English, and basic Dutch

Born in 1999 in the coastal city of Split, Croatia, Luka developed a strong connection to the sea from an early age. His professional maritime career began in 2020 when he joined the industry as an Engine Cadet, steadily progressing through the ranks thanks to his dedication, technical expertise, and strong work ethic. In 2026, he joined M/Y CALADAN as First Engineer. 

Throughout his career, Luka has gained valuable experience across a variety of vessel types, including passenger ships, livestock carriers, and private yachts exceeding 40 meters. This diverse background has provided him with extensive knowledge of marine engineering systems and operations in different cruising regions and operating environments. 

Luka is a highly motivated and capable engineer with hands-on experience in engine room operations, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of main and auxiliary machinery. His expertise extends to fuel systems, boilers, HVAC installations, machinery monitoring, performance testing, and the implementation of ISM safety standards. Methodical, dependable, and solution-oriented, he takes great pride in ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of all technical aspects onboard. 

When not in the engine room, Luka enjoys staying active through sports and can often be found playing basketball or football, bringing the same team spirit and determination to his leisure time as he does to his professional role.

Born in South Africa in 1999, Nicholas joined the yachting industry in 2023 and has quickly built a well-rounded maritime background through a variety of roles and cruising experiences. His career began as a Sole Deckhand aboard private yachts, where he developed a strong foundation in deck operations, maintenance, guest service, and seamanship. 

Demonstrating both initiative and leadership potential early in his career, Nicholas subsequently served as Captain aboard a sailing yacht operating between the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic. This experience allowed him to further develop his navigational, operational, and crew management skills before joining the deck team of the 75-meter world-cruising megayacht SHERPA. Working aboard a vessel of this scale provided valuable exposure to international cruising operations, high standards of yacht maintenance, and professional deck procedures. 

Nicholas brings a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and team-oriented mindset to M/Y CALADAN. Known for his reliability and enthusiasm, he approaches every challenge with dedication and professionalism while continuously working toward his long-term goal of obtaining his Chief Mate qualification and advancing within the superyacht industry. 

Away from his duties onboard, Nicholas enjoys a wide range of ocean-based activities including fishing, spearfishing, free diving, surfing, and water sports instruction. He also has a keen interest in photography, yacht maintenance, painting and repair work, and technical projects such as outboard engine rebuilding. His passion for the sea, combined with his practical skills and guest-focused approach, makes him a valuable addition to the CALADAN crew.

Mercè is originally from Barcelona, Spain and graduated from university with a degree in biology. She is passionate about nature and the beauty of the marine environment, which is why she likes to spend her time on the water. During her studies, Mercé worked in different areas of the service industry and realized that providing a great service and seeing clients happy is something that makes her feel truly rewarded. 

Working in the yachting industry provides her with the perfect combination of being surrounded by the sea and dedicating herself to making her guests feel welcomed and attended in the best way possible.

Languages: Spanish, English, Catalan

Born in 1984, Alina serves as rotational Chief Stewardess aboard CALADAN, sharing interior responsibilities with Mercé. She entered the yachting industry in 2019 and has since gained extensive experience aboard motor yachts in the 34-37m range, including 2 years in the role of Chief Stewardess. 

Warm and naturally welcoming, Alina takes pride in creating an onboard atmosphere where guests can immediately relax and feel at home. She leads the interior team with confidence and organization, ensuring that service runs smoothly while maintaining the high standards expected aboard CALADAN. 

Her strengths lie in thoughtful service, elegant table settings and the small details that turn a yacht charter into a memorable experience. Calm and composed even during busy moments, Alina combines a refined approach to hospitality with an easy-going personality, allowing service aboard to feel attentive without becoming intrusive. 

Guests particularly appreciate her kindness, intuition and ability to anticipate their preferences and needs. Having worked alongside Matt from the beginning of her yachting career, Alina joins CALADAN as part of an established professional pairing. Away from yachting, they share an enjoyment of nature, hiking, swimming and travelling, as well as spending time with their families. 

Alina is fluent in English, Ukrainian and Russian, brining both strong communication skills and an international outlook to the CALADAN team.

Born in South Africa in 2000, Hayley entered the yachting industry in 2023 and has since built valuable experience aboard luxury motor yachts ranging from 33 meters to 47 meters. Prior to joining M/Y CALADAN, she served onboard M/Y LIQUID SKY, a 47-meter CMB superyacht, where she further refined her skills in both private and charter operations. 

Hayley brings a strong hospitality background gained both ashore and at sea. Throughout her yachting career, she has worked as both Sole Stewardess and Second Stewardess, developing expertise in guest service, housekeeping, laundry management, interior detailing, table settings, and the day-to-day delivery of a high-end onboard experience. Before entering yachting, she worked within luxury villas and renowned hospitality venues in South Africa, building the professionalism, attention to detail, and guest-focused mindset that continue to define her approach today. 

Known for her warm personality, adaptability, and positive attitude, Hayley is a dedicated team player who thrives in dynamic environments. She combines excellent organizational abilities with a genuine passion for service, always striving to anticipate guest needs and create a welcoming atmosphere onboard. Her strong interpersonal skills, eye for presentation, and ability to remain calm under pressure make her a valuable member of the interior team. 

In her free time, Hayley enjoys creative pursuits including sewing, painting, and drawing, as well as Pilates, travel, fashion, and music. Her interest in art, psychology, and different cultures reflects her naturally curious personality and contributes to her ability to connect with guests from all backgrounds.