
NERO Yacht Crew
NERO Yacht Crew
NERO boasts a dedicated captain and crew of 20, including a personal trainer, beautician, masseuse and spa staff, and a Michelin-level culinary team. NERO’s staff are experienced yachting professionals who, in addition to their formal roles, are dedicated to providing unrivalled hospitality to all her guests. A NERO voyage is much more than luxury yachting — it’s a holistic, opulent experience you’ll never forget.
Matt Pownall-Jones - NERO Captain

Credentials
- Master of Yachts <3,000 GT
- HNC Nautical Science
- Padi Rescue Diver
- Nitrox mixed gas technician
Previous Vessels
- M/Y SEA & US (63m)
- M/Y WERE DREAMS (52m)
- M/Y LADY ANNE PB (70m)
Interests/ Other Languages
- Property Development
- Sailing
- Diving
- Cycling
NERO Relief Captain - David Pidgeon

Credentials
- Master of Commerce (Honours)
- Bachelor of Laws
- Master of Yachts <3,000 GT
Previous Vessels
- M/Y Meamina (59m)
- M/Y Lady Ann Magee (49m)
- M/Y Va Bene (48m)
Relief Captain David Pidgeon was born in Auckland, New Zealand. David began sailing in his teenage years through the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Youth Training Programme. He later studied law at the University of Auckland and practiced commercial law for four years before earning a Master of Commerce degree.
David discovered the yachting industry in 2002 while in the south of France and began his career as a deckhand, eventually working up to captain. Pigeon has 15 years of charter yacht experience, including an Atlantic crossing and 2 Suez Canal to Indian Ocean crossings in armed naval convoys.
Lina Harrback – NERO Chief Stewardess

Credentials
- Luxury Hospitality Interior Program
- GUEST Purser Program
Previous Vessels
- S/Y ROSEHEARTY (56m)
- M/Y SOLO (72m)
- M/Y SERENE (134m)
Interests/ Other Languages
- Diving
- Hiking
- Snowsports
NERO Head Chef - Stephen Paskins

Credentials
- NVQ Level 2 in Food Preparation
- GVVQ Foundation in Hospitality & Catering
Previous Vessels
- M/Y LUREN L (90m)
- M/Y IDYNASTY (100m)
- M/Y AXIOMA (72m)
Head Chef Stephen Paskins has been a professional chef for over 20 years and has worked in acclaimed Michelin Star and AA Rosette restaurants in London for more than 18 years. For the last five years, Stephen has been busy cooking on private and chartered yachts on the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and the east coast of the USA. One of his proudest achievements was winning the Genoa Boat Show cooking competition in 2018 in the large boat category.
Stephen’s dishes aren’t the only thing that packs a punch. He’s also an avid boxer, and he competed semi-professionally during his former years. Enthusiastic about food both on and off the clock, Stephen prefers to carry cooking utensils and books with him when he travels, as he considers them essential items. For him, cooking is both a profession and a lifestyle. Guests will find that his passion for the culinary arts shines through in all of his dishes.
Helena Sanguinetti - NERO Purser/ Concierge

Credentials
- GUEST Purser Program
- MSc Nutrition
- BSc Biology
Previous Vessels
- M/Y ECLIPSE (162m)
- M/Y FAITH (97m)
- M/Y LADY LARA (91m)
- M/Y LADY S (93m)
Interests/ Other Languages
- Running
- Cycling
- Listening to podcasts