At Otium Yachts, we pride ourselves on working with some of the best in the industry. With more than a decade’s worth of experience, we learned that the crew is the heart and soul of a yacht charter experience. The crew is the one who transforms a good holiday into an exceptional sailing holiday. Hence, we are just as passionate about presenting the crew from the yachts in our fleet as we are the yachts themselves. This week, we introduce you to the crew from the luxury sailing yacht NAVILUX.
Ante Ercegovic, Captain
Ante is the 7th generation of captains and boat owners in his family. Some of Ante’s earliest memories are being at sea with his grandfather and father, which instilled a passion for the sea, sailing, and tourism. Besides spending time at sea with his family, Ante studied at the Faculty of Maritime Studies in Split and graduated “Cum Laude”. Ante was a driving force in the Ercegovic family's decision to build Navilux – one of the first custom luxury yachts built in Croatia. Ante spent four years aboard Navilux with his father as a deckhand before he dedicated himself to the build of the sister ship Aiaxaia, where he took the helm as captain. Now, Ante returns to Navilux to take over from his father as captain. Ante is detail-oriented and a natural leader; he has carefully chosen his crew to provide the best possible service and experience to his guests.
Mate Kapic, Engineer
Mate has been on and around the sea since his childhood. A passion for engineering is part of his life as long as he can remember. After 6 years of experience on new-builds or newly-refitted mini cruisers operating in Croatian waters, Mate gained a reputation of the man you want in the engine room of your yacht. Mate brings a great deal of experience and knowledge to ensure the smooth operation of this astonishing yacht, while at the same time makes a great addition to Navilux’s crew, being easy-going, and a diligent team player with no issues to give a hand wherever needed on board. In his spare time Mate loves outdoor activities, fishing, sports and enjoys good movies.
Srdjan Smailagic, Deckhand
Srdjan is a passionate sailor and enjoys everything connected to the sea. After graduation, Srdjan completed all safety training and certificates in the Maritime School in Split and obtained the highest international certificates for his position. Following this, Srdjan worked for more than 8 years on yachts and passenger ships sailing worldwide. Most recently, Srdjan was aboard the luxury yacht Aiaxaia and now he follows Ante to join as crew aboard Navilux. Srdjan has a relaxed and friendly nature which guests feel and appreciate. Whether driving the tender for guests to go ashore or enjoy water sports, or helping around the yacht, Srdjan is always willing to do what is necessary to ensure the best experience for the guests and a positive working atmosphere amongst the crew.
Luka Maric, Deckhand
Luka grew up on the sea and fell in love with boats from an early age. This passion took him around the world, working on various passenger ships. Due to Luka’s experience and reputation, he had many job offers but Luka decided to return to his well-known and deeply loved the Adriatic Sea. Besides his experience, knowledge, and professional qualities that make him a great addition to Navilux’s crew, Luka is a hands-on person who takes every task seriously and completes it to the highest standard. Luka strives to make guests stay aboard Navilux both safe and enjoyable.
Ante Basic, Chef
Ante grew up with an intuitive love for food and cooking. His mother and grandmother recognized that interest as something much more than a child’s curiosity, so they guided and supported him on a path toward the culinary world. After graduating from culinary school, Ante continued to learn, explore and challenge himself. Ante has worked with some of the most prominent names of the Croatian culinary scene. The list of restaurants where Ante has worked is impressive, including the renowned Saints Hills Winery. Ante has been aboard Navilux delighting guests with his cuisine for several years now. Year after year, Ante continues to surprise guests with his world-class food. Ante loves the freedom he has in the kitchen to innovate, and he is always looking for ways to improve – especially for returning guests. As far as chefs go, Ante has a calm demeanor and is a joy to work with; his attitude sets the tone for a positive working environment.
Jaksa Bucic, Steward
Jaksa has years of experience in hospitality and working aboard yachts. Hospitality is not just a job, it is a passion and way of life. Jaksa has proved himself to be a valuable asset to every yacht he has ever worked on, and he is excited to be a part of the professional Navilux crew. Jaksa is outgoing, and while he is professional, he also has a great sense of humor which helps anyone feel relaxed in his presence. Jaksa loves creating memorable moments for his guests; his experience and knowledge ensure everyone who sails with Navilux will have an amazing holiday.
Melody Marela Matkovic, Stewardess
As a diligent, experienced, professional stewardess Melody has always proved herself to be a valuable asset to every resort and yacht she worked on. She worked for several seasons on different yachts and in resorts around the world, always upgrading the service, team spirit, and overall experience of the clients. Melody worked from 2014 – 2016 on SY Navilux, leaving an impeccable reputation among the clients of that yacht, to join SY Aiaxaia in 2017 but this season she is back on Navilux to provide the best housekeeping service. Melody is an organized, attentive, and well-focused person, in control of the situation in her working domain. Although you might not see Melody that much, the results of her work will thrill you. In her spare time, Melody is learning Croatian (tutored by her Croatian husband), and enjoys walking, cooking, and gardening.
Tina Paraman, Stewardess
Tina grew up in Trogir and graduated in Maritime studies in Split. Growing up on the coast, entering the world of Maritime studies and nautical tourism was a natural step. Tina has worked on several large mini-cruisers as a waitress, cruising from Opatija to Dubrovnik, and she also worked a few weeks aboard Gulet Pacha as a stewardess last season. This will be Tina’s first season aboard luxury yacht Navilux. Tina is more introverted by nature but said she joined the yachting industry to ‘step outside her comfort zone’, and she is excited to grow within the industry and learn from a great team. Tina’s warm, quiet nature is a perfect complement to Jaksa’s extroverted and personable approach. Guests will feel comfortable and taken care of by the Navilux interior team.
SAIL WITH LUXURY YACHT NAVILUX
We have worked with Navilux for nearly a decade; it has been a pleasure to watch this dream come to reality and to watch Navilux’s story of success and excellence continue to grow. Many new luxury yachts have entered the Croatian market over the last few years but Navilux continues to be fully booked because of her brilliant reputation. Navilux has 6 luxurious cabins and can accommodate up to 12 guests. Read more detailed information about Navilux here or contact us via email at info@otiumyachts.com or fill the form on the contact page for questions and inquiries.
Ante and his crew look forward to creating a memorable sailing holiday for you in Croatia this season!