COCKTAILS & DREAMS

MEET YOUR CREW 2026/2027 Season

CAPTAIN: Francois Meyer

CHEF: Eleanor Thompson

Francois was born and raised for several years in Richards Bay on the east coast of South Africa with the ocean on his doorstep and a fishing rod in his hand -  it quickly became a way of life.

His family relocated and traded the beach for the wild bush and moved to a small town in south-west of Kenya called Magadi where he spent the rest of his childhood growing up on vast expanses of wilderness with wildlife on his doorstep. 

After school he tried his luck at professional rugby but unfortunately an injury ended his short career and forced him to move on. Thankfully the ocean never stopped calling and soon he was back with a passion that had grown stronger with the absence. 

He began his nautical career working as deck crew on Superyachts in the Mediterranean, then as a chef on charter Catamarans in the Virgin Islands followed and by several Atlantic crossings. With every second spent on the ocean, his love for this lifestyle has grown.

Francois is extremely excited to be back in the Virgin Islands with & Beyond Yacht Charters for his  4th season, to continue this adventurous chapter meeting new people, sharing stories and creating lifelong memories for his guests. 

Eleanor, raised in the small seaside town of Dover in the Southeast of England, I grew up with a great appreciation of the outdoors, nature and adventure. My mother, born and raised in Africa, and my father, having a military background, have lived, and worked internationally. As such, trotting round the world on my own adventure is something that has come very naturally to me!

At nineteen I left the UK to study Mandarin at Nanjing University in East China, a real-life highlight and a great food tasting opportunity. Since graduating I have travelled most of Far and south east Asia and worked in China organising cultural programmes for westerner students - a very rewarding role.  I am passionate about authentic experiences and the best of local food and culture.

During the pandemic, I took a corporate travel job in London. It gave me a detailed understanding of the travel and hospitality industry, but I needed to get back to the frontline. I was keen to do something that combined all the things I loved most; cooking, meeting great people, good weather, and an adventure! Since starting my dream job, I have worked as a chef on private charters in Greece and Croatia, and now beginning my  5th season in the U.S. Virgin Islands with &Beyond Yacht Charters.