The Med Crew Yacht Academy

Meet The Instructors

Learn From Industry Professionals

Our Team

Real-World Experience in Every Course

Our instructors bring real-world yachting, hospitality, and training experience into every course — helping students build the skills and confidence needed to succeed on board.

Lead Instructors

Core Team

Sarah Marzocchi

Founder & Lead Instructor

Chief Stewardess, trainer, speaker, and founder of The Med Stew Academy. Sarah is raising standards in yacht crew education and preparing the next generation for careers at sea.

Specialisations

Interior Management
Luxury Service
Housekeeping & Laundry
Leadership & Career Development

In Practice

Sarah speaking on stage at a yachting industry event — Speaking

Sarah teaching a service class to yacht crew students — Teaching

Sarah leading a crew briefing onboard a superyacht — Onboard Leadership

Lia Kokotsiou

Co-Founder & Instructor

Professional yacht chef and hospitality specialist in luxury service and culinary operations. Lia combines industry knowledge with a passion for mentoring future crew.

Specialisations

Galley Operations
Provisioning
Hospitality Standards
Culinary Training

In Practice

Lia plating a dish in a professional yacht galley — Galley

Lia demonstrating cooking technique to students — Culinary Training

Collaborators

Industry Guest Instructors

Working professionals from across the superyacht industry, bringing current, on-the-water insight into every cohort.

Captain James Whitfield

Master 3000GT — Visiting Deck Instructor

Twenty years commanding 50–80m motor yachts across the Med and Caribbean. Leads sessions on bridge operations, ISM compliance, and command leadership.

Elena Rossi

Chief Stewardess — Service Excellence

Chief Stew on private 60m+ yachts with charter experience for HNW principals. Guest sessions cover service choreography, table craft, and guest preference management.

Chef Marco Belluci

Head Chef — Galley & Provisioning

Michelin-trained yacht chef specialising in Mediterranean and Asian fusion. Teaches galley workflow, seasonal provisioning, and dietary management at sea.

Niko Andreou

Chief Engineer — Technical Operations

Y2 Chief Engineer with cross-fleet experience on hybrid and conventional yachts. Sessions on engine room familiarisation, watchkeeping, and onboard systems.

Charlotte Pemberton

Crew Agent & Career Advisor

Senior recruiter placing junior to senior crew across leading management companies. Covers CV craft, interview preparation, and long-term career planning.

Dr. Hannah Lewis

Wellness & Mental Health at Sea

Specialist in seafarer wellbeing and crew dynamics. Guest workshops on resilience, rotation life, and sustaining performance through long charter seasons.

Hosting a charter team or yacht crew? We arrange bespoke guest sessions on request.

Request a Guest Session

Train with Industry Experts

Learn from professionals who understand life on board. Explore our courses or apply today.

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