LIR

Captain: Joss Kennedy-Hughes

Captain Joss Kennedy-Hughes
Joss was born in England and has always had an outgoing personality and a passion for the sea, with a desire for sailing and water sports, so it was no surprise that he decided from an early age to pursue a career on the water.
Joss was 20 years old when he traveled to South Africa in pursuit of obtaining his captain’s license as a 200 ton RYA Yacht-Master. Soon after he had his first Command, as Captain of a Fountaine Pajot Helia 44 out of La Rochelle, France, cruising the Mediterranean for its owner and developing a passion and subsequently the skills for Scuba Diving over two seasons. Joss took an Ipanema 58 across the Atlantic, quickly advancing into their Flagship Victoria 67s as Captain for two years throughout the Caribbean.

Captain Joss is a qualified PADI Open Water dive instructor and genuinely enjoys encouraging his guests to join him, when possible, on trial dives or if the guests already hold their own qualifications, in exploring new locations and dive sites where the scenery is every bit as interesting below the surface as above.

Joss combines his maturity and experience along with an energetic personality to tailor a high energy and safe charter, to entertain your family or guests on a vacation of your dreams. Whether it is lounging on the trampoline with a cocktail in hand or wakeboarding in the sun, Joss will add the energy and life to your charter, always with a warm smile.

Chef Aurélie Kersaudy
Chef Aurélie has French as her primary language, however, after 10 years of her career in the tourism industry traveling around the world, she is as happy to talk to all her guests in her “natural” English and Spanish.

Her love of the sea started at a young age and by 20 years old she was already a dive instructor, teaching as far from home as South East Asia and the South Pacific, reflecting her own interest in marine conservation. During that period she started her life in sailing as crew on three trans-Pacific crossings.

After settling in New Zealand and working in a French Restaurant for two years, where she developed and evolved her skills as a chef, Aurélie decided that the Charter Industry was the life for her. She set about gaining maritime chef experience as well as obtaining numerous qualifications, very notably at the yacht charter focussed Ashburton, where she has only recently returned from her second development period there, gaining even more new ideas.

As for many years a natural chef at sea, she is now a highly qualified chef with wide experience in the Caribbean, from Trinidad to the Bahamas, onboard several Catamarans over the last three years, during which time she met up with Joss on the Flagship Victoria 67 Aletheia.

Lir has gained a top-class and well-known chef to join the Team, where her eclectic experience and culinary knowledge can be fully demonstrated to her guests, thereby ensuring that our dedication to high standards throughout our yacht can be fully enjoyed at all times of the day and night.

First Mate Toby Wood
We are very fortunate to have such an experienced and highly qualified First Mate onboard Lir.
Toby started his charter career with Lir’s sister ship and since then has obtained many qualifications from Advanced Powerboat Instructor up to RYA Yachtmaster, before moving over to Lir this year.

Toby brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team, having spent a considerable time working on Lir’s sister yacht as crew and relief Captain as well as being on Lir in his early life at sea.

Toby enjoys sharing his enthusiasm with everyone on board, encouraging and teaching others more about sailing and water sports.

Toby has completed several transatlantic crossings over the last 4 years on a FP 57 as both Captain and Crew and recently on Lir.

Being at home on Lir preparing your favourite cocktail or beer , or sailing and assisting Joss with all matters onboard , enabling our guests to get the most from the water sports available during charter or assisting your chef Aurélie throughout the day we are very confident that Toby will help you get the most from your vacation with us.