Chief Engineer 

Willie Vijoen 

A man with gray hair and a beard wearing a black shirt with gold epaulets, standing by the water with a yacht and cityscape in the background.

Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, Willie developed a deep love for the ocean and its incredible marine life from an early age.With over a decade of experience as a yacht engineer, Willie has spent the last nine years working on sailing yachts around the world. His calm, methodical approach and deep technical knowledge make him an invaluable part of the crew, ensuring smooth operations both above and below deck.

View from a yacht balcony over the ocean with a glass wall reflecting water, under a sunny sky.
Three people wearing black shirts with the word 'moka' sitting on the edge of a boat with a rocky hillside and clear blue sky in the background.

Comfortable both in team environments and working independently.

When Will isn’t busy keeping things running smoothly on board, he’s usually out collecting bruises and stories. He can be found tinkering with his motorbike or tearing through mountain passes in search of the perfect curve. If he’s not on two wheels, he’s probably in the water—swimming, freediving, or trying to convince fish to stay still long enough for a decent photo. On land, he climbs rocks for fun, captures moments through his lens, and occasionally sets off the smoke alarm while cooking or baking something “experimental.

A smiling man in a black leather jacket and blue jeans sitting on a black Triumph motorcycle on a gravel road with green bushes and a wooden utility pole in the background.
A kudu antelope standing in a grassy plain with distant trees and a cloudy sky.
A man rock climbing on an outdoor vertical rock face, wearing a blue shirt, shorts, and climbing shoes, with climbing gear attached to his waist, surrounded by trees and a blue sky.
A man with a beard, sunglasses, and a baseball cap, carrying a large backpack, standing on a rocky coastline with clear blue water and a partly cloudy sky.

  • When Will isn’t busy keeping things running smoothly on board, he’s usually out collecting bruises and stories. He can be found tinkering with his motorbike or tearing through mountain passes in search of the perfect curve. If he’s not on two wheels, he’s probably in the water—swimming, freediving, or trying to convince fish to stay still long enough for a decent photo. On land, he climbs rocks for fun, captures moments through his lens, and occasionally sets off the smoke alarm while cooking or baking something “experimental.

  • In ten years, Will hopes to be blissfully retired from the chaos of ship life and running a tiny dive centre on a remote Pacific island. Picture hammocks, crystal-clear water, and Will teaching tourists how not to drop their masks. That’s the dream.

  • Will has a questionable love for long hours, controlled chaos, and the kind of stress that turns your hair grey faster than the sun bleaches the deck. But beyond the madness, he lives for the moments in the middle of nowhere—where the ocean is silent, the stars are loud, and there’s nothing but horizon in every direction. Out here, far beyond the usual routines, is where he feels most alive.