Vivierae II

Jean van Wyngaard

Captain

Jean grew up in a small fishing town in South Africa. After completing school, he did a 6-month apprenticeship in boat building. Once he completed his apprenticeship, he was offered a contract to play rugby in England. An injury led him to shift his focus to hospitality, and he moved to Dubai to work in the food & beverage departments for well-known hotel groups like Marriott International & IHG.

Jean met his fiancé, J-Dean, in Dubai, and they decided to travel the world together by working in the yachting industry. 

Jean is passionate about the ocean and strives to ensure that crew and guests have a memorable and safe experience. 

After realizing that his passion is with the ocean, he has aimed to progress his career and intends to complete his 3000 GT Ticket. 

His certifications include GST, NAV & RADAR, ARPA; GMDSS; HELM & BRIDGE MANAGEMENT; ADVANCE FIRE & MEDICAL ADVANCE SEA SURVIVAL; STCW, PDSD, Powerboat Level 2, PWC (jet-Ski), Yacht Master Unlimited, Food & Hygiene Level 3 & VHF radio. 

Jean enjoys fishing, sports, kayaking, and scuba diving in his free time.

J-Dean van der Westhuizen

Chief Stewardess

Named after James Dean, J-Dean grew up in Potchefstroom, an academic town 120km west-southwest of Johannesburg, South Africa. After completing her degree in Communication Management and honors in Entrepreneurship and Marketing at The North West University, she moved to Johannesburg to start a career as a New Business Executive. This new career only lasted a year and a half before she realized that living in one place was not meant for her. 

Her heart was yearning to travel the world, meet new people, and learn about other cultures. J-Dean resigned from her big-city job to pursue her dream as a stewardess with Emirates airlines, where she worked for 3 years. After meeting her now-fiancé in Dubai, they decided to join the yachting industry together in 2017. 

J-Dean & Jean started working on VivieRae II in 2019 and have not looked back since. She aims to give guests the best experience possible, making them feel comfortable and at home onboard while anticipating their needs. 

J-Dean's yachting certifications include STCW, PDSD, Powerboat Level 2, rescue scuba diver, and Food and Hygiene Level 2. 

J-Dean enjoys a variety of adventures in her time off, including hiking, scuba diving, team sports, arts, and crafts.