Stella Oceana’s Crew

Stella Oceana is owned and operated by Norwegian Kenneth Tårnes (pronounced Ken-net) and his partner, Japanese-American Sachi Maekawa.  This sailing couple are passionate about the water, the wonders of the natural world and ensuring guests have a truly relaxed and unforgettable experience while travelling with them on Stella Oceana.

 

Kenneth Tårnes

The resident Captain of Stella Oceana.  He is a world class Sea Captain with the highest international designation by SOLAS, the United Nations International Maritime Organisation. With a deck officer class 1 license, he has the right to serve on ships regardless of gross tonnage and navigation area. If you fancy a wedding afloat, he is also a marriage officiant! 

He served as a sea Captain in the Royal Norwegian Navy and since his retirement, he has continued to captain a variety of charter vessels and sailing yachts. He has sailed around the world on a 98 m sailing yacht and in 2007, set a world record for the fastest sailing time (without engine) from Tromsø to Kristiansand in Norway. This route normally takes an average of 6-7 days and he still holds this record!

Kenneth’s passion is to connect people to the ocean and the natural world. Sharing his knowledge and experiences so they can see what our beautiful planet has to offer and how important it is to take care of it.

 

Sachi Maekawa

Describing herself as a “Jane of all trades”, you’ll quickly see that Sachi is rather modest and is clearly a master of many! She has been the official host aboard Stella Oceana for three years and speaks English, Japanese, Norwegian and some Spanish.

On board, she cooks, serves, cleans, helps on deck, organises activities, guides you while hiking and will be waiting with blankets and hot drinks after a polar dip. She will ensure that guests have the very best experience from start to finish.

Like Kenneth, she is passionate about the care of the natural world and has a love of the ocean. From being on the US National Team for synchronised swimming to working at a scuba diving school, Sachi is an advocate for wild animals, marine conservation, free-diving and sustainable living.