Revealed: Winners of the 2018 MYBA Charter Show Chefs’ Competition

By Rebecca Bradbury 1 May 2018

The highly-anticipated Chefs’ Competition at the 2018 MYBA Charter Show, held at the OneOcean Port Vell in Barcelona, Spain, from 23 to 26 April, displayed exceptional culinary talent as competing chefs wowed the judges with their creations of 5 different finger foods.

As an impressive fleet of luxury yachts opened their doors for viewings at the industry-only MYBA Charter Show last week, many superyacht chefs were hard at work in their galleys preparing gastronomical creations for the prestigious culinary contest.

Food is an extremely important aspect of any charter experience. Thus, chefs’ competitions can offer brokers an invaluable insight into the cuisine their clients can expect during a yachting vacation.

The prestige of being a winner in the competition sets the chef and superyacht apart from others in their class and acts as a major draw for attracting potential charterers.

For 2018, chefs were challenged to prepare 5 different finger foods to be eaten without cutlery. Three had to be savoury and two had to be sweet. The judges visited the yacht of each competitor, so the chefs could be tested in an exact replica of their working environment.

There were also tablescaping and ‘meet and greet’ competitions, and all winners were revealed at a prize-giving ceremony on the final night of the show. Find out who impressed the judges below.

Yachts 56m and over:

Fending off stiff competition from a number of entrants, Chef Lauren Everet from the 59m/192ft sailing yacht SEAHAWK picked up gold in the 56m plus category.

In second place was Chef Toine Smulders, who, aboard the 70m/228ft motor yacht SHERAKHAN, created dishes such as oyster cream of potato and lobster and candy floss foie grass with membrilla.

Chef David Keates from Benetti’s 56m/184ft motor yacht JAGUAR was awarded third place, while his fellow crew, led by Captain Dean Pilatti, won the meet and greet section.

Stewardess Tabitha aboard the 70m/230ft superyacht JOY, meanwhile, was judged as the worthy winner in the category's tablescaping competition.

Yachts from 43m to 55m:

As hotly contested as the former category, the 43m to 55m class saw chef Andrea Compidonico from the 52m/170ft luxury yacht VICTORY take home first place.

Second place was awarded to Chef Phil Wallis aboard the 54m/178ft motor yacht MARAYA, and third place went to Chef Karlo Kaleb of the 46m/151ft charter yacht AIAXAIA.

This was not the only prize awarded to the AIAXAIA crew, however, as steward Milo won the class’ tablescaping contest. Meanwhile, the crew aboard the 55m/180ft superyacht ELIXIR picked up first place in the meet and greet contest, wowing the judges with their 1930s casino theme.

Yachts up to 42m:

Notching up an impressive hat-trick in the yachts up to 42m category, the 37m/123ft motor yacht AWOL was awarded first place in the chefs, tablescaping and meet and greet competitions. Prizes went to Chef James Wright, Captain Tristan Mortlock, Stewardess Giverny and the rest of the crew.

Chef Simon Whitelaw from the 41m/133ft charter yacht MANIFIQ scooped second place, while third place went to Chef Benjamin Quinton of the 32m/105ft classic yacht ‘Heavenly Daze’.

For more information on any of the above yachts, speak to your preferred charter broker.

Alternatively, browse all luxury yachts at the MYBA Charter Show 2018.