C A P T A I N | Hugo O’Kelly
C H E F | Judith Van Den Nieuwendijk

Meet your resident crew on Lola:
Hugo is a seasoned sailor who has been captivated by water from a young age.
He grew up in England, in a small county just outside of London and spent most holidays by the seaside of Cornwall. At the tender age of seven, Hugo discovered his passion for sailing, racing lasers and 49er’s while at school. Later in his youth he became an instructor for this.

Hugo’s passion for sailing and the ocean grew stronger after school, so he headed to the South of France to work on luxury Superyachts. At 18, he was selected and sponsored to race across the Atlantic being the youngest crew in the fleet. This is when Hugo realized his true calling. He completed his Yacht Masters amongst other qualifications with the dream of becoming a captain.

Hugo has at present, worked as Skipper and 1st Mate on luxury yachts of up to 100ft. From sailing charters to sea-life safari tours – he’s been sailing in some of the most beautiful and exotic locations around the world. After completing his second crossing to Antigua, he is currently obtaining his Ocean Master.

When he’s not at work, Hugo is an avid water-sports enthusiast and instructor.
He loves to coach waterskiing, wakeboarding, and wake-surfing. Surfing, diving and fishing are also just a few of his many hobbies. Whether on the water or on land, Hugo is always seeking new adventures and finding ways to connect with the sea.


Chef Judith:
Judith was born and raised in The Netherlands. As a child she was always on the water and spent her summers windsurfing as a hobby. Apart from her sporty side, she loves to cook and make people at comfort. She has always been comfortable in the kitchen which led to her study at an international hospitality school in the south of The Netherlands. There she elevated her passion for hospitality to a professional career.

Judith is a skilled and experienced chef, trained both at the hospitality school in the south of The Netherlands and most recently at the Ashburton culinary institute. She has been honored to work in luxury hospitality for the past eight years, she has worked at various high-end hotels, restaurants and events both in Europe and the Caribbean. Her love for cooking shows in the wide array of dishes prepared onboard Lola, all up to guests preferences. While constantly aiming to create the perfect vacation experience, Judith takes great pride in cooking with wholesome, fresh ingredients of great quality.