Captain: Francesco CANDIANI

CREW PROFILE - OMBRE BLU ³

Melissa and Francesco are a husband and wife team of experienced sailors and international commercial ship Captains and are the managers of the yacht.
After 10 years of running their previous catamaran in Italy, (OMBRE BLU - a 50 footer), in 2017, they decided to accept an offer to manage a new and larger catamaran, a SUNREEF 70, which her owners appropriately named OMBRE BLU ³.


CAPTAIN / CHEF: Francesco CANDIANI
Italian
MCA Master of Yachts 200gt/OOW 500gt
RYA Yachtmaster Ocean
Yachtmaster Ocean (Sail)
Australian Master 5 (Power) Italian License (Sail/Power)
PADI Master Scuba Trainer
Degree Law, University of Milan
Masters IT Law, University of Bologna Maritime
Languages: English and Italian

Francesco is a native of Venice and has spent every summer of his life at his family vacation home in the Aeolian Islands.
After studying law in Milan and at the University of California, Berkeley, he practiced in Italy for several years, before his love of the sea drove him to change careers. He moved to the Pacific, where he crewed on a variety of yachts.
Certified as a PADI MASTER SCUBA DIVER TRAINER, he is keen to guide clients on undersea tours and issue diving certificates on board.

Francesco has sailed thousands of miles during the course of his yachting career and earned his international commercial Skipper’s ticket in Cape Town, South Africa in 2006. He has since worked as a captain in the Mediterranean and in the Caribbean.

He is your Captain and Head Chef on board and will ensure you enjoy the finest of Regional Plates, matched with his selection of Local Wines. Francesco is from a family passionate about cooking, in fact, all of his three siblings own Italian Restaurants in the Veneto region.
He is the ultimate creator of new and beautiful dishes and will ensure that your dining experience is number one!
He also enjoys explaining the various types of Food from the different regions and treating you to tastings, such as Olive Oils and Cheeses.

Francesco is also a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer (which means Instructor of Instructors).
He is highly experienced and takes pleasure in offering Dive Courses of all levels on board, which means that Guests can leave with their new Certification.
OMBRE BLU ³ is a Registered PADI Dive Centre and is equipped with Tanks, BCDs, Regulators and all the gear one needs for diving, including a Compressor.


CO-CAPTAIN/STEWARDESS/CHEF/MASSAGE THERAPIST: Melissa CANDIANI
Australian
MCA Master of Yachts 200gt/OOW 500gt
Yachtmaster Ocean
Australian Master 5 (Power)
RYA Ocean and Master 200
Massage Therapist
Dip. Business Management
Dip. Human Resource Management
Dip. Remedial / Sport Massage
Languages: English and Italian

Melissa was born in Tasmania, a location famous for sailing. She eventually moved to Sydney, where she studied business and human resources management. During her corporate career she managed the start-up of a professional football team.

After four years of handling player contracts, sponsorships, publicity and special events, she decided on a change of pace and accepted an offer to crew on an ex-Sydney-to-Hobart racing yacht. The experience led to a permanent career decision.

A fully qualified massage therapist, Melissa combined her massage expertise with her love of the sea and secured contracts on board ‘Superyachts’, working as a private therapist for clients such as Rupert Murdoch & Cherie Blair.
She earned her first international skipper’s ticket in Cape Town, South Africa in 2006.

After meeting and marrying Francesco, Melissa moved to Italy, where she has become fluent in the language and has developed a deeper understanding of its culture and people.

Melissa will co-ordinate all of your activities during the trip and ensure everything is perfect.
She is offering a massage service on board on a professional table.
She also shares some of the cooking with Francesco.
She loves to prepare breakfasts, bake fresh Bread, Muffins, Cakes and create beautiful table settings for every occasion.


STEWARD/DECKHAND: Marlowe UNSO
Filipino
- Powerboat Certificate Level 2
- STCW ’95 Certificate
- Diver Level 2 - PADI
- Steward/Mess man – Certificate of Competency
Languages: English, Basic Arabic and Tagalog

Marlowe is from the Philippines and has over 20 years of experience in the Yachting Industry, working on both Charter and Private Superyachts around the world.
His experience extends from charter to private yachts, working his way up through different positions before in 2018 he joined S/Y OMBRE BLU ³ as Deckhand/Steward.
He is a Licensed Tender Driver and forms an integral part of the team, being responsible for keeping the yacht looking perfect, both inside and out!
Marlow is enthusiastic about his job and a man of integrity.
Marlowe is fluent in Filipino and English.