Captain Bruno Franceschi
Bruno has four wonderful children and has had a long and distinguished career as a journalist with French newspapers. He retired as the CEO of the second-largest French newspaper, Sud Ouest, as after spending 30 years in the world of the Press he decided to return to his first passion of yachting and sailing.
Bruno has been at one with the sea for as long as he can remember. At the age of 10, he joined the Marine Scouts in his hometown of Marseille. He was an avid member of the Scouts for nine years. Following Scouts membership, he joined local yacht clubs and was well known for his superb skills in many sailing regattas. Naturally, he was thrilled to own his first boat. He has owned, sailed, and thoroughly enjoyed seven more boats prior to purchasing ILLUSION. On all of his boats, he labors diligently to prepare all equipment and rigging for speed, safety, and the utmost in comfortable cruising.
Bruno graduated with his Captain 200-ton license, and STCW 95 French qualification. He is intimately familiar with the Leeward and Windward Islands of the Caribbean, where he lived and worked for many years as the CEO of the French newspaper France Antilles. Bruno has sailed extensively in France and throughout the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. He has sailed from Grenada through to Puerto Rico and is especially fond and familiar with the French West Indies. He loves nothing greater than showing his charter guests the beauty of the different islands aboard sailing catamaran ILLUSION.
Chef/Mate Chrystelle Larroque
Chrystelle is originally from Metz, France. Her father worked for an oil services company, so Chrystelle was able to live an international life in her youth. Abu Dhabi, Singapore, and Scotland are some of her homes plus other French cities such as Nice and Marseille.
As a student, she pursued many sports such as cross country, horseback riding, and swimming. On board, she enjoys helping guests discover underwater and nature around the boat. Chrystelle is an avid snorkeler, paddleboarder, and reader.
Chrystelle studied at Ecole Hotelier in Toulouse; Pierre Gagnaire Paris and with Michel Guerrard at Eugeny les bains/Les pras dâ Eugeny. She also attended Lenatre (a culinary school in Paris), and worked with Bruno Delorme (Terre de Truffes). She learned the Michelin way of service in those 3 macaroon (star) places. After her interesting education, and before joining up with Bruno on Illusion in 2020, Chrystelle worked for 6 years as director of a luxury senior's house, complete with a lovely in- house restaurant.
With such a background, Chrystelle's foremost cuisine is admittedly French. A favorite among guests is her fresh fish cooked "Al Forno" in a tasty Mediterranean style. Chrystelle is quietly available and her discreet style of service works well with Captain Bruno's friendly and entertaining presence. Her friends describe her as honest, kind, and dynamic and her motto is to always Enjoy Life!
