Our team

Jill Zwaans is the proud founder of YACHT STORY with over 20 years of experience in the yacht charter business. The passion for yachting runs in her family as her grandfather built the first Carlo Riva yacht in 1973 and she spent all holidays on her family’s sailing yacht. Sailing is part of her life and after collecting several sailing certificates, she became a sailing instructor herself. Today, she is still active in Snipe sailing and Superyacht regattas. Jill started her career as a charter assistant in Monaco for a reputable broker house and she hasn’t missed a Yacht Show since. She completed a Masters degree in Maritime Science and moved to Australia as the Sales & Marketing director for a shipyard, traveling frequently between all continents facilitating luxury motor yacht sales. After spending a summer in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, representing the shipyard, she shifted her focus to yacht charters in the most idyllic locations. In 2010 she returned to Belgium with the strong ambition to set-up a charter business in the Benelux for yachts based worldwide. In 2021 she founded Yacht Story with the mission to shape travel expectations into a unique private yachting escape! Her position as active MYBA and CYBA member, proof her professional position in this industry.

Fluent in five languages and having travelled solo across the world, Macha has always been drawn to people, stories, and the little details that make moments unforgettable. The sea has a special place in her heart, it brings her peace, inspires her, and reminds her of the joy in simple pleasures. A lover of books and nature, she finds curiosity and calm wherever she goes, and brings that same energy to every experience she helps create. With a Master’s degree in Psychology and Marketing, Macha combines understanding of human behaviour with creativity, making each journey thoughtful, seamless, and deeply personal. Passionate about connecting with people and helping them craft their memories at sea, she ensures every YACHT STORY charter is as unique as the clients she meets, driven by her creative magical touch.

My passion for the sea began aboard a classic schooner , where I worked as a deckhand and learned the importance of teamwork, and precision in the industry. Before joining YACHT STORY, I built experience in luxury automotive sales, focusing on genuine client relationships and attention to detail. A passion for photography fuels my eye for aesthetics and helps me notice what makes each experience unique. With a mix of maritime knowledge, service-mindedness and creativity, I aim to ensure every client feels personally guided and perfectly taken care of from start to finish.

Axel’s grandfather had owned a shipyard in Flanders, Belgium, which meant that Axel started learning the fundamentals of boat building from a young age. As a passionate sailor he obtained all the certificates necessary allowing him to discover the best sailing holiday locations through his own experience. Axel completed a degree at the De Ruyter Maritime Institute in Vlissingen – Netherlands, which he followed up with a career as a marine officer. After several years aboard cruise vessels and yachts, he traded in the sea for land and joined the YACHT STORY team in Spring 2022. His on-board experience combined with yacht management skills made hiring him as Charter Executive and Central Agent (CA) an obvious decision.