Amazon Creek

We aim to create personal relationships with our clients, and to develop a level of trust and confidence through the unique concept that is 'Amazon Creek'. Our team of professional staff will plan your personal holiday experience to one or more of our destinations. On the ground the staff managing our retreats have extensive knowledge of the local area and exceptional contacts to ensure you make the very most out of your stay with us.

If you live in or around London, a member of our team would be delighted to visit you at home to discuss your holiday in more detail. From spa treatments to heli-skiing, catering needs to nanny services, yacht racing or cruising to food and wine tasting, we have it covered!

Delphine Bianchi - French Manager

Our French manager, Delphine Bianchi, developed her passion for communication and language while studying English literature at University, travelling to Canada to take an English teaching diploma and finally working in a private school in Brighton.

A love of travel and culture is an essential attribute when working for Amazon Creek and one Delphine certainly possesses. She has travelled extensively, spending 4 months in New Zealand and also working in an art gallery in West Indies. She perfected her leadership skills and gained an excellent knowledge of the Mont Blanc valley working as a director for an English company in Chamonix for 5 years.

After many years in Chamonix, she wanted to spend more time in Corsica where part of her family lives. She had a great season working for Amazon Creek in Corsica in 2010, before taking up the position of Chamonix manager for winter 2010/11. Delphine now manages all of our properties in France. She says that it was a brilliant opportunity to finally have a job that suits her entirely; meeting different nationalities, looking after people, managing a team, having very diverse duties, traveling to amazing locations and incredible properties and of course being able to invoke her ultimate passion – the English language.

Captain Jean-Laurent Simon

Qualifications : Yacht master offshore- Captain 500 - Captain 200 GT STCW95- Kayaking instructor – Oenology Studies – English fluent

Jean Laurent learnt to sail with Eric Tabarly, the father of French yachting, on Pen Duick VI in 93/94, crossing the Atlantic and cruising all over the Caribbean, where he was inspired to take up sailing as a career. After several years working as deckhand and 1st mate on several yacht charters, in the Caribbean and in the Med, he completed an intensive course in Corsica to be captain (1999).
A strong sailor, Jean-Laurent has enjoyed racing in the Caribbean and Europe. He attended as race crew (bow man, pit position) the Classic racing circuit in the Med, the Santa Cruz Annapolis racing (on board Mari Cha III, Donny Brook and White Wings) and the Jubilee in Cowes.

He has been Captain on various yachts, from 'Splash Tango' (Swan 51 in 2000) to 'Moonbean of Fife III' ( 2004-2007), 'Carrara' (MY 86ft) and 'Noon Tease' (MY 72ft), and earned a host of excellent references.

Jean-Laurent is a skillfull technician, with a good sense of humour and he is always available for the passengers.

Barbara Carbone - Chef/Hostess

Qualifications : Hotel trade school (Arma Di Taggia) STCW95 – French-English fluent.

Barbara originally hails from Italia, where she naturally inherited the love for Mediterranean cooking. After completing 3 years at catering school in Arma Di Taggia, she found a summer job on a motor yacht and decided then to improve her skills on different yachts. Having worked now for 13 years in the yachting industry as Stewardess and cook, mainly on motor yachts from 80 to 115 ft, Barbara is very pleased to embark on Swallows & Amazons with her boyfriend, Jean Laurent.

Together Barbara and Jean Laurent aim to help you indulge all of your senses with gourmet delights and exciting sailing in some of the world’s most beautiful destinations. They are assisted by a deckhand.

They make a very professional, friendly and complementary team, and look forward to welcoming guests aboard Swallows and Amazons.

Franck Villain - Captain

Yacht Master Offshore / Capitaine 200 STCW95 (Speaks fluent French, Portuguese and basic English)

Franck is 36 years old and has been a professional skipper for over 10 years and sailing for over 20 years in the Mediterranean, the North and South Atlantic (with eight Atlantic crossings) and the Pacific. He was just seventeen years old when he owned his first yacht, a seven meter sail boat in which he crossed the Atlantic twice. He also enjoys instructing, sharing with others his passion for sailing and navigation in different types of yachts which have included: 'Queen South' (Motor sailor 35m); 'Annka and Kanana' (Garcia 62' and 70' respectively), 'Spip' (CNB 77'); 'Eugenia V' (a beautiful classic San Germani 75') and many more. Franck learnt how to care for his guests with great attention and discretion before becoming a professional sailor with a five year stint in Paris's most elegant Brasseries including: La Coupole, Le Terminus Nord and Chez Françoise.

Armanda Coldre - Chef/Hostess

French - English (good)

Armanda is 40 years old and shares with Franck a love of sailing. She sailed with Franck aboard the sailing yacht 'Kanana' (Garcia 70'). Armanda's first career was as a primary school teacher; she is both cultivated and attentive to detail. She has also managed holiday cottages for over 15 years. She enjoys French cooking and preparing other styles of international cuisine, and finding the best quality produce for her guests to savour.