Estelle Viriot | Founder of Seanergy Yachting

Feb 3
3 min read

Estelle Viriot is the Founder of Seanergy Yachting, a digital ecosystem designed to unify the fragmented yachting industry and elevate standards in professionalism, safety, education, and ethics. Combining corporate strategy expertise with over seven years of hands-on superyacht experience, she brings a rare dual perspective that bridges operational realities at sea with long-term industry transformation. Her work focuses on creating structured, transparent collaboration between crew, yachts, management companies, and service providers to improve accountability and efficiency across the sector.

Seanergy Yachting represents a multi-layered platform that will operate as a web ecosystem, mobile application, and professional academy. Developed over four years, the platform is designed to address structural gaps in communication, professional development, and safety standards within yachting. Built on four core pillars — transparency, efficiency, technology, and ethics — Seanergy aims to provide a centralized environment where verified professionals and companies can collaborate, share resources, and align operational practices. The upcoming release of Seanergy Version 1 marks the first phase of a seven-year strategic roadmap focused on building a fully integrated professional ecosystem for the industry.

Estelle’s ability to design industry-level solutions is deeply rooted in her diverse career background. She holds a Master’s degree in International Management and began her professional career as a Sales Manager for a multinational corporation in Singapore, where she gained experience in high-performance commercial environments and international client management. Her transition into yachting began unexpectedly during a stay in French Polynesia, where she was offered a position as a yacht chef aboard the 50-metre sailing yacht Windrose of Amsterdam. With formal culinary training from the prestigious Paul Bocuse Institute and experience in Michelin-starred kitchens, she accepted the role and quickly developed into a highly skilled onboard professional.

During her seven years at sea, Estelle sailed extensively across some of the world’s most remote cruising grounds, gaining first-hand insight into the operational, human, and regulatory complexities of yacht life. She later expanded her maritime expertise by pursuing a captain’s licence within the French maritime system, further strengthening her technical and leadership knowledge of vessel operations. These combined experiences exposed systemic challenges within the industry, including inconsistent safety frameworks, limited professional screening standards, and the need for stronger support structures for crew welfare and career sustainability.

Beyond her professional career, Estelle is also a committed ocean advocate. She is a professional freediver, instructor, and spearfishing guide, maintaining a deep personal and environmental connection to the marine world. Her commitment to ocean stewardship strongly influences her vision for the yachting industry, encouraging responsible operations that balance luxury with environmental and human sustainability.

Through Seanergy, Estelle is working to reposition crew as essential strategic stakeholders within the industry. She advocates for greater collaboration between onboard professionals and shoreside decision-makers, emphasizing that crew carry critical operational knowledge that should inform vessel design, management structures, and service standards. By integrating these perspectives into one transparent and accountable digital environment, Seanergy aims to strengthen the industry’s resilience and long-term professionalism.

Looking ahead, Estelle’s immediate focus is the successful launch of Seanergy’s first live marketplace and service hub, which will connect verified yachts, crew, and trusted industry partners. The platform is designed as the foundation for broader development phases, progressively introducing educational resources, safety tools, and professional development frameworks. Her long-term vision is to create an industry ecosystem where innovation, responsibility, and human wellbeing are aligned with the evolving expectations of yacht owners and charter guests.

Short Bio:

Estelle Viriot is the Founder of Seanergy Yachting, a digital ecosystem uniting crew, yachts, and industry partners to elevate professionalism, safety, and ethics. With a corporate background and 7+ years as a superyacht chef, she combines operational insight, leadership, and ocean advocacy to drive industry evolution.

Get in touch with Estelle