Firstly, I’d like to thank my mother for nominating me.
Ok if not my mother, then probably my wife..?
If not my wife, then to whoever in my crew it was: consider your 13 th month bonus approved!
Jokes aside, 20 years ago I was told by some career yachties that I would never be able to do this job, and to not
even bother trying.
Like all kids growing up I many aspirations of what I wanted to be but working as a Captain on Superyachts never
even crossed my mind. Then at 16, I had an accident that changed my life – I dived off a boat during a family
holiday and broke my neck. I was left paralyzed and told I’d never walk again. I spent 6 months in hospital and
then, to aid my recovery went to Antigua as the climate was suggested to help my rehabilitation. I came to the
island in a wheelchair, and, against all odds, learnt to walk again. Must’ve been something in the Rum Punch!
Not long after my recovery, I moved there permanently, and was soon introduced to the yachting industry. I was
blown away – I had to work on these things! Being a very physically demanding job with a lot of time spent on your
feet, I was initially not given the time of day when applying for work, but eventually managed secure a job as a
stand in watchkeeper to replace a deckie that hadn’t returned from his leave. I left for an Atlantic crossing on my
first day at work, straight into a busy Med season – and the rest is history.
I’ve now spent 20 years in the industry, 14 as captain, and 10 on my current boat. I’ve cruised through every corner
of the Med and much of the Caribbean and East Coast US, overseen major refit programs, sales and purchases, and
have enjoyed everything from arranging onboard marriage proposals and free diving for lobsters, to watching rock
gods jam out on the aft deck. It’s been challenging at times – employers have sent me home as soon as they’ve
seen me walk down the dock, believing me not fit for the job due to my disability. I’m proud to say that I’ve proven
these people wrong and believe that I’ve managed to create a reputation as a successful, loyal, and hard-working
captain.
What I believe defines my role as a captain and team leader is the safety onboard and well-being of my crew. I also
believe that a happy, fulfilling, inclusive, judgement free and safe work culture for crew is the foundation to secure
an outstanding experience on board for guests.
I have the fortunate position to help mentor crew and ensure their time onboard is productive, successful and
prepares them as best as possible for the rest of their careers. I’m deeply passionate about crew development, and
always encourage my crew to find ways to better themselves – either by coaching them to take on new
responsibilities onboard, through qualifications, or by pursuing other interests outside of work. I live by this myself
and have alongside my 500GT license worked towards my wine diploma WSET level 4, Superyacht operations
diploma and PADI divemaster.
My yachting experience has been unique, and I feel like I’m in a position now to use my experiences to help those
who might not think they fit the mold or who may not think yachting is for them to realize the dream I once had.
We’re working in an incredible industry, with incredible people, and the more inclusive we continue to make it, the
better it will become!
