It could be said I’m something of a black sheep in the yachting industry. A science degree after school saw my first years of employment at a global investment bank in London. What had been a keen interest in travel, diving and boating turned into a sabbatical in professional yachting, and soon became all I wanted to do. The formative decision for me was following my interests. The yachting industry fit me like a hand in a glove. It just made sense and I haven’t looked back.
I’ve been extremely fortunate to serve on a variety of active yachts with worldwide itineraries. I’ve worked with some great crewmembers and wonderful owners in my career to date. Working for a number of captains exposed me to different styles of leadership, and has helped shape my own approach.
I believe the people are the most important aspect of creating a first-class yachting program and memorable experience for the guests. Yachts are growing bigger and more complex with each year. The demands of the job are diverse and more specialized than ever, cementing the need for the right people.
A captain plays an important role in mentoring the next generation of yachting’s leaders, attracting and retaining the best talent, and also flying the flag to management and ownership about the importance of having the right number and skill level of crew within the onboard team.
I believe that supporting ongoing education for all departments on board is an important responsibility within the industry. Even if the subjects studied are not directly vocational, ongoing education helps to foster a sense of purpose and drive amongst the crew. This in turn will give better results in their on board performance and the product delivered to guests.
Creating a supportive on board environment centred around team work is an important part of the responsibility of a captain.
As an industry, we should continue to promote the professional yachting sector as a recognized career path, particularly to flag states and administrations involved in certification.
I’m proud to be part of this industry. There is much work to do in order to attract the best talent and continue improving the product delivered to our owners and guests, which is, ultimately, what it’s all about!
