Across every interview, one theme dominated: Starlink has changed everything.
“We run 167 devices onboard at once. And it works.”— Captain Chris Walsh
Starlink Maritime has replaced the old patchwork of VSAT, cell networks and patchy broadband. Most captains now describe the internet at sea as “land-quality”, even in remote archipelagos.
Real-time high-resolution satellite imagery for safer navigation
Crew accessing mental-health support, telemedicine and training
“Phones have made people less social… you see sunsets ignored for screens.”
The next frontier is balance — an always-on digital environment that doesn’t erase the magic of being at sea.
Where Starlink is the headline act, AI is the backstage crew quietly taking over the workload.
“The tools are there to predict what we’ll need before we do.”— Captain Liam Devlin
“If they forget, they can rewatch. It saves time and means knowledge doesn’t disappear.”— Captain Corey Adcock
Nobody is forecasting robotic deckhands anytime soon. But captains overwhelmingly agree: AI assistants will take over the admin so crew can focus on people, safety and experience.
Sustainability is no longer a footnote — it’s fast becoming the new measure of prestige.
Across Europe, classification societies and industry bodies are pushing hard:
Owners are beginning to see sustainability not as an obligation but as a badge of honour — a way to demonstrate good stewardship and forward thinking.
Ask captains what the biggest challenge is — and it isn’t tech.
“Younger crew value their personal lives more… that may keep them longer.”— Captain Cervantes
With yachts getting larger, global, and more regulated, the industry must solve:
The best crew — like the best technology — will be invisible until needed.
“The future of yachting is not louder or faster. It is smarter, cleaner, and more deeply human.”
