What do you love about being a superyacht captain?
You know, this is a good question because I'm I'm close to being able to retire, although I won't. But to be able to do something that I love and being appreciated for, it has been like I didn't realise that I was end up in super yachts. I started off in commercial vessels. But the other thing is just seeing the smiles on the guests and the crew and see it helping someone, you know, do something they dreamed about guests and crew as well. You know, when people show up, you know, like charter guests or a new crew joining the industry to just like, see that beam on their face. You know, I I had.
One guy in particular think about a guy named Nick. He was like trying to get in the industry, having a hard time, and I gave him a shot and now he's in Tahiti on, you know, on a boat the second season. And just, yeah, he couldn't be happier. So yeah, it's a great place to be.
How has the superyacht industry changed over the last five years, especially post-COVID?
Hygiene is at an all time high. I've never seen cleaner hands in my life, but the you know that's settled down. But the what I've noticed and it and it's come up in in different questions that the public interest in the industry and the curiosity mostly because of the below deck show. It just says you know people that would have never. You know, responded when someone asked me what I do and I say I'm I'm a yacht cap and they go. Oh, and then it goes right, you know, many times right to that. And then in the curiosity about that because, you know, when I first started, people had no idea that industry even existed. They just, you know, it's something in the movies. Yeah, that's the biggest thing is like, just the public. Public is aware now that that we're, yeah.
What are the biggest challenges the superyacht industry needs to solve in the next 10 years?
You know, there's a couple that came across my mind because this is something that I probably am not great on, but you know, AI is working out there and it's reared its head in a couple places. I don't see it, you know. Biggest way I've seen it is is owners and and guests using it as a tool to to research and to get answers on stuff that you know they're coming up with answers. I would never even think about. I have a big concern about the situation of the world, the global, so you know the global situation, the wars, the.
Of the sanctions and you know that affecting not only just the the owners but also crew, crew, travel, people being able to to go back home and and back to their vessel. It's like some unknowns there that's that's the ones that pop out. The gender confusion thing, I don't know if it's going to make it into the industry, but it it could. You know, it could.
What tech/design trends have most affected day-to-day operations recently?
I really can't speak on this like vessel designs, but for sure without a doubt that fast. Wi-Fi, I mean everybody's star link on their vessels, you know it started off, we were carrying, you know, these massive domes and you'd have to aim things and you know, things got a little more and then suddenly in the last couple years. You know, with Starlink, it's just, you know, everything's easy. I mean, it's just it's it's, it's almost like, you know what people expect it, I do as well. You know, if if starlink's down, we're like, oh, no, we're in a crisis mode. So nothing's happening. Really without that Wi-Fi. Yeah.
Has better connectivity changed how owners and guests use the boat (e.g., as an office)?
Oh, absolutely. There's no there's like a seamless transfer from, you know, one environment to another. It it it, you know, for us as well updating publications checking with, you know, with, you know, data whether everything is is I mean we're getting spoiled it's like. Right there, you know, like I somebody could be talking to me. What's the weather like next week? And I'm literally pulling it up and and.
What are the most challenging parts of your job—and has that changed?
Yeah, right. So I wrote down a few things because it is a challenging business that especially have having been, you know, this is almost 45 years for me as a captain. But you know, isolation of the of the of the business. Staying physically, emotionally, spiritually fit, keeping a balance between, you know, work and and being a human personal, you know, that kind of thing, because I I get caught up in it. I mean, I'm a perfectionist, you know, and you spend 70% of your life at work and then when you try to turn it off.
Always the owners and guests wants, you know, that's, you know, trying to keep up with that, learning how to do things without saying, using the no word, which is not allowed. Crew dynamics, the other stuff that I mean, there's some the list goes on port state flag class and and of course the weather. The biggest change I've seen is that there's so many support options now available for all of that. You know, be it medical information is instant. Like, again, back to the Wi-Fi even, you know, medical situations. You want help with agencies with travel. You know it's it's wrong.
It's right there. So even though that there's a heavy load knowing where to go for help is is really what what's happening.
How are today’s new crew different—in skills, mindset, outlook?
Yeah, it's a good question because I was laughing because I remember I don't want to date myself, but I guess I I will. I used to go and and and like call up different universities for graduating classes. I would post job jobs on the bulletin boards at different colleges. And and work, you know job platforms like monster.com and because that was pre STCW being required.
So you could just basically post the job and say hey if you're interested, if you like boating you know come and literally we get thousands and thousands of candidates and just you know you get a lot of people like somebody with an. In a degree that was going to go into banking and then next thing you know, you know, he's finding yachting. And so the the the trends is like there's a, there's something that I've I've seen a lot and I used to really want to do it and I don't anymore. It's like, you know, to get a a written reference letter.
Because then I started seeing all these written reference letters and it turned out that you know, somebody were doing day work and they would every time they did a day working job, they would get a written reference letter. And I'd be like you got like 6 reference letters, but you've never even been on a boat full time. And I don't it's it says a lot of people are are popping out of these training schools. With a lot of credentials, having never really spent any time at sea, so you know validating that because it looks good.
I mean they had a amazing resume and I'm going well, how did you get all that? So they're getting a lot of good skill sets, you know, even rescued boat drivers. Interior deck, but going back for me and validating that from like a past captain or or head of office is kind of where I go. I mean, I like the enthusiasm. That's to me is the is key but you know. Sometimes if you're in a jam, you need somebody to plug in, like right now, and you need to make sure that they they really got it instead of having been in the classroom. So that's probably the biggest one.
How do you handle the “pressure-cooker” environment—morale, relationships, conflicts?
Yeah. One of my favourite things I pay attention to everything in such a way that the crew know that I know what's going on. It's like like, don't, don't let my guard down, don't like, OK, I'm off. Why? So I'm going to go. I'm going to close the door. I walk around the boat all night long. I know, you know, I hear when the door closes or you know, somebody's coming. Coming in late, listen to gossip. You know, being open to letting people ask me questions. Really. The main thing is, is inviting crew from the beginning and telling them that I know that you're human.
But you're going to be here for a job. Having said that, most of your life's going to be here on this boat, so things are going to happen. But the best way to do it is, you know, if you can think about it, talk to me if you're comfortable because I can help you through it. And even sometimes, you know, I've invited people, you know, and basically help them make the decision that this isn't the right place for them because they're, you know, people, you know, it is a cool place.
I mean I, you know, compared to people that would go to a yoga retreat or a ski resort or something like that, you know? The people that are coming in and passing through and they're looking for a fun time, you know, this is there's, there's very few people in this industry that are on a career path. So having said that, trying to make sure that I, you know, can get the most out of them while they're here without, you know.
Owners being disappointed or them being disappointed, so I'm setting a realistic picture in their minds and not painting this picture like, you know, Oh yeah, you're gonna have a blast to get to work. You know, so. Because it happened. You know, I I used to work with. There was one owner that said I will absolutely not have any couples. Do not hire any couples. And I said, well, you know, if you only have single people, you're going to end up with couples. Just so you know, just a little heads up there.
What helps you retain high-quality crew?
You know the simple, you know, answer to that one is I I try to stay small, meaning that I try to to earn the crew respect by being one of them as opposed to being this, you know, letting it known that yes, I am the captain. Obviously I am because they joined.
And the vessels, so I'm not really going, you know, wearing that on my my sleeve literally and be right there with them, put myself on watch on a weekend so they can have a night off just literally knowing that I really care about them and genuinely because it's to me, it's one of the most important things of the job is to if you're taking care of the crew. Obviously, we're all there to take care of the owner, but you know I to be one of them and accepted as one of them and have them know that I have their back. The results are incredible. You know, it's a little extra work.
Some captains, you know, are different about that. Some I can't kind of student military. It's it works for some people. For me, I prefer to go a little extra, you know, a little extra it in the long run, it pays off with people sticking around more and and you know, someone that who might quit to turn around and say, listen, I'm going to stick around a little bit longer. I'm not going to leave you hanging that kind of thing. So.
Any mentoring successes you’ve been part of or witnessed?
Absolutely, absolutely. At least four super yacht captains currently working right now that worked a couple of them from deckhand up to master. They check in with me. You know, I got Captain Peter John, Bobby Bradley. They got. You know, that's interesting. Especially when people, you know will send the messages and say, hey, I'm about to go. Go. You know one one guy John just messaged me and said I'm about to go into Thunderbolt up in Georgia and have you ever been in there just to ask me a question about that or how I would handle a certain situation? It's really cool.
Got a couple of married. Couple of kids. They haven't named them after me yet. But, you know, they they met in the industry. You know, and they're they're off, not in the industry anymore, but but doing their thing. One guy in particular, you know, it's he calls me his mentor, but he's in Arizona now. He's a firefighter. And he, you know, we talked a lot and he, you know, he was in that decision thing. You know, his parents were trying to push him for something and peer pressure. And he just wanted he wanted to be a fireman and. Now I said do it, man, just he's so he's sending me pictures.
He's graduated, you know, and he's he's out there responding with the with his crew. And then a lot of people just check in, you know it's it's cool to have people that just will message and say hey, I'm here remember this time we were in, you know in Capri or something like that and and just it's cool. Cool to see that that people think about me enough to to like, still check in. But yeah, that that's a it's it's a it's a fun industry because like I said, not a lot of people stick around. You know you guys have become brokers. There are a few. Captains.
And then the rest just I don't know where they go, you know, back to wherever the the world takes them.
Thoughts on mental health and burnout—and how you support your crew (and yourself)?
This is probably my hobby because I I I study psychology and and and human behaviour it's very real and this environment is right for it and for sure. Typically people's minds are already developed before joining the yacht, but knowing what to look for. Floating a few questions out there when I mean when I'm, you know, doing intake interviews, letting them know that you know that it's OK, you know, that emotional issues being a human is it's normal, but paying attention and and giving them a way out. Giving them something to talk to.
There are a couple people in particular that I'm talking to that you know, it's interesting. The depth when you open up and let them and aren't judgmental and listen a lot because I share a lot. I don't mind being vulnerable and telling people about my past. I'm ex, you know, ex ex military PTSD, you know. I used to be embarrassed about it, but I'm not because you learn to live with things and when people know that, it disarms them and they're more likely to come up to you before something gets to crisis mode.
There's some sad things that happen, you know, I've I've known a crew that have been struggling. One girl in particular that took her own life not too long ago and and you know, it's it's a very real thing. The the pressure one never knows. I mean, this is where they're working. But you know what they left at home is, you know, still there. So it's it's it's very real. But there is a lot now there's people you know can go on a zoom call with the with the. Therapists while they're on the break. So there's a lot of good help available.
How do you handle unusual guest requests without compromising safety/compliance—and have you ever had to say “no”?
You know, but, but without really going against some of these non-disclosure agreements, you know, patients, patients have, I say, have a big toolbox of knowledge and contacts, preemptive communication. So basically it starts. The moment they step on the boat, and if possible before they get on the boat, I like to, you know, especially in charters when when a charter guest is coming, you know nothing about them, try to get the broker to release his, you know, his precious information. Let me talk. Just let me talk to him, you know.
Because you find out things that that you know, birthdays or allergies or a really strong desire or a a hatred of something. So getting that communication and then and and watch out keep keep aware. And nowadays with communication like any political or. Weather changes or or concerns keeping them informed. There's I mean there there are things that come up that people a lot of people you know with that ultra high income. Are can be disappointed quite easily because they're not used to saying, you know, what do you mean? Like, what do you mean? My son can't go jet skiing in the harbour port.
A chair vote with a zillion boats zipping around and said because he'll die for first of all. But you have to say that in a polite way that you know. But yeah, some sometimes people will, you know, push the envelope and we just have to stand our ground and be and be ready for the consequences. It's it's better than being a news story.
Are younger UHNW guests/owners changing how they superyacht?
You know, it's a good question. You know, kind of back to the other thing about the the world situation in in particular something that popped into my mind. My my brother, I'm a marine surveyor as well. My brother's in California and he called me and said, let's send us a boat. That's going up for auction, and it was, you know, this is 106 metre person that was confiscated during the sanctions of, I mean things happen that are like, you know, who knows what might happen that's going to scare people off. And I think about that this person.
The boat is just gone now it's being auctioned off to somebody else, is going to be driving it around again. AI is in the picture watching a recent fire shopping around and having his iPad with him. It was incredible to watch this guy. Manipulate a picture of the vessel, change the colour scheme, move things around, all with his iPad and and AI technology. And so they're they're going to keep us on our toes. So yeah, I I, you know. But again, I always say it's. You know those who have the money, they're just gonna, you know, it's not like a they're not waiting for a Black Friday sale.
They're gonna buy it when it's time and sell it when they're when they're done with it.
What are your thoughts on the mounting regulatory load—and how do you manage it?
I try to to read as much as possible, but I passed that off a lot to a good local agent. And you know when we're travelling geographically and we're about to be in this another area, having a good network of agents that can keep you posted and and and trusting them to do that because. You know, even even though when I know we're going to get into that more of, you know, consistency. But even like, if you're cruising in Italy, sometimes you one port to another things change depending on who The Who, the local who's in charge, you know.
So you know, chat, there are some online chat groups paying attention. You know it's it's, it's hard on some of those because you get bogged down with opinions and they go off on tangents about you know their personal experience but paying attention. And again I think having a trusted agent and knowing that they they got your. Back is pretty important to me.
Will environmental regulations affect the future of yachting?
No, I think it's going to happen and it's an interesting thing. The other day I pulled up, you know, well, I'll go backwards about 10 years ago, I was on a boat that was doing a refit, and they were installing a, you know, a new tier of generators that had, you know, diesel exhaust fluid to. Help with clean emissions and now I pull up to a gas station and there's the diesel exhaust fluid machines that are people are buying them at the gas station. So something that I never heard of before, it's now common. And I I think that, you know. The industry has to do its part to mitigate, and time will tell if it's going to help help or not. But but you know, they know enough that suddenly this is, you know, common now something that wasn't so common.
Are current environmental rules effective—and consistently enforced?
Yeah, you know, consistency has a long ways to go, but it's just hard. It's like anything else, hard to enforce that and you know, certain countries are even more difficult to deal with. And this is a long term thing that, you know, the the earth has a. Very cool way of healing itself and knowing what's a legitimate attempt and what's not, as it's just people are going to just, you know, keep at it until get it right or or it's like it's too late. But I you know, I haven't seen that yet, but there are a lot of. Examples of you know of things being people being afraid of something and suddenly you know it seems to take care of itself so. But but it you know, I think we still need to pay attention and I'll just just let it go.
What changes would you make to make superyachting more sustainable?
You know something that I did recently with a couple of vessels that were for sale was to find local charitable institutions that would take stuff that we would normally throw out. In particular, you know, food, clothing. That you know, and having something, the amount of waste that goes on on these boats sometimes is incredible. You know, you just, you know, you finish the Charter and you got the you got the provisions coming up for the next Charter and the crew can only eat so much and you know, so a lot of stuff goes over the side.
You know, having that it felt good to go to a church and drop, you know, that had the kitchen and has to be a certain place because they have to worry about it. But there are places that actually accept it and and can use it. So I think that's just something that's an easy thing to do, not a huge change is just having the the knowledge. That it's available.
Has increasing tech integration changed your role as captain?
You know another question that if I think about it too much, I can get scared because I don't even know half the things my my smartphone can do. But you know what I what I thought about first of all is that boats on top of the water still behave like boats on top of the water. So as far as the way. You know, being a captain operator, I don't see a big change. Now having said that, a recent vessel that sold that I I stepped off of and did a handover the amount of technology being used versus you know like the automated bridge.
All the publications, everything now being electronic, there's a lot of information to be, you know, a little more savvy on how to find a file or retrieve a file or pull something up. Because if they're boats that don't have to paper anymore and but if you lose that, you know, I I still an advocate of like if you. You know, that's it. That's it. I had one captain say yes. This is this is the way it used to be. Captain, this is the way it is now. And it was like, OK, we'll have fun with that.
But you know, just be careful because you know, if the system crashes, she kind of, you know, and you know, it's interesting to say that because I have a. In my storage you know I have a sex, you know, it's in a box. And I I bought it years ago. I used to be in love with the traditional stuff and I have a, you know, I have my oceans endorsement which, you know when you go and take that test, you never once have to use a sex thing. You just have to do the the.
The math problem, and I think about that, but you know, it's this iPhone can do everything and more that, you know, I think about if you would even try to use that anymore to to navigate you, you know you might end up like in another country and and be happy that you got close so. Yeah, that's definitely something that that it's here and it's it's evolving. So where it's gonna, you know, keep that balance I think is important.
Not to over share, but have you seen the movie The Beekeeper?
With Jason Slatham, where he gets really ****** *** and goes and he kills all the hackers in the world like it's one of those extreme movies, you know, like. But you know, it's here to say it's now that I think we all have to be hyper vigilant. People overreact. I've seen the, you know, the guy I used to work for was was very overreactive and had you know, all these different type of layers of encryption depends on what you're protecting, but it's very real. I.
You know, I get every day all day long, you know, these these text messages the other day I was feeling generous and I I engaged in one and I said, why are you doing this? You're you're. This is stealing. And the person some kind of you know. Robin Hood, you know, philosopher said. Where there is black, there is white. Where there is good, there will be evil and he had all these different things, you know, basically admitting that, you know, it's because he can. And so it's, you know, it's it's here to stay until somebody could do something about it. But just being aware, I think.
Everybody, most people are aware, you know, and definitely not giving, you know, the boat, the homeless people outside who say they're homeless, you know, asking for passcodes so they can get free Wi-Fi. But there are people, you know, a lot of people that are available to do this work way outside. The scope of my expertise, I just defer that to the expert.
Will autonomy/remote monitoring change captaining?
Probably not going to happen. Have not. Having said that, I never thought I would see a driverless taxi outside the movie screen. And now you know, there they are. Yeah. So in California, they have driverless ubers in in these new cars. And so I'm like, OK, I can say that I don't see it happening. I've seen I've heard of technology in the past where they were going to be magnetic fields that we're going to help dock vessels. And just the, you know, the cost and the possibility of. Of an accident. How quickly something can happen.
I mean, we had that guy, you know, the ship that hit a bridge not too long ago up north. It takes a second, you know. And then technology is down for a second. I don't think that that our industry is going to allow it. I think there's they're just gonna, you know, the, you know. Again, having said that, I've got a good friend who's an airline pilot with American Airlines, and they don't fly the plane very, very little. They actually have have control of the plane. Everything is done automatically. So. I mean, you know, maybe it's going to be different, but I don't think in my lifetime.
Any concerns about misinformation online about superyachts?
Thank you. Yes. Yeah. You know, it's another good question. I do my part to not become a negative story and I I do when I hear of, you know, you see a news story or hear something and and you Google and you can find a lot. There's a lot of negative information if you look for it. But in general I think that. Yachting.
Because of the, you know, the option or the the, the, the business itself being on the water with this kind of machinery and the stuff we do, we're a lot better than we than we, you know, then a lot of people because of the training, the drilling, things like that, that their attention to safety. The lawyers that are ready to sue everybody you know, that's like everybody, you know, you're just keeping it aware. So I think that, you know, there are some real stories knowing really what happened, like, not too long ago up a commercial tug and barge hit up. A sailing school vessel down in Miami.
You know, we don't know the story. What? Really. What happened? I used to be a tugboat captain. I what really happened? I, you know, I don't know, but it's it's a rather you're on a yacht or a tugboat. A little sailing thingy. I mean, it's it's an accident waiting to happen out here. Because it's it's a whole different world.
What do you think about the growing number of superyacht groups and forums online?
Yeah. It's a good question too. You know, I was laughing because again, going back to where, you know, I've been around before, you know, cell phones and Internet, everything. Watch the evolution. And I remember when yachting was just sitting popular and there was this group. I was so offended. It was called the Fed Ship Club. And you could only be. Be honoured if you were a Fed ship captain and nobody else, it was like I was like, well, what about if you guys get in trouble out there and you need help from a Westport guy? Are you gonna? Are you gonna refuse? You know?
But now there's so many and I use them as needed. They can. Like, they can get bogged down with with. Like it with opinions and things. But there's some good ones out there. There's people that network about sharing crew information, shipyards. So there is quite a bit of good ones out there that keep people updated. It's a really great tool to be able to keep informed.
Is public perception negative or fair—and should the industry do anything about it?
Yeah. You know, I I think it's growing absolutely the the awareness that I remember going on you know getting off and getting ready to go to the airport, I think I I somewhere in Europe and I saw this billboard at a bus stop with. Below deck on it and I was like, wow, OK, this is people are this is starting to become popular and you know, like I keep referencing that that show because it it is responsible for getting the the word out there people would have never known about it. I think that. I wouldn't say it. I think it's people are entertained by it more than a negative thing.
I think if they it's not a realistic view sometimes that people have, I don't know that it would be you know. Possible to give a you know because it's going to be an opinion, but I don't think it's bad. I think it's it's an entertaining interest right now as opposed to a negative view.
If you had a magic wand to change one thing about modern yachting, what would it be—and why?
International Seafarers day off. No, that was. You know, I that question is something that I've I've personally work on when I'm able to, I would say for for the yacht industry to experience more of what I would call. Called Esprit decor, a more of a sense of belonging to something special, wanting to be part of the maritime industry as opposed to just being yachties coming from a merchant marine background to the time when you, when you're at sea, you need help, you need help and the respect that we have for each other.
I still have that, but I I see that in some of the that you know some of the the areas where it isn't there and it it's you know it's not a an easy one but but belonging and feeling good about it and being you know reaching out to your your fellow Mariner. That that feeling, it belonging to something cool. I'd like to see more of that would be nice.
Is it still morning for you (EST)?
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it's it's it's, it's that it's 20 minutes till 11. So yeah, you're in UK right now.
We’ll list you as a contributor—do you prefer to be anonymous?
All right, Jeff.
How should we list your name and vessel?
OK. Yeah, I'll probably prep refer to the vessel I was on for six years because now I'm kind of freelancing, but but I'll, I'll explain that in a brief message.
Could you share a headshot for illustration?
Yeah. I'll get my agent to get that to you right away. Great—thank you! All right. All right, man. Yeah, Jim. Thanks. Bye.