what do you love about being a superyacht captain?
With this boat, Antares, we’ve been pretty much around the world. We’ve been to some really remote places, and I love that. The last five years have been especially good — not doing the usual Caribbean run but exploring Southeast Asia, Australia, the Indian Ocean. That’s what I really enjoy. Of course, it takes me away from my family, but I just love being out there.
Antares is a sailing yacht, right? You’re actually the first sailing boat captain I’ve spoken to.
Yeah, it’s a sailing yacht. I suppose I can give you a fresh perspective.
you’ve been going to some amazing places too.
A lot of diving. The owners are in their fifties and they’re really keen divers and photographers. That’s been a big part of the adventure.
That’s brilliant. I’m 47, and I’ve decided that my 50th birthday gift to myself will be learning to sail. I’ve never done it before, but I’m six months in with a little Laser dinghy, often with my kids — they’re seven and ten. We’ve also started snorkeling as a family. I want to dive one day too.
It’s just another world down there. Giving your kids that experience early is fantastic. By the time they’re 20 and certified, they’ll be off exploring.
how have you seen the superyacht industry change in the last five years?
The big one is the shift to hybrid technology. And communications — Starlink has been a game-changer. Our data demands just kept getting bigger, and traditional satcom was crazy expensive. With Starlink, everything changed.
Especially when you’re going to remote areas.
Exactly. Although the wars have made things more complicated. Our boss wanted to dive in the Red Sea, and we were in the Seychelles, so we had to go all the way around Africa to get there. That’s been a big change post-COVID.
Looking ahead, what are the big challenges the industry needs to solve in the next 10 years?
Battery technology, without a doubt. It’s not just the hybrid systems on yachts, but also all the toys — e-foils, scooters, drones, ski-dos. Managing all that has added a new dimension: charging, fire safety, special storage. If batteries can get safer and more efficient, that’ll make a massive difference.
What trends in yacht design and technology are affecting your day-to-day?
Again, Starlink. And the toys. Drones, underwater drones, e-foils — they make things more fun, but they bring new challenges with storage and charging. Another big one is navigation. In places like Indonesia or Palau, charts are basically rough sketches. I was navigating reefs with an iPad, a Garmin, and Google Earth. Sometimes I even use Yandex because it has clearer satellite images. It would be nice if chart providers caught up.
How did people do it 20 years ago?
Same places, but you’d have a lookout in the mast and rely on good visibility. Now we’ve got satellite images, which helps, but it’s still rough once you’re off the beaten track.
What’s the most challenging part of your job, and has that changed recently?
Crew — always crew. I’m lucky though. I’ve had a stable team for years. Just one new deckhand in the past two years. Still, managing people is always a challenge.
How do you approach bringing in new crew?
It’s about personality first. They need to care about others, be easygoing, have a good work ethic. If they’re “green,” that’s fine — you can teach skills if they’re willing to learn. I’ve also seen plenty of young day workers grow into good engineers or mates. But yeah, you get the bad ones too — people who don’t want to work or don’t understand the lifestyle before joining. On sailboats, it’s even harder, because the pool of experienced crew is smaller.
how do you keep morale up?
Communication is huge. We also do activities together — go-karting, paintball, that sort of thing. Sometimes with other crews when we’re in a marina. It keeps people happy.
how do you retain good crew?
Pay them well. That’s a good start. Our owners are very fair — regular raises and bonuses. Plus, giving extra leave helps, especially if we can’t do full rotation. Everyone needs proper downtime, myself included. Without it, burnout is inevitable.
Speaking of burnout, what are your thoughts on mental health in the industry?
It’s real, and it’s serious. Crew often say “I’m fine,” but then one day they just snap. As captain, I’ve learned you can’t always say yes to owners or guests. Sometimes you’ve got to push back — “No, the crew need rest.” Otherwise, people break.
Do your owners spend a lot of time onboard?
Yes, but we’re a private yacht — no charters. I like it that way. They can stay for long stretches, and with Starlink they can work remotely. For them it’s like a second home, and for us it’s more stable.
Have you noticed differences with the new generation of yacht owners?
Definitely. They’re younger — sometimes in their 30s — and much more active. They want to explore, go off the beaten path, dive, get adventurous. And I prefer that too. Keeps things interesting.
What about regulations and sustainability?
Regulations are growing fast, especially in Europe. Anchoring rules in the South of France are getting really tough. It makes planning tricky. And paperwork is another headache — we’re big enough to need all the bureaucracy but small enough that I don’t have a whole department to handle it. The new EU entry system rolling out soon will probably add another layer. As for environmental rules, they’re here to stay. Some countries are strict, like Turkey with pump-outs and waste disposal. Others, like parts of Greece, are very relaxed. But overall, it’s the right direction. When you compare Europe’s clean waters to Southeast Asia, you see why it matters.
If you had a magic wand for sustainability?
Standardised recycling. Too often we carefully separate everything, then it all ends up in the same bin ashore. It would be nice if it was consistent everywhere.
How has technology changed your role?
On a sailing yacht, we’re the original hybrids. Even with light winds, putting up some sail saves 30–40% fuel compared to motoring. Sometimes we sail entirely, and then we’re only running the generator — maybe 10 litres an hour versus 70–100. So in that sense, we’ve always been hybrid.
Is cybersecurity something you worry about?
It is. Everything comes in through one channel — Starlink — then WhatsApp, and we’ve got firewalls, so onboard is generally safe. But I’ve heard of colleagues getting stung: a contractor’s invoice gets intercepted, bank details are changed, and the payment goes to the wrong account.
that’s the number one scam I hear from captains. It’s not social media — it’s finance. Change one digit, set up a new account, time it around payroll…
Exactly. You have to be careful with bill-paying and emails. I try to push stronger passwords too. The “standard yachty password” — boat name plus year — won’t cut it. Same with 123456. Be imaginative.
In England, schools are getting hacked and blackmailed. We’ve got sensitive data on kids — it’s scary. We’re forced to change passwords every three months. It’s a pain, but necessary.
Totally agree.
What about autonomous systems and remote monitoring — will that change the job?
I’m getting on a bit; by the time it’s mainstream, I’ll be retired. For sailing yachts especially, it’s less immediate. But it’s a logical next step from what’s happening on land. It’s not that far away.
Public perception of superyachting — any concerns about misinformation online?
There’s a certain TV show… it paints things negatively. Yes, yachts are extravagant, but people miss the bigger picture: there’s a whole industry around them — builders, crews, agents, local services. The economic impact is real.
Forums and groups — helpful overall?
Mostly great. I’m on a few captain networks. If I’m heading somewhere new, I’ll ask who the best agent is, what to do ashore, any tips — you always get answers. Even the quiet captains chime in when they’ve got the right piece of info.
is the public perception fair? Should the industry try to change it?
It’s mostly negative and not entirely fair. The TV show doesn’t help. People see “rich man’s toy,” but not the ecosystem it supports. We could do more to highlight that value and the standards we operate to.
Final question: if you could change one thing in the modern superyacht industry, what would it be?
Charts and navigation. Bring them into the 21st century — especially in “lesser-visited” areas. It’s not just remote Indonesia; even some Greek islands have charts that feel like rough sketches. The tech is there, but the data isn’t consistent.
I always swore I’d keep a road atlas in the car for when the signal dies.
Same idea at sea — you adapt and use tech differently when coverage or charts aren’t reliable. John: Good to chat, Jim. Have a good week.
You too. Bye!
— End of transcript