Growing up in the Bahamas, Khalil Bethel was no stranger to superyachts, but he first fell in love with the ocean while teaching at a local diving school which ignited a passion to travel the world on the high seas.
Read More
Captain Jonathan Copsey talks us through his passion for sailing, his transition to captain, and what characteristics he thinks are required to make it all the way to the top.
Read More
Growing up in Johannesburg, Wesley Walton joined the superyacht industry seven years ago and is now a chief officer working on rotation on the 58m Illusion V. Here he tells us about his role as a SEA ambassador with Seastainable Yachting and what he hopes to achieve.
Read More
Captain Maria Grazia ‘MG’ Franco is a stellar example of how hard work, talent, experience and perseverance can get you to the top. “I’ve had moments during my career where being a woman has been a disadvantage,” she says. “I would not use any of them as an excuse not to succeed.”
Read More
Captain Nicholas Doyle is a man of many talents. When he’s not behind the wheel of a luxury superyacht, he’s rebuilding classic sports cars or flying aeroplanes and helicopters. Here Nick gives an insight into the journey so far and shares his views on some hot industry topics.
Read More
Trans-ocean crossings are serious business. They can be carefully prepared and a great experience, but they can also be an encounter that hits you broadside with no prior warning, leaving you scrambling for what to do next.
Read More
With new anchorage regulations on the Cote d’Azur, the whisps of seagrass washing up on the beaches are unlikely to cause a stir, but Captain Rod Hatch outlines some important considerations regarding the potential impact on yacht operations.
Read More
The biggest, single subject in the professional syllabus at most naval colleges is leadership. In the commercial world, it’s rather catchily known as HELM, the purpose (and value) of which is still often misunderstood. Instructor and mentor Sean O'Reilly explains.
Read More
After emergencies, shiphandling is a question I am always asked about. Not because it is the most important, but it's a black art to those not in the maritime profession, so I'm going to discuss my own shiphandling journey and the impact that a mentor made to this.
Read More
Last month on OnboardOnline I talked about the best models of yacht management, and referred to the importance of a vision statement to guide the yacht’s efforts. This generated a lot of reader interest and in response I will unpack this a bit further.
Read More
There was a time when I shared the view that yacht management reduces the ability of good yacht captains to deliver their service to yacht owners. Now with more experience and maturity, I see the view that management is not essential was wrong. Captains should not work in isolation.
Read More
With 20 years' experience as a chef on board superyachts, English-born Luke Owen has seen it all. From his all-time heroes to the ingredients he can't live without, we talk to the Sole Chef about his experiences in the kitchen and...
Read More
The story concludes with more than a sting... Captain Horatio Hardy is on a mission to find his lost triplet nieces whose parents have been kidnapped by marauding pirates in the Gulf of Socotra. His search leads him to the Cote d'...
Read More
Superyacht captain William Gilbert has long maintained a parallel career as a maritime author. Sarah Robinson meets a writer who delves into his Merchant Navy past and yachting present to create memoirs and novels with the ring of...
Read More
Fishermen Alf and his son have gone to sea for the day, expected home by 16:00. But they aren’t. Three days of angst-ridden searching reveals nothing, until ominously evidential flotsam washes ashore. There is no sign of either Be...
Read More
As a ship’s master accrues wisdom and experience at sea, sliding down the proverbial banister of life, there are few rigid questions and even fewer rigid answers. It’s arguably more art than science, for captaincy is surely as muc...
Read More
It has become so common for shipmasters to be arrested as criminals following an incident that this is starting to deter seafarers from rising through the ranks. Andrew Linington reports from a Nautilus industry symposium set up t...
Read More
What do you tell the judge when it all goes pear-shaped? In the unfortunate event that an accident happens onboard your yacht, as captain or head of department you'll have to demonstrate a good safety culture and responsible recor...
Read More
From humble beginnings in Oxley Creek to the inside track of Formula One and the America's Cup, Captain Glen McDonnell has seen it all. His first job was on 50 foot steel-hull motorsailer but a love of adventure and serendipity al...
Read More
Cameron Lee's game-changing EfficientSea App embodies the dictum that necessity is the mother of all invention. An experienced superyacht captain with over 85,000 sea miles under his belt, Lee was fed up with juggling paperwork an...
Read More
Retired mariner, Horatio Hardy, is on a mission to find his itinerant nieces whose parents have been kidnapped off north-east Africa. The story continues as H is employed as Mate of M/Y Caviare, under the command of Captain ‘Skip...
Read More
Chief officer Arvid Ljungberg and his team mate Markus Jokinen recently completed their first Cape Epic, a gruelling eight-day mountain bike stage race which takes place in the Western Cape, South Africa. Coined as one of the toug...
Read More
Welcome to the working life of a superyacht captain, a leadership role unlike any other. With anywhere between five and 50 employees and a legion of suppliers and contractors, running a superyacht is like being the CEO of a large,...
Read More
Kevin Paul is the captain of sailing superyacht MOONBIRD. We were fortunate enough to meet up with him in Port Hercule during the Monaco Yacht Show in September to discuss racing, sailing through hurricanes and how he finds his id...
Read More
Captain Ken Kreisler is a veteran marine journalist and has been part of the boating industry for over 25 years. Based in the US, Ken contributes features and a monthly 'Stateside Update' for OnboardOnline and is currently working...
Read More
That Yacht Masters routinely refer to their 3000 tonne vessels as ‘boats’ is not unique – Admiral Lord Mountbatten habitually called aircraft carriers ‘boats’ but not without a hint of irony, not least because he knew the differe...
Read More
Like any captain with 20 years of yachting under his belt, Paul Bickley has seen enormous change in the yachting industry since the start of his career.
Read More
Curious thing, fate; what is ‘meant to be will be’ pondered H; I don’t believe in fate, but even if I did what could I do about it? Such thoughts were forged from a lucky opportunity presented to Claude, a consequence of which led...
Read More
A reasonable amount of information and discussion is beginning to emerge in the yachting media concerning the development of an unlimited yacht specific Masters certificate of competency.
Read More
As yachts get ever larger and regulations increase, the role of a superyacht Captain, Officer, or HOD can seem less about the vessel and crew and more about admin and paperwork. These things are important, but don't let them rob y...
Read More