Captain Khalil Bethel: Diving & High Flying in the Bahamas

Posted: 2nd Mar 2024

Written by: Sam Watson

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 on Rising up the Superyacht Ranks

Posted: 6th Jul 2022

Written by: Naomi Chadderton

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

How Chief Officer Wesley Walton is Championing Sustainable Yachting

Posted: 3rd Dec 2021

Written by: Naomi Chadderton

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 Franco on Gender Equality in Yachting

Posted: 22nd Nov 2021

Written by: Naomi Chadderton

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

Yachts, Planes and Automobiles with Captain Nicholas Doyle

Posted: 13th Jul 2021

Written by: Richard Hagan

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

Business Lessons from Trans-Ocean Crossings

Posted: 1st Jun 2021

Written by: Lance Mortlock & Tristan Mortlock

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

Considerations for Yachts Over New Anchorage Regulations on the Cote d’Azur

Posted: 13th Nov 2020

Written by: Captain Rod Hatch

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

Superyacht Captaincy - Myth Busting HELM

Posted: 13th Aug 2020

Written by: Commander Sean O’Reilly (aka Horatio Hardy)

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

Mastering the Art of Shiphandling

Posted: 13th Aug 2020

Written by: Captain Brendan O’Shannassy

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

The Importance of a Superyacht’s Vision Statement

Posted: 8th Jun 2020

Written by: Captain Brendan O’Shannassy

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

What is Yacht Management and What Should it Be?

Posted: 14th May 2020

Written by: Captain Brendan O’Shannassy

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

In the Galley with Superyacht Chef Luke Owen

Posted: 16th Sep 2019

Written by: Luke Owen

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

Yachtmasters: Ship's Captain or Boat Skipper? (Conclusion)

Posted: 24th Aug 2019

Written by: Horatio Hardy - aka Commander Sean O'Reilly

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

Nautical Novelist - Captain William Gilbert

Posted: 11th Aug 2019

Written by: Sarah Robinson

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

Yachting is Safe, Until You Forget it's Dangerous - Conclusion

Posted: 22nd Jul 2019

Written by: Commander Sean O'Reilly

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

Yachting is Safe...Until You Forget it's Dangerous

Posted: 6th Jun 2019

Written by: Commander Sean O'Reilly

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

Is the Criminalisation of Shipmasters an Occupational Hazard?

Posted: 8th Nov 2018

Written by: Nautilus Int. - Andrew Linington

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

Managing the Paperwork in the Event of an Accident Onboard

Posted: 7th Nov 2018

Written by: Dave Clarke

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

Captain Glen McDonnell - Motor Yacht Vava

Posted: 30th Oct 2018

Written by: Sarah Forge

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

Captain Cameron Lee on Developing EfficientSea

Posted: 18th Jan 2018

Written by: Sam Watson

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

Yachtmasters: Ship's Captain or Boat Skipper? (Chapter 4)

Posted: 9th Jul 2016

Written by: Captain Horatio Hardy, aka Commander Sean O'Reilly

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

Mastering Cape Epic!

Posted: 13th Apr 2016

Written by: Bianca Ljungberg

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

Going Down With The Ship?

Posted: 8th Dec 2015

Written by: Alison Rentoul

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

Interview: Captain Kevin Paul

Posted: 12th Nov 2015

Written by: Rumble Romagnoli

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

Q&A: Captain Ken Kreisler

Posted: 25th May 2015

Written by: Ken Kreisler

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

Yachtmasters: Ship's Captain or Boat Skipper? (Chapter 3)

Posted: 18th May 2015

Written by: Captain Horatio Hardy, aka Commander Sean O'Reilly

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

Interview: Captain Paul Bickley

Posted: 5th May 2015

Written by: Karen Hockney

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

Yachtmasters: Ship's Captain or Boat Skipper? (Chapter 2)

Posted: 8th Apr 2015

Written by: Captain Horatio Hardy, aka Commander Sean O'Reilly

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

Continuous Professional Development for Yacht Captains

Posted: 13th Mar 2015

Written by: Ian Bone

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

Inspire to Lead

Posted: 14th Feb 2015

Written by: Simon Harvey

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

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