ACREW - Looking Back at Monaco Yacht Show

ACREW Monaco started some pertinent and poignant conversations during the Monaco Yacht Show from 24-26^th September 2014. 

Held at the International Hydrographic Building by kind arrangement by the PYA, ACREW Monaco welcomed professional superyacht Captains and Crew and members of the superyacht industry to enjoy a series of knowledge sharing sessions, workshops and networking.  Breakfast and lunch supplied by Superyacht Supplies was enjoyed on the stunning rooftop terrace decked out in beautiful garden furniture by local supplier, Castelli.

With over 400 registrations for the seminars and workshops, it is evident that interest in continued professional development within the yachting community continues to grow.  The interesting facts and statistics of the week were revealed during the morning panel discussions.  Full video coverage from some of our knowledge sharing discussions will be available to download, share and comment upon will follow later this week so be prepared to hear what is being voiced by the professional superyacht crew community.

The message on Day 1 led by MC Lars Lippuner Business Development Manager of Warsash for the session on “Green and Lean” was how do we as a community apply lean business strategies to make better use of the budget. Experienced re-fit Captain James Morbey of S/Y Nilaya gave a considered point of view on keeping a lean budget when managing a refit and Alison Rentoul, The Crew Coach gave a much requested overview on time management. 

On day 2, “Learning from Superyacht Owners & Business Leaders” Sacha Williams, Charter Marketing Director Europe for Camper & Nicholsons was MC with both brains and beauty Sacha charmed the panel and the audience skillfully directing questions and successfully gaining large audience participation. Several yacht Captains admitted they felt unsupported by the industry.   Panelists included Charles Darby, representing the Darby family and owners of S/Y Andromeda La Dea, and Ian Jarvis Managing Director of Superyacht Supplies with 40 years in the food and beverage industry.

The message of the day was how to learn from the corporate training enjoyed in other industries.  Camper & Nicholsons and Edmiston are the first brokerage houses to acknowledge the importance of crew coaching and leadership training within their charter fleets, ensuring happy yachts and crews and reflecting positively on the bottom line.  The Crew Coaches in the room used this opportune moment to comment from the floor.

On day 3 “ Crew As Every Superyacht’s Natural Asset”, MC Alison Rentoul , The Crew Coach was the ribbon that tied the group together and led the session . Steve Monk from Da Gama Maritime shared wise words on leadership and safety, Mandy Lee Elliot of Crew Unlimited shared her personally experience on yachts and discussed how to avoid crew turnover.   Chief Stewardess Ivana Novakovic of M/Y Tahiti shared some heartfelt experience of life onboard a superyacht with and without leadership training. Peter Vogel of Interior Yacht Services  summed up the feeling of the panel with some fascinating statistics on leadership styles. From the floor Karen Passman, Impact Crew let it be know that there is an anonymous on-line survey for Captains and Crew to take which will track the reasons crew left their last position.

The late morning and afternoon sessions were a series of Crew Professional Development Workshops by STP IPM Group on the subjects of refit; Maritime Financial Planning for your future by St James Place; Efficient  People Building and Motivating an Effective Team by Impact Crew; Management, Technical ISM & Regulations by Hill Robinson; Planning a life after the open seas Fund Adviser/Lucent Group; Noise and Vibration; Problem solving and prevention by Van Cappellen;  Warsash Tips and Tricks to successfully train to OOW, Master or Chief Engineer; ECS Krigs & Tai Ping ran the popular Yacht carpet care & refit program and Da Gama Maritime headed up the highly demanded Fire Fighting Workshop and Rose Jolis workshop on designing your transition from ship to shore.

Various highlights of the week included A Captains Briefing by IPM Group on Marina Ibiza and The Regattas and Rendezvous in the Balearics; Frits de Wit giving a demonstration on Yacht Colors, foil solutions and an alternative to paint; JPMA – Anna Percival –Harris answered questions on training and crew career advice; the PYA were also on hand to give crew guidance through their career.

By far the social highlight of Monaco Yacht Show was the ACREW EVENTSBYZOOM and IYC Kick Off Crew Party held at the legendary La Rascasse on the first night of the show.  With the theme GLOW & GLAMOUR and an international DJ flown in for the occasion the party rocked until the early hours. Onno Ebbens founder of EVENTSBYZOOM commented that it had been one of the most successful nights that La Rascasse had held to date.   Guests could be spotted bleary eyed the next morning making their way hastily to breakfast and fresh juice by Harmonie Juice at the ACREW Monaco terrace before the next round of workshops; knowledge sharing sessions and networking began again. 

ACREW Monaco was an event jammed packed with information and innovation with many new conversations started and the very real possibility of change within our superyacht industry.