A few months ago, we asked superyacht captains about some of the biggest owner frustrations, and how to solve them. Most of these were most useful for owners’ ears, but there were some that we thought might just be helpful for crew. One in particular, from Fraser Gow, captain of M/Y Gene Machine, was particularly apt.

“I’ve never actually heard an owner complain directly about this, however in my personal opinion the crew should be constantly trying to raise the bar and impress the owner,” Captain Gow admits.

“This can be done by suggesting new itineraries, cruising destinations, activities, excursions, types of cuisine, toys and even modifications to the yacht, all aimed towards giving the owner new experiences and keeping their passion for yachting alive.”

Captain Gow recalls an experience on a previous vessel, where the crew suggested installing an outdoor cinema on the forward mast. “A few minor adjustments and a new AV rack allowed the owner to have one of the largest outdoor cinemas in the industry.”

“We are responsible for ensuring they enjoy every minute on board and get value out of their investment."

Sadly, the captain highlights a grievance echoed by many captains. “Many crew see this as more work,” he admits. “It’s easier to sit idle and wait for the owner to tell us what to do, where to go and when to be there.” And while finding the balance can be tricky – after all, we don’t want owners complaining that crew becoming too invasive. However, as Captain Gow points out, crew are the direct link to owners and their yachts. “We are responsible for ensuring they enjoy every minute on board and get value out of their investment. As soon as the owner starts to feel that he or she is bored and the yacht is no longer worth having, we as crew have failed and, as a result, the industry will have lost a yacht owner.”

This captain’s advice: more suggestions from the crew. “My advice would be to buy the drones, take photos, make videos, buy new toys, suggest new adventures and help keep the yachting spirit alive by having a happy crew, who are ready to think outside the box to make the owner’s visits special.”

Top: Credit Sam Jolliff

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