Captain Hitch first went to sea in 1983 aged 16. His first six years were spent as a Deck Cadet with the P&O Group where he was lucky enough to see the world on container, general cargo and cruise ships. He gained his first professional certificate at 19. He then entered the yachting industry as a deckhand in 1989 and spent two years learning the industry. He joined Golden Odyssey in 1991 as 2nd Officer and has been with the 'Golden Fleet' ever since. In 2002 he took over the operational management of the Fleet.