It’s a scam! It’s an easy thing to warn people against but a bit harder to avoid in real life.

We were contacted by our friends at Crew Family Office the other day with a warning to all Superyacht crew. “There are lots of Scams around at the moment, please warn crew to beware”.

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What Is A Scam?

A scam is simply a way of someone (let’s call the the scum of the earth) tries to trick you into giving them money. This is usually done by them pretending to be someone else.

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Examples Of A Scam

Most of you do not spend much time at home these days. So, you may not have come across a lot of these. Here are some examples;

1. Your bank calls you and asks you to confirm your security details. Home address and date of birth. This is NOT the bank. It is simply someone trying to get enough info to log in to your telephone banking and steal your money.
2. BT call to tell you your broadband has been hacked. This is one that works well on older people. Again, they are after your personal details.
3. HMRC call to tell you there is a warrant out for your arrest. This catches a lot of people out. We have spoken to HMRC and they will never call you unless you have arranged to talk to them or are in correspondence with them. NEVER give HMRC your personal or payment details over the phone.

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So, What Do I Do?

Be wary of a scam. If you get a text, call or email from a company claiming your account needs to be verified it could be a scam. Be very careful of any links in emails etc as these will take you to bogus sites.

If in doubt, call the company direct. Talk to someone who you know works for the company and ask them if they have recently tried to contact you. It’s a bit time consuming but could be the difference between reality and a scam.

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It Happens A Lot So Be Wary Of Everyone!

Lots of Superyacht crew have recently fallen victim to the HMRC scam. So, before you panic and pay the money you are told you owe, Think about this;

1. Think carefully. Have you done your tax return for the year? Did you owe any money (this is unlikely)? If so, did you pay it?
2. HMRC will NEVER contact you by phone or text.
3. Log in to your online account and check it.
4. Or, call the company that does your tax return. They can double check your situation easily.
5. NEVER give anyone who calls you,  your personal details or credit card details over the phone.
6. If they cannot confirm some details about you (your name, date of birth, home address) then just hang up. It’s a scam.
7. Here are some examples of the most common HMRC scams

If in doubt call someone who knows. CREWFO are the best in the business and are on the ball when it comes to this sort of thing. Click here to get in touch with them.

Remember, it is better to check first than to lose £1000’s and regret it!

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, is open to doing long term bookings for the summer 2021 season in the Western Med. Please note that as LIONESS V is YET (Yachts engaged in Trade Scheme), she can only accept non EU-principle in French port (i.e. Mainland France or Corsica).

The main deck

Features a wealth of options and luxury for guests. The salon and dining area will easily cater for up to 12, whilst a glamorous cinema is situated forward. The full beam master with its private lounge, dressing room and stunning bathroom can also be found on the main deck. In addition to three additional double cabins. A further two twin cabins are situated on the lower deck.

On-deck:

Is a sumptuous continuation of the interior with additional dining and lounging areas on the bridge deck. There is also a luxurious elevated pool area surrounded by sun loungers and six cleverly concealed speakers and a full bar on the sundeck.

Other stand-out features include a large swimming platform and fully equipped gym with hammam. Her crew of 18 led by experienced charter Captain David Linebaugh will ensure expectations are met and exceeded every day.

Key features

• Spectacular decks
  
• Generous pool area
  
• Lavish cinema
  
• Several options for dining
  
• Gym and steam-room
  
• Discreet access for crew
  
• Large swimming platform

We all love to save time don’t we? Look at Amazon as the perfect example. The simplicity, efficiency and time we save buying the things we need is key these days. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could have the same service, efficiency and time saving when you order yacht spares?

Well now you can!

Everyone wants to save time looking at quotes and spend more time focussing on your guests right? Well, now you can with Global Services’ new App & Portal. Global Services are one of the largest Superyacht supply companies in Europe. They are the ones most yachts turn to during the Summer season, European refits or build fit outs for support and supply.  Due to the volume of business Global does, they decided one of the keys to keeping customers happy is the ease of ordering. As a result, this industry leading new platform was built. It exists solely to save time when it comes to ordering goods. It works by cutting out the quote process and offering instant prices and information for key products which can be ordered at the click of a button – it really is that simple.

What can you order?

Engine oils and deck wash down gear, to washing up liquids and multi-surface sanitisers. There’s a huge range of products suitable for every department. With over 15,000 key products from all your favourite brands and thousands more being added every week you will soon be able to order everything you need via the app.

Great Features

Equipped with a handful of tailored features like Repeat Order, Essential Lists and Budget Control. This new system adds features we haven’t seen in yachting so far . The App & Portal not only saves time, but adds real value to your experience with Global. Some features offer a helping hand and others have been added for crew convenience. All ultimately make ordering as easy as possible helping deliver Global’s brand promise of always making life simple.

Global’s new app is a game changer for ordering spares

Head of Sales, Matt Redstone, comments:

“What this app and portal really do is give crew more time. More time to concentrate on the things they want to, rather than worry about the things they don’t need to. We always look at ways we can improve the support we give to vessels, and the app & portal will play a significant part in that. It will evolve further and become another invaluable part of the service we provide”

 

So why wouldn’t you want to save time and make ordering easier? Global has made it simple to set up an account and get going. All you have to do is contact Global Services via email or phone and ask. Start ordering the new way today!

Edmiston announced the sale of the Amels 55m M/Y 4You today.

The details

Built in steel and aluminium by Dutch yard Amels to a design by Tim Heywood, M/Y 4You was delivered in 2012 as the second in the yard’s Limited Edition 180 Series and most recently refitted in 2019.

4You sleeps 12 guests in six cabins: a full-beam master suite on the main deck with an adjoining twin cabin, and a pair each of double and twin cabins on the lower deck. The twins convert into doubles if required. All guest cabins come with marble en suite bathrooms and A/V systems

Along with the main saloon, complete with bar, is an upper saloon with a grand piano. For active guests, the yacht carries a large selection of tenders and water sports toys. Other features include a spa pool and massage room. A Jacuzzi spa tub also sits on the sundeck.

4You’s top speed is 15.5 knots with maximum cruising range of 4,500 nautical miles at 12 knots. Power comes from two 1,450hp MTU 16V2000M70 diesel engines.

Keep up to date with the latest industry news here.

Waste is unfortunately a word synonymous with the Superyacht industry.  If we are being brutally honest Superyachts themselves represent waste but, let’s not go down that road today.

Superyacht Crew are showing a huge interest in reducing on board waste. This is something that Alex Howard, founder of Circular Maritime, not only took to heart but took one step further he;

Quit his job and decided to stop the waste!

Alex was First officer on a Superyacht. Like many of us he experienced waste first hand. He was particular touched by the high level of waste associated with items like t shirts. Yachts go through a LOT of crew uniform and they are often simply thrown away when they are finished with.

Most waste clothing ends up in landfill!

A dump truck of clothing goes to landfill every second of every day! Very few used clothes are recycled or re used.

It was this specific kind of waste that Alex felt strongly about and he decided to try and make a change! Alex created Circular Maritime with one goal in mind.

Create a sustainable solution to Yacht Crew uniform

Not an easy task we are sure you will agree but, it looks like he’s done it!

So, what does Circular Maritime do?

• They supply T shirts, sweat shirts, hoodies and long sleeve t’s.
• Everything comes from sustainable suppliers which could be traced all the way back to cotton production.
• All the products are printed to order
• No minimum orders so no need to order too much.  .. . . . . . . . No Waste!
• Every customer has the chance to recycle products when they have finished with them
• All returned items are recycled into new products. How cool is that?

“Everything we make is designed to be returned and recycled. Instead of producing waste we make new products from it. It’s a circular supply chain” Says Alex Howard of his innovative and exciting concept.

Start small and grow

Alex has found a solution to a problem we are all aware of. Therefore he has taken steps to help the Superyacht industry limit the amount of waste it produces. For this, we should ALL be grateful.

So, when it comes to your next uniform order, don’t just take the “usual” option. Why not do something to help the industry, the planet and an ex yachtie with a conscience and a GREAT idea. Order your new t shirts from Circular Maritime. We DID.

How do we order?

It’s pretty simple to be honest. Alex and his team are waiting to hear from you via his website here. Have a chat with the Circular team, send them your designs they will get back to you with proofs and pricing. Then, you make amendments, agree the design and voila, your sustainable yacht crew uniform journey has begun.

Is it the Future?

Of course it is. We love the fact that crew are taking waste so seriously. So seriously that they are actually quitting their jobs to try and make a difference. The world needs more people like this and we commend Alex and his team for their commitment.

The journey

We will be following Alex and Circular Maritime on their journey in our Life after Yachting/Crew mess sections Keep following to see how they get on. Or, better yet contact Circular Maritime and order some shirts. This way you become part of that journey!

UK Superyacht visits have become more and more popular since the 2012 Olympics. That summer in particular saw more Superyachts in the UK than ever before. BUT, since then they just keep coming back!

Why?

Well, you and I know that the popular destinations for Superyachts have always been the Med and Caribbean. But, as more and more yachts crowd anchorages, berths become more valuable than gold and anonymity goes out of the window, what next? Superyacht owners, guests, Captains and crew are looking for new places to get excited about. Nobody wants to be 1 of 100 yachts in an anchorage and it’s always nice for people to make a bit of a fuss when you arrive and are “the only show in town”.

M/Y Vanish in Central London

So where do you go?

A few years back, Croatia and Montenegro became the place to take your Superyacht but, just like a few years earlier when yachts cruised the Greek isles they became popular, then busy, then too busy. So everyone moved on to the next big destination.

As we all know, the world has been a strange place the last year and lots of yachts did nothing at all in 2020. Owners, charter brokers and managers are looking for opportunities and destinations that Superyachts can visit.

Why the UK?

The UK is a very different destination for Superyachts and somewhere most people don’t consider because it’s not hot and sunny is it? It may not be the South of France but definitely isn’t the frozen North! Tastes have changed the last few years and people want to add some variety to their summer cruise. So, how about this?

London:

Yes we are biased but London is one of the greatest cities on earth. And you can bring a yacht all the way into the centre of the city. Want to make a statement? It is very rare that another yacht will arrive and block your view! In fact, berths in London are well spaced out so, even if another yacht did turn up, the chances are you won’t see them. Great sight seeing, restaurants and shops. What more could you ask for?

The South Coast:

Portsmouth, Dartmouth, Salcombe, Falmouth. Fowey and others offer not only stunning coastal scenery but some activity, culture and history unique to each area.

Mayan Queen in Dartmouth

Islands and Highlands:

Let’s not forget Scotland! Over the last few years more than 60% of UK Superyacht visits either started or finished in Scotland. Now this is an opportunity for guests and charterers to really get back to nature. Scotland offers some of the most dramatic scenery on earth. It is not only stunning but supported by good infrastructure. And you are never far from a decent airport.

A busy day! Greenock

Do the locals know how to look after Superyachts?

Funnily enough, yes they do. We talked to one of the most popular Superyacht Agents in the UK, MGMT who are not only owned and run by ex Superyacht Crew but also cover the entire country. MGMT started out in 2011 and were responsible for attracting and looking after most of the Superyachts that came to the 2012 Olympics. Ever since then they have seen the number of UK Superyacht visits increase year on year with particular interest in London and the Western Isles of Scotland. MGMT is extremely experienced when it comes to all the usual agency services but are also keen to point out that there is so much more on offer. “Itineraries, special events, private tours are what we do most of in addition to the usual services. But it’s the special touches we like to add to a Superyacht visit to ensure the guests have a memorable experience. After all the UK is not like most other Superyacht destinations. It offers something for everyone, we have even had really warm summers the last few years” Says Craig Latimer of MGMT.

 

What about BREXIT?

Funnily enough Brexit has had a hugely positive effect on the Superyacht industry when it comes to visiting yachts. Now the UK is no longer part of Europe there are lots of potential benefits for Superyachts.

Refit for example: Yachts leaving refit in Northern Europe have traditionally made a trip north to Norway in order to clear out of Europe before re-entering. This can now be done in the UK as yachts head south rather than make an unnecessary trip north. They can also buy fuel much cheaper, stock up on provisions and tie in a guest trip in London at the same time.

This is a huge benefit and potentially massive cost saving for many Superyachts. It’s also one more reason for Superyachts to add the UK to their summer itineraries. And, you are unlikely to be anchored within sight of another Superyacht. Just like the good old days!

 

 

 

Thinking about life after yachting?

We’ve all been there. It’s nearly time to leave but what do you do? Life after yachting is often a bit of a shock. But….This could be your answer!

Yachting Ventures is on a mission to help you. They are looking for ambitious, mission-driven individuals. The future entrepreneurs of the yachting industry. Those who want to bring innovative products and services to the market.

What is Yachting Ventures?

It is a startup accelerator.

Er Ok, so what is that?

A startup accelerator supports entrepreneurs like you through a fixed-term programme. This includes mentorship, connections and educational content. The aim is to help you accelerate the growth of your new business. It’s done by compressing years’ worth of learning into just a few months.

What does that mean to me?

Ok, so you work on a yacht but are thinking about going home? You’ve looked at various jobs but nothing really strikes you as very exciting! Ring any bells?

Then one day you come up with a business idea. Your friends and other crew think it is a great idea. So, what do you do next?

Well, you could apply to join the Yachting ventures programme. It’s 10 weeks long and costs £650. You will receive a huge amount of training and insight. Plus connections and a network that helps you “accelerate” through the difficult early stages. The way we see it is that you avoid all the mistakes everyone else made which is of massive value.

Sounds very interesting. Does it work?

Twenty-eight founders took part in the first virtual Yachting Ventures cohort back in September 2020. (more info here) Over 50% of those founders were ex-yachties or yachties still working onboard whilst also building their startups in their spare time. There is a clear entrepreneurial mindset amongst the yachtie community. The accelerator hopes to build a global network of startup support and accelerate what has traditionally been an industry slow to adapt to change.

Have a look at what some of them have achieved here. Pretty impressive we are sure you will agree.

Some Stats:

Statistics show one of the main reasons startups fail is due to a lack of market need. So before launching a product or service, startup founders need to talk to as many insightful people as possible. This helps them validate their idea and be reasonably certain there are potential customers in the market.

Mentors

Yachting Ventures has brought together key industry experts and experienced entrepreneurs.  They have launched, scaled and sold their own businesses in the yachting space and in adjacent industries. The team has been carefully selected to provide the best possible support in a business capacity. They also give founders the opportunity to network with some of the leading players in the industry.

Joining the accelerator is a great opportunity for budding entrepreneurs that have seen a business opportunity in the market to engage with the wider yachting community. The 10 week  programme includes mentorship, connections and educational content and aims to accelerate the growth of early-stage ventures by compressing years’ worth of learning into just a few months.

 

All the Yachting Ventures sessions are completely remote and designed to fit around other commitments. Everything is recorded and accessible online. This way founders can work at their own pace – wherever they are in the world. What are you waiting for? Could this be the first step into your Life after yachting? Click here to sign up

£100 fine? Really? For not doing a tax return?

That’s what we thought but it turns out this is true.

We saw this mentioned on Social media and so we decided to do a bit of research. After all, we don’t like to see adverts or headlines which may mislead crew or, worse still cost them money they don’t need to spend.

Tax and what to do about it can be stressful enough for crew without having various “tax specialists” trying to scare you into doing something unnecessary. So, we spoke to Crew Family Office, the most popular crew tax company in the Superyacht industry to find out the truth.

So, what’s the truth?

We had a great chat with Mark Upton from CREWFO who told us everything we need to know. There is good and bad news. So here we go;

1. If you are British and work on a yacht you need to declare your offshore income. This is law
2. To declare your income you need to do a tax return.
3. Your tax return must be submitted by the 31st January each year
4. If it is late you will get a fine from HMRC

Whilst this sounds like a massive pain it turns out to be nothing like as bad as you think. I went through the process on the CREWFO website and it takes about 10 minutes. EASY. We can see why they are so popular!

There are obviously a few bits of key information the CREWFO team needs such as;

1. Personal details like, DOB, address, NI number, UTR number (if you have one)
2. Employer details, days in the UK and amount you have earned.
3. Copies (electronic obviously) of payslips or bank statements

Once they have this which I obviously had saved (I am a super organised Captain) then my draft return was sent over for my review within 24 hours. Now THAT is what I call GREAT SERVICE. 

The bad news

1. If you are British crew and your tax return is late you WILL get a £100 fine. The fine WILL get bigger if you are late paying it.
2. If you have never done a tax return before but should have, you WILL get a fine if/ when you get caught. These fines can be quite big!
3. To do your tax return you need to gather some information which is a bit of a pain. CREWFO are very good but they cannot read your mind. They need info from you! Do them and yourself a favour and keep records!

Now, the good news

1. 1000’s of crew do their taxes every year. Believe me it is not rocket science.
2. Once you submit the info, CREWFO do the rest. There is no real work involved for you.
3. It is very unlikely you will have any tax to pay as long as you meet the requirements for the SED (seafarer’s earnings deduction)
4. Once it is done you are a UK tax payer. This is a GOOD thing!
5. You can now do things like apply for mortgages, set up investments/ pensions etc and make the most of all the other benefits as yacht crew that other people don’t get!

The final word from Mark at CREWFO was this. “I understand that seeing an advert warning crew of fines can be stressful and a little bit scary. But, there are so many crew out there who still don’t understand what they need to do or just think they will get away with not doing anything. A little bit of a nudge may help them avoid a fine. If a bit of tough love can help save you a fine then you can thank us later”

So, what can we take away from our experience?

1. British crew can get a £100 fine. The headlines you see are not lies or click bait.
2. Doing your tax return is easy. Well, getting someone like CREWFO to do it is easy. CREWFO look after 1000’s of British crew and do tax returns for all of them. Crew love them, so do we, and you should too!
3. There is no downside to doing a tax return. British crew;
   1. Won’t have to pay tax
   2. Will be in the system
   3. Can then have access to mortgages, investments and all the other things which crew put their money in to.

 

Finally, as a Captain one thing I still find hard to believe is this. British crew still don’t seem to get how lucky they are compared with almost every other nationality in yachting. How many crew wish they could file a tax return and still NOT have to pay any tax? You get all the benefits but none of the negatives. Do yourselves a favour, think of your future. It all starts with tax!

A big thank you to the team at Crew Family Office who not only helped us get to the bottom of what we have been reading, but also showed me how easy it actually is to file your tax return. And avoid the £100 fine!

 

CrewFO was set up specifically to assist SuperYacht crew with the difficult things in life like tax. If you have read this article and are not sure what to do next, get in touch or go to www.crewfo.com

Superyacht crew love watches. I loved them when I worked on yachts and still do. The interesting part about buying watches is this. If you know a bit about what you are doing you will never lose Money on a watch. In fact you may even make something! So, here are our top 5 watches that are not only popular with crew but could actually make you some money. In short, if you see one of these on your travels, buy it!

Rolex Daytona;

The Daytona was released all the way back in 1963 and was named after the Florida City (more specifically the racetrack) of, yes you guessed it, Daytona.

This is the most sought after watch in the Rolex range. The waiting lists stretch to over 2 years at the moment. The stainless steel one is the one to have. So, if you ever see one in a shop on your travels, snap it up. It’s better than money in the bank.

Patek Phillippe Aquanaut

Believe it or not this is pretty much the bottom of the Patek Philippe range but so cool. Most people don’t know what they are. If you can get one, and it’s a big if it will be worth double what you paid for it as soon as you walk out of the shop! Now for the tricky part. Patek won’t just sell a watch to anyone. They want to vet you first to make sure you aren’t going to sell it straight away. So, beware. If this is what you do then you will find yourself on the Patek blacklist. Having said that, it’s such a cool watch we expect you would want to keep it for a while anyway.

Omega Seamaster Diver 300m

Omega have been making great watches for a very long time. Over the last ten years new prices have gone up steadily, as has the quality of the movement. This one is strong, looks good and won’t let you down. Plus, you can walk into a shop and actually buy one without waiting. It’s not going to make you a fortune overnight but Omega’s tend to hold their value well. Great watch, sensible price.

Tudor Heritage Black Bay

Some of you may never have heard of Tudor but that makes them even cooler right? Tudor is actually the sister company of Rolex. Also based in Geneva and founded by Rolex founder Hans Wilsdforf in 1926. Tudor remains part of the Hans Wilsdorf foundation alongside Rolex. The BIG plus here is that Tudor has always aimed to provide the high standards of Rolex at a more affordable price. Add to this the fact that they share movements with Breitling and you can see the pedigree. Nothing to be sniffed at here. Very similar proportions to the Rolex Submariner the Black Bay is a great option if you wince at the price of modern Rolex’s.

Rolex GMT Master II “Batman”

Yes we know that’s two Rolex’s in one article but they are popular for a reason. The Batman is a modern take on one of watchmaking history’s most iconic watches. The first GMT was released back in the 1950’s as Rolex developed it for Pan Am. Pan Am pilots crossed time zones a lot with the advent of transatlantic travel and the dual timezone watch helped to keep track of multiple time zones at once.

The “Batman” is a particularly hard watch to find brand new and used prices are substantially higher still. However, because the GMT has been around for such a long time there are plenty of Pepsi dial (blue and red), coke dial (blue and black) and standard black dial watches available used. Still not cheap but a real keeper, we think!

Rush yachts, a new boat builder based in the UK have come up with something a little bit different from the norm. Built with the environment in mind the team at Rush have come up with a “Green” yacht tender/ chase boat.

Rush Yachts have recently revealed their brand-new project. The Rush 39 which is designed around using the most advanced and green materials, technologies, and processes to create the most practically green superyacht tender/day boat within the 12m (39ft) range.

The Rush Yachts team’s experience lies within building and refitting some of the most well-known superyachts around the world. Through research, development, and the drive to be a big part in the advancement of the marine industries green accreditation and future sustainability, the Rush 39 was built.

With a shift in people’s conscious efforts to reduce their environmental impact whilst still enjoying the luxuries of owning their own boat, the Rush 39 offers a very different and sustainable package to those currently available within the superyacht tender and day boat range.

The Rush 39

Integrates several features that improve the overall practical functionality, performance, and useability to enable maximum enjoyment for the owner and their guests. By exploiting the full exterior beam of the boat there is a very well arranged and spacious exterior space, whilst internally the natural shape of the Rush 39 gives an unrivalled interior volume for its overall size with the benefits of natural lighting from the large hull windows and skylights.

One of the examples of where Rush Yachts have used the latest in green technologies is within the propulsion/hotel loads. By using the latest Volvo Penta IPS engines with integrated generators there is an operating fuel reduction of up to 25%. The arrangement charges a 20kW battery bank which allows the owner to enjoy sitting at anchor or staying overnight without the need to run a diesel engine.

The hull and deck construction makes use of natural fibre materials, bio resins and recycled core materials, whilst all the deck is manufactured using sustainable timber.

The Rush 39

Comes with a comprehensive list of custom options from electric/hybrid propulsion, AV packages, additional cabin, through to heated seats at the helm giving the owner full flexibility in their specification and creating their own personal footprint on their Rush 39.

Chase tenders, we all love them don’t we?

They’ve got so popular in the last few years that we have even seen chase tenders almost as big as the mother ship. They are so cool that all owners want them and all crew want to work on yachts that have them. So, here are five chase tenders that;

Carry lots of Guests

Get places quickly

Look VERY cool

Cost a LOT to buy.

Windy SR52

Better known as the “Daddy of them all”. The Windy SR52 was designed by the late Ed Dubois and released in 2010. She has since been voted Chase boat of the year and is the weapon of choice for many large Yachts.

Comfortable, Quick and manoeuvrable thanks to IPS drives the SR52 turns heads wherever she goes.

Length: 16.1m

Power: 1200hp

Price: €1.33m

Available new and used via Superyacht Tenders

Photo courtesy of Windy

 

Pardo 50

From the same shipyard that build Grand Soleil  Sailing Yachts the Pardo 50 is the flagship of the classy Pardo range. With a huge swim platform perfect for guest swimming trips plus the fact it has a garage that carries a Williams Minijet in its aft garage has to make it a contender.

Length: 16.1m

Power: 1200hp

Price: €1.2m

Alen Yacht 55

Length: 15.3m

Power: 1200hp

Price: €1.25m

Alen yachts have been around for a while now. The 55 is much more of a cruiser than a high speed chase boat but, when it comes to style it is hard to beat. She is big (15.3m) comfortable and has a very sociable layout, perfect for day trips with guests.

Chaser 500R

Length: 15.3m

Power: 1200hp

Price: €885,000

Now this is one BIG RiB! At 50ft (15.3m) this is likely to be the biggest RiB in the anchorage. Not only that, at 50kts it is very quick, carries lots of people (12+) and has a range of over 400 nm. Nice

 

Novamarine 16M

Length: 16m

Power: 1100hp

Price: €1.1m

This Sicily based company has all the style you would expect from an Italian boat builder but also the pedigree to match. Novamarine build boats for various coastguards as well as Navy seals and so their boats are built strong. This one has triple Mercruiser diesels and over 1100hp! It’s a stunner, is built of Kevlar reinforced fibreglass and has a max speed of 40kts. Guaranteed to look cool alongside any yacht!

 

All boats mentioned above are available new and used via Superyacht Tenders

Continuing with our ‘Life after yachting’ series, we’re talking to Robert Shepard, former yacht crew and current president of Edmiston Americas.

• Role on Yachts: Chef
• Time on yachts: 22 years
• Current Role: President of Edmiston Americas

How and when did you start out in the Superyacht industry?

RS: Back in 1982 I was working as a chef in a restaurant in Stamford Connecticut. The restaurant was next to the marina and one Friday a lady came in from one of the yachts in the marina. Her chef had just walked out and she asked if we could help prepare the food for her weekend cruise. One thing led to another and in the end I asked my boss if it would be easier for me to just go and cook on board for the weekend. He agreed and, following a successful weekend the owner offered me a job. How could I say no?

What sort of yacht did you work on and what did you do after yachting?

RS: It was a 72′ Broward which I ended up working on for a year. After that, I was lucky enough to work for some very experienced and well known yacht owners over my time. I built up great experience and worked my way up to a 60m Feadship which resulted in me being able to be involved in the build of this yacht. As well as a hand in the interior and galley design.

Why did you leave?

RS: The time comes for everyone doesn’t it? I had been doing it for over 20 years by this point and my knees and back couldn’t take it anymore. Too much time on my feet. So, it was time for a change!

When you left your last yacht did you have a job to go to? Did you have a life after yachting plan?

RS: Not at all. I hadn’t really thought about it. One day I was one of the best paid chefs in the industry and the next, no job! I had no idea what to do.

I ended up having a chat with owner of the yacht I had just left. He suggested I should have a try at being a yacht broker. In his words “You have good contacts, you are well connected and you work hard. Find a company and offer to work for nothing + commission”. So I did. This was back in 2004 and, at the time Y.CO was just starting out and I happened to know one of the founders through my time on yachts. I gave them a call and the next thing I know I was a yacht broker!

So in 2008 you moved from Y.co to Edmiston and you are now in the enviable position of President of Edmiston Americas?

RS: That’s right. A lot of time and effort later and I find myself in one of the best jobs in the world – The president of Edmiston Americas

Name two things you would do differently if you had your time in yachting again:

RS: That’s actually easy.

1. Save more money from an earlier age. I spent too much time living like the owner and not enough time thinking about my future.
2. Keep a more detailed journal of my time on yachts. It is so easy to think you will remember it all when you are young.

We still hear the same from crew leaving yachts now – “I wish I had saved more” or “I should have planned more for my future”. What’s your thoughts on this?

RS: It’s too easy to get caught up in the lifestyle, probably even more these days. But that would be my advice to the 21 year old me. Save more and record your memories.

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Check out former chief stew, Gemma Heyns went from yachts to becoming the ceo of a luxury south african safari agency by clicking here.