As an experienced superyacht ETO, Ryan Porter shares his insight into the role for anyone wanting to get into the superyacht industry. From fixing the captain's email, to troubleshooting an engine fault, the role of an ETO is ever broad and varied.
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Starting out as yacht crew and working his way up to head chef on iconic boats such as 113-metre Luna, Duncan Biggs has always had a passion for knowledge. In 2015 he co-founded Ocean Wave Monaco to educate aspiring superyacht chefs and pay it forward.
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Rotational positions are becoming more common and naturally they are very popular with crew seeking a greater work life balance. Efficient handovers are key, and nowadays there is a raft of software and tools available to ensure they work smoothly.
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Despite there being such a high demand for it, the word ‘reliability’ is consistently overlooked when sourcing a new AV/IT system. Ryan Porter highlights the seven parts to consider, all of which play a vital role in the overall outcome of any integration or systems upgrade.
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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.
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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.
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With the world seemingly opening up again after the pandemic, who among us isn't interested in faster, more reliable and significantly cheaper connectivity? There are some universal limitations, but most owners could save a fortune and enjoy a better experience with minimal capital outlay.
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A crucial part of managing a successful interior team, whatever the size of the yacht, is to compile a useful and comprehensive steward/ess training manual. Here are some suggestions on what should be included.
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News travels quick. Maybe it’s because we live in an age of the creating and sharing information that we are hearing of more and more fires on board yachts. Most crewmembers out there will know of someone who has had an encounter with an onboard fire incident.
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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.
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The impacts of COVID-19 have reached far and wide within the yachting community. Owners, suppliers and crew alike have all been impacted in recent months, causing a revaluation of how different elements of the industry interact.
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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.
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Isobel Odendaal knows how difficult it is to switch off and relax on charter, but as an ex-chief stewardess she has some insider tips on how to take care of yourself and restore your energy reserves so you can give your all to the guests. In this second part of her advice on crew wellbeing, sheurges crew to put their feet up, literally, as she shares her tried and tested advice for revitalising tired legs and feet.
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During a busy yacht charter season, long hours, stressful conditions and demanding guests can take their toll on our physical and emotional health. We sometimes forget that we have to first take care of ourselves before we can serve others. Isobel Odendaal, ex-chief stewardess and trainer, shares her personal tips to soothe your body and soul.
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With 18 years’ culinary experience, the Hugarian/Irish chef has a wealth of experience cooking aboard superyachts. From the ingredients he can't live without to the gadgets that take pride of place in his galley, here's all you ne...
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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'...
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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...
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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...
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Plenty of people are eager to offer their expert advice, but how much do they really know? Ultimately we’re only as good as the education we’ve received along the way, but too often that knowledge comes from third parties who aren...
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Carpets. They're everywhere you look, but often unnoticed until sensed by your feet, sinking into a plush pile, or until wine is spilled, leaving a stain that stubbornly draws the eye. We speak to Richard Perkins, a carpet special...
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If you work in the yachting industry you probably already know that Cristal is one of the most exclusive champagnes you can find, but here are some interesting facts so you can impress your charter guests when the opportunity aris...
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Sassicaia, Ornellaia, Tignanello, Masseto - all big wine names in yachting but what are they? All harking from Italy, full-bodied and densely structured, these big hitters belong to a breed called Super Tuscans. In the early 1980s...
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To the average wine consumer, the quirks of professional wine tasting may seem unnecessary, if not downright silly. Assessing legs, shade and rim, aroma, structure, length, sniffing and spitting can seem frivolous. However, a litt...
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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...
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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...
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New builds are a chance to improve on the way things have been done in the past and give owners and build engineers the opportunity to fulfil their wildest design and engineering dreams. The deployment of planned maintenance syste...
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Back in April during the MYBA Charter Show in Barcelona, the 70m motor yacht JOY won the Table Decor category of the Superyacht Chefs’ Competition with a tablescape that captured the essence of Seven Star Hospitality. So what did ...
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Château d'Esclans is a beautiful estate in the Var, it covers 260 ha of which 47 are planted with vines. The owner is Sacha Lichine, former owner of Château Prieurie Lichine in Margaux, Bordeaux. Sacha's philosophy is to make the ...
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Louise Sydbeck of Riviera Wine recognises that there is a lot of media hype, and commercial significance, around certain vintages. She guides us through the sometimes baffling question of vintage, explaining why it is important an...
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Despite making the right noises, it can seem that the yachting industry is desperately slow to change: in British shipping just 1% of engineer officers are women, for example. But perhaps the pertinent question is whether the work...
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