This is a brief summary of my experience to date:  

Yacht Types:

  • Sailing Yachts from 31' to 145' Bermudan, gaff, sloop, ketch, yawl, schooner
  • Sailing Yachts with single screw auxiliary engines, no thrusters
  • Motor Yachts with variable twin screw and thrusters
  • Single Screw Motor Yachts
  • Twin Screw Motor Yachts
  • Twin Screw Variable Pitch Motor Yachts
  • Twin Jet and twin Turbine Motor Yachts
  • Twin Screw with Azipod Stern thrusters
  • Diesel/Electric Propulsion
  • Direct drive
  • Rudders from keel-hung, skeg-hung, twin fixed and twin independent
  • Manoeuvring using just single screw and no thrusters, up to full Dynamic Positioning

  
Yacht Sizes:

 

  • The size ranges are from 31' through to 265'
  • The hull material from all wood, all glass, all aluminium, all steel and composite
  • The keel drafts from 4' through to 15'

  
Bridge Systems:

 

  • From basic to full SAM Integrated

   
Achievements:

 

  • I was the youngest RYA Yachtmaster Instructor in the UK
  • Have been at sea since the age of 14 and have been a skipper since the age of 18
  •  I secured MCA classification for the first FRP vessel over 500 tons without the aid of an industry consultant 
  •  To date I've amassed circa 600,000 nautical miles as a Captain with just shy of 5,000 days at sea
  •  Director and part-owner of a certified RYA teaching establishment (and the first outside of the UK) 


Yard Periods:

  •  I have undertaken project-work from yard periods to full rebuilds
  • I project-managed the first all GRP yacht >500 tons through the MCA

 see the articles enclosed

 

And for a bit more detail...

(There are quite a few boats - but then again I have been at sea for 40 years!)

 

Sailed over 600,000 insured miles as Captain. References readily available on request.

 

please download my CV on the front page

 

March 24 – May 2024   65m MY Artisan   Relief Captain

Took a short relief role to assist the current Captain who was on medical leave. Cruised from Mallorca to the South of France and entered the Genoa Boat show.

Nov 17 – March 24  77m MY GO, Turquoise Yachts delivered 2018           Captain

A few months prior to its launch, I joined the team and spearheaded the assembly of a distinguished crew, ultimately comprising 37 members, the majority of whom now operate on a rotational basis. From the outset, we committed to adhering to the stringent requirements of International Safety Management (ISM) standards, with the ambitious goal of achieving a fully ISM compliant charter rate of €1 million per week.

The crew, carefully selected for their skills and dedication, has demonstrated remarkable stability and commitment, playing a crucial role in elevating the vessel to its esteemed status. My role (apart from crew selection) involved diligent monitoring of any defects and orchestrating independent audits to ensure all defective build issues were addressed in compliance with Class regulations and flag state requirements. This responsibility required extensive collaboration with a network of suppliers, contractors, surveyors, and agents and was complemented by stringent inventory management and the development of comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all operations.

We tackled numerous significant new-build defects throughout this tenure, resolving each through the adept efforts of our team or through our efficient coordination with external experts. Consequently, the yacht now boasts an immaculate condition with no remaining Conditions of Class, surpassing its initial state to one of excellence.

A pivotal aspect of my responsibility was maintaining direct and effective communication with the owner, ensuring his exacting requirements were met and providing him with detailed weekly updates. This direct communication line has been vital for the management and operational triumphs of the vessel, more recently, now, under Burgess's management.

Despite its primary usage for the private enjoyment of its owner, involving dual-season operations for eight months of the year, the yacht has flourished under our stewardship. Now in my seventh year, we have voyaged over 70,000 miles and visited more than 700 ports, marking significant milestones in the yacht's journey.

Having steered the yacht to this pinnacle of operational success, I am presently embracing a well-earned break.

Sept 16 – July 17   65m MY Lioness V, Benetti 2008  Captain

Engaged by the new Owner to refit the yacht and prepare her from her previous Private use to full Commercial Service, undertaking all the necessary certification process, replenishing the inventory, crew selection and training. Undertook charters in the Mediterranean, then the Atlantic Crossing, Antigua Boat Show, and straight into 4 weeks of charters in the Caribbean for her first season, plus 6 weeks of owners use. 19 crew.

Mar 14 – Jul 16 Various 50m+  Captain

Various deliveries across the Atlantic and a few charters on various yachts as a fill-in relief Captain for vessels between 50m and 70m..

Jun 14 – Jan 16  60m MY St David, Benetti 2010  Captain

Commercially Registered use in the Med

August 2012 - February 2014  MY Lady Lau. Captain. 65m Codecasa 2010.

Private use in the Med and Caribbean.

June 2009 – August 2012  MY Elisabeth F. Captain. 53m Feadship 1979.

Charters in the Med and Caribbean.

Oct 2008 – Dec 2008 MY Amevi. Relief Captain. 82m Oceanco 2006.

Acted as Relief Captain during her dry-docking period and warranty completion. Undertook post-warranty sea-trials and then redelivered her to Spain.

Dec 2005 – March 2008 MY Samar.  Captain. New-build 77m by Devonport Yachts, UK.

Took her over within the last 6 months of completion. Commissioned her and crewed her for extensive cruising in the Baltic, Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Sea. ISM through Nigel Burgess. 16,000 Nm sailed. 111 days at sea. Total 427 days onboard. Boat International Nov 2007.  Left for a sabbatical. 

Feb 2005 – Dec 2005 Midlandia. Captain. 54m Benetti.

Private and charter. ISM through Camper and Nicholsons. Covered 11,000 miles including 2 Atlantic Crossings. 78 days at sea. Total 303 days aboard. Head-hunted for Samar.

Nov 2004 – Feb 2005 Helena C. Captain. 45m 3-masted Schooner.

Commissioned, repaired and completed the refit of this 1968 ex Malcolm Miller re-build to modern exacting standards. Inventorised her and undertook voluntary ISM. Undertook all crew selection in readiness for her new role as a charter yacht. 60 days at sea. Total 88 days aboard.

April 2002 – Nov 2004 Shergar. Captain. 47m Lurssen

14,000kw Gas Turbine private motor yacht for a Private Owner. 9 crew. Based in Sardinia in the summer and Antigua in the winter. 52,000 miles. 114 days at sea. Total 952 days aboard.

Jan 2003 – Nov 2004 Pole Pole & Mayflowers & Akiyda. Chief of Operations. 

12m to 22m. 3 other jet boats owned by the same Owner. I was responsible for their refit program, their crewing and their scheduling.

1998- 2002 Southern Cross III. Captain. 55m Sterling Yachts FRP

2 x variable pitch 9,000 HP MTUs motor yacht with an extensive charter itinerary between the Mediterranean and Caribbean cruising grounds. Chartering at 130 days a year. 45,000 Nm. 197 days sea-time. Total 1247 days aboard. The following is an outline of achievements: 

July 2001 Southern Cross III. Captain.

Began ISM procedures and Safety Management System after appointing Yacht Management Consultants as our ISM Managers. Attended 2-day self-auditing SMS course run by Lloyds. External audit March 2002.

June 2000 Southern Cross III. Captain.

Ship’s Insurance Company conducted their stringent Risk Assessment Surveyon the Bridge Standing Orders, LSA familiarity, Crew Selection and Management Systems, Drills and Musters, and we passed with distinction.

1998 – 1999 Southern Cross III. Captain.

Project-managed the retrofit project of getting Southern Cross III through the MCA Classification. Liaised with ABS and the MCA office in Cardiff. Passed as MCA Compliant. Undertook the work in Barcelona. There is an article printed in the August 2000 edition of Power and Motoryacht, from page 91. The first FRP vessel over 500 tons to come through the Code.

1998 Wireless. 84’ Don Brook ketch. Captain.

Undertook extensive refit in Ft Lauderdale. Then sailed up the East Coast to Savannah, Norfolk, and Chesapeake, New York and to Newport. 2080 Nm. 24 days sea-time. Total 61 days aboard.

1998 Paladin  61’ Swan.

May. Delivery crew from Antigua, Azores to Palma. 4116 miles. 22 days sea-time. Total 46 days aboard.

1991-1998 Robert Gordon  86 ton Classic Steel Schooner. Captain and Owner.

Successful Caribbean charter yacht for up to 10 guests throughout the year. Employed a chef and stewardess/deckhand for each season. Based in Antigua, chartered and sailed extensively with many trips between the islands from Venezuela to The British Virgin Islands averaging around 12 days at sea per month. Most trips were between 30 and 70 miles duration with many voyages of over 250Nm. Chartered under the new Code of Practice and fully insured. Was one of very few yachts with fully comprehensive insurance cover including the hurricane months based on my safe charter record and no claims. 95,000 Nm. 1016 days sea-time. Total 2,496 days aboard.

1993 Robert Gordon. Captain.

Sailed across the Atlantic from the UK via Gibraltar and the Canaries. 

1997 America  125’ classic gaff schooner. Captain.

Undertook charters in the UK. Ran with a crew of between 7 and 10. Prepared and repaired her for her pending sale. 3,500 Nm. She was sold. 45 days sea-time. Total 183 days aboard.

1996 Freya  36’ classic Hinckley yawl. Owner.

Bought and completely re-built her from her keel upwards in readiness for the Antigua Classic Regatta. She came first and I sold her. 8 days sea-time.

1995 Bought Robert Gordon from the Owner. 

1992 Robert Gordon  86 ton Classic Steel Schooner. Project Manager.

Re-built the yacht for the Owner including an extensive re-plating and re-fitting to the latest Charter Code of Practice.

1990 26 deliveries as skipper for routes between the UK and the Mediterranean, for new craft of 26’ to 48’ built by Westerly Yachts. 250 days sea-time.

1987 Scimitar Sailing Ltd., Gibraltar. Senior Instructor for all RYA courses to Ocean Yachtmaster.

I was Director and part owner of the company’s fleet of 22 bareboats, and the first certified RYA teaching establishment outside the UK. Sailed extensively on Dragonlady, Excalibur, Nejmah and Fair Encounter for private owners and their individual instruction (boats 40’-50’). 546 days sea-time. Sold my shares.

1998 Skippered part-time 3 power vessels (fixed prop)

 between 80’ and 145’ for Cowes week and events on the South Coast of England. 19 days sea-time.

1983-1984 Fair Encounter  40’ Westerly ketch. Skipper.

Mediterranean charters from Sardinia to Gibraltar and back through the French canals. Up to 6 guests booked by Westerly Yachts Charters. 144 days sea-time.

1981 Fair Endeavour  32’ Rhodes sloop.

English Channel, Brittany, and the North Sea. Crew. Sailed for mileage for my RYA certificates. 267 days sea-time.