"An inspired leader of others"

Simon Vaughan Johnson has been engaged for the last 5 and a half years as professional Captain aboard TS Robert Gordon. At the outset he was responsible for the complete fitting out and conversion of the craft from a somewhat basic training ship into a gentleman's yacht and charter vessel.

He engaged a crew for the Transatlantic passage from England and thereafter, after a successful crossing, has been solely responsible for the signing on and off of crew members and for the running of the the vessel, and its charters. Additionally he has acted as ship's engineer, and has maintained the main engine, the ship's two generators, water-making equipment, charging systems, radar, GPS and other navigational equipment single-handed.

Simon is computer literate and is well versed in keeping proper accounts and has a wide knowledge of marine engineering and equipment.

From the charter guests' viewpoint, his command of the ship has always been an air of prefessional competence, combined with an easy charm of manner and guaranteed perfect service aboard (to which many letters attest).

He is someone who is totally committed to the task at hand, resourceful, scrupulously honest, and an inspired leader of others and someone who I would not hesitate to recommend for any position requiring integrity and leadership.

[BL QC 1997]