According to superyacht captain Brendan O’Shannassy, being onboard with billionaire customers is much like being a hairdresser to the stars. O’Shannassy, whose recently published book details his amazing experiences, Superyacht Captain: Life and Leadership in the World’s Most Incredible Industry, admits that long trips with some of the world’s richest people isn’t as glamorous as people may expect.
This close access to billionaires comes with a huge responsibility and Brendan and his colleagues always sign aNon Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before a trip. However, Brendan said non disclosure agreements aren’t the main reason he would never share any of his employerssecrets.
He said: “The reason is your pride in having the privilege of seeing some of the most influential people in the world in a very raw environment. That’s an amazing privilege that you would never want to sell the photos or dirty that privilege.”
As a captain, Brendan has many years experience in the niche superyacht sector, during which it has undergone dramatic change. As the sector has matured, the standard of crews availablehaselevatedto aprofessional level, both on the maritime and hotel side. Impeccable standards, and a more regulated and structured way of working have made superyachts an even more seductive proposition for captains and crew. Today’s superyacht designs are built to a highly developed specification and include features and amenities that weren’t always considered.
Brendan adds: “There are also many more specialisations. Instead of just having a crew, there will be a physical trainer, a massage therapist, a nail technician, a yoga instructor, even a jet ski instructor. There’s also often a photographer or a videographer. Travelling to incredible destinations is one of the perks of captaining superyachts for the world’s richest people.”
