GUEST COMMENT: I am sailing the world in a super yacht
The banking profession's credibility and worth have been heavily scrutinized recently, so you may be considering your options. However, what profession can compete with such lucrative pay?
After a stint in London, wearing the mandatory pastel shirt and dark suit, compacting myself into the stifling tube and acquiring a vitamin D deficiency, I have returned to a career in yachting, or more accurately super yachting.
Looking after the toys of ultra high net worth individuals is a challenging, exciting and hectic niche industry. If you have ever day-dreamed of that job paying you handsomely to see the world, combined with an active and adventurous lifestyle, this is it.
Superyacht captains can earn an annual salary of €250K annual salary, plus a 50-100% bonus if their boss is happy. That's clearing, conservatively, €375K or effectively €625K before Gordon takes his share. Residency is loosely defined when taxation and international waters are concerned, so funds are conveniently siphoned off away from prying eyes. The trickle down effect from these Forbes Rich List plutocrats is that savvy yacht captains, engineers & chefs can quickly become millionaires in their own right. What better way to accumulate assets and service the debt?
The majority of time employed is spent living onboard, incurring minimal expenses, eating like kings - owners recruit the best chefs - and hopping from one glamour spot to the next.
It's quite an extraordinary glimpse into the lives of the uber rich. My recent encounters include a disgraced Renault Formula 1 boss being shuttled around in his tender, driven by Kalashnikov-armed personnel, or the world's wealthiest person and Microsoft philanthropist (Bill Gates) reading nanotechnology books cover to cover in an hour. Most stories however are far too outrageous to repeat; it truly is another world.
Requests and demands come in many shapes and sizes. If one thing is clear, the crew's ability to resist being rattled or stressed is what enables the mega salaries which match the mega yachts. An hour's notice for a 60 person cocktail party, a submarine rental, or a quick trip to the moon are slowly becoming the norm.
It's a fickle occupation that's fast, demanding and at times ruthless. These are elite businessmen, used to getting what they want, bringing that determination and drive to their holiday experiences. They refuse to hear the word "no", hate limitations and rarely comprehend "impossible" as a notion.
So for an idea of what's actually involved. Our recent Mediterranean season (May to September) has seen my log book clock up over 3,500 nautical miles and at least 70 different ports or anchorages, some up to a dozen times each. Needless to say it's a chaotic charter season in a condensed timeframe.
Despite the hectic schedule, super yachting isn't incompatible with playing the markets. Whether you're anchored off some far-flung Caribbean island or at Chelsea pier in New York, you can day trade. High-speed wifi is facilitated by onboard satellite systems. Once you've taken a few positions, it might be time to go diving with whale sharks or take guests for a wakeboard. With a view that constantly changes, it sure beats sitting in the office. If I've learnt anything from this tiny industry it's this, offices are mobile and lifestyle is everything. Anyone know a tailor to make my wetsuit pinstripe?
