How did your love of yachting begin?
I grew up in Raumati Beach, a (then) small coastal town north of Wellington in New Zealand. After studying at Massey University, I worked for a real estate consulting firm for five years before leaving New Zealand to travel toward Europe. I joined my first yacht in the South of France, partly as a way to prolong that year’s summer. I was just lucky - that first boat was a fantastic opportunity and learning experience. I’ve worked on five yachts now, both charter and private, and enjoyed the lifestyle and career challenges ever since.
Watersports have always been my passion - sailing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, scuba and freediving, kitesurfing... I love to pass it on to guests aboard LADY E - it is one of my favourite parts of my job!
Get ready for all the thrills and spills on the water with LADY E
Tell us about LADY E's new features...
LADY E has everything you might expect aboard an experienced charter boat - and now much more! Her watersports and toy collection is impressive, and importantly, the deck crew are trained instructors so guests are always in safe hands. Her new Ski Nautique G23 watersports tender adds a lot of fun to mix - for towing inflatables, waterskiing and such. Then there's a brand new Wajer 55S chase boat that gives guests the chance to explore further afield, take diving trips and tender rides to the shore.
Of course, the new spa and wellness facilities are very popular - with hammam steam room, large heated swimming pool, gym on the upper deck and beauty room with a masseuse. It really makes LADY E the perfect platform for everyone, whatever their holiday style.
All of which is wrapped up in the six-star service provided by a team with good experience of working together.
Whatever your holiday style, LADY E ticks the box
Your crew are the ones that make it all work, what are they like?
The crew are a brilliant bunch. They come from different backgrounds all over the world – the common theme is a love for the water, adventure and good times. Ultimately the crew want to give our guests a holiday that they would love to be a part of themselves.
It shows in the way they deliver world-class water experiences. Diving or fishing, the best wake or water skiing, extensive cruising and tailored privacy - it is all defined by excellent service from the crew. They understand that the guests are searching for an experience, and they strive to make each experience better and more memorable than the guests have ever encountered before.
We have a lot of fun together and it shows.
The crew go the extra mile to ensure that guests have an experience like no other
Which guests love LADY E most?
In the Med we often have two families chartering together, or large multigenerational family groups with the grandparents, grandchildren and everyone else in between. We entertain plenty of children and young adults - and the elderly appreciate the comfort and ease of access as we have an elevator to serve all decks.
Adventuring is becoming more popular and we cater to that with a range of capable tenders, dual-role crew who have an interest in diving, fishing, history and biology, and hiking the local coastline. Often our longer charterers are watersports enthusiasts, but LADY E really is a platform for everyone.
Where do guests gravitate aboard LADY E?
You would be surprised! Of course, the beach club is a space you could easily spend all day and children love the toys, music and 77in TV. But the bridge and engine room are more popular than you might think! The technical spaces are visited at least once per charter - and often more by a wide range of guests who are instrested and excited to learn about this yacht.
Now that it has been extended, the main deck aft is an excellent spot for afternoon sunbaking, or evening parties. And when the sun sets, the sun deck offers an exceptional view - especially if we are anchored off Stromboli or another stunning destination.
The extended main deck has glass balustrades for an infinity view
What are you most looking forward to about the season?
We are all geared up and ready for guests to come aboard. We have excellent itineraries tailored to each guest's preferred experiences - and to highlight the destination. The guests will be able to relax and spend time together in whatever way they want.
I expect that there will be some amazing parties - the main deck lounge and the beach club have nightclub-style audio and lighting systems. The lounge offers a full cinema experience with the highest resolution 4K Kaleidescape movie library... Our guests are going to have a lot of fun!
Beach club party? Yes please! The only question is who to invite...
If you could take LADY E anywhere in the world, where would you go?
New Zealand! I’ve been lucky in that my career has given me a vast geographical experience and I’ve travelled extensively throughout the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, the Med, Adriatic, Caribbean, Andaman, and Red Seas and the Bays of Bengal, Biscay and the English Channel.
Even so, New Zealand has been a dream for a long time and next year might be the right opportunity... It’s a fantastic place and its beauty really does do most of the talking for you. Notwithstanding, I’ve still got plenty to say about it!