On board KATHARINE with Captain Fernando Silvano

After a busy summer cruising in Croatia, ahead of relocating to the Caribbean, we caught up with one of KATHARINE's captains, Fernando Silvano, to hear about his favourite hidden gems, his idea of the perfect week-long itinerary, and what makes KATHARINE such a standout charter yacht.

For someone who has never been aboard, how would you describe KATHARINE?

KATHARINE feels both elegant and welcoming – refined without being formal. There is a sense of calm and privacy, while at the same time you feel connected to the sea and the places you are about to discover.

What kind of charter group does KATHARINE lend herself to best?

She works beautifully for families and groups of friends who want a combination of adventure, privacy and comfort, with plenty of space to spend time together while still having room to retreat and unwind.

What guests appreciate most about spending time on KATHARINE is the sense of space, privacy and freedom she gives them. There is something very special about being able to spend time together in such a beautiful setting, without feeling confined or restricted by a typical holiday environment.

Do you have a favourite spot on board?

One of my favourite spots on KATHARINE is the aft deck. It has a wonderful sense of openness and is one of those places where you can really appreciate the experience of being at sea.

How would you describe the crew culture on board, and how does that shape the guest experience?

I think that balance is what makes the experience on KATHARINE special. Guests should feel exceptionally well looked after, but never as though they are being managed. The best compliment is when people become completely comfortable on board, feel at home, and can simply enjoy their time together while we quietly take care of the details.

Can you share an example of how the crew has gone above and beyond to create a memorable moment for guests?

It's about listening carefully and understanding what will make a particular guest feel special. When you can create a moment that they will still be talking about long after they leave KATHARINE, that is when you know you have done something right. Recently our charter clientele were avid trophy hunters and we created an exercise of shooting the deck team, who were donned with duck costumes on the water, with eco friendly paintball guns. It created an interactive experience linked to their hobby.

Is there a particular piece of guest feedback that has stayed with you?

One piece of feedback that has stayed with me was from guests who had never experienced Croatia by yacht before. They told us that what surprised them most was how much more they were able to discover from the water – quiet bays and smaller islands that they would never have experienced in the same way from land. 

What makes Croatia such a natural charter destination for KATHARINE?

Guests can spend the morning swimming in a quiet cove, enjoy a long lunch overlooking the water, and then head ashore in the afternoon to explore a historic town, local village or one of the many cultural highlights Croatia has to offer.

If you were planning the perfect one- to two-week itinerary on board KATHARINE, what would it include?

Ultimately, the perfect Croatian itinerary on KATHARINE would not be about ticking off destinations. It would be about combining beautiful places with great food, crystal-clear water, authentic Croatian experiences and those spontaneous moments that become the memories guests take home with them.

What has been the highlight of your summer season so far?

One moment that particularly stands out is seeing guests arrive with the excitement of exploring Croatia, and then, a few days later, seeing how completely relaxed they have become – enjoying long lunches on board, swimming in quiet bays, exploring the islands and simply appreciating having nowhere else they need to be.

KATHARINE’s summer season in Croatia is still in full swing, what makes this an especially rewarding time to charter, and what should guests be sure not to miss?

I would definitely encourage guests not to miss the quieter side of Croatia. Some of the most memorable moments happen away from the well-known destinations – finding a beautiful anchorage, exploring a small village or enjoying dinner ashore as the sun sets.

What is it about exploring the Caribbean and Bahamas by yacht that guests cannot experience in the same way on land?

Exploring the Caribbean and The Bahamas by yacht gives guests a front-row seat to some of the most beautiful coastlines and clearest waters in the world. Guests can wake up in a secluded anchorage, spend the morning swimming in crystal-clear water, and arrive at an entirely different island in time for dinner – all without packing a suitcase or changing hotels. There are no ferries to catch, no airport security queues and none of the usual logistics associated with moving between islands.

Are there any lesser-known places, anchorages or experiences in the Caribbean and Bahamas that you particularly enjoy sharing with guests?

There are exceptional diving and snorkelling opportunities throughout the Caribbean, but I particularly enjoy taking guests a little further off the beaten track. St Kitts and Nevis are personal favourites as they combine beautiful coastlines with lush jungle, volcanic landscapes and natural hot springs, while still retaining much of their character. They have become increasingly popular with yachts in recent years, but they still feel very different from some of the Caribbean's more established superyacht destinations.

St Lucia is another destination I particularly enjoy. The island has a spectacular combination of dramatic volcanic scenery, dense rainforest and beautiful coastline dominated by the Pitons, a pair of mountains shaped like spear heads. There is plenty to experience ashore, from waterfalls and rainforest trails to the volcanic landscapes and natural hot springs around Soufrière. Soufrière retains a strong sense of its Creole identity and African heritage, which is becoming less visible in the Westernised resort culture found elsewhere in the Caribbean.

The Bahamas offers something slightly different. With so many islands and cays, there are countless secluded anchorages and little spots to discover. The Exumas are probably my favourite cruising ground. One of the great pleasures of being there by yacht is being able to drop anchor beside a tiny sandy cay, sometimes little more than the size of a football pitch, and effectively have your own private island for the day.

There are also some unforgettable experiences along the way: swimming with nurse sharks at Compass Cay, snorkelling into Thunderball Grotto – made famous by the James Bond film Thunderball – and exploring the extraordinary underwater scenery for which The Bahamas is known.

As KATHARINE prepares for the upcoming winter season in The Bahamas, what are you most looking forward to?

There are a few things I am particularly looking forward to returning to. Cracked conch is one of them. It is a Bahamian speciality that I love and something I have never found quite the same anywhere else. I'm also looking forward to revisiting a few of the old island watering holes I remember from my younger captain years. There is something special about arriving somewhere by tender, stepping ashore at a small beach bar and finding that it has barely changed. And, of course, I am looking forward to getting back into the water. The Bahamas has extraordinary visibility and some fascinating places to explore beneath the surface, from historic shipwrecks to aircraft wrecks associated with the islands' colourful smuggling history.