On board KATHARINE with Captains Fernando Silvano and Vladimir Nikolov

After a busy summer cruising in Croatia, ahead of relocating to the Caribbean, we caught up with KATHARINE's captains, Fernando Silvano and Vladimir Nikolov, to discover their favourite hidden gems, ideal Croatian itinerary, and what sets KATHARINE apart as a charter yacht.

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

Captain Fernando: 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.

Captain Vladimir: Stepping on board KATHARINE for the first time is a captivating experience. You're greeted by a welcoming crew and elegant design that blends luxury with a sense of adventure.

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

Captain Fernando: 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. Guests appreciate the sense of space, privacy and freedom she offers, allowing them to enjoy time together without feeling confined.

Captain Vladimir adds: KATHARINE is particularly well suited to multi-generational family milestones, anniversaries, history-minded groups and premium corporate retreats that value elegance and shared experiences.

Do you have a favourite spot on board?

Captain Vladimir: The sun deck stands out as a premier on board area, combining spacious social areas, wellness amenities and striking exterior styling. From a crew perspective, our areas are also very spacious, featuring an incredible crew mess and crew lounge.

For Captain Fernando, it’s 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?

Captain Fernando: 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.

Captain Vladimir highlights the standards behind this: The crew culture on KATHARINE is built around experienced leadership, safety on board, impeccable guest service and gold-standard hospitality.

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

Captain Vladimir: We have created private, candlelit dinners on secluded Mediterranean coves and Caribbean beaches, complete with bespoke menus, as well as surprise themed deck parties for milestone birthdays and anniversaries. Impromptu fishing trips, excursions to historic ports and diving sites, quizzes and sporting competitions with guests are also highlights.

Captain Fernando shares a more playful example: It's about listening carefully and understanding what will make a particular guest feel special. Recently, our charter guests were avid trophy hunters, so we organised an activity where the deck team, dressed in duck costumes, were shot at with eco-friendly paintball guns on the water. It created an interactive experience linked to their hobby.

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

Captain Vladimir: One guest said KATHARINE was very comfortable and that everything worked, which isn't always the case, even on a large yacht. They praised how I coped with their constantly changing plans, describing me as calm and patient. They also said our crew made them feel safer on the water and when using the toys than on any other yacht they had been on. They praised our chef, Belinda, and her food, too.

What makes Croatia such a natural charter destination for KATHARINE?

Captain Vladimir: Croatia has breathtaking coastlines, clear waters and hundreds of islands. Cruising the Adriatic allows guests to wake up to a new landscape every day, from hidden bays and rocky islets to historic coastal cities such as Dubrovnik, Split and Rovinj. Guests aboard KATHARINE can also visit Korta Katarina, a luxury vineyard, hotel and villa owned by the same owners as the yacht.

Captain Fernando adds: 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 Croatia's many cultural highlights.

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

Captain Vladimir: It would include historic Venetian walled cities, secluded marine national parks, world-class gastronomy and vibrant island nightlife, alongside the privacy of untouched anchorages.

Captain Fernando: 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?

Captain Fernando: One moment that particularly stands out is seeing guests arrive excited to explore Croatia and, 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?

Captain Fernando: 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?

Captain Vladimir: Yacht charter offers true island hopping without complicated logistics. Guests can wake up in one secluded Bahamian or Caribbean bay, spend the afternoon snorkelling an untouched reef and anchor for dinner in a completely different harbour, all without packing a bag. Many beautiful beaches and private lagoons are also inaccessible by car, land tours or the usual tourist routes.

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

Captain Vladimir: I particularly like what the Lesser Antilles offer in terms of privacy and an authentic Caribbean experience, compared with the larger islands of the Greater Antilles. Antigua, St Lucia, St Vincent and especially the Grenadines are simply jewels.

Captain Fernando shares some of his own favourites: 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, combining beautiful coastlines with lush jungle, volcanic landscapes and natural hot springs. They have become increasingly popular with yachts in recent years, but still feel different from some of the Caribbean's more established superyacht destinations.

St Lucia is another destination I particularly enjoy. The island has dramatic volcanic scenery, dense rainforest and a beautiful coastline dominated by the Pitons. There is plenty to experience ashore, from waterfalls and rainforest trails to the volcanic landscapes and natural hot springs around Soufrière, which retains a strong sense of its Creole identity and African heritage.

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

There are also unforgettable experiences along the way, including swimming with nurse sharks at Compass Cay and snorkelling into Thunderball Grotto, made famous by the James Bond film Thunderball.

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

Captain Fernando: There are a few things I’m particularly looking forward 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.