Family man
Working as a captain can be difficult when you're a family man, but this is made significantly easier when a yacht's owner is a family man too. We hear from Dyna-R's captain about the benefits of having an owner on the same page when it comes to family.…
Working as a captain can be difficult when you’re a family man, but dealing with having a family ashore can be made much easier when your owner is a family man too. Captain Nick James, of Benetti’s 37m Dyna-R, joined the yacht with about a year left of the build, in 2012, and works with an owner whose focus on family has given the captain his dream job.
Captain James has had experience on larger yachts, but having been in the industry since he was 19, he’s found his niche. “I’ve been mates on bigger boats, but I’ve chosen where I am in the industry and I’m happy. I’m on a good boat and that’s it; it’s not about size. I’d rather have it little and perfect,” Captain James tells The Superyacht Owner.
One notable design feature of the yacht is its logo, using the infamous Disney font. “Every day it’s like, ‘Is it the Disney boat? Who owns it?’” says Captain James. As it happens, it’s not the Disney boat; so why the font? “For the kids; just for fun,” Captain James tells The Superyacht Owner. “The name is a mix of all the family’s names. His last boat was called Dyna and they had a third son so they did the ‘R’. I’m a family man, but that’s why I got the job. The boat’s for his wife. His wife wants to feel comfortable and happy on board. My kids come on board. She’s met my wife, she’s met my boys. She’s on the boat on her own without her husband, half way around the world; you’ve got to be able to trust the person, and I’m complete focused on the kids. That’s why I got the job.”
A family-focused yacht also has an impact on the captain’s attitude towards the type of job at the helm of this particular boat. “I like the boat; it’s done for the kids. That’s one of my passions. If [the boat was for] a party guy I couldn’t do it, because I wouldn’t have a vested interest in it.”
Finding a captain who understands an owner’s desired use of the yacht has benefits; not only when it comes to a captain enjoying time on board, but staying on board. “I don’t have an exit strategy. I’m a yacht captain and I’m going to be a yacht captain until I’m not. I need longevity.”
Dyna-R is available for charter through Y.CO. Image courtesy of Y.CO.
Captain James has had experience on larger yachts, but having been in the industry since he was 19, he’s found his niche. “I’ve been mates on bigger boats, but I’ve chosen where I am in the industry and I’m happy. I’m on a good boat and that’s it; it’s not about size. I’d rather have it little and perfect,” Captain James tells The Superyacht Owner.
"The name is a mix of all the family’s names. His last boat was called Dyna and they had a third son so they did the ‘R’."
- Captain Nick James, Dyna-R
- Captain Nick James, Dyna-R
One notable design feature of the yacht is its logo, using the infamous Disney font. “Every day it’s like, ‘Is it the Disney boat? Who owns it?’” says Captain James. As it happens, it’s not the Disney boat; so why the font? “For the kids; just for fun,” Captain James tells The Superyacht Owner. “The name is a mix of all the family’s names. His last boat was called Dyna and they had a third son so they did the ‘R’. I’m a family man, but that’s why I got the job. The boat’s for his wife. His wife wants to feel comfortable and happy on board. My kids come on board. She’s met my wife, she’s met my boys. She’s on the boat on her own without her husband, half way around the world; you’ve got to be able to trust the person, and I’m complete focused on the kids. That’s why I got the job.”
A family-focused yacht also has an impact on the captain’s attitude towards the type of job at the helm of this particular boat. “I like the boat; it’s done for the kids. That’s one of my passions. If [the boat was for] a party guy I couldn’t do it, because I wouldn’t have a vested interest in it.”
Finding a captain who understands an owner’s desired use of the yacht has benefits; not only when it comes to a captain enjoying time on board, but staying on board. “I don’t have an exit strategy. I’m a yacht captain and I’m going to be a yacht captain until I’m not. I need longevity.”
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