In an industry famous for its even more famous owners, high-profile names are often casually dropped into conversation, but in issue 182 of The Superyacht Report, Denise Rich's remarks certainly made me stop in my tracks, and is potentially the best name-drop I've heard as yet.  “I’ll never forget the moment I first thought that I really wanted a boat,” recalls the owner of 48m Lady Joy. “We were on my uncle’s boat in Cape Cod – I was just a young girl at the time – and we passed President Kennedy on his boat called Honey Fitz. He waved at us from the boat and that was the moment I knew that one day I’d have one.”

Rich’s interview with Felix Sowerbutts in issue 182 of The Superyacht Report is peppered with these exceptional anecdotes, including insights from her time working with famed musicians such as Sister Sledge, Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin, to performing at a Martin Luther King Jnr. memorial service. Rich’s journey into ownership, which she approached with a discerning mind and methodical process, led her to build with Christensen.

Don’t miss the ownership insights from Dr. Ed Bosarge, who I spoke to for our ‘Lessons Learned’ feature. For Bosarge, the most important part in a yacht’s life is the crew, “For me, I think the most important thing is to hire the best captain, with the highest integrity and the highest amount of experience,” he explains. Bosarge owns three sailing yachts, Marie, P2 and Tenacious, and is a prominent fixture on the regatta circuit, in addition to roles at IBM and NASA, an interest in geophysics and stem cell research, and running a fully, eco-friendly island in the Exumas. To say he is a busy man would be an understatement.

“We were on my uncle’s boat in Cape Cod – I was just a young girl at the time – and we passed President Kennedy on his boat called Honey Fitz. He waved at us from the boat and that was the moment I knew that one day I’d have one.”

An adventure of almost epic proportions is revealed in this issue’s ‘Owner on Board’, as Bryony McCabe speaks exclusively to the owner of 49m motoryacht Menorca (ex- Zurga), Laurent Morel-Ruymen. As he explains in the interview, his route into superyacht ownership was far from typical. The interview outlines the painstaking restoration project that saw the vessel be returned to her former glory, with all the modern touches a successful charter yacht needs. “I asked the broker to take me to the marina where the boat was docked, completely shut up, and we asked the marina manager to look the other way,” Morel-Ruymen remembers, laughing. “I entered the boat through a broken window on the wheelhouse and started looking around commando-style, using my iPhone as a torch. That was the only way I could visit Zurga!”

Finally, complementing these conversations is the guest column, from Ian Biles, managing director of Maritime Services. Biles explains how vital it is for superyacht owners to undertake surveys throughout their vessel's lifecycle. “If engaged correctly,” he argues, “A good surveyor can be one of an owner’s greatest assets, offering a vast array of information, experience and advice to help mitigate the many risks involved.”

Another jam-packed issue, with a hugely diverse set of superyacht owners and experts. Grab your copy of The Superyacht Report issue 182 at Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show or click here to see if you qualify for a complimentary VIP subscription.

Image: M/Y Menorca

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