For Richard Hadida, a single, vivid “aha moment” is why sailing became more than something fun to do. Spur of the moment several years ago, he formed a bold plan: charter a sailboat in Greece to reach his sister’s wedding. He trained quickly, earned the skills he needed, and set off from Piraeus with friends. Mid-passage, his friend’s guitar playing drifted across the cockpit while the Milky Way blazed overhead. That mix of starlight, wind, and water created a permanent reset. It became the life moment that makes bluewater sailing a calling rather than a pastime.
Hadida shares why sailing means so much to him as the owner of the sailing yacht Lush—and the owner of Oyster Yachts—in this episode of Inside the Owner’s Suite.
A central theme is what sailing offers that powerboating cannot. Hadida describes the sensory world of a sailing yacht at sea: the hush, the rhythm of creaking lines and fittings. Simultaneously, there’s the feeling of gliding instead of driving. Motoryachts can be thrilling, he admits—and he’s spent plenty of time aboard them. However, for Hadida, the engines turn the voyage into something like a car ride. Effectively it becomes a means to reach a restaurant or a destination. Sailing, meanwhile, reverses that logic. The passage is the point, the pace is human, and nature, not brute force, shapes the motion. In fact, a bluewater cruising sailing yacht is a practical symbol of freedom and responsibility at the same time.
That philosophy is reality on his family’s circumnavigation aboard the yacht Lush, as part of the Oyster World Rally. With his wife Ali (above) and their son Harry (below), Hadida has chosen not to wait for a “perfect” year. A “Carpe Diem” tattoo on his wrist serves as a reminder, sharpened by the loss of his friend Eddie Jordan. The rally delivers constant wonder: weeks hopping island to island, anchoring in quiet bays, and exploring places that feel untouched. Hadida shares peak moments like camping on an island off Panama, watching parrots fly at dusk, and realizing they’re the only people for miles. For Harry, the sailing yacht Lush is simply home. Days are filled with sharks, dolphins, and the kind of adventure that may shape a lifetime love of the sea.
From buying Oyster Yachts without being an expert yacht builder to personally deciding to go all in on the ocean lifestyle, Hadida brings the memories, the experiences, into vivid focus.
Listen above or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or your favorite platform. Subscribe for free, too, to receive every upcoming episode. Whether you’re an owner, an aspiring one, or an industry professional, this series offers unfiltered understanding of the ownership experience.
Inside the Owner’s Suite insidetheownerssuite.buzzsprout.com
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