EDITOR’S NOTE: Days after we originally published this article, we received the news that Paolo Vitelli, the founder of the Azimut-Benetti Group, died suddenly at one of his residences. He had a profound impact on the superyacht industry as well as the larger recreational-marine industry. Not only did Vitelli pioneer the use of fiberglass in…
Capt, Kelly Gordon understands the long hours, high pressure, and even isolation some superyacht crewmembers endure. She’s seen it as a captain and hears from crew globally, since she frequently speaks about mental health. It’s why she’s launched the non-profit Yachtie Minds Matter. The organization intends to help crew get the therapy and other support they…
Peter Evans, who helmed the yacht Kingdom 5KR for more than a decade and was instrumental in establishing the Professional Yachting Association (PYA), died on September 18. He was 73 years old. Born in Wales in April 1951, Evans attended college in Coventry, England, graduating in 1969. According to the PYA, he had a creative…
Falsified superyacht crew licenses—some flat-out fakes, others real but bought, not earned—are on the rise. The situation has worsened to the point where yachting-industry groups are raising the alarm. They’re especially warning owners and their teams about subsequent potential safety issues. The cautions come from the Professional Yachting Association (PYA) and the Italian Yacht Masters…
YachtAid Global is best known for mobilizing superyachts to deliver disaster relief and help with recovery. However, it is steadily increasing humanitarian aid and conservation efforts, too. YachtAid Global’s Operation Jade is a good example of how it’s enabling the yachting community to make a long-lasting difference in a local community. Its team and several…
Editor’s note: May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, bringing attention to the impacts of on well-being. Capt, Kelly Gordon, who frequently speaks about mental health, wrote the following to urge the yachting community to pay attention and make a difference. As a yacht captain navigating the vast and unpredictable seas, I have witnessed the toll…
A lawsuit from a former yacht stew alleges sexual assault by music artist Christian Combs occurred during a charter. The suit names his father, Sean Combs, a.k.a. the music artist, music producer, and executive Diddy, as a co-defendant. Although it doesn’t claim he engaged in the behavior, it holds him liable as the primary charterer….
Have you ever wondered how a farm girl from Indiana became a mentor and a highly influential figure in yachting? We’re talking about Capt. Kelly Gordon, our guest on this episode of the Megayacht News Radio podcast series. Despite Gordon’s atypical background, her life journey took a remarkable turn, allowing her to find her passion…
If you’re a foodie (and let’s face it, who isn’t?), settle into your favorite chair for this one. Nina Wilson of the motoryacht Loon, a.k.a. The Crew Chef on YouTube and Instagram, will have you salivating within seconds. In fact, in the first 30 seconds alone, you’ll see Wilson and her fellow crewmembers sorting an…
Innovation typically relates to technological advances or some other physical creation. However, an innovator is also a go-getter, an achiever, and above all a person who makes a remarkable impact. The Superyacht Life Foundation and the Monaco Yacht Show honored three such innovators at the inaugural Honours awards event. The Honours awards recognize superyachting change…
