The world of superyachts is incredible especially because it’s not accessible to 99% of this planet’s population. Writing with flair, Captain Brendan O’Shannassy bring us to this world and answers questions that a typical inquisitive reader might have regarding the world of superyachts.
The author’s very human approach endears him to the reader, and shares his reflections on how he views his own chosen life with that inhabited by the yacht owners, examples being of micro-management that ‘if this prohibited me from achieving the heights attained by my yacht owner, then that would be the cost’, and that ‘all our normals are ours alone’.
As a mariner, I could relate to his obsession with weather and though I like his idea to ‘always over-serve the client’, I bow to Brendan for his physical and mental abilities, especially for his acts like jumping from 15 metres from a chopper into the water to delight his young clients. I for one burst one of my eardrums when scuba diving many years ago and find it painful even to dive to the bottom of a swimming pool.
I write about leadership as well, and it follows that I read a lot about leadership – especially in the maritime context. The author sums up that ‘leadership at sea is more like squash, with a ball that never stops bouncing, with an opponent that never misses a return. Every time you hit the ball it comes back faster and doesn’t stop. And this is what makes it so wonderful’. He compares it to leadership ashore being a game of tennis where you get some rest between sets. The book is a delight. I list some more of my favourite learning points from the book:
‘Make safe first and fill in details second.’
‘Make sure you turn a profit on every invoice that matters’ (ha-ha)
‘There are no single reasons for many of life’s bigger decisions and to try to find a rationality is most often fruitless’
‘Be courteous like a billionaire’
‘The superyacht is an embodiment of a complex system where the inputs do not guarantee the outcome’
‘Feedback can be painful, poorly delivered and is always subject to another’s perception of you. Nevertheless, it is the most valuable information you have access to. Treasure it, challenge it, grow with it.’
‘Respect your own time, respect the time of others, and use both wisely.’
‘Often, the approach to a decision is not governed by the weight of the decision; rather, it is the time available to make it that is the driving factor’
‘This proximity effect, where we respond to what is visible and clearly defined as a risk, yet ignore the horizon…slow emergencies need strategies’
People behave following their own, often irrational, set of justifications and the leader needs to be present to reinforce the message…map a time each day to engage and determine where the cultural touchpoints are for the crew, and what actually matters for them’
‘You must pull the trigger when they do not stop’ (i.e. if you issue a warning, you need to follow up on it)
‘Not to approach life with your ego leading’
‘Throw the ball out as far as you can, nothing is off limits’ (especially when one has to dig themselves out of a hole)
‘I could never allow someone else’s judgement of my actions to define me’
‘I think the only great regret one can have in life is not to try.’
On a personal note, the author makes mention of a podcast interview and one of the questions from the interviewer was, ‘As a superyacht captain, how do you manage the expectations of the yacht owner and their guests?’ I take some pride in being that interviewer- it was my privilege to speak to Brendan, and the podcast episode can be found here.
Enjoy the book, while also imagining yourself in a linen outfit, sipping champagne and sitting on a lounge chair on the deck of a superyacht, while you can hear the squeals of laughter of your children frolicking in the water. For many of us, that’s the closest we’re going to get to a superyacht life!
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Full disclosure: I don't get paid to post reviews, so you can be assured that this is my candid opinion, and how I see the contents of the book apply to my world.
