Captain Francisco Chadinha
PRIVATE YACHT VACATIONS M/Y
Akey ingredient in any successful yacht charter is teamwork, and no one knows it better than Francisco Chadinha, captain of 162-foot (49.3-meter) Christensen Remember When. Chadinha grew up in a small seaside village in South Africa before his start in the yachting industry 17 years ago as a deckhand. His travels around the globe fueled his extensive knowledge of some of the most interesting coastlines in the world, from Europe to the Caribbean through Central America to the South Pacific. Joining Chadinha and the crew aboard Remember When this past fall in the Exumas gave me a behind-the-scenes peek into the life of a professional captain, and into what makes a charter yacht successful.
“The team we have on board, we’re a close-knit family,” Chadinha says. “Playing well together makes all the difference for the happiness of the client. You’d be surprised how quickly the guests pick up on little domestic issues of a crew—who’s dating who, who’s having a good day or a bad day. They’re sharp when it comes to that. Any issue with the crew, they’ll sense it. It can affect the whole charter experience.
“At the end of the day, it’s a massive team effort. It’s crucial that we work together and become a small family of sorts. Personally, I love getting involved. Me and the boys, we’ll get in the galley and help out with the dishes after dinner.”
I could hear laughter in the next room. A few of the crew were setting the table for dinner. Their lightheartedness was infectious, and Chadinha and I shared a smile.
“This team we have [ aboard Remember When] really enjoys spending time with one another,” he says. “They make fun out of the workload. And that’s what you want to see.”
The other big part of the job for Chadinha is safety— ensuring the guests’ comfort and peace of mind. “I always keep an eye on things, to make sure [the charter] runs the way the client wants it to run, make sure the client is happy,” he says. “Ultimately, this is supposed to be the kind of holiday that’s never forgotten.”
Luxury yacht charter may be the ultimate vacation. But on board Remember When, laughter is still the best medicine.
Superyacht Sales and Charter has added two charter veterans to its team: Jeff Shaffer and Julie Haiko. Shaffer, who joined the company as charter management director, brings more than 25 years of charter experience and long-standing relationships with owners, captains and crew. After 30 years of yachting, Haiko, originally from Belize, brings a wealth of knowledge about tropical destinations to her role as retail charter broker.
The Denison Super Yacht Division has added 102-foot (31-meter) Hatteras Lady Carmen to its charter fleet. A family-friendly charter yacht with a weekly base rate of $53,000, Lady Carmen accommodates 10 guests in five staterooms. No squabbling over who gets the big bed: her master has a kingsize bed and three of her guest staterooms have queen-size beds. Kids can bunk in the twin, which also includes a Pullman. Lady Carmen is now accepting bookings in the Bahamas and Caribbean.