Andy Scott

Yacht: Elton Length: 31.7m Year: 1992 Location: Portsmouth

How do you get your yachting fix in winter?

I’m having to do some work in the UK this winter on a big deal for our transport companies, but the plan is to take Elton XX, my 20-metre classic, to the Caribbean this year to do the regattas in Antigua, St Maartin and eventually the St Barths Bucket in 2025. She’s currently out of the water, having her 62-yearold hull checked out to make sure she’s still floating in another 60 years. She’s often described as the most beautiful Sangermani ever built

How’s the 2024 charter season looking?

Elton charters out at €35,000 per week, and that lower end of the superyacht market tends to fill up at the last minute. Often our charters are booked with just two days’ notice, which the crew hate, but it fills gaps. Last year we did something new and marketed the yacht for €100,000 a month, which was really popular with people who wanted an extended holiday in the South of France, the Balearics, Corsica and Italy. If we can book these month-long charters for June and September, it’s great business, and leaves the prime weeks to fill up at the full rate, which is the hope

How have the last few years been for charter?

We have been fully booked for the last three years. Coming out of Covid-19, we did the Med followed by the Caribbean and managed to book 14 weeks. However, this puts a strain on both the boat and crew, and leaves very little time for planned maintenance if you arrive back from the Caribbean around May to start Med charters in June. I treat my boats as businesses rather than toys, so in future I plan to leave Elton in Europe for the Med season, and leave the smaller boat, Elton XX, in the Caribbean. This means crew are employed year-round and the boats don’t get so battered. It also means I get to spend a decent amount of time on both boats. My big concern is finding somewhere safe to leave the smaller boat in the Caribbean so it’s out of the big hurricane areas What’s the secret to keeping a great charter crew?

It’s becoming harder and harder, especially as boats are becoming larger, and crew naturally want to work on bigger, shinier, newer boats. I aim to get couples, as it’s good for crew retention (despite it being my idea of hell!). Also, small touches like making sure the captain has a car wherever he or she is makes a big difference

Do you have your eye on any other yachts?

I currently have a 60-metre former cargo ship and am trying to find a permanent mooring for it on the Thames to convert it into a home, which is no easy task for a vessel of that size. It has six bedrooms, an indoor/outdoor pool and can double as a floating boutique hotel. I got very close to buying a 47-metre Perini last year which needed a full refit. I’m always open to such deals if sellers need to sell quickly Where’s your favourite place to cruise?

I spend summers at my house between Cannes and Saint-Tropez or on one of the boats when they’re not chartered. It’s a great base as most charters start in Monaco, Cannes, or Corsica

What’s your drink of choice on deck?

I still drink vodka and Diet Coke, despite it being a teenagers’ drink. Sometimes the 3am heart palpitations tell me I should probably switch to my more mature second preference of gin and tonic!