Fortuna Star was the yacht on which I really developed as a Captain. The programme was exceptionally intensive, with the vessel shared between four co-owners while also operating commercially for charter. This resulted in more than 30 weeks of guest use during a typical season.

We cruised extensively throughout the South of France, Corsica, Sardinia and mainland Italy, operating with just two crew and managing every aspect of the yacht ourselves. Fast turnarounds were a regular part of the programme, often with only 24 hours between owner trips or charters, requiring meticulous planning, organisation and attention to detail.

It was a high-pressure environment in which I learned how to structure and manage a demanding charter programme, balance the expectations of multiple owners, maintain consistently high guest standards and ensure that operational pressures never compromised the experience onboard.

Winters were spent carrying out refit and maintenance works within strict budgetary parameters. Particular emphasis was placed on preventative maintenance and preparation, with the aim of ensuring that unforeseen technical issues did not disrupt the following season and that Fortuna Star remained the flagship of the company fleet.