I joined M/Y SOHO in 2013 as the new owner’s first Captain and remained with the yacht for eight years. During that time we cruised extensively throughout the Mediterranean, from Marbella and the Balearics through Italy, Malta, Greece and Turkey, including Istanbul and the Black Sea.

Following our first season, I was tasked with preparing the yacht for a comprehensive refit ahead of a demanding charter programme. The works were completed ahead of schedule and within budget, allowing us to present SOHO at the upcoming ECPY shows in excellent condition. She went on to develop a strong reputation within the charter market, filling much of her calendar and attracting a high level of repeat business.

SOHO was a heavily used yacht with long seasons and a demanding operational schedule. Managing the programme over many years gave me extensive experience in charter operations, owner use, refit planning, maintenance, budgeting and crew management. It also allowed me to build a broad network of shipyards, contractors, agents, brokers and suppliers throughout the Mediterranean, alongside detailed knowledge of the region’s cruising grounds.

Crew retention was an important part of the programme, and I was fortunate to work with a number of excellent long-term crew, several of whom later joined the owner’s subsequent yacht, SOHO II.

After eight years onboard, I was instructed to prepare SOHO for sale. We presented the yacht at the ECPY show in Nice, where an offer was received within the first hour. Her condition, maintenance history and established charter reputation contributed to a smooth sale process, which proceeded to completion shortly afterwards.