Tumi & Pasha was my first command, over 15 years ago. Operated as the owner’s day boat while his larger yacht was away on charter, she was based in Monaco and used extensively for daily cruising along the French Riviera.

I initially joined as Mate before taking over as Master shortly after completing my Yachtmaster Offshore qualification. Operating with just two crew, we regularly hosted very high-profile guests and remained on permanent standby throughout the season, with the yacht required to be fully guest-ready at all times.

As a commercially registered vessel, maintaining operational and regulatory standards was an important part of the role. Winters were dedicated to refit and maintenance works, ensuring the yacht retained her commercial endorsement and remained in excellent condition, all while working within a tightly controlled operating budget.

This first command gave me an invaluable grounding in owner service, small-team operations, commercial compliance and the level of preparation required to deliver consistently high standards.