Toby Allies – Pendennis Shipyard
Toby joined the sales and marketing team at Pendennis in August 2007 from the British Marine Federation (BMF) where he directed the international development programme. At Pendennis he is responsible for securing refit and new build projects and the international marketing of the yard. Toby is the Vice Chairman of the Superyacht UK Committee and is a member of the Superyacht Builder’s Association. He became a director at Pendennis in May 2009. In his spare time Toby enjoys sailing with his three young sons and races a Falmouth Working Boat.
Alex Braden – Yachting Partners International
Alex joined HMS “WORCESTER” Sail Training Ship at the age of just 14. He went on to become a Merchant Navy Officer until, in 1972, he founded what was to become one of the industry’s longest serving and most renowned full-service super yacht brokerage houses – Yachting Partners International. A strong advocate of good business practice across the industry, Alex has played a leading role in all aspects of super yachting including construction management, brokerage, charter and crewing – often working with different generations of the same YPI client families who grew to trust his judgement and immense skill and experience. An important voice in the industry, Alex played an important part in the development of the leading Association, MYBA (Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association), acting as its President from 1998 to 2000. He is also credited has having started the IYCM (International Yacht Charter Meeting) in Genoa in 2000 – now one of the most important Trade Shows any where in the world. After over thirty years of helping YPI to the very pinnacle of the yachting industry, Alex eventually decided it was time to inject some new blood into the Group. After a flurry of activity and a host of potential buyers, he finally opted for one group that especially won his respect, and in August 2008 sold Yachting Partners International to renowned shipbroking group BRS (Barry Rogliano Salles). Today, as YPI Group Chairman, Alex has seen the company roll out a brand new look, enjoy global acclaim for selling one of the biggest and most impressive yachts on the market so far this year…and all whilst still holding on to that long standing, and oft fought for reputation of being one of the finest full service brokerage houses in the world today.
Phillip Cable – MAST
Phillip Cable is a Director and co founder of MAST and its subsidiary MAST Technology. Born in London in 1972, he worked for a number of years in the Lloyds of London marine insurance market before returning to academic study to train as a lawyer. However, the call of the sea was too strong and he embarked on a short career commission in the Royal Navy serving as a Watch keeper and Ships Diving Officer. Since leaving the RN in 2003 he has been active in providing advice and guidance to governments and commercial entities in the field of port and ship security. He formed MAST in 2005, and has been instrumental in the growth of the Company and its expansion not only into commercial ship security but also in the development of a yacht security design department which is involved in several design and build projects in Europe. He also holds a Masters degree in Maritime Law giving him a unique insight into the insurance and legal aspects of security.
Paul Cook – International Superyacht Management
Managing Director of International Superyacht Management and PRC Maritime (Consultancy), Director of Da-Gama navigation solutions, Non-Executive Director to Advance New Technologies and JCB Security, Paul is a proven businessman as well as captain of ships from 38m to 210m and 170 to 20,000 tonnes. Following a successful Royal Navy career, spanning 24 years and 14 warships, he entered the superyacht industry as joint Captain of a new, state of the art 67m Feadship in 2006. His military background included command of a patrol boat in Northern Ireland territorial waters conducting anti-terrorist duties during a period of particular unrest. He also commanded a destroyer and managed the aircraft carrier HMS ARK ROYAL through operations in the current hot spots of the Gulf of Aden and wider Asian and Indian continents. Specialising in above water warfare he was closely involved in the strategic reactions and policy following 9/11 as well as the growing worldwide terrorist and piratical threats. On superyachts he has recently transited the Malaccan Straits, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden pirate regions.
Raffaele Costa – Owner of M/Y Sea Force One
Born in 1969 in Venice, Italy, international financier Raffaele Costa is perhaps better known as the enigmatic ‘Captain Magic.’ His yacht, Sea Force One, is a fusion of technology and contemporary art, intimate corners and inviting social areas. Challenging the accepted model for successful charters, Sea Force One defies tradition, common sense, definition and description. The key to distilling the emotional and sensual impact of this 54 metre tour de force is understanding the yin and yang of her young owner and his alter ego. Costa believes that we live in an emotional world, taking a philosophical view that we can all be whatever we want to be. He considers Sea Force One a realisation of his dream, “the ultimate toy: part art and part party ” the sharing of movement. Party is very important: it’s when you lose your place and become like everyone else ” a sharing element, sharing energy.”
Ed Dubois – Dubois Naval Architects
Ed Dubois was born in London in 1952. He grew up near London – in the landlocked county of Surrey. But an innate love of the sea, boats and sailing meant that the career choice of yacht design was set from his early teens. He graduated from the Diploma course in Yacht and Boat design at Southampton College of Technology in 1974 and was employed by Alan Buchanan and Partners, naval architects in Jersey, for a year before leaving to design his first yacht Borsalino III. This boat, a 34′ offshore racing yacht was launched in 1976 and won the British 3/4 Ton Cup trials and the RORC Class IV points for that year. Following on from this success Ed Dubois began Dubois Naval Architects Ltd. in 1977. Malcolm McKeon, Ed’s co-Director in the Company, joined in 1981 and became a Director and shareholder in 1989. International recognition came with the Admiral’s Cup and the 1979 winner, Australia’s Police Car. This was followed by the 1981 winning yachts Victory of Burnham and Dragon, racing for the British Team. Racing successes continued in such events as the Southern Cross Cup and the Sardinia Cup, together with victories in the Sydney to Hobart Race, Fastnet Race, Newport to Bermuda Race and the China Sea Races. This background of racing success and understanding of hydrodynamics has been vital in the success of the many large cruising yachts now being designed by Dubois. Dubois Naval Architects moved into Superyacht design in the late 80′s and has now designed over 30 yachts between 106 ft (32 metres) and 216 ft (66 metres). This relatively new market began in the 1980s and amongst other design companies Dubois saw the possibilities of combining good sailing performance with great comfort and ultimate seaworthiness. The current opportunities, presented by new materials to enhance sailing performance together with the open minds of a new generation of owners, allow a completely new approach to the overall architecture and space planning. The philosophy at Dubois, therefore, is to combine ultimate seaworthiness and excellent performance with imaginative space planning and well-proportioned and elegant outboard lines.
Rocco Finocchiaro – Amico & Co
Born in Messina in 1973, Rocco Finocchiaro graduated in Nautical Law from the State University of Messina. He started his career on Passenger Ships for the Costa Crociere Company and in 1999 he served for the first time as Captain. He continued his career as captain on board M/Y Nel blu (an 88-foot San Lorenzo) and M/Y Felidan (a Benetti 115) where he stayed for 3 years. In 2005 Rocco Finocchiaro founded his company Monello Yachting Consulting where he worked as manager. Since October 2008 he has been working in Amico & Co shipyard as Marketing Manager. Thanks to his great experience within the naval sector he has the ability to fully comprehend the clients’ needs and is able to translate this to the shipyard who provide the expertise where required. He prides himself in working in close collaboration with the captains and clients providing both technical support and nautical knowledge ensuring a seamless refit.
Ken Freivokh – Ken Freivokh Design
Ken leads one of the world’s top yacht styling and interior design teams, working from a studio overlooking the River Hamble, England. Born in Los Angeles, California, from French and Chilean parents, he completed his BSc (Engineering) and Master in Architecture Degree in Peru, followed by postgraduate studies in Industrial Design (Engineering) at The Royal College of Art, London. Ken worked as Head Architect on projects as diverse as the Hong Kong Mass Railway System, the Kuwait Zoo, the British Museum and a number of aircraft and residential projects. He masterminded the Squadron range for Fairline, and worked as exclusive designer for Sunseeker over a period of 13 years. The engineering and architectural backgrounds are evident in Ken’s work, where the hallmark of his contemporary projects are clearly a by-product of interpretation of the brief in the light of detailed analysis, and perhaps this is best typified by the external styling and interior of Maltese Falcon. A keen sailor, Ken has a Yachtmaster Offshore ticket, and competed for many years in RORC offshore and International Dragon Regattas.
Graham Hawkes – Hawkes Ocean Technologies
Internationally renowned ocean engineer/inventor, Graham Hawkes, has been responsible for the design of a significant percentage of all manned (and more than 300 remote) vehicles built for research, industry and exploration, including the WASP and Mantis Atmospheric Diving Suits, the Deep Rover research submersibles – which were recently featured in James Cameron’s 3-D IMAX film, “Aliens of the Deep – and the DeepFlight series of winged submersibles. Hawkes currently holds the world record for the deepest solo dive (3000 feet), achieved while test piloting his Deep Rover submersible. Most recently, Hawkes built the world’s only full ocean depth manned vehicle, Deep Flight Challenger, which was originally commissioned by adventurer Steve Fossett. Fossett had planned to set a world record dive to 37,000 feet. Hawkes has also introduced the DeepFlight Super Falcon, the fourth generation winged submersible, and the first production DeepFlight craft. Hawkes delivered the first Super Falcon to venture captalist, Tom Perkins, for his yacht, S/Y Maltese Falcon, and has built a second craft which is used for Hawkes’ ocean exploration projects.
Bob Hubble – Helios Marine
Former Royal Navy Officer, Bob has 25 years embarked aviation experience during which he specialised in operating helicopters from Frigates and Destroyers, flying in all environments from arctic to desert including Search and Rescue, anti terrorism, and VIP transfers. His expertise includes all aspects of embarked aviation, including maintenance, planning, integrating airborne operations within the ship’s programme and training junior pilots and ships crews, a role he still retains as a reservist. As Chief Pilot of a trials and evaluation squadron, Bob worked on the integration of a new mark of helicopter into service. With degree studies in the principles and practice of design, he combined theoretical and practical applications of project management to achieve safe, pragmatic results. In his final full time role in the Navy, Bob was accountable for the standards and practices of all Lynx helicopter operations, both embarked and ashore and was pivotal in designing the procedures, training and integration for new technology. Possessing both rotary and fixed wing licences, Bob is qualified on Airbus jet and Dash 8 turboprop aircraft where he is both a CAA approved Type Rating Instructor and CRM Examiner and Instructor (The exemplar for Bridge Resource Management).
Nigel Irens – Nigel Irens Design
Nigel Irens has been working at the cutting edge of the design of multi-hulled racing yachts since 1977. His fascination with these fast and easily-driven vessels led him to experiment with the application of similar principles in the field of motor driven vessels, and in 1988 he produced the 21 metre powered trimaran Ilan Voyager which set (and still holds) the record for an un-refuelled circumnavigation of mainland Britain. The Irens designed 36 metre trimaran Cable & Wireless Adventurer set a world circumnavigation record in 1998. Since 2002 he has turned his attention to the development of more conventional single-hulled vessels whose sea-keeping, comfort and economy of operation have proved very satisfactory and performance has provided the impetus to apply the same principles to larger and more ambitious designs.
Hani Jabsheh – Owner of M/Y Hana
Hani Jabsheh is co-founder and CEO of Al Bawaba.com, Inc. – the largest digital content provider and a pioneer in online media in the Arab world and greater Middle East. Since its inception ten years ago, Al Bawaba has been at the forefront of wholesale media aggregation and syndication through its Al Bawaba and Syndigate brands in the region. Hani has also been an avid boater and a keen water-sportsman since his early days in the Arabian Gulf Emirate of Abu Dhabi, learning to water ski at the age of six. The family has had several boats throughout the years culminating in a very recent 43-meter displacement yacht from CRN, aptly named after his mother – Hana. Hani’s passion for yachts has also landed him a small side business in onboard digital entertainment systems – nepTune, which was nominated for the 2008 WSA Technology award. nepTune is a cost effective and flexible approach to onboard entertainment systems based around Apple TV technology. Hani also serves as a judge on the World Superyacht Awards panel.
David V. Johnson – Owner of M/Y Resolute
David V. Johnson, Chairman of Victor International Corporation, is internationally respected as a successful entrepreneur and luxury community developer committed to creating unique living and working environments that exist in ecological harmony with the land. In 2003, Johnson and Bay Harbor; a $1 billion, 1,200 acre luxury resort community extending along five miles of Lake Michigan, were awarded the prestigious international Award for Excellence by the Urban Land Institute for excellence in design, planning and development. Once named Entrepreneur of the Year by USA Today, Johnson has also been hailed as Environmentalist of the Year by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and, most recently, as Bloomfield Hills Rotary Club’s 2006 Distinguished Community Leader and as the 2006 Developer of the Year by the Building Industry Association. Johnson has supported a host of local and national organizations such as the American Heart Association; the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute; Big Brothers Big Sisters of America; Child Help USA; North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy; The University of Michigan Cancer Foundation; and Therapeutic Riding, Inc. The latter agency is particularly near to Johnson, who overcame a broken neck suffered in a 1978 swimming pool accident. In 1988 he established the Victor Foundation, providing charitable contributions to foster programs for children, the physically challenged and young adults. He is a founding member of the Bay Harbor Foundation, which contributes to the advancement of educational, cultural, social, and other charitable community endeavours of importance.
Henk Koster – Owner of M/Y Grace
Born in 1941, during the war, in Hilversum, Holland, of Dutch parents, Henk initially trained for a career in shipping and sailed as junior officer on cargo ships in 1958/9. He then changed over to civil aviation and, after his military service as a navy pilot, he joined several airlines in a row as co-pilot, captain, chief instructor and operations manager. Home was Amsterdam, Malta, Geneva and Monaco. In the mid-seventies, Henk reduced his flying duties considerably, in order to study philosophy and to pursue several small ventures as diverse as real estate, interior design, medical research, insurance, yacht building in Holland, seaplane flying in the U.S. and a lot of sailing in the Mediterranean. Eventually, there was also time to build the 48M modern classic motor yacht Grace. He recently went back to merchant navy school and now holds a master’s certificate for all ships of less than 3000 GT, enabling him to operate Grace commercially as captain, preferably North of the Arctic Circle.
Moritz Krijgsman – Alewijnse Marine Technology B.V.
After leaving the Royal Netherlands Naval College in 1984, Moritz Krijgsman began his career as a Chief Engineering Officer on submarines, building knowledge and experience as a self-supporting user and repairer of special, sophisticated marine equipment with a ‘third dimension’. After 14 years military service, he changed direction to maintenance and repair of military vessels at the Naval Dockyard in Den Helder. As Maintenance Engineering Manager he initiated the philosophy of efficient up-keeping: ‘Think before you maintain or repair.’ In 1997 he moved across to the new build business as Engineering Manager at Smit Transformers in Nijmegen, where he guided the change towards the modular and parametric design and construction of power transformers. In 2003 he returned to the marine business as the Managing Director of Alewijnse Marine Technology, the dedicated design and engineering company of Alewijnse Marine Systems. In that function he is the driver of the change from pure electrician towards electrical systems engineering and the application of marine electronics and automation, marine electrical power and energy and marine electrical drives, aggravated to specific market segments, like yachts, navy, dredging and inland vessels. Besides this managerial challenge, Moritz is the architect of the electrical power and energy systems of, among others, Ethereal and the Amsterdam Fuel Cell Boat. Moritz holds an M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Delft University of Technology. He lives in the neighbourhood of Nijmegen with his wife and two children.
Paolo Moretti – RINA
Paolo Moretti currently holds the position of Pleasure Craft Product Line Manager within RINA S.p.A. He is responsible for all the technical, operational and business activities relevant to yachts. Having graduated in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Genova, he joined RINA S.p.A. in 1997. Between 1999 and 2001 he worked in the Pusan Office assigned mainly to new building projects of oil and chemical tankers. Between 2001 and 2006 he supervised the construction of cruise ships, surveys on board existing vessels and ISM and ISPS auditing, with the title of Senior Surveyor.
Kev Mathieson – Helidecks Training Solutions
Kev served with the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot from 1982-2008. During this time he flew six different helicopter types and served all over the world. Career highlights included a three year exchange tour with the US Navy based in Jacksonville, Florida teaching pilots to fly the Seahawk Helicopter and the introduction of the EH101 Merlin helicopter to service with the Royal Navy. His final job in the RN was to oversee all aspects of helicopter/ship operations including the safety assessments and helideck limitations. In 2006 Kev formed Helidecks to offer specialist helideck design, training and integration services to the superyacht industry. The company now deals with over 30 superyacht projects worldwide and has written the helicopter/helideck code for various Flag states and is the Aviation Inspectorate for the Belize Flag.
Donald M. Patton – Patton Marine
Donald Patton is the owner and President of Patton Marine, Inc. He has over 65 years experience in the marine industry racing sailing yachts all over the world, as well as worldwide yacht deliveries. During his career, Mr Patton has served as captain, engineer, project manager and broker. He has worked in all aspects of the marine industry. In 1981, he started a small surveying/consulting company who have surveyed, consulted on, wrote specifications for new builds and refits, overseen new builds and refits on over 10,000 yachts. His small company has grown into one of the world’s largest marine surveying and consulting companies and is known as one of the leading surveying companies for superyachts worldwide.
Dr Klaas Spethmann – Abeking & Rasmussen
Born in 1944 near Oldenburg, Dr Spethmann began his career as a Craft Shipwright Architect in 1964 at Abeking & Rasmussen. He later studied naval architecture at Ingenieurschule Bremen before becoming Project Engineer at the Rickmers and Fassmer Yards. In 1979 he graduated in maritime trade from the Technical University of Berlin before working at MAN, Diesel Engines Division, as assistant to the Executive Board. MAN Diesel then merged with Burmeister & Wain forming MAN-B&W Diesel GmbH, leading to an appointment as Senior Manager and Executive Director of the turbo charger area (Marketing). In 1987 he became Executive Director for Technical Marketing at the Fassmer Yard, transforming and expanding the yard from boat to ship building as well as designing a new product range. Dr Spethmann has worked for Abeking & Rasmussen from 1994 as Technical and Executive Director, marketing navy and authority ships. He has developed an updated product programme and manufacturing method for yachts, special ships and unconventional type of ships like SWATH.
Marc Van Peteghem – Van Peteghem Lauriot Pr̩vost Yacht Design
Marc Van Peteghem grew up beside the ocean. Although born in Paris, he learned sailing while cruising the Mediterranean with his parents. As a boy, he manifested a childhood dream and built his own optimist dinghy. In 1974, he raced a Contessa 35 in the English Channel. He then crewed aboard Variana, a Dick Carter designed steel centerboarder, and on R̩volution, Jean-Marie Finot ‘s famous Admiral’s Cup winner. But it was in 1978 when he encountered Elle, a Dick Newick design, (which he actually helped to build on the banks of the Hamble) and her sister ship, Blue Amnesia, (raced by Paulo Martinoni in the 1978 Route du Rhum), that he knew he had found what he was looking for in a racing yacht – nothing could compare to a multihiull! While he was studying Naval Architecture at Southampton Institute he met his friend and Associate Vincent Lauriot Pr̩vost. In 1983 they created the firm Van Peteghem Lauriot Pr̩vost (VPLP) and began by designing the 50′ multihull foiler Gerard Lambert for the OSTAR. They have not looked back since. Arguably no other multihull designers have dominated in the various fields of yacht design: record setting trimarans (40m Maxi Banque Populaire V), production cruising catamarans (Lagoon maintain the most successful global sales in their market), and luxury sailing custom yachts (140′ Douce France and 145′ Gemini).
Lisa H. Verbit – US Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management
Ms. Verbit began her career with Bank of America in 1984, joining the Marine Division of the Private Wealth Management Group in 1989. She has served in a management role with the Marine Division since 1993. Beginning in 2002 she assumed the role of National Marine Executive responsible for the yacht lending program within the U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management Group providing customised yacht lending solutions for new and existing clients. In this capacity she and her team have worked with clients on financings ranging in size from $1,000,000 to over $70,000,000, including U.S. and international new build projects.
Joseph Vittoria – Owner of S/Y Mirabella V
Mr. Vittoria retired as chairman and chief executive officer of Avis, Inc. in 1997. While at Avis, he was responsible for creating the Avis Employee Stock Ownership Trust, the largest at that time and long considered a model for companies and governments evaluating employee-ownership programs. He has served as an advisory director of the National Crime Prevention Council and in recognition of his efforts on behalf of missing children, he was asked to serve as a member of President Reagan’s Child Safety Partnership. Mr. Vittoria was President of the Columbia Business School Alumni Association’s board of directors for many years and now is a member emeritus of the Board of Overseers. He was the founding chairman of the board of visitors of the Georgetown University School of Language and Linguistic and holds an honorary doctor of laws degree from Molloy College and a Doctor of Business Administration from Roger Williams University. A passion for sailing has inspired him to develop unusual sailboats.
Andrew Winch – Andrew Winch Designs
Having started Andrew Winch Designs in 1986 with his wife Jane, Andrew Winch has successfully nurtured and developed the company over the last 23 years, to win numerous International Superyacht Society, and Showboats awards for motor and sailing yacht projects. Andrew now leads a studio of 35 employees with the assistance of his team of four Associate Directors. Having grown up sailing on the south coast of England in dinghies and cruising yachts, Andrew’s love of the sea embodies all of his work. A year sailing as a crew member across the Atlantic and in the Caribbean on a private 52 foot sailing yacht, followed his formal training in London. On his return he joined Jon Bannenberg Ltd as an apprentice designer, bottle washer, pencil sharpener and coffee maker! In 1986 he launched Andrew Winch Designs with his wife Jane. The first two projects were the Swan 36 with gullwing windows, and the C&N 46 Bluewater Cruising yacht. In the following 23 very successful years, Andrew Winch Designs have completed 32 sailing yachts, 20 motor yacht projects and 9 aviation projects. Their involvement on these projects has ranged from concept, to full interior and exterior design!