Every month, superyacht owners share where they are and where they’re heading. This time, Stéphane Oberer reflects on an 18-month Caribbean adventure on board his 44.3-metre Conrad yacht Ace, reveals the secret to building a loyal crew and explains why life at sea feels like home.
Stéphane Oberer
Yacht: Ace
Length: 44.3m
Year: 2022
Location: Cannes, France
Where has Ace been?
The boat just came back from the Caribbean a week ago. We spent almost 18 months there and did the whole Caribbean. We started in St Barths and went south through the Grenadines, close to Venezuela, then back up to the BVIs, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the Exumas.
What were the highlights?
There were many. At Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic there is a village, Altos de Chavón, that looks hundreds of years old, but it’s completely fake – it’s something to see. In the Tobago Cays you can swim with turtles and even touch them. The Exumas had a lot of sharks and is one of the best places to do a romantic beach set-up for dinner.
There, we found a floating padel court on the ocean – it was amazing. I love to play golf and there were top-class courses – in Anguilla, at Casa de Campo and at Albany in the Bahamas. In St Lucia, we were able to play a very private golf course at Point Hardy Golf Club. I think there are only something like 80 members. You play every hole over the water. It was unbelievable. Arriving in Miami after five days at sea from Santo Domingo was also something.
Were you on board the whole time?
I spent quite a lot of time on board. Just once I did a business trip and then returned. I love to be on the water and on the boat. And I love to be with the crew; we are like a family.
What’s the secret to keeping great crew?
I take care of them and they take care of us. The captain, Jason, has been with me for five years, since a year before the boat was delivered. And many of the crew have been with me from the beginning. Most are South African; they are away from home for many months, so it’s very important to create an atmosphere on board in which they feel at home – where they feel very comfortable and they’re happy and enjoying work, of course, but they’re also enjoying being on board.
So I do a lot of things with my crew: we go for dinner very often, and we run and play golf. In St Lucia, we all hiked the Pitons together. We create a great atmosphere – I do my best for them, and in turn they do their best for me.
First published in the June 2026 issue of BOAT International. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.
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