Superyacht Success

'Entertaining, authoritative, and fascinating.'
- Joseph Finder, New York Times bestselling author of The Oligarch's Daughter
'This book contains gold ... I highly recommend it to anyone working within the industry.'
- Tim Clarke, Director of Quay Group
'A book filled with honesty, valuable advice and plenty of reality.'
- Martin Redmayne, Chairman & Editor in Chief of The Superyacht Group / The Superyacht Agency
An insider's guide to the superyacht industry, detailing how to get in, progress through the ranks and thrive on the journey.
I have made a life's career within the superyacht community, and in Superyacht Success I share this openly. This is for readers who want to start or continue a career in the superyacht industry, as well as for those who want an insight into the most amazing workplace.
Superyacht Success is an audience with one of the most experienced superyacht captains in the business, and gives you the insider's take on the culture of the industry, how to get hired and how to thrive as you progress through the ranks - handling the demand for absolute perfection at all times, yet avoiding the easy trap of allowing yachting to become your life.
- Section 1 provides an overview of the industry and its history.
- Section 2 examines getting hired (detailing useful qualifications and experience, and advice on agencies and interviews), embracing being new, understanding life on board, and typical career pathways.
- Section 3 covers questions of leadership: establishing a culture of openness and trust, setting boundaries, dealing with the demands of perfectionism.
- Section 4 dives into questions of captaincy: communication and crafting a superyacht life well lived.
-Section 5 comprises of an invaluable toolbox of advice and techniques for crew at all levels from boat handling to briefing teams.
-Chapters also feature '10 Dos and Don'ts' boxes, as well as insights from other high-profile professionals within the industry.
This is the definitive insider's guide to the normally shielded world of Superyachts, and clearly sets out what crew need to know to progress and succeed.

Brendan O'Shannassy grew up in Fremantle, Australia, and gained his undergraduate degree and officer education with the Royal Australian Navy. After a period in commercial maritime he joined his first superyacht as a deck hand in 2001, and his first captaincy was in 2006. His yacht racing career has also seen him participate in multiple Sydney Hobarts, the Fastnet Race, and many more.
Brendan continues to study and is currently beginning a PhD in marine data collection. He is also the author of Superyacht Captain, published by Adlard Coles in 2022.

Section 1: The Industry
- we meet the yachting community, learn some of the history and the web that is the superyacht diaspora.
Section 2: The Humans
- Yachts are platforms to carry humans. This section looks at how this plays out in a superyacht.
- Getting hired: qualifications, crew agencies, interviews,
- Green is good: learn to embrace being new, communal living, taking direction
- Career progression: typical pathways
- The advice is brought to life with stories of Brendan's own progression through the ranks (he acknowledges that even as a successful captain the human side of the industry (rather than the professional skills side) is where he has most to learn.
Section 3: The Job
- Being more than 'crew': the sea/shore roster
- Establishing long-term security
- Strength in diversity and differing outlooks
- Creating a culture of openness and trust
- Work/life balance and setting boundaries
- Perfection: the hardest taskmaster
Section 4: Life as a Superyacht Captain
- Look after yourself first: maintaining the SHED (Sleep, Hydration, Exercise and Diet)
- Communication Up: Saying no is not a failure
- Communication Side and Down: clarity and motivation
- Communication outside: importance of non-industry family and friends
- A superyacht life well lived
Section 5: The Toolbox
Onboard communications
- Situation/Mission/Execution/Administration/Command and comms
- Public speaking
- The written word
- Listening effectively
- Anatomy of a communications failure
- 'Sell the job'
Leading teams
- Recruitment (inc interview questions)
- Crew Lifetime Value: professional skills, crew culture, guest experience
- Feedback: giving and receiving
- Psychological safety and creating an environment of optimal performance
- Core values
- Loose guidelines/tight objectives
Boat handling
- 1% of the job, but the 1% that has to be right
- Berth to berth planning: resourcing and communication
- Bridge briefing step by step
- Setting multiple anchors
Dos and Don'ts:
- Stewardess perspective
- Chief Officer perspective
- Others to come
Further reading