Tell us about those Feadships, Ted!

I’ve had the incredible privilege to have been captain aboard four fabulous Feadships. The first was Attessa II, the name given to Impromptu after an award-winning refit project in 1994 which I oversaw and included a new helipad and composite deck. I then captained the 48-metre Feadship Katrion from 1999 to 2002, before embarking on the rebuild of the 69-metre Attessa III (ex. Lady Aviva). This included running a purpose-built yard with 150 employees. I then took on my only major non-Feadship project for the same owner – the 100-metre Attessa IV, which was the largest refit in the world.

Last but certainly not least, I moved to the Netherlands in 2012 to be build & warranty captain on the 83.5-metre Savannah project at Feadship. It was a phenomenal experience to be involved in creating the world’s first hybrid motor-superyacht build and the owner is immensely proud. It was a great challenge and winning the 2016 World Superyacht of the Year award was the icing on the cake. I am immensely proud of this achievement.

You certainly bring lots of experience to your new role. 

It’s fair to say that I’ve built up some knowledge of the disciplines involved in yachtbuilding and the need to create an environment of team cooperation. I’m also familiar with worldwide suppliers and yards, which will be of help to Feadship owners. My global cruising experience and the years of being a charter captain help as well. As commercial manager my role is to represent the brand, something I’ve been doing for decades. I can tell people that it’s great fun to build a Feadship because I have been a part of it. And having so many years of operating Feadships under my belt gives a great insight into how they work in practice.

Did you already live in Fort Lauderdale before taking up this role? 

Heck, no. If you want a sign that I’m pleased to be commercial director it’s the fact that my wife Barbara and I packed up and left our lakeside home in the Sierra Mountains and promptly bought a canal front home in Fort Lauderdale. I’m an avid Harley rider and live in an area visited by motorcycle tours from all over the world. I did hope to convince Feadship to move its America office to Napa Valley but they didn’t agree so Fort Lauderdale here we come! We’re both excited for the opportunity to live here and support a company we have believed in and worked with for years.

In all seriousness, the Feadship brand is perceived in America as the absolute best that money can buy so it’s an honour to work with them. As one of my former bosses used to say, ‘If you want to build a yacht right you have to go to Feadship.’ In addition to the US, there is currently an increase in Feadship clients from Central and South America as well. I’m looking forward to helping all these owners and captains create their perfect Feadship in the years ahead.