 
Interview with: Stuart Ribton, Director, Southern Right Yachting
There is nothing more alluring and beautiful than a trip on a luxury yacht, but only if the myriad details and complications of ownership are carefully managed. And it starts on dry land.
A successful journey is the end product of a long process that takes care of logistics, route planning, port coordination and customs clearance, spare parts availability, compliance, maintenance and much more. And few owners have the time or knowledge to deal with it all – most take to the seas to escape their worries rather than make them worse.
The job of managing a crewed luxury yacht is reserved for specialists. Only a handful of yacht management companies can keep up with the many ever-changing variables of a luxury trip with friends. As Southern Right Yachting director Stuart Ribton can attest, it’s a full-time job, even for professionals. An ocean engineer with over 30 years of experience at sea, he’s done it all.
During this period he managed the complexities of the dry dock, oversaw all maintenance procedures that make a boat seaworthy, conducted multiple surveys, acted as technical superintendent for new builds and undertook processes compliance on a wide variety of vessels. And that’s just the beginning of Southern Right Yachting’s comprehensive capabilities.
“Our job is to take the hassle out of these trips,” says Ribton. Created 10 years ago in Switzerland, Southern Right Yachting has continued to grow, particularly in the Netherlands and Great Britain. Headquartered in Amsterdam, with easy access to Schiphol Airport, Ribton is right in the heart of one of Europe’s most important luxury yacht environments. “It is the gateway to all European shipyards, suppliers and contractors,” he explains. “This is the beginning of all safe passage.”
Versatility of expertise
Over his years in the industry, Ribton has learned that every luxury boat is different, bringing its own headaches, and that versatility of expertise is essential. “I discovered that the joy of travel begins with the experience, knowledge and connections that make it possible,” he says. “There are so many issues involved. How big is the boat? Where will it sail? Who will sail it? When not in use, where will it be anchored and who will maintain it? And above all, who will be the crew?
Nothing will define your enjoyment at sea more than the quality of your crew
As he explains, there are many people on a yacht – owners, guests and crew – who live and, in the case of the crew, work in close proximity. While the owner chooses the guests, it is the yacht manager who, along with the captain, will select the crew. “Nothing will define your enjoyment at sea more than the quality of your crew,” says Ribton. His years at sea showed him the importance of a harmonious environment – and that starts with a dedicated and capable crew. While the owner and guests enjoy their time afloat, the crew takes care of navigation, catering, onboard maintenance, engineering and everything else that ensures a safe and enjoyable passage.
And, like many things during the voyage, this level of dedication begins on land, such as managing payroll, complying with maritime regulations, and supporting training programs, among other tasks. “Southern Right Yachting ensures your crew meets the latest and best standards in the industry,” he says.
To illustrate how the industry is constantly evolving, he cites how the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry has developed new regulations intended to provide better conditions for crews.
Ribton strongly endorses these measures: “This represents an important step towards ensuring transparency and accountability within the maritime industry. Ensuring all crew are working under contract and are protected promotes fairness and professionalism across the industry. Ultimately, this benefits shipowners and crew members. I hope other flag states will follow this example.
And as Ribton has discovered through his own experience, no crew understands the whole sailing experience better than people from the yachting world. Although there are many tasks to complete before the ship leaves its moorings, it is when they are afloat that the old yachts come into their own, citing, among other things, their familiarity with propulsion systems, navigation, electrical and mechanical.
“Ultimately, it’s about maintaining a safe and secure environment on board,” Ribton emphasizes. “This is where the joy of the journey begins.”