Richard Goche [ on board Allures Richard Goche has spent 39 of his 40 years at sea, but admits he still has oceans left to discover ] 20Isea& iIWINTER 2010

WINTER 2010I sea& iI21 captain'sview be a good communicator - you're not just a captain, you're a human being, and it's important that your crew appreciate that. GOCHE ON. UNUSUAL CHARTERS One of my most curious experiences was for a couple in Tahiti many years ago. They had chartered a yacht of which I was captain, and at 10am every day they would hand me a large amount of cash and ask me to disappear with the crew until 6pm. So we left them anchored in privacy on a sandbank in Bora Bora and went off to enjoy ourselves ashore - we were exhausted by the end of the week. GOCHE ON. ALLURES It is a real pleasure to work on Allures. She has a unique and innovative design and whips along at around 20 knots under sail, which is fun. If I could magically alter her, all I'd do is change her length to 39m ( 130') to give her expedition and world- cruising capacity. n GOCHE ON. HIS BACKGROUND I was born a few feet above sea level in Tahiti, and my childhood was spent surrounded by the Pacific Ocean; I think it seeped into my blood. My parents built and owned a yacht called Danae III. She was the first charter sailing yacht in Tahiti, so I completed my initial cruise as a crew member around the age of one. I decided early on to make yachting my life. GOCHE ON. THE SUPERYACHT INDUSTRY I have been involved with yachts for nearly 40 years. In the early days, people were drawn to work at sea because of their love of the ocean and the remarkable freedom and lifestyle it afforded. Today, that life can be very far from reality. Money comes first - how much you can make and how fast. Seamanship is becoming a rare quality. On the plus side, the profession is gaining respect, and being a captain or crew member is finally getting the professional recognition it deserves. One of the significant changes I'd like to see is a dedicated training school for crew. It's a real job with very special guests and circumstances, and a professional college would be fantastic preparation for a career at sea. GOCHE ON. TRAVEL My favourite cruising destinations are Sicily, Turkey, Croatia, the Galapagos, the East Coast of America and my homeland Tahiti. I haven't yet cruised the Indian Ocean or Norwegian Fjords, so they're on my wish list - as are Vietnam and the South Pole. GOCHE ON. BEING A CAPTAIN Boats are easy, they don't try to think for you; it's the crew that can make life a challenge. I'd advise anyone coming up through the ranks to be open- minded and always ready to revise their opinion and position. It's also important to SPECIFICATIONS LENGTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30.3m ( 99' 4) BEAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13m ( 42' 6) DRAFT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.2m ( 7' 2) BUILDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Composite Works, France YEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2006 GUESTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 CREW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4/ 5 CRUISING AREA . . . . . Caribbean ( winter); West Mediterranean ( summer) PRICES FROM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .? 55,000/ week