AUTUMN 2009I sea& iI25 captain'sview KAYE ON. HIS CAREER Igrew up in the north of England and started sailing at the age of six. Aged 12, I bought my first of three 470 Olympic Class Sailing dinghies. I raced in the school sailing team and at a national level in the 420 and Laser 2 before becoming a dinghy instructor. Years later, after graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering, I ran a fleet of yachts in Greece but I was always looking for new experiences so it wasn't long before I set off to the Caribbean to captain some of the highest standard charter yachts around - which gave me the experience I needed to take the helm of Big Aron. My many years of experience - from running flotillas in Greece to working on charter catamarans in the Caribbean - were invaluable. My advice to any aspiring skipper: don't rush to be a captain - work your way up so you learn all you need to know. When I'm not working, and the wind is right, you'll still find me on the ocean; practising tricks on my kite board. KAYE ON. BIG ARON Big Aron is unique - you can see that by looking at her hull. Her spacious, fabulous owner's deck, excellent watersports equipment, great range of 10,000nm, low fuel consumption and varied entertainment areas make her my ideal yacht - and she's proving to be just as popular with all the guests who come on board. KAYE ON. BEING A CAPTAIN You see it all being the captain of a superyacht and along the way you meet some amazing people, guests and crew. Take our stewardess Megan, for example. her dad is a jackaroo, which makes for some entertaining stories. Then you have crew with eccentric personalities, or ones who seem to go missing in action even within the relatively limited confines of a yacht. My five ultimate guests would have to be my wife, Elle Macpherson, Aaron Hadlow ( Kitesurfing World Champion), Sean Connery and former England rugby player Brian Moore. KAYE ON. THE SUPERYACHT INDUSTRY The industry has matured over the years as legislation has increased. Young captains seem to embrace today's system more easily than older captains as they have moved up with the new changes. I believe these have allowed yachts to be managed in a manner that is safer and more caring for guests and crew. I think the industry should go even further with legislation and be more like the merchant side of the navy, allowing for the protection of crew through unions. Bigger yachts look after their crews with proper salaries and holidays, but on the smaller yachts there can be less care and longevity. It's important for crew to really get to know a yacht and work their way up, and all too often that's not the case. KAYE ON. TRAVEL The cruising destinations that top my list are French Polynesia, the Mediterranean, Brazil ( because it has such a compelling atmosphere), and Tonga for its uniqueness. But the port I most look forward to visiting has to be Palma, as my wife lives there. I haven't yet made it to Micronesia or India, so they're two spots that are on my radar. Socialising on shore you might find me at Ivan's beach bar at White Bay on Jost Van Dyke in the Caribbean; its honour bar has a great policy that you make your own drinks and just leave the cash on the counter. ¦ SPECIFICATIONS LENGTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46.68m ( 153' 1) BEAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10.3m ( 33' 9) DRAFT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.9m ( 9' 5) ENGINES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 x 1,100hp CATs BUILDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Royal Denship DESIGNER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ole Steen Knudsen YEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2004 ( 2006) STATEROOMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 GUESTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 CREW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

26Isea& iIAUTUMN 2009 where in the [ GRAND HOTEL CAP FERRAT F ollowing a multi- million euro revamp, the legendary Grand Hotel Cap Ferrat in France reopened in May with redecorated rooms and suites, new restaurants, freshly landscaped gardens and a cutting- edge spa. The belle époquehotel, located in one of the Côte d'Azur's most fashionable spots, is set on the top of the Cap Ferrat peninsula. Opened in 1908, this grand and classic hotel has welcomed the great and the famous for the past 100 years, including politicians, artists and Hollywood movie stars. Interior designer Pierre- Yves Rochon has revamped the hotel using an abundance of white throughout to create a light and airy atmosphere from the lobby to the suites. Set in 17 acres of parkland, the Grand Hotel, as it is most commonly known, sits imposingly at the top of the Cap looking down over a sweeping lawn surrounded by pine and cypress trees that lead to the famous Club Dauphin beach club and to the sea beyond. For further information, visit www. lhw. com sea& ibrings you the latest luxury travel news world.]