Captain, 141-foot Trinity motoryacht Big City

Date interviewed: May 2009

The 141-foot motoryacht Big City, which launched a few months ago from the Trinity Yachts shipyard, is the first build you have ever overseen. How was the process?
I had been the captain of the owner’s first Big City since 2003, and he and I had always talked about building another boat. We’d sit around and say, “What if?” Everybody, at some point in the yachting industry, gets to talking about how they would do things if they had a chance. Well, this was my chance.
It took two and a half years, and I handled the project from start to finish with a partner. It was a real challenge. In late 2006, the owner almost bought a Kingship from China with Vripack engineering, but Trinity had a build slot available because there was another owner who had started a yacht on paper, but not actually started building yet. The price was right, so we went with Trinity.

Was the new Big City always intended to go into charter?
Yes. We thought about charter from the start. We went to boat shows and looked at everything we could, and then upgraded the boat’s navigation equipment, all the audiovisual equipment, everything. We have two antennae, for instance: one for high-definition and the other for regular television. We’re cutting edge and upgradeable. We’re not just new, but we’re ready for whatever is coming next.
It amazes me today that we have 12 terabytes on our entertainment system. Just amazing. And that’s not even getting into our Kaleidescape entertainment system, our iPod docking stations, and our zero-speed stabilizers, all of which are of course charter-friendly features.

Another charter-friendly feature is your large swim platform, which is becoming something of a calling card for Trinity motoryachts these days.
It is huge, isn’t it? We call it “the beach.” We had it built with an extra-wide ladder that makes it easier for people to get in and out of the water, too.

Big City is available for charters with 10 guests. Some motoryachts the same size take 12.
We take 10 guests, and we’re proud of it. We’re not putting in Pullman berths or pushing the beds together or anything else like that to try to squeeze in 12 guests. We are the right-size boat for 10 guests and nine crew, and that’s how we built the boat intentionally.

Did you pay as much attention to the crew areas as to the guest areas?
Definitely. Our galley, for instance, has a commercial range. A feature like that is always a battle because people want the galley to look like something out of Better Homes and Gardens, which is pretty, but it’s not functional for charter.
I actually took some of my past charter chefs through Big City’s blueprints to get their advice and ideas. We ended up with a really great design. We have a lot of refrigerator space, so we can carry a lot of fresh vegetables. Our freezers are big, too, so we can stock up on high-quality proteins. Charter guests don’t see any of that, but it sure makes a big difference in the food we can serve them.

Big City’s crew quarters are also finished to a high degree that is uncommon, even for yachts in this size range.
We knew going into the project that if we were going to get the best charter crew, we had to offer them not only the best pay, but also the best lifestyle. We built individual flip-down televisions with wireless headphones into every crew bunk. Everybody can get on the Internet to keep in touch with family and friends.
Things like that make a great crew feel at home and stay. And a steady crew is a very good thing for top-notch charter service.

There are a few other brand-new yachts in Big City’s size range available this summer for Western Mediterranean charters. What else do you think makes Big City stand out?
We have all the gadgets. We have misters around the Jacuzzi on the sundeck, and on the aft deck, too. We have bathrobes for the sundeck Jacuzzi that are separate from the ones in the guest bathrooms. We have all the costumes for theme nights for guests who like that sort of thing—full regalia for pirates, cowboys, and luaus. We even have extra coconut bras if the guests want them. We also have a karaoke system to die for, including a P.A. and lighting setup that we can set up for guest concerts on the beach.
I would also say that our interior décor sets us apart. It’s by Patrick Knowles, and it’s not ostentatious. It’s not over the top. It’s understated elegance. Oh, and we probably even still have the new-boat smell!

Do you have your first charter booked yet?
Not yet. After the boat launched, we did three weeks in the Bahamas with the owner, then came straight to the Western Mediterranean. The owner plans to use the boat some more this summer, and we expect to become available for charters around the middle or end of July.
The owner use will give us a chance to really hone our skills for chartering. The whole crew is excited about that. We’re ready to go.

Big City is part of the International Yacht Collection fleet. She takes 10 guests with nine crew at a lowest weekly base rate of about $233,000. Any reputable charter broker can help you book a vacation onboard.