Captain Liam Devlin on his deep appreciation for crew and Unbridled’s new social-media mission
How did you first get into yachting?
From a young age, my grandfather would take me out fishing, and he taught me the wonders of the ocean and pushed me to appreciate its mysteries and its power. Yachting combines my passion for the ocean as well as my desire for the highest standards of service and safety.
What would you be doing if you weren’t a captain?
Fishing and farming to provide for my family and friends
What has the Unbridled crew been up to recently?
Unbridled has just completed a 15-year ABS and CISR special survey which involved extensive testing of all structural, mechanical and safety equipment. The survey period was completed on time and on budget at Derecktor, which is a perfect shipyard for these projects as it provides direct access to the best contractors and local support in the yachting sector. Since then, we’ve been cruising the New England coastline, including Newport, Nantucket, Cape Cod, Boston and Maine. After the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, we plan to head to the Caribbean for our winter charter season.
We are also about to embark on an exciting journey to expand Unbridled’s social media and marketing platform to grow our charter program, address social media’s positive and negative effects in the industry and promote environmental sustainability. You can follow us on @motoryachtunbridled.
Where is still on your yachting bucket list?
Antarctica and the Falkland Islands
Where is your favorite destination for cruising and why?
The Azores, as the landscape is exceptional and each island offers unique ecosystems as well as cultural and culinary highlights. The people are very friendly, and the underwater world has so much to be discovered.
If you were marooned on a desert island, which crew member would you want with you and why?
I would take the engineer, as engineers have a very systematic way of looking at things and always offer a different perspective.
What has been your most memorable moment on board?
Transiting the Northwest Passage was one of many highlights, but without doubt, the most memorable moments are when crew reach their potential, work together as a team and give owners and guests that special feeling. Unbridled’s crew are one of a kind, and we embrace our strengths and grow from our weaknesses.
What is the biggest crew challenge you deal with as captain?
Helping crew understand that failure and feedback are the most valuable tools for us to move forward as a team. I train crew that if we don’t push our limits, we don’t know where they are, and we cannot reach our maximum potential nor meet the high standards our owners and guests expect.
What do you look for when hiring new crew?
I look for and value longevity and unique skills, whether related to yachting or not. It shows diversity and the ability to bring more than other candidates.