Dudley Hooper on the importance of listening, the essential nature of a good engineer and the wonder of Antarctica and South Georgia.
How did you get into yachting?
After university I looked toward a career at sea for a change from the office and enrolled on a cadetship with SSTG, originally training on cargo and passenger vessels and subsequently transferred to yachting as a second officer. Yachting offered a new challenge, a great working environment and the opportunity to travel further and experience some off-the-beaten track itineraries.
Where is still on your yachting bucket list?
Patagonia is still somewhere I’d love to explore in more depth.
Where is your favorite destination for cruising and why?
Antarctica and South Georgia never fail to impress; the ever-changing scenery, constantly shifting ice conditions and abundant wildlife. These, combined with the remoteness and complexity of operations, offer an experience unlike any other I have experienced at sea. Often the clients we take to these places are well-traveled and have seen a lot of the world, so to witness a whole table of guests jump up and go wide-eyed at the sight of a whale or an iceberg passing the ship gives you a job satisfaction like no other.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Keep your head when all around you are losing theirs. There are situations in a captain’s day-to-day life that require a cool demeanor; panic spreads and indecision stifles progression. Be prepared to listen to advice and then make a decision; to be able to step back and trust in the competencies of your team allows you to take an overhead view, gives you time to think and means you can focus on the bigger picture.
What do you look for when hiring new crew?
Enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. I will often look to hire greener crew that show a real passion for the role. Someone with a thirst for knowledge and personal improvement will always be a better bet in the long term.
What is your one top tip for other captains?
Be humble, never put yourself above the crew. Follow the rules you set and always live and work as an example.
What is the biggest crew challenge you deal with as captain?
The crew are everything to a yacht, so motivation and individual crew development are something I consider as highly important. I continuously strive to ensure everyone is listened to and valued on board which, in turn, leads to a happy, well-run and enjoyable place to work. Every crew member on board has different matters they consider important, and I would always encourage HODs and other captains to listen to concerns and treat them with the utmost priority; crew concerns should always take priority over other tasks. In a leadership role, you are often the only point of contact a crew member has, and to take action swiftly for someone leads to a valued and engaged individual.
If you were stranded on a desert island, which other crew member would you want with you and why?
It’s hard to beat the ingenuity, focus and determination of a good chief engineer. Nothing happens without the engineering department on board, and I’d need that problem-solving and tireless improvement that the chief can bring to our living situation!
What’s a lesson you learned through experience?
To never assume anything and to be ready to change your plans. Despite years of experience, it is always easy to assume that you know the right way, or the best way to do something. Whether this be the itinerary or operations on board. To be able to allow others to challenge your assumptions and to make suggestions will lead to fewer mistakes and a more rounded view of what to do and when. On occasion, I have pushed on with a plan that I thought made the best sense, only to later discover that if I’d listened more closely to broader opinions, the operation would likely have gone more smoothly!
The BOAT International Captains’ Club is a unique group that brings together more than 300 like-minded active superyacht captains for world-class luxury events and networking opportunities in venues and on yachts around the world. For more information, email captainsclub@boatinternationalmedia.com.