Twenty-four-year-old Justin Bourgeois of 112ft sailing yacht Kawil explains how his career has brought him from Canada to the South Pacific.
How did you first get into yachting?
My dad and I started sailing together. When I was 10, we bought a Hobie Cat and started sailing around the waters of Montreal where I grew up. Aged 12 I took sailing lessons with Sansoucy Sailing School, and then worked there until I was 18, starting as an instructor and eventually running the school.
What made you want to work on superyachts specifically?
I was 18 years old, delivering a catamaran from the Bahamas to Florida, when I saw Vitters’ 150ft Unfurled coming out of Rybovich Marina. I didn’t know that sailboats could get that big; it was just mind-boggling. In my eyes she is one of the most beautiful sailing yachts afloat, and seeing her just blew me away. I thought, “I have to get on that.”
How did you earn your captainship at such a young age?
It’s very hard to get onto sailing yachts without having prior big sailboat experience — a lot of captains are just not willing to take on the extra risk of a green crew member — so you have to start with motor yachts. But I worked with really good captains. I cannot tell my story without saying how much support I had from the top dogs like Captain Rocka Romcke; when I was just 21 he made me chief officer on a 50-meter (164ft) classic sailing yacht, and then he backed me in becoming the skipper of Kawil.
I’d worked on five 50-meter-plus superyachts before I joined Kawil as first mate. But the owner is a man who loves to help people grow — he supported me and trained me to become captain. Kawil is just a one-in-a-million boat.
What’s been the most memorable moment of your career so far?
On our way to Fiji for the South Pacific Superyacht Rendezvous, between Tahiti and Tonga I was helming Kawil full sail with 30 knots of wind. We were barreling downwind at 15 knots, had music playing and were really cooking! It was magic; I felt a rush of adrenaline and was proud of myself for being able to stand behind the helm with total confidence.
What do you look for when hiring crew?
They have to be passionate about sailing. When those sails go up, I can’t stop smiling. And moments like that help you push through these months-long trips we do. A day of sailing is a day off, in a sense. And if you don’t feel that, then it’s just not going to be the right fit, because you’re going to feel like you’re working too often.
If someone really loves the sailing aspect, even if they don’t have as much experience, they’ll be motivated enough to learn and to become the crew member you need them to be.
Where have you most enjoyed sailing?
Specifically for sailing, Fiji is really cool. Tonga was fantastic as well, with whales jumping left and right. The Society Islands are also gorgeous.
I also quite like Savannah in Georgia, US, where we refitted Kawil for six months. There’s no cruising there, but I really liked the city, with its massive willow trees and historical buildings. It’s just the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen. People who have been will understand — it’s a magical place.
Where is still on your yachting bucket list, and why?
The Northwest Passage — I’d like to see more of my own country. This may be decades away, but that’s what I’d like to close up my career in yachting with. Because I started in British Columbia, I would feel like my career has taken me around the world and brought me back home again. It’s a must before I retire.
The BOAT International Captains’ Club is a unique group that brings together more than 350 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.