At the helm of This Is It, the 43.5-metre Tecnomar catamaran, Captain Panagiotis Danopoulos has built a reputation for creating charter experiences that keep guests coming back. Sporting a radical exterior silhouette and an asymmetric aft deck, This Is It is as unconventional as they come. But for Captain Panagiotis, the secret to success isn't just the yacht's design; it's the crew behind it. Dockwalk sits down with the Greek captain to talk about what makes a great charter, how to handle difficult guests and why a smile matters more than years of experience when building a team.
This Is It is one of the most unique charter yachts in Greece. What kind of experiences do you create for guests on board?
It depends on the client. We can do parties, beach setups and barbecue days, but most of our clients love Greek nights. It depends on where they are from. I try to think of new things every time to ensure they have a nice experience on board.
What do charter guests ask for most often?
Most of the families don't like crowded islands. They need quiet: nice beaches, shallow water, swimming day and night, good food and being connected with my crew.
What's the most unusual request you've received from a guest?
Luckily, I haven't had these kinds of requests. Sometimes, if we're in Greece, they ask me to go to Spain in one hour! The other part is when there is bad weather. This is difficult for me as I have to convince guests that if we go there, there will be no comfort and not much to do when it's too windy.
How do you handle difficult situations on charter, such as bad weather or when you can't deliver what guests want?
For charter, you need experienced crew that can always make guests feel comfortable on the yacht. In a bad situation, you must keep smiling and explain what is going on to them. We always put their safety first, as well as relaxation.
Charter seasons can be intense. How do you help your crew manage stress and avoid burnout during back-to-back charters?
First of all, you have to be a good team, because when you are a good team, you become good friends and everyone helps each other. It doesn't matter if I am the captain or engineer; if we need to do something, we do it together. We help each other because the season is very long, and the crew sometimes get tired. The charters are mostly back-to-back, with sometimes just one day off, and on this day we have to clean the yacht, get provisions and prepare for the next charter. So there is no time for us to be together as a group. So you have to be patient, help each other, be friends, be a good team and smile.
With such an unconventional yacht, does that make crew recruitment more challenging?
No, not at all. It's a unique yacht. We have a lot of charters. People love this yacht. It's very famous. Before I see their experience, I'm looking for good people who are kind and smiling. After that, I will look at their CV and experience. You could take a crew member who has six or seven years' experience but doesn't fit with the team. Or, you can find a crew member with one year of experience and a willingness to learn, which is much better and easier for me.