The eighth annual Fraser Yachts Captains Dinner at the Monaco Yacht Show afforded an opportunity for successful charter crews to gather in elegance in the hope of receiving recognition for overall excellence.
The Yacht Club de Monaco hosted the annual event, which featured a formal gathering of honored captains and crew of select Fraser yachts, all vying for accolades for superior dedication and service to owners and guests in the yachting industry.
"We know the clients are demanding. We know they have high expectations," says Frank Brand, CEO of Fraser Yachts. "We always hear that you, our captains and crew, have exceeded their expectations."
The winners of the Fraser Yachts Awards for 2008:
- Best Charter Crew Over 40m: M/Y Four Wishes (Capt. Aaron Clark)
- Best Charter Crew Less than 40m: M/Y Sarita Si (Capt. Peter Spooner)
- Best Charter Captain of the Year: Capt. Ferdinando Tarquini, M/Y Force Blue
"We are here to celebrate captains and crew," says Brand. "Pat yourselves on the back: that's why you are here."
Capt. Tarquini was the recipient of the night's biggest award -- Best Charter Captain -- which earned him respect, recognition and a gorgeous new timepiece from BlancPain, the event's annual sponsor.
Capt. Spooner and his nine-person crew of M/Y Sarita Si were recognized for their "high sense of responsibility and safety awareness." Capt. Spooner received the award along with Chief Stew Tracy Ryan and Purser Tanya Johnson.
First Officer Shannon Nicholson of M/Y Four Wishes accepted the award for his captain and crewmates, who have been together for more than four years as a team. The crew earned high praise from one charter guest: "They stacked up seven days of a perfect experience like pancakes on a plate. There is not a single thing I could suggest to you or the captain that they could do better."
Fraser Yachts celebrates an amazing year for its retail division, which saw more than 17 charter brokers in four countries book more than 300 charters year to date. These efforts generated nearly 35 million euro in gross charter fees for Fraser Yachts, representing an increase of more than 30 percent in net commissions compared to 2007.
The charter marketing group, with 10 agents in two countries, booked nearly 250 charters, which generated nearly 40 million euro in gross charter fees for the owners. Charter marketing manages more than 80 Fraser yachts worldwide.