A profile of Ryan Green - from shark attack to superyachts

Tell us how you came to work in the superyacht industry

My first job on a superyacht came about because of a shark attack. I was sailing through the South Pacific as a crew member on a 40ft sailing yacht. As a keen spearfisherman finding a bunk on a cruising yacht was easy as ‘spearos’ are always sought after as we can catch dinner.

How did you wash up in Yacht Management?

I had a 13-year career on superyachts, during which I worked up from deckhand to captain. I came ashore when my first child was a baby – it was time.

My word of advice to those coming ashore would be: Have a plan and don’t underestimate the transition, it is challenging. I winged it and fell on my feet by luck - I sent my CV out to everyone I could think of, and there was an opening at Burgess.

You say luck – we say impressive CV!

Perhaps! In Yacht Management we’re part of the service industry. I have been involved in service my entire working life, I started working in restaurants as a teenager in South Africa then studied zoology and entomology, which led to working as a game ranger at one of the most prestigious lodges in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve – this was my first experience delivering to UHNWI.

The superyacht industry represents the pinnacle of the service and Yacht Management is a major part of that. Collectively, our job is to ensure clients are on the water – safely, happy and ideally, wanting more.

You have brought your knowledge of the sea to the job

We all have – the depth of the Yacht Management team at Burgess covers all bases. Between us we have many hundreds of years of combined experience from Master Mariners, Chief Engineers, Naval Architects, HR Specialists and Regulatory Professionals to name but a few. We’re all passionate about what we do!

Can you describe Yacht Management at Burgess?

Yacht management is about taking care of everything back-stage, so that the owners are left with the pure enjoyment of the asset. There’s an art to it - it’s about understanding how an owner is using their yacht and their vision. It is incredible seeing our team at work – the collaboration, communication and dynamic approach to aligning with the owner’s objectives is phenomenal.

Any regrets?

I left the game reserve in 1999 on a two-week holiday to visit my parents in New Zealand. I still have the return plane ticket because I never went back. I was captured by the beauty and excitement of the sea – sailing, diving and exploring led me to a career on yachts.

So no, no regrets – it’s all been an adventure.