Superyacht Success: The insider's guide to the yachting industry
By (Author) Brendan OShannassy
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
6th January 2026
United Kingdom
General
Non Fiction
Sailing / yachting
Management: leadership and motivation
Hardback
272
Width 153mm, Height 234mm
An insiders guide to the superyacht industry, detailing how to get in, progress through the ranks and thrive on the journey.
I have made a lifes career within the superyacht community, and I will share this openly. If you want to join me and carve your own way into this misunderstood, at times maligned, industry then this book is for you too. You will gain insight, a new language, and a sense of where the dangerous waters are and how to avoid them.
Superyacht Success is an audience with one of the most experienced superyacht captains in the business, and gives you the insiders take on the culture of the industry, how to get hired and how to thrive as you progress through the ranks handling the demand for absolute perfection at all times, yet avoiding the easy trap of allowing yachting to become your life.
Section 1 of the book gives an overview of the industry and its history, before moving onto the practicalities in section 2: getting hired (detailing useful qualifications and experience, and advice on agencies and interviews), embracing being new, understanding life on board, and typical career pathways. As crew move through the ranks, section 3 covers questions of leadership: establishing a culture of openness and trust, setting boundaries, dealing with the demands of perfectionism. Section 4 dives into questions of captaincy: communication and crafting a superyacht life well lived, before moving to Section 5, comprised of an invaluable toolbox of advice and techniques for crew at all levels from boat handling to briefing teams. Chapters also feature 10 Dos and Donts boxes as well as insights from other high profile professionals within the industry.
This is the definitive insiders guide to the normally shielded world of Superyachts, and clearly sets out what crew need to know to progress and succeed.
Brendan O'Shannassy grew up in Fremantle, Australia, and gained his undergraduate degree and officer education with the Royal Australian Navy. After a period in commercial maritime he joined his first superyacht as a deck hand in 2001, and his first captaincy was in 2006. His yacht racing career has also seen him participate in multiple Sydney Hobarts, the Fastnet Race, and many more.
Brendan continues to study and is currently beginning a PhD in marine data collection. He is also the author of Superyacht Captain, published by Adlard Coles in 2022.