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Captain Harold Onel stands as a seasoned veteran in the superyacht industry. His passion for yachting dates back to his childhood. His professional journey, marked by an ascent from engineer to captain, is replete with a wealth of experiences and tales. These adventures range from deep sea fishing off the coast of West Africa on the 28.74-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/104" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Jongert Yachts (Company)">Jongert</a> sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blue Fascination 28.74m (94'3&quot;)Jongert Yachts1988">Blue Fascination</a> to navigating the inland canals of the Netherlands. As well as cruising the Mediterranean as captain of the 27.25-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/130" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonen Yachts (Company)">Moonen</a> yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9962" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="My Issue 27.25m (89'5&quot;)Moonen Yachts2001">My Issue</a> and the 34.7-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/262" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Beluga34.7m (113'10&quot;)Moonen Yachts2006">Beluga</a> (ex My Issue), frequently playing host to an array of distinguished guests. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/301163/image/large-8d0ff49d31b8519f360dd5b110789494.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/301163">Enrico Chhibber, a writer for <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">SuperYacht Times</a>, first met Harold at Café 't Papeneiland, a historic café in Amsterdam that dates back to 1642 known for having been frequented by Bill Clinton. After several encounters, Harold, a tall and well-built figure, agreed to engage in a more detailed conversation over a meal. Over a simple dish of pasta with broccoli, Harold opened up about his life and career, offering insights into the qualities that define a superyacht captain.Delving into his past, Harold reminisced about his early fascination with speed. He fondly recalled, “In my late teens, I owned a small 4.5-metre motorboat and vividly remember racing against a much larger motor yacht. That yacht, equipped with twin 300 horsepower engines, was exceptionally fast for her time”. Unlike his peers, Harold often found himself immersed in yachting magazines, absorbing every detail about the power of various yacht engines and frequently dreaming of one day piloting these swift vessels himself.While pursuing his studies in nautical engineering, Harold’s fascination with superyacht engineering intensified. He would often reach out to shipyards, eager to witness yacht launches firsthand. A standout memory for him was attending the launches of the 65.15-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/589" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cedar Sea II65.15m (213'9&quot;)Feadship1986">Cedar Sea II</a> and the 49.47-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2094" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Highlander49.47m (162'4&quot;)Feadship1986">Highlander</a>, originally owned by Malcolm Forbes, in 1986.Harold then made a pivotal decision to leave his studies just before his final exams, drawn by an opportunity to work as an engineer on a 1958 23-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/11" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="De Vries Lentsch (Company)">De Vries Lentsch</a> motor yacht, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7815" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sealord23.02m (75'6&quot;)De Vries Lentsch1958">Sealord</a>. He took a moment to clarify a common misconception, pointing out that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/11" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="De Vries Lentsch (Company)">De Vries Lentsch</a> should not be confused with the De Vries and Van Lent yards of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a>. Embarking on this new chapter, Harold’s first journey involved navigating from the Greek island of Syros to Gibraltar. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/27079/image/large-c893f799bacd1fd1b956aed611b7e6ab.JPG" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/27079">As the conversation progressed, Harold shared details about the various yachts on which he had worked, from the 26-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/418" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cammenga (Company)">Cammenga</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6732" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Five Angels26.0m (85'4&quot;)Cammenga1974">Five Angels</a>, originating from the Amsterdam-based <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/418" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cammenga (Company)">Cammenga</a> shipyard, to the 28.74-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/104" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Jongert Yachts (Company)">Jongert</a> sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blue Fascination 28.74m (94'3&quot;)Jongert Yachts1988">Blue Fascination</a>. His tenure on <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blue Fascination 28.74m (94'3&quot;)Jongert Yachts1988">Blue Fascination</a> stood out, especially memorable for a deep-sea fishing expedition off the West African coast. The yacht owner had invited seasoned deep-sea fishing experts onboard, creating an unforgettable experience.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/223252/image/large-900c3ab88e0ec91b1f8deb5c6383340b.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/223252">Reflecting on his time aboard sailing yachts, Harold commented with a laugh: “I much prefer motor yachts as you can go really fast. But my time on <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blue Fascination 28.74m (94'3&quot;)Jongert Yachts1988">Blue Fascination</a> was crucial for honing my navigation skills. While the captain focused on the sails, I took the helm for navigation”.Harold’s transition to becoming a captain was catalysed by an opportunity from John Ter Haak, a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sunseeker (Company)">Sunseeker</a> distributor in the Netherlands, who visited Harold's parents' shop. Ter Haak offered Harold the chance to captain his 12-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sunseeker (Company)">Sunseeker</a> motor yacht on a voyage from Amsterdam to Port Zeelander. Navigating through inland canals and rivers, this journey marked Harold's inaugural experience as a captain. Following this, Harold's involvement with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sunseeker (Company)">Sunseeker</a> deepened, frequently navigating their yachts from the UK to the Netherlands as a cost-effective alternative to ferry transport.In discussing his inaugural experience as a superyacht captain, Harold shared the story of how his first superyacht captaincy was on the first <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9962" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="My Issue 27.25m (89'5&quot;)Moonen Yachts2001">My Issue&nbsp;</a>. The owner presented him with a straightforward offer, entrusting him with the command of the vessel. As the owner transitioned to a larger yacht, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/262" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Beluga34.7m (113'10&quot;)Moonen Yachts2006">Beluga</a>, Harold continued in his role as captain, navigating the Mediterranean, conducting charter operations. &nbsp;Beyond these duties, Harold also participated in delivery voyages, notably transporting the 38.16-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/130" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonen Yachts (Company)">Moonen</a>-built <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/147" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Northlander38.16m (125'2&quot;)Moonen Yachts2009">Northlander</a> from the Netherlands to the Mediterranean, as well as the 41.78-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/130" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonen Yachts (Company)">Moonen</a> yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3651" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Serenity41.78m (137'1&quot;)Moonen Yachts2013">Serenity</a> (ex Sofia). Furthermore, in 2022, Harold captained the 36.3-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/130" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonen Yachts (Company)">Moonen</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9236" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Botti36.3m (119'1&quot;)Moonen Yachts2022">Botti</a> on a transatlantic voyage, successfully navigating her to West Palm Beach, Florida. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/100448/image/large-73db08e160c9d0121e19d8d6036c0879.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/100448">When I inquired about his most memorable charter experience, Harold's eyes gleamed as he recounted an encounter with a renowned American actor, whose entourage proved to be extremely challenging. He noticed a sense of unrest among the crew, stirred by the guests' behaviour. Harold then emphasised that a critical skill for a superyacht captain is mastering the art of navigating such complex dynamics. “The key is maintaining composure,” he asserted. “Regardless of the situation's intensity, a captain and their crew must always present a calm façade. It's imperative for the clients, who are paying for the charter, to remain blissfully unaware of any underlying tensions”.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/53340/image/large-3cc3a943c9e68b3ae044a3a1f4551aa3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/53340">Harold then underscored the critical importance of maintaining a positive atmosphere onboard, highlighting crew cohesion as fundamental. He would champion inclusive practices to achieve this, advocating for the equitable distribution of tips. “Involving everyone is essential, from the captain to junior positions,” he stated. “Fair allocation of gratuities is paramount. A higher rank should not automatically entail a larger share of tips”.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/47713/image/large-a1d03157ff18ab19343af6755e4783e7.JPG" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/47713">Furthermore, Harold reflected on the evolving role of a superyacht captain, which now extends beyond merely navigating a yacht from point A to point B. In today's context, a captain's responsibilities cover a broader spectrum, including meticulous bookkeeping and managing high-value luxury assets, highlighting the multifaceted nature of modern superyacht captaincy.Currently, Harold dedicates his time to conducting sea trials for both <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/130" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonen Yachts (Company)">Moonen</a>. However, he retains his passion for sailing and intends to return to. Interestingly, he is now actively working on obtaining the necessary certifications to navigate inland waters. “I will sail again,” he maintains, signalling his ongoing commitment to the water.

Captain Harold Onel: Reflecting on over three decades at the helm

Captain Harold Onel offers his insights into the qualities that define a superyacht captain.