Yacht captain shares ‘craziest’ request from ‘difficult client’

Dylan Lesperance, a boat captain for SamBoat based in Seychelles, shared what a typical day as a yacht skipper looks like.

His day starts at sunrise when he tidies up the boat before the clients arrive: “I always make sure I’m up before the clients so I can tidy up the galley and the cockpit to ensure the start of their day is enjoyable.

“Once the clients are up and catered to, I can have a few minutes to myself. I’ll usually make myself some nice ginger tea and lime to start the day right.”

When the clients are on board, Dylan has to make sure they have the best time, but the truth is that he has had some “challenging” clients with “crazy” requests, which he admitted is the worst part of his job.

The captain said: “The worst part about my job is how much it depends on the type of clients you have on board. To tell you the truth, some clients can be very difficult, and it often feels like nothing you do will be good enough for them.”

Dylan explained he has seen guests do some “crazy things”. He said: “Clients are unpredictable, and I’ve had some crazy requests in my time as a skipper.

“From photographers looking to get to isolated sides of the island to escape prying eyes, to guys going wild on their bachelor holiday.”

For him, the “most bizarre request” from a guest was “to stop the boat in the middle of a busy crossing to take a dip in the deep sea”.

This was “during the windy season when the water was rocky too! Some guests have no sense of danger, and some even ask for things that are outside of the law”.

Talking about the best part of his job, Dylan said that being a yacht skipper is simply “doing something I really love every day: sailing, admiring the stunning scenery and soaking up the beauty of each of the islands I visit”.

He added: “Despite going to the same spots regularly, the admiration never fades. The fact the clients cover your food during your stay is also a great bonus, but that’s another story!”

The worst part for him is the “nomad lifestyle of a skipper” as it can sometimes “be tricky” to maintain that life with a family, “who can’t always follow you on your travels”.

He added: “You need to have a strong partner like I do and ensure you always make time for your family when you’re not working.”

Another downside to the job is “certainly the sleeping situation”. Where the crew sleeps, often known as the crew cabin, “for me is impossible to sleep in,” Dylan said. “It’s very hot, and more often than not there’s also no access to a private bathroom!”

The skipper explained that his favourite destination to visit whilst working is “always the beach”. He said: “There are so many places around Seychelles that I enjoy visiting, but two that I really love are Sister Island, a granitic island covered with tropical forests, and Fregate Island, known for its serenity and panoramic views of the sea.”