Solemates Real Soulmate

Frances & Michael Howorth talk with Rupert Connor the project manager during the build of Project Castor and now the manager of the 55 metre charter yacht Solemates.

How did you come to join the superyacht industry?
It was while I was helping my family build an hotel on Cooper Island in the BVI that I first made contact with the industry.  There, I met the project manager for a 28 metre new build in Holland.  He said, that if ever I was in Europe and needed a job, I should look him up.  It happened that I was due to crew on an Oyster 48 sailing back to Europe at the end of the season, so I took him up on the offer.  Then, leaving the 14 metre Oyster behind me, I joined a 28 metre sailboat which in 1990, was a huge yacht.  That began; my 9 year spell at sea, sailing for 5 of them in sailboats, and the last 4 in motoryachts.

When did you come ashore to work?
I joined Camper & Nicholsons and had the huge privilege of working with some very talented individuals like, Bill Sanderson and George Nicholson, who mentored me and taught me the ropes.  I learned fast and without their guidance, I would never have opened the Luxury Yacht Group and made it the success it is today.

What is it that you most like about yachting?
I love its synergies.  Those of us who work in superyachting, call ourselves; brokers, managers, shipyards and even journalists like you!  But to yacht owners, who are our customers, we are workers who make dreams happen.  We are the guys who deliver magic.  There is a symbiotic relationship between us and owners.  Each of us needs the other.  Owners seek out those of us who share their love and have a passion for their craft, and we benefit from making them happy.

What sets you apart from other superyacht managers?
I listen, I watch, and I have a ridiculous eye for detail.  I will angst over whether a dining salon table should be 2.6 metres in diameter or 2.7.  It’s such a small detail, but when you finally get to watch the stewardesses serving dinner to the guests, it is so satisfying, to know you got it right and you did the best for the owner’s greater enjoyment.

How did you approach this new project?
I knew what the owner was looking for.  I have worked for him for over 20 years and understand his language.  I knew how he had used his previous yachts, what worked for him and what he did not like.  I knew he did not want to wait years for a one-off, new build and that he sought a proven platform.  I found Heesen, but I worried that they might not deliver the yacht within our time scale.  It was only when I realised that Heesen where somewhat hesitant about taking our order because they thought, we might delay their production, that I realised there was a meeting of minds.  Clearly both shipyard and owner shared the same goal.  I had arranged the perfect marriage!  What is interesting about this project, for both Heesen and I, is that it was the first time the shipyard and owner had never met each other until after the deal was done.

What advice would you give to someone new entering the industry?
Be true to yourself.  Remember that yacht owners can spend their money wherever they like and are involved with our industry only because they are having fun.  If we ever stopping making it fun for them, they will find some other pastime to enjoy and spend their money on.

Rupert Connor CV

• Age: 50
• Born: Oxford UK
• Nationality: British (with American Green Card)
• Corporate Title: President
• Company: Luxury Yacht Group
• Locations: Fort Lauderdale (USA), Antibes (France), Palma (Mallorca), Auckland (NZ)

Quick Fire

• Are you a morning or night time person? Morning
• How do you like your steak? Rare
• What did you eat for breakfast this morning? Raisin Bran
• What is your favourite style of cuisine? Asian Fusion
• 3 dream dinner guests? Winston Churchill, Mahatma Ghandi & Simon Cowell
• What kind of car do you drive? Range Rover
• What sport do you most like to watch? FI & Americas Cup
• Do you have any pets? Rescue dog
• What is your best childhood memory? Parental love
• What is your Favourite colour? Blue
• What superpower would you like? Flight
• What is your favourite Flower? Iris
• What have you done spontaneously lately? Built a vegetable garden
• Closest you’ve came to death? Colliding with a whale while crossing Atlantic in sailboat
• What’s your guilty pleasure? Crème Brûlée
• What is your worst habit?
Starting too many tasks at once
• What makes you angry? When I don’t finish those tasks on time