#humansofyachting – Douglas Barrowman

“There is no better place to holiday with my family than on Turquoise. It is impossible to replicate the seven-star experience we have aboard our yacht at any resort. We have 13 dedicated crew members, who all ensure our time is first class and fun. And then, of course, there’s the culinary experience. One night we might have authentic Indian cuisine, another night it can be Chinese, Mexican, Thai, Spanish, or just plain English or American food. Dining aboard is like going to a different fine restaurant in a different country every night – it is never boring.

I have an extended family with four children: two older ones, a son of 24 and a daughter nearly 21, plus two young sons of five and seven. When our schedules allow, we all like to gather on the yacht and spend some quality time as a family. There is no place like a yacht for family togetherness. Turquoise is well laid out to afford us different spaces to enjoy privacy or read a book, but we also have plenty of places to come together and enjoy each other’s company.

When we are on holiday, we follow the sun: the Med in the summer and the Bahamas or Caribbean in the winter. We get up early and have a leisurely breakfast with whoever shows up. We anchor out in the harbour for some water sports – jet-skiing, paddleboarding, seabobbing. We also have fun toys such as a sea trampoline for the little ones, even for us big ones. Then we chill out on the top deck for some sunbathing. If we feel like it, we might go sightseeing ashore or just partake of local entertainment. Last year at Norman Cay in the Bahamas, we snorkelled around a sunken plane. Then further down the Exuma chain of islands, we encountered feral pigs on the uninhabited island of Big Major Cay. They live on the beach and swim out to your tender for you to feed them. One of our most interesting trips was going through the Corinth Canal en route to the Greek islands – that was an amazing experience for the crew and for us.

The crew really goes to great lengths to see we enjoy ourselves. As an alternative to lunch on board, sometimes we have beach barbecues where the crew takes a tender to a deserted beach and sets up a cabana, bringing a table and chairs. It is as if we are castaways on a fantasy island, but we don’t have to forage for food. By late afternoon, we take it easy and have some chill time, perhaps some hot tub time. Then we all freshen up for sunset cocktails and dinner. Once in a while our crew puts on a themed dinner party for us and that is a lot of fun. It could be a masquerade ball or a Great Gatsby themed evening.

After dinner, we usually go up to the top deck to listen to music and have a few drinks. If the mood takes us we will go ashore to a good nightclub – nanny availability permitting for the younger family members. I like to have a good time and nothing makes me happier than my family and good friends enjoying themselves aboard Turquoise.”