MALLORCA YACHTING INDUSTRY NEWS
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BYD CAPTAIN INTERVIEW – JAMES LINE
Balearic Yacht Destination sat down with James Line, Captain of a 32m classic Motoryacht that is part of the Hill Robinson fleet to find out why he chooses the Balearic Islands for both summer cruising and winter refit and why he and his family spend as much time as possible here.
Describe each of the Balearic Islands with one word:
Tell us a bit about yourself…
What are your hobbies here on the islands? (sport, food, events)
I was born in the UK and moved to Andalucia in Spain when I was six years old. My father worked in the marine industry and after I finished my GCSEs I went to Antibes to work on the boats as that seemed like the best fit for me. I worked my way up from the bottom, as do most of us and, and after starting off in France, have travelled all over the Mediterranean and the Caribbean for the last 22 years. Over the last ten years, whenever the boat is in Mallorca, I spend my time exploring the island with my wife and daughter. What’s the most rewarding part of your job? It may sound cheesy but I would say that it is most rewarding when I have happy guests. It’s rewarding to go the extra mile and be able to do things that at first seem impossible. I have always tried my hardest to make sure that the guests have everything they need - our job is to give them the best experience possible and cater to their every need.
Menorca - Rugged Mallorca - Explore Ibiza - Adventurous Formentera - Relaxed
My favourite thing to do is for a group of friends to go out exploring the island and socialising. I’ve recently started hiking and running although as far as hobbies go, I don’t have as much time as I used to. I like finding somewhere new on the island, somewhere I’ve not been to before, like a new restaurant or a new market and I love that I’m still finding new places. What’s your most memorable experience in the Balearics? This is not yachting related but I proposed to my wife, Dawn, outside the Cathedral in 2014...and she said yes! That is definitely the most memorable experience in the Balearics. Which is your favourite beach in the Balearics? That’s a tricky one as there are so many. Handsdown Es Trenc is one of the best beaches, both by boat or by land… it’s like being in
the Caribbean, just with a few more people! Formentera is obviously beautiful but for me, Es Trenc has it all, if you can find parking! What is your opinion about the future of the yachting industry in the Balearics? I think it will get better and better. It is already amazing as for cruising it offers such diversity and the yard time is great in Mallorca. The expansion of the shipyard will open it all up and allow more people to winter and more boats to do their maintenance here. This will allow more companies to open up and therefore create more competition in the industry. This is great for everyone as it gives us more options and it means that there will be more people on the islands and therefore more money all year round. What advantages do you think the yachting industry has in the Balearic Islands, compared to other places? Considering its size, Mallorca is open all year when other places pull the shutters down for winter. Also, the geographical location is perfect as many boats have to pass directly past Mallorca before starting the crossing to the Atlantic. The maintenance facilities are also brilliant on the islands and there are plenty of companies that offer the services we need for refit and repair.