Jessamie Rattray of SuperYacht Times sat down with John Fleckenstein, Captain of the 62.5-metre Codecasa motor yacht Apogee, to learn more about how yacht charter has changed in the last 40 years, being involved in the build process of a superyacht, and her recent refit.

Can you start by telling me about your journey into the industry?

My background was in the US Navy. I worked aboard a vessel that went to Europe twice, the Mediterranean specifically. That gave me my first exposure to the Mediterranean, which was very appealing to me.

After the military, I found myself in Mallorca, Spain with a bar and restaurant business. It was in Mallorca that I was exposed to temp work down in the marinas on yachts, and eventually, I started to crew up. Four years after arriving in Mallorca, I left the restaurant business for an Atlantic crossing on a motor sailor. It was on that crossing that it came to me that this would be my direction and that I would pursue a career in yachting. That was in 1985, and it’s been quite a journey.

You’ve been onboard Apogee since the very beginning. Could you tell us a bit about her launch 21 years ago?

I have been with Apogee for the whole journey; I have been onboard for 21 years and with the owner for 24. There is something so special about the day when a vessel you’ve been involved with the construction of finally finds its way to the water. I’ve been fortunate to be involved a couple of times now with that.

Apogee was built on a railway. So when that day comes, they knock that pin out and the boat goes sliding into the water. The owner is there with their entourage and the entirety of the shipyard, and we’re all in suspense waiting. To see that all take place, to watch the vessel roll down the slope and enter the water perfectly on her lines, experiencing the relief and satisfaction and the completion of the vision… That’s magic. The Italian shipyards do this very well. It’s a fantastic occasion. And for me, it was a very, very rewarding moment I’ll always cherish.

Apogee is relatively fresh out of the Amico shipyard here in Genoa, after a full refit. Could you tell us about the key elements of her refit?

Apogee was approaching 20 years old, so between what we had to do for class and survey, we also had the interests of the owner and restoration. She underwent big projects, including a brand-new exterior paint job and the replacement of all the teak decking. On the mechanical side, we have changed out the three generators, shore power converters, and a lot of other equipment such as water makers. Ensuring that Apogee met all class requirements, along with keeping the boat reliable, were our goals, as she will continue to be in the charter trade.

Her refit was quite the undertaking. We’ve done many projects, from the interior refinishing to switching all interior and exterior lighting to LED lighting and replacing all the stonework on her exterior. We have updated bridge equipment for navigation, along with upgrades for internet with Starlink and refurbishment of crew areas. We’re very excited that Apogee has retained her Italian classic interior styling post-refit.

How has yachting and chartering changed since 1985 when you first started?

First and foremost, the safety of the vessels and the level of education and training have improved a lot since I entered the industry in the 80s. Yachting and charter was always enjoyable, but now the boats are very safe for guests and crew, which was not always the case. Regulations are in place now to protect those onboard and to ensure safety.

From a charter and lifestyle perspective, watersports toys have become a really important and desirable part of charters and have enhanced the overall experience. Whether the toys are kept onboard or hired for specific requests, they have become an integral part of superyacht charters.

What are the challenges surrounding your charter in 2024? How do you approach them as a Captain and as a boat?

Certain fees associated with cruising and charter have increased and become more complex over the years. It is vital that there is a dialogue with the brokers and ultimately with the clients to help provide the client with a thorough understanding of the cost basis.

Additionally, over the years, matters such as hours of rest for crew have become points of focus and regulation in the industry. We want our crew to be healthy, well-rested and perform safely with the clients. On a vessel like Apogee, with 17 crew members, we are comfortable, but on smaller vessels or vessels with less crew, dialogues with guests about expectations will need to be had, because it’s no longer 24/7 perhaps, in order to adhere to regulations and ensure the wellness of our crew.

What would you say sets her apart from other vessels in her size range in terms of her features, amenities and character?

In some ways, the appearance of the boat is quite unique in the extended length of the bow and the balance of the boat. The idea that we can carry four wave runners up on the foredeck was very exciting to me. And even with 32 Atlantic crossings, we’ve not had an incident with carrying those wave runners up there.

Out on deck, Apogee’s three deck levels are unobstructed and offer large and versatile areas for guests to enjoy. Our sundeck is unique on its own, with its built-in sun beds and awning. Apogee’s gym is fabulous, offering a 360-view while you’re in this gym and enjoying the workout. Her large Jacuzzi is very popular with guests; it is ideally situated and allows either for privacy or for group entertainment and pleasure.

She is a seven-cabin vessel with 17 crew, and has been since as early as 2004, which at the time was rather unique. We feel we have great value in the quantity of crew and the level of service we can provide. We’ve always been focused on that.

The idea of capturing the holidays of our guests through film is important to us, and we have been doing this for some time now. We provide our charter guests with an after-movie for them to take away, and this has just been a gift. It’s a joy that people can capture their holiday and take it away with them. Apogee’s reputation and her programme have great value, and we see frequent repeat clients as well as new clients.

Where will Apogee be based in the upcoming charter season? What does her programme currently look like?

We are here in the Western Mediterranean this summer. At present, it looks like the Italian and French Rivieras, Corsica, Sardinia and down towards Naples. Maybe we’ll make our way to Sicily, and come late November or December we should be on our Atlantic crossing back to St. Maarten, which is typically our home base in the Caribbean in the winter. And we look forward to securing charters and having our owner onboard this coming winter.