Blu 470
- 49.68m | Feadship | 1990 (2014)
Captain Ian Garaty has always had a love of the ocean. From studying yacht design to his extensive sailing experience, it would seem his career path had been certain from the start.
Now leading Blu 470’s crew of 11, he promises the utmost respect for everyone on board, working hard to ensure each and every charter is better than the last. What’s more, he’s not afraid to go above and beyond to create exceptional memories that last a lifetime, for both adults and children alike. :All the crew are great with children, and we can entertain them in many ways,” he says. “Treasure hunts, playing with the water toys, arts and crafts activities, making cookies with the chef…you name it, we can do it!”
Not only is Blu 470 perfectly set up for every type of guest, so too are her dedicated crew of 11 who hail from across the world, led by Captain Ian Garaty. This star team is the cherry on the Blu 470 cake and strive to make every experience on board an unforgettable one. “The crew pride ourselves on being very good at reading our charter guests and understanding exactly how the crew should interact with them,” says Captain Ian. “A luxury yacht charter is an individual experience, and we cater to all guests’ needs. We always remain professional and can be as present or discreet as needed.”
Captain Ian discusses his favourite off-the-grid cruising grounds, his love of the ocean, and why his dedicated crew are perfectly placed to offer the best charter experience around.
Can you tell us a little about your background and how you got into yachting?
Growing up I studied yacht design and naval architecture, and I’ve always had a love of sailing and travel. After working in a design office, the opportunity arose to sail in the Caribbean. From then on I sailed extensively, running boats from the Med to the South Pacific…and everywhere in between.
When did you join Blu 470?
In November 2018, right before the crossing to the Caribbean two hours later!
How would you describe the owner’s vision of the yacht?
Generally, I would say it is a very family orientated vision. The owner wants the crew to be happy on the boat and be comfortable around the guests while still keeping the running of the boat to a high level.
How would you describe the overall ambiance on board?
Basing this on our last Med season, I would say it is very homely, warm and inviting. The crew are very proud of the yacht, and I think that definitely comes across well with charter guests and the owner. If the crew are genuinely happy then everything else simply falls into place.
What are some of the yachts highlights and special features?
We have a fantastic outside dining area on our bridge deck, with a large table (which can also be made smaller) comfortably seating 12 guests. We have a great selection of gym equipment on our sundeck – there’s a running machine, rower, bike and free weights. We’ve also just recently had our exterior furniture replaced which really blends the interior/exterior flow and gives a wow factor to the exterior.
How would you describe the style and approach of the crew with charter guests?
We pride ourselves in being very good at reading our charter guests and understanding exactly how the crew can interact with them. We always remain professional, but depending on the guests, show them our personalities as appropriate.
How are the yachts and the crew prepared to accommodate children and teenagers on charter?
All the crew are great with children, and we can entertain them in many ways: treasure hunts, playing with the water toys, arts and crafts activities, making cookies with the chef to name but a few.
Are there some interesting personalities or talents among the crew?
We try to hire crew with an additional talent or skill…so we will wait and see when we get our full group of crew for the next Med season!
Can you give some examples where you and your crew have gone above and beyond to make your guest experience as special as possible?
We love our table settings, especially when we do a theme night (we’ve had Greek, flower power, Italian, 70’s/80’s disco, casino – the list goes on!). These are always special nights where guests really let their hair down. Sunset beach set-ups are also pretty special too. We dress a deserted beach full of fairy lights and lanterns and have cocktails for sunset.
How would you describe the cuisine on board?
We were incredibly lucky to have a chef who has studied an array of cuisines from Thai, Indian, Lebanese to Sushi, Italian, Chinese. Our new chef will start soon, and is great too.
What have been some of the highlights or your favourite memories as captain of Blu 470?
Having a fantastic crew and a successful Med charter season. Seeing the crew work as one when emergency hand steering for five days across the Atlantic Ocean was also fantastic.
What are your usual cruising grounds?
We cruise the Mediterranean in the summer and Caribbean in the winter.
Which destinations and your personal favourites and why?
The Azores, Patagonia, Southern Line islands…the last because you probably have to ask where they are!
Which areas of the yacht do guests tend to gather on board and which facilities are used the most?
Definitely the bridge deck and swim platform. The water toys are very popular too as we have quite a few.
Tell us about the toys and tenders on board – and which toys are the most popular with guests?
We have a 37’ Axopar chase boat with 2 x 350hp Mercury Verado engines, a 6m Zodiac NZO rescue tender with a 150hp Yamaha engine which can be used for beach landings and water sports, 2 x 3-seat wave runners , 1 x Superjet stand up jet ski, 2 x F5s SeaBobs, 1 x jet surf, 2 x rigid stand up paddleboards, 2 x inflatable kayaks, 2 x inflatable SUPs, 1 set of male water skis, 1 set of female water skis, 1 x wakeboard, 1 x Big Mable inflatable tube, various snorkelling gear…and a slide!
SeaBobs tend to be the most popular when we have kids on board, otherwise the paddleboards.