My Secret

Ever since he was a young boy, it was Luigi  Del Tevere's dream to charter superyachts. Fast forward to today, and the Italian-born captain has logged 40 years on the water and now sits at the helm of one of the industry’s finest boats.

From his incredible repertoire with his professional crew of nine to his unparalleled experience uncovering some of the best undiscovered anchorages in the Med, we asked him to talk us through a charter on board MY Secret – cuisine, water toys, cocktails and all.

Can you tell us a little about your background and how you got into yachting? 

I grew up being inspired by the sea, and it was always my dream to work in the yachting industry. I started off in merchant shipping and then joined my first yacht in 1981, working my way up to captain in 1986. I’ve worked on charter yachts since 1991 and have successfully run many popular boats since then including Mine Games 63m Benetti, Reborn 76m Amels, Magnifica 48m CRN and Force Blue 63m Denship. I took over as captain of MY Secret in April 2018 and have loved every minute on board this fine yacht, meeting guests from all over the world.

How would you describe the owner’s vision for the yacht?

The owner is extremely proud of MY Secret and loves spending time on board whenever she can afford the time. It’s a place that most certainly feels special, yet at the same time homely and relaxed. She wants all charter guests to enjoy a VIP experience, creating unforgettable memories.

How would you describe the style of the yacht and the overall ambiance on board?

Chic, sophisticated and timeless, yet very welcoming. MY Secret is a floating five-star hotel on the sea - the ultimate holiday!  As for this ambiance, it is friendly and relaxed yet highly professional all at the same time.

What are some of her highlights and special features?

MY Secret is built by the Dutch pedigree shipyard Heesen and has an excellent stabilisation system allowing guests to cruise, play, relax and dine in perfect tranquillity. 12 guests can be accommodated in five elegant staterooms with a full beam master suite. The on deck jacuzzi and full wet bar are always popular, not forgetting the large array of watersports including latest jet skis, SeaBobs, towable toys and fishing gear.

Which types of client are most attracted to a charter on board?

A large variety of guests have chartered the yacht, but she is very popular with active, sporty families and couples that love the outdoors and getting wet.

What types of experience can you offer charter guests on the yacht?

My highly experienced crew and I are guaranteed to offer guests a wonderful time on board, experiencing unrivalled luxury and cruising to some of the world’s most unforgettable places. I have gained extensive knowledge of the Mediterranean while working as a superyacht captain over the last 20 years, and I use this knowledge and experience to create unforgettable customised charters for guests. 

How would you describe the style and approach of the crew with charter guests?

The crew are very professional but at the same time extremely personable, kind and accommodating, making sure that every clients’ needs and special requests are met. They have great attention to detail, ensure that guests are comfortable and safe at all times, and that their glasses are full-to-the-brim with their favourite drink… 

How are the yacht and the crew prepared to accommodate children and teenagers on charter?

The crew are exceptional with both children and teenagers, and have a lot of experience dealing with all personalities. They are extremely skilled at helping to keep them enthralled and entertained at all times. Happy kids means happy parents! 

Are there some interesting personalities or talents among the crew?

There are! There’s a qualified personal watercraft instructor, a yoga instructor and a dolphin expert whose family ran their own dolphinarium, to name a few.

Can you share some examples where you and your crew have gone above and beyond for guests?

Where do I begin? There have been unforgettable theme party evenings, rainy day experiences like no other, beach parties, birthday parties, special occasion parties, finding tables in exclusive restaurants, sourcing the rarest ingredients for that special meal. Too many to mention…

How would you describe the cuisine on board?

Chef Pavel Philippov has been delighting the guests on board My Secret for the past three years, and he has over 20 years’ experience as a trained chef. He is well versed in Asian, Thai, and Russian cuisine (to name only a few), but with his home in the Med, what he loves most is cooking the freshest seafood. Pavel says the secret to cooking on board is knowing where to get the best ingredients, be it a local farm near Monaco or a cheese market in Sardinia – and he knows them all inside out.

What have been some of the highlights or your favourite memories as Captain of MY Secret?

It’s always a highlight to be able to take guests to some of the best kept locations and anchorages. I delight in seeing their faces when they wake up in the morning after an overnight passage to see the anchorage and magnificent surroundings we have found for them.

What are your usual cruising grounds?

We generally sail around the west Mediterranean, anywhere from Monaco down to Sicily, including Corsica, Sardinia and the Amalfi coast. We can also go further east towards the Ionian Islands and Croatia should the guests wish. Sardinia and the Croatian coast are my favourite destinations because they are beautiful and wild, but there are many other lovely spots all over the Med.

Which areas of the yacht do guests tend to gather on board and which facilities are most used?

Guests like to be outdoors, and the most popular areas used on My Secret are the spacious decks; sun deck, upper deck aft and the swim platform.

Tell us about the toys and tenders on board – and which toys are the most popular with guests?

The jet skis and SeaBobs are always really popular with the guests, and our crew are brilliant assisting and keeping guests entertained in the water. We cater for a large variety of watersport interests, and having a qualified instructor on board helps relax guests who have not used the equipment before.