At the helm of La Pellegrina 1 stands a man whose calm confidence and deep respect for the sea define every voyage.

Captain John brings years of experience navigating the Mediterranean’s most iconic coastlines, ensuring each charter unfolds with precision, safety, and ease.

We sat down with Captain John to learn more about his journey, his favorite destinations, and the story behind La Pellegrina 1’s recent engineering upgrade.

Captain, can you tell us a little about your journey into yachting and what you personally love most about being the captain of this yacht?

I was fortunate enough to grow up near the sea, and that gave me the opportunity to start sailing from a young age. The rest came naturally. As I became an adult,I started working on sailboats, smaller boats, racing boats, and then pretty much I have worked in every aspect of the work at the sea, from large ships to yachts where I'm working now. The favorite part of my current career at the La Pellegrina 1 one is probably my team. With most of them we have been working together for many years from my previous boats. 

That helps us have a better understanding of cooperation. And the result that comes out to the guests is improving year by year. And we can have a steady and high level of competence onboard. 

From your perspective, what makes life onboard La Pellegrina 1 unique compared to other yachts of this size?

La Pellegrina 1 is a it's a unique boat for various reasons. It's, very luxurious, but at the same time, she's built on the hull design of a military vessel. The hull comes from an offshore patrol vessel, which makes it very seaworthy, very fast. And, at the same time,  she has all the luxury that we should be expected of, yet 50m and above this level. 

But, more important than the yacht is always the team, which, works very hard to be able to provide high service personalized to the needs and the expectations of each guest. It's very important we try to adapt and understand what exactly guests are looking for at the first hours and days of the charter, so we can continuously improve the experience for our guests. 

Do you have a favorite itinerary or destination that you particularly enjoy showing guests?

Itineraries should be adjusted depending on the guests. The perfect itinerary is not standard. So it's very important to have good cooperation with the guests before they arrive onboard so we know what exactly they are looking to see on the trip. What are the priorities? It's very important depending on the age, on the personality and, the lifestyle of the guests.  

So then we can make the perfect itinerary for each guest. We try not personally. The best interior is the one that the guests will enjoy more. So it will be different. It's not a hotel. This is a yacht. And everything, including the itinerary, must be adjusted depending on the guest expectations. 

The yacht underwent a total engine rebuild completed in 2025. Can you explain what that means for performance and safety?

The engines on a yacht is the heart of the vessel, and especially in a yacht like La Pellegrina 1, which is a high performance yacht.  And one of the things that we offer is performance. The condition of the engines must be a top priority. So after the current owners purchase the vessel, last year, they went forward with the full rebuild of the engines, replacing almost every aspect of both engines and all the moving parts. Technically we can speak a lot, but practically the engines are back to zero hours, and the performance of the vessel at the moment is the best it has ever been.  

What is the one thing you hope every guest feels when they leave La Pellegrina 1?

The one thing I'm hoping guests feel when they leave is, that they  need the urge a  wish to come back for more for the next year. And this is something we are proud of. My team has a very good record of repeat clients. And, knowing that day by day they are enjoying more gives them the expectation to come back and get even more from us and from the yacht and for us also to provide the same. 

Under Captain John’s guidance, La Pellegrina 1 continues to offer charters defined by excellence - combining elegant design, expert navigation, and flawless service to create truly unforgettable experiences at sea.