MASTER AND COMMANDER

Love many, trust few and always paddle your own canoe - or so the saying goes. While that spirit of self-reliance may have worked well for Baden-Powell and the Scouts, it doesn’t translate so readily to the modern world of superyachts. Very few owners run their own yachts, but there are some intrepid souls out there who swear by it.

Ron Gibbs, who now owns a 40-metre Sunseeker, has driven every one of his boats himself, starting with a 17-metre 20 years ago. “If one is fortunate enough to be able to acquire one of these magnificent machines, bristling with innovation and electronic toys, why would you not only allow, but also pay someone else to drive it for you?” he says in wonder. “Ask yourself, would you buy a new