Capt. Luca Serra: "Safety comes before aesthetics."
It is one of the certainties of the current captain of the new Swan 128 Be Cool, who also talks about the dynamics between owners and crew, which are not always easy.
This service was published in advance in issue 4-2025 of the Yacht Upstream supplement available at this link
With extensive experience gained in racing and shipyards, Luca Serra emphasizes the captain's operational role in the yacht's design, outfitting, and commissioning phases. From managing hydraulic pressures to calibrating onboard systems, to directly interacting with owners and designers, the captain also intervenes to ensure that technical solutions do not compromise safety and functionality. SUPER YACHT 24 interviewed him during one of the first sea trials of the new Swan 128 BeCool, launched in Finland.
From regatta enthusiast to captain. What was your journey?
My passion for the sea and boats was sparked by my maternal grandparents; they had a boat, and I was already sailing before I was born. I raced for 30 years, even winning the Admiral's Cup in 1995 with Capricorno. I was studying architecture, but the races always coincided with exams: I left with the Navy group, where I stayed, turning racing into a job.
How did the transition to commander come about?
The opportunity came thanks to Luca Bassani, a lifelong friend, who at the time was building the first Wally, Wallygator, in the United States and was having trouble finding one, so he asked me. I didn't even have a license—I'd always been a bowman—but I accepted and was one of the very first Italians to go to England and earn the Yachtmaster title. In 1997, I became captain of Wallygator and worked with Bassani for many years.
How did he get on board the Swan 128?
I'm friends with project manager Odo Giordo and the owner himself. I enjoy working with Giovanni (Stronati, ed.). He's a dynamic owner, and every year there's something new to keep up with. Some colleagues prefer to always work with the same boat, but I'm more interested in the optimization and fine-tuning phase. Giovanni is an active owner; every time he goes to sea, he changes his mind to try alternative solutions. I've been captain of his Swan 82s, 98s, and now the 128.
What is your relationship with the shipowner?
Living in Liguria taught me to be meticulous and keep my distance from shipowners. And I learned the same thing with Luca Bassani and other key figures I've worked with. A simple example: when there are guests, you address each other formally. It's a matter of respect that goes both ways, even with 'easy' shipowners like Giovanni or Luca. This is especially true with Italian shipowners and crews; sometimes the sailor might think he's become friends with the shipowner, and that's when the problems begin. It's best to avoid confusing relationships. That said, I have an excellent relationship with Stronati; he's a pleasant person who understands the dynamics on board. Some shipowners make you work for 70 days straight without a moment's respite. With him, it's a different story.
How do you go from cruising to racing?
"He's an owner who also contributes to performance development; he 'sees' aspects that a normal owner wouldn't notice. I'm sure that when he comes aboard his 128, he'll start reading the GPS numbers and say the boat is going slow, and he'll find solutions to go faster. He's capable of transferring the lessons learned from racing to a cruising boat."
What about customizing the yacht?
"It's an activity that's increasingly popular with certain people, and today customization has reached incredible levels. But I don't focus on aesthetics; I'm interested in safety, navigation, and electronics, and I work with the project manager once the boat is in the shipyard. Some owners, and especially certain designers, wouldn't even want to see bollards or pulpits because they detract from the aesthetics. If an element doesn't interfere with safety while sailing, it doesn't concern me; if, however, excessive customization does, I try to persuade the owner to change his mind."
How does maintenance and safety work on a 128-foot yacht?
It all starts with the correct sizing of the components. Furthermore, Nautor Swan is very conservative in managing hydraulic pressure and the speed at which winches, sheets, halyards, and similar elements move. The work we do on the first outings is to set these values. The crew wants everything to move a little faster, while the shipyard tends to be more cautious, which is normal. On every outing, we try to push harder, even though I personally never reach even 30% of the limit. I'm always delicate, and in any case, it's better to break during testing than while cruising.
How do you crew a yacht like this?
There are some important roles that are hard to find, like engineer, for example, or chief stewardess. These are roles for which it's best to go through an agency, and once you find the right person, it's best to hold on to them. A few years ago, I created a WhatsApp group that now has over 500 members, and I recently had an argument with a chief stewardess because she claimed she enjoyed changing boats every year. I believe, however, that if someone doesn't stay for at least two years, it means they haven't gotten to know the boat and the owner thoroughly, and the experience is worth less.
Why?
"In the first year—I'm talking mostly about Italian owners—everything works well, but starting in the second year, relationships start to become more complex. They make you feel like part of the family. But precisely because of this, the dynamics I mentioned earlier come into play, and the owner begins to 'expand', making requests that go beyond the expertise of a single crew member. Personally, I don't accept resumes from people who change boats every year."
And the foreigners who are often referred to?
"They offer tons of courses but have little experience, and you sometimes find people who advertise themselves as hostesses but are actually sommeliers or floral decorators. Some even add day jobs aboard major vessels to their resumes. Few have experience, and the key roles are scarce; it's hard to find them."
How can the problem be solved?
“We need more schools that teach yachting to young people. We have many courses, but they are aimed at adults and those who already have experience.”
It's often said that Italians are better. Is that true?
Italians are cleaner and better at keeping their boats in order; we get better with experience. If I look back at my career, I didn't initially plan on becoming a captain; I just raced and had fun. Then I became captain of the Wally I raced on, and I stayed for over nine years after the owner unsuccessfully tried other captains, who all left after a few months. This gave rise to my theory of spending at least two seasons aboard to get to know the boat and the owner.
How should work and rest shifts work?
Shift schedules are mostly followed by commercial vessels, less so by cruise ships. Furthermore, without generalizing, Italian shipowners tend not to organize crew rotation, a common practice among foreigners: for the most important roles, such as captain and chief engineer, there's a double crew that rotates every three or four weeks, and the boat works continuously, plus there's one day off per week. I've spent 73 consecutive nights at anchor, in the harbor, without a moment's rest. These are complex situations to manage, shipowners know this, but if you get into arguments, you risk having to leave and make way for younger captains who accept lower salaries. Sometimes shipowners don't realize how important it is to have skilled people on board: usually everything runs smoothly, but if the weather changes unexpectedly, you can find yourself in serious trouble.
Speaking a little about sailing, have you ever found yourself in dangerous situations?
"Yes, it's happened several times, and that's also why I created the WhatsApp group where we captains exchange weather information. Now we have the tools to predict and prevent dangerous situations. When the weather forecast warns of an incoming storm, I always move a day early."
How do you find out about the weather conditions?
There are several apps on my phone that work well; I usually mix and match, looking at several. When I'm in the Mediterranean, I often rely on French weather, especially in Sardinia for the Mistral wind. My favorites are Predict Wind, Meteo Consult, and Meteo France, which develop their own forecasts and then compare them with the information I know. For important sailings, I also rely on professional services. I often use the American site Commander's Weather, a group of former captains who work well and understand our needs; they're not just ordinary meteorologists.
A word of advice to young people who want to pursue a career as commander.
"Spend a lot of time on boats, starting from basic positions, and work your way up. Many people become captains knowing little about the role of a sailor, lacking the attention and focus that are so important. You have to get your hands dirty, know how to put yourself out there, accept criticism, and correct yourself. At the beginning of my career, I didn't even get paid just to be on board and race, but when the owners realized I was good, I started asking for at least reimbursement for my expenses and gradually progressed."
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