technology-design-better-126.html
X-Yachting 2013
127 / 136
x-yachting 2013 127 x world programme during the evenings. even now
clients
refer to that fantastic week. after graduating from my bachelors degree i started
working
for an american company in
office
furniture. after i had worked there for two years, my parents decided to work less, which meant that nanno needed some help on the
office
. he knew he needed to find somebody with
office
, administration, marketing and pr skills, and of course someone who loves to sail. because i had experience in writing job descriptions he asked for my help. “while i was writing i noticed that the tasks and skills were cut out for myself. i thought about it for a few months and then approached nanno with the idea of
working
together. he was thrilled and i started in may of this year. because it is a family business i’d spent years listening to conversations at the dining table and already knew a lot of things, so that’s a big advantage.” “it’s the same for me,” agrees nanno, “i have always been helping out wherever i could. it started with holiday jobs cleaning boats and progressed onto helping our mechanic maarten perform his work – which was great experience – then attending boatshows and even keeping the
office
open now and then. “however, i was never pushed to do it. instead i focused on my own education: aerospace engineering. i graduated as an engineer specialising in composite structures (which is still helpful with what i do now) after
working
as an intern for hall spars, designing and building carbon fibre masts, and at the engineering department of shell. it was there that i discovered that although i loved my studies i was not so fond of the actual work. knowing x-yachts already it made me think and finally i asked rob how he would feel if i would join him and eventually take over. now, five years later, i can say that
working
at x-yachts has proven to be everything i expected and more.” so, how do they all feel about
working
so closely together? “we have seen only advantages of
working
as a family,” says rob,”of course we all know each other very well and trust one another. but we also are not shy in criticising each other and keep challenging each other. fortunately this does not lead to arguments as we know it is in our best interests to keep innovative.” loyal
clients
the dutch dealership is based in the marina muiderzand, just 20 minutes from amsterdam, with
clients
from across holland. the base includes an
office
, workshop, storage facilities and moorings for both yachts under delivery and pre-owned yachts, plus a 25m land dock where they can offer winter storage and access to the yachts for viewing. “our
clients
are all enthusiastic sailors, keen on having a yacht that sails well but who also demand good looks and a high level of quality,” says nanno. “that’s a combination that x-yachts has specialised in over the years. “since the introduction of the xcruising series we still have the same
clients
, but perhaps with a more long-term orientation. we also see that a lot of these
clients
are now using their xc’s for long- distance cruising. “meeting the needs of such a variety of
clients
, each with their own specific wishes and areas of interest, makes for an intriguing part of our business – particularly making sure we deliver the correct yacht in the correct specification for every client. our own experience in both racing and long-distance cruising helps us advise but we are also still learning from every new client. “we also notice that our
clients
very much appreciate the fact that we are a family business. we aren’t just selling yachts but how our
clients
’ will spend their free time and holidays. sharing this passion gets their approval every time.” having represented x-yachts for over 25 years, the schuttrups family have made lifelong friends with some owners. they have delivered no fewer than eight x-yachts to one client, while another stays in contact over their adventurous cruises, which have so far taken in the black sea, gabon river in africa, brazil, and cuba. after spending so much time in the
office
, do they still enjoy being onboard together? absolutely. “even now nanno and i are older, we try to get together for one week of sailing every summer holidays,” says nikki. that passion for x-yachts looks set to continue for at least another 25 years. the family remain keen sailors – here having completed a 24- hour race onboard an xp 44 at ijsselmeer with friends. holland hosted a hugely successful x-yachts gold cup in 2009.
panda-service-fischer-128.html