Meet the Prestige Yacht Delivery Crew
Matthew James – Managing Director
Matthew has spent his entire life involved in the marine industry. Starting as a teenager in the family business, he has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience well beyond his years. His career spans a wide range of vessel types-from large commercial operations including the offshore oil and gas sector to luxury vessels in the charter and private sector, as well as both racing and cruising yachts.
He holds extensive experience operating ASD (Azimuth Stern Drive) and RT (ROTOR) vessel types in all drive configurations. Over the years, Matthew has developed an exceptional reputation for his ability to handle complex maneuvers, particularly in confined ports, dynamic offshore environments, and high-demand terminal towage operations.
Throughout his career, Matthew has held roles as Master, Engineer, and Marine Operations Manager, providing training and compliance support for some of the industry’s largest and most respected companies. He is particularly passionate about developing crew and takes pride in mentoring the next generation of vessel Masters. His training style is hands-on, practical, and rooted in real-world operational experience—making him highly effective at building confidence and competence.
Des – Senior Master
Des spent 30 years running his own charter vessels and is an extremely accomplished master and engineer. Des has been leading large commercial marine businesses as senior master and compliance officer and gained an impressive set of skills along the way. Des is also a Large vessel owner (80ft motor cruiser) and has been cruising Australia wide for many years. Des is very comfortable with all vessel types and has a proven track record for safety and reliability.