Tell me, Mr Shephard: how do you become a TV captain?
I am well connected with the other superyacht skippers. When the production company was looking for a sailing yacht, my name came up. I showed the film people our 54-metre ketch. After a few discussions with me and my crew members, they decided in our favour.
Were you happy about the new job? Being in a TV programme is not something that is in the job description of a navigator!
At the time, "Parsifal III" was poorly utilised. The owner saw the show as an opportunity to revitalise the charter business. And that was also my focus, getting on television was actually not my motivation at the time.
"Below Deck" is reality TV, did you still have to prepare for your role as an actor?
Of course, that was my first thought too, I hadn't even seen an episode yet! And all the people I talked to about it said it was all staged. But then I spoke to my predecessors from the seasons that had already been filmed. And they told me not to pretend. The only difference to my previous job was the cameras ...
... so there is no script?
No. The episodes are simply edited together. There is no script for everyday life on board, nor is there anyone directing.
Your yacht is 54 metres long, that sounds enormous ...
... yes, but with a full production crew on board alongside the regular crew and charter guests, it's going to be pretty tight. Of course, you can't see that later on in the show, because most of the cameramen are not in the picture.
How did you get into sailing?
I was backpacking in Europe in the 1980s and was standing in the queue outside the youth hostel in Rome when I saw a notice on the notice board: unpaid deckhand wanted. I dialled the number, met the man on Saturday morning and drove to the boat on Monday morning. It was by far the best summer of my life. And a little later I was sailing the Mediterranean on my own keel.
When something happens, you always seem very experienced - does your sailing experience help you?
I think so. Panic never helps, that's my philosophy. Sometimes I have to juggle three or four crises at the same time, but I'm still fine. When the fifth or sixth comes, I start saying words that only sailors use. But I try to stay calm. If the captain can't control himself, what can you expect from the rest of the crew? And we really do always have problems. You have to learn to deal with them: Find out the causes and develop solutions.
One of your hoodies says: "No normal days". What's that all about?
Working on a superyacht, especially a sailing one, is always an adventure. There's always something crazy happening, hence the saying.
About the person: Glenn Shephard
The 64-year-old from Montreal has been a full-time crew member on sailing superyachts for 22 years, the last 13 of which as skipper. Privately, he sails a 42-foot yacht in Greece with his partner.
