An Interview with Captain Jordan Arzoglou
High Tide Yacht Charters prides itself on being dedicated to providing the best experience for our clients. We also prioritise the relationships we have with the outstanding crew members, who go above and beyond to make our clients' charters unforgettable. With this in mind, we have decided to undertake a completely unique project at High Tide Yacht Charters, where we delve deeper into the crew members' journeys into the yachting industry and highlight their vast experiences and array of talents.
High Tide Yacht Charters has been extremely fortunate to work with Captain Jordan Arzoglou of LUCKY CLOVER, the stunning Lagoon 52F catamaran that accommodates up to 12 guests in 6 cabins available for a bespoke crewed yacht charter experiences in Greece out of Athens. Our clients thoroughly enjoyed Captain Jordan’s passion for sailing and amazing hospitality. Whether you are wanting a charter filled with watersports activities such as wakeboard, waterskiing and paddle-boarding or a charter wanting to explore the stunning Greek Islands, Captain Jordan will be delighted to accommodate to your preferences to show you the highlights of his home nation or provide an activity filled yacht charter expereince.
The 2024 summer season is Captain Jordan’s second year season onboard LUCKY CLOVER, and his 6th season. For the past 4 years Captain Jordan has been working successfully as charter captain in various catamarans ranging from 40-56 ft showing his guests Greek hospitality and providing them safe and unforgettable holidays! Captain Jordan is energetic and a delight to be around who cannot wait to show you the beautiful Greek Islands on a crewed yacht charter experience.
LUCKY CLOVER a beautiful Lagoon 52F catamaran offering crewed yacht charters in Greece out of Athens for up to 12 guests.
1. Captain Jordan, your journey into the yachting industry is quite inspiring. Could you share with us what initially drew you to a career on the sea, and how did you navigate your path from High School to becoming a successful charter captain?
I will start by saying that since I was 3 years old, my favourite place to be was the sea. I have been sailing all my life as a hobby and the feeling I get when I sail has been the same since day one: Complete freedom and connection with nature.
So when I graduated high school, I was faced with the decision that all of us are: What to do as a profession for the rest of my life.
I knew from the first moment that an office job would be a ticket to depression for me but It took me about 6 months to realize that the answer was in front of me.
So, I worked as a deckhand for about 6 months onboard a sailing yacht in Santorini where I literally learned the ropes of the yachting business.
From there it was honestly just plain hard work in order to absorb all the information and experience I needed to become a charter captain which happened the following year.
2. Being proficient in both English and French must be a great asset in your line of work. How have these language skills enriched your interactions with guests and fellow crew members during your yachting career?
So, my parents sent me to a private half Greek half French school since first grade, which is why I speak French.
To be honest, I didn’t really appreciate what they were doing for me at the time but as I grew older, it became clear that it was the best gift they could have given me.
In the yachting business, it is imperative to be able to communicate frictionlessly with the guests that you have on board in order to make their experience impeccable. So, yes the fact that I speak three languages has helped me a lot in being able to communicate well with the guests I serve.
So far I haven’t had the chance to work with crew members from other countries but if I do, I suppose that my proficiency in foreign languages will be of use too.
3. You've spent the past 4 years as a charter captain, showcasing Greek hospitality and providing unforgettable experiences for your guests. What do you find most rewarding about your role as a captain, and how do you ensure your guests have safe and enjoyable holidays while exploring the stunning Greek islands?
I will start by sailing that being a charter captain, and doing it the best way possible is a very demanding job: It requires all your focus to insure safety on board, an unforgettable experience for the guests, communication with the crew and of course, navigating demanding weather conditions.
That being said, the reward for all this is the fact that I know I am able to create unforgettable memories for my guests.
Every year I meet and serve more than 150 guests on board which means that in the past four years I have made 600 people happy and hopefully made them experience Greece in a way that nobody else could.
Also, to answer your question, safety is a top priority so in order for me to be able to create unforgettable experiences for my guests but keeping them safe at the same time, I plan the itinerary and the stops that we make according to weather conditions so we stay away from rough seas and everybody has an incredible experience.
4. With a diverse range of interests including open sea sailing, free diving, and hiking, it's clear that you have a deep connection to the ocean and nature. How do you incorporate these passions into your life both on and off the yacht?
Haha.
So, the funny thing is that even though all these activities are passions of mine, I don’t have any time to do them while being on board.
What I have found extremely rewarding though, is when I have guests on board who are interested in these kind of activities and I recommend them the best places to do them since I know the best spots from personal experience.
For example: Hiking at Serifos, Scuba diving at Santorini and free diving at Paros.
Of course at the end of each season it is my time to enjoy all these activities, so rest assured that I have not stopped doing them myself as I am still an adrenaline junky haha.
5. Greece is known for its rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant culture. As a native Greek, what aspects of your homeland do you most enjoy sharing with your guests, and what hidden gems do you love to introduce them to during their charter experience?
That is so true. Greece is worldwide known for its history and landscapes and the good thing is that I am able to showcase both while navigating the islands. To be completely honest, even though it is my fifth year as a charter captain in Greece and I have already seen all the islands multiple times, I have never taken them for granted so this makes me able to show hidden gems to my guests with a lot of excitement.
My personal favourites are the Old City of Syros and the Chora of Serifos on top of the mountain which has one of the best sunsets I have ever seen in my life.
6. Balancing the responsibilities of managing a yacht and providing exceptional service to guests can be demanding. How do you approach this balance, and what strategies do you employ to ensure a seamless and memorable charter experience for everyone on board?
Great question. In my opinion the job of the captain is basically the following: management of the yacht, management of the crew and supervision that everything that happens on board is with the end goal of an impeccable guest experience
It is easier said than done of course. It requires many years of experience and the mindset of a student that always wants to learn and improve. From my side, the way I can create memorable experiences for my guests is by showing them the best beaches/coves at each island, ensuring that everything is done safely and that the needs of my guests are always (in reasonable terms) fulfilled.
Of course, my crew always plays a huge role in this process of delivering food experiences, but so far I have been lucky enough to work with excellent and experienced crew members that made it very easy to work with them.
The crew of crewed catamaran LUCKY CLOVER at the EMMYS 2024 Yacht Show: Chef Amalia Provelengiou (Left), Captain Jordan Arzoglou (Middle), Deckhand/Stew Christos Paslamouskas (Right)
7. With your love for adventure and water sports, you must have some incredible stories from your time at sea. Can you share one of your most memorable moments or experiences while on charter, and how it influenced you as a captain?
It is true that I absolutely LOVE watersports and anything adventure related but my most memorable moments on board have nothing to do with that aha.
My most memorable moments have been times when I got guests who truly wanted to share their stories with me and listen to mine.
Interacting with so many different people from all over the world has always been my favourite part of the job. So, I specifically remember a conversation with a guest who later became a very good friend of mine ( can’t disclose his name aha) who as we were exchanging stories and views of the way we see the world told me a very simple but life changing thing:
“What makes a yacht special, is not the yacht itself or the water toys or the equipment. It is the crew. As a guest you can be on a 10/10 yacht but with a below average crew the experience sucks.
But if you get a below average yacht with a 10/10 crew, it will be an unforgettable experience “
Now, I have been lucky to be captain on yachts that were in excellent condition, but the fact that the crew makes all the difference, is something that has changed my view on the yachting industry ever since.
8. Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for the future of your career in the yachting industry? Are there any particular goals or destinations you hope to explore or achieve in the coming years?
I personally can’t think of myself ever working outside of the yachting industry. I love it. I absolutely love the fact that I get to create lifetime memories for people.
So, because of that, my long term plan ( maybe not that long from now) is to create a crew training company, called ETHOS, that aims to constantly improve the level of the service provided for guests on board. I think it is needed and will be appreciated by the majority of people who work on yachts and by guests too.
2024 Rates
HIGH SEASON (July - August): € 24,000
MID SEASON (June & September): € 22,000
LOW SEASON (October - May): € 18,500
Plus all expenses (V.A.T. 12% & APA 25%, for 12 PAX 30%)
It was an pleasure interviewing Captain Jordan Arzoglou, and we are incredibly grateful for his time despite his extremely busy schedule. We wish him all the best for the upcoming season and his exciting plans to establish his crew training company, ETHOS. If you are interested in chartering LUCKY CLOVER and experience Captain Jordan's exceptional hospitality, please enquire using the form below.
