Captain Adam Painter on KOKOMO.

Bitten by the sailing bug when he was just a small boy, today Adam Painter considers himself the luckiest man alive to captain 58.4m (191.6ft) luxury sailing yacht KOKOMO.

He makes it his mission to excite his guests with wind-in-your-hair sailing, while also chilling out to the Mediterranean charter vibe…

What inspired you to become a captain?

I grew up in New Zealand and there I started sailing as a young boy. It became my hobby, and I spent every spare hour on the water.

While backpacking in Europe, I discovered the yachting community. It was a lightbulb moment - I realised then that I could make my greatest passion into my career.

What is special about KOKOMO?

KOKOMO is one of a kind, there is nothing quite like her. She is a stunning high-performance sailing yacht with all the luxury of a motor yacht.

She has a foredeck jacuzzi, which is rare on a sailing yacht, and a shady open-air dining area. Below decks the light, bright climate-controlled lounge is a fantastic living space.

What do you love about her?

For me, it is definitely the sailing. The feeling you get when KOKOMO is under sail is incomparable. Only then can you really appreciate the design and technology that has created such an outstanding vessel.

What do the crew enjoy?

Having guests aboard! It’s what we all look forward to. The yacht looks her best and it is the crew’s time to shine. When we do not have guests onboard, the crew and I are working towards getting KOKOMO ready for the next trip.

We pride ourselves on our standards. The stewards are ready to look after our guests – and get creative cocktail making. It is a chance for chef to prepare elegant dishes with top quality ingredients. And the deck crew very much look forward to getting out the tenders, waterskis, fishing gear, kayaks and towable inflatables!

As for myself, planning and taking the yacht to beautiful and remote locations that I know the guests will love – it never gets old.

What type of guests love KOKOMO most?

We generally have guests that love to sail under canvas, whether that is a group of friends or a family. There’s no age limit to enjoying KOKOMO: her deck is spacious and line free, so it is safe for young children. We have a raft of toys for energetic guests, and various chill zones too - making her comfortable for those who want to relax. Really KOKOMO welcomes any guest.

Where do guests spend most of their time?

When at anchor, the swim platform is dropped into place astern and the water fun begins! There’s a broad seating area on the aft deck, next to the bar, where people can relax and sunbath. Plus, the foredeck jacuzzi of course!

The flybridge is a popular spot to be when under sail, and then on a still summer day, an awning can be put up here and lunch is served in the shade whilst enjoying the view. For dinner, the awning gets put way for an al fresco meal under the stars.

Where is she cruising this summer?

This summer we will be based out of the south of France, cruising along the Côte d'Azur. We will also make our way down the west coast of Italy, stopping at the most popular hotspots en route.

What are you looking forward to?

I can’t wait to take KOKOMO back to Sardinia - the flat waters around the Costa Smeralda combined with the prevailing sea breeze always deliver perfect sailing conditions.

If you could take KOKOMO anywhere - where would it be and why?

I am lucky to say that I have been able to sail to most parts of the world on KOKOMO. She is so versatile that sailing in the Mediterranean or catching the South Pacific trade winds are equally remarkable experiences. Just tell me where you want to go, and we will plot a course…

To find out more about Burgess’ yachts for sale and yachts for charter, please contact a Burgess broker. Alternatively, get in touch with one of our offices directly: London, Monaco, New York, Miami, Singapore or all other locations.