About Captain Russell Strang, Captain of M/Y Lady M:

Captain Russell Strang is Australian and has been professional yacht crew for around 15 years, with experience on well-known charter vessels like Alfa Nero, Majestic, Capri and Troyanda.

Originally from Sydney, Australia, Russ has a natural love for all things aquatic and an extensive background in hospitality which allows him to provide a fantastic experience for guests.

He has an extensive knowledge of various cruising grounds across the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Indian Oceans - this summer Lady M will be mainly based in the turquoise waters of the Eastern Med.  Captain Russ and the fantastic crew of Lady M look forward to welcoming you onboard to explore the beautiful waters of Croatia, Turkey, or Greece, with impeccable service and a will to explore…

About M/Y Lady M

Lady M is a 2018-launched Sunseeker and one of the newest and most specified examples of the perennially popular 131 model.

Captain Russell’s experience and knowledge is just as evident as his characteristic Aussie charm and good humour, and he prides himself on making sure guests have the most successful and memorable charter experience.

Lady M’s stunning and unique interior décor is thanks to British designers Vickers Design Studio which has changed many items onboard, including raising the ceiling heights and expanding the upper saloon to incorporate a luxury bar area. The yacht boasts many distinct areas to socialise and relax in, each as luxurious and well-appointed as the next. Polished dark woods and bright whites create a sleek, modern interior, with pops of blues giving the rooms warmth and character.

The yacht comfortably accommodates 10 guests across five luxury ensuite cabins. The fabulous full beam master suite is forward on the main deck, and benefits from near floor to ceiling windows. A stunning marble bathroom and walk in closet complete the space. On the lower deck are two generous VIPs and two twins that convert into doubles, each with their own signature colour.

For active guests, Lady M offers a plethora of water toys, including two PWCs, Sea bobs, water-skis, and wakeboards, stand up paddle boards and a hair-raising selection of inflatable towables!

A top speed of 20 knots and a cruising speed of 13 ensures guests are able to enjoy performance as well as style and see as much of the coastline as they choose to during their charter, all with plenty of time left to explore ashore.

Lady M’s charter-friendly crew of 8 ensure guests’ every needs are met, and she proves a wonderful option for guests looking for both a fun and an active holiday as well as a luxurious retreat from everyday life.

Q&A

What is your proudest moment as Captain on Lady M?

I started in Lady M in 2020 and we had a very a successful charter season last year with lots of places visited, lots of good stories, happy guests and hopefully some clients who would like to visit us again in years to come. I think that made me a very proud Captain.

What made you want to enter the yachting industry?

I’ve been professional yacht crew now for almost 15 years but initially it started as almost a hobby. I’ve always loved winter sports like hiking and snowboarding in particular, so I really needed a way just to fight through the summer months. I followed a good friend’s advice and discovered the yachting industry and it really appealed to my personality and sense of adventure and before long it was my full-time career.

What was my path to becoming a captain?

Like all yacht crew, I started out at entry level. For me, this was a junior deckhand role, and I was quite fortunate to join some quite well-known yachts like Alfa Nero, Sunrays, Majestic, Capri. From here I was able to extensively cruise the Mediterranean, Caribbean, East Coast USA and even the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf. Over time I worked through the ranks and built up enough experience to be able to sit the Master 3000 licence, which I’ve held for five years now.

So, my role as Captain on Lady M represents the culmination of about 15 years of hard work, a lot of sea miles across various oceans and eventually the opportunity to have my own command.

What sets Lady M apart from other charter yachts?

Mostly I think the Sunseeker 131 model, it’s almost the perfect charter yacht for today’s charter guests. Its compact enough to get into most ports, you can get nice and close to the shore in most anchorages but it’s still a spacious boat for interior and exterior providing a luxurious setting whilst on board. She is finished to an exceptional standard; comfortable, modern, enough space for all the toys – stand up paddle boards, wake boards, water ski’s, sea bobs, jet ski’s; we even have full scuba kits.

There are lots of separate spaces on board to relax, mingle, entertain; but what sets her apart from similar vessels would have to be the crew. We have a healthy mix of nationalities; everyone is service orientated to ensure the guests have a great time on board. The chefs’ skills are impeccable, and the chief stews skills and knowledge sets the stage for a marvellous experience.

What is the most memorable charter scenario you’ve encountered?

I can remember hitting golf balls off the sundeck off a very large charter yacht with West Indies cricket legend holding the world record for the most runs scored in a test match while my colleague and fellow deckhand at the time was riding a jet ski wearing full protective gear collecting the floating golf balls with a large fishing net, that was amazing. Either that or just chatting with Bill Gates on a charter in Greece. He’s a lovely guy, he’s humble and an amazing philanthropist.

Most charters will have a defining moment; a perfect sunset just in time dinner on the aft deck, an epic beach set up with a BBQ or the kids jumping into the water from the sundeck.

What destination do you most look forward to visiting?

I really enjoyed cruising around the Seychelle islands, just the rugged beauty of the place was very special for me. Closer to home in the Med, there are some amazing cruising areas; the south coast of Turkey around Marmaris, Fetiye, Gocek; there are some incredible places to explore on a yacht. My personal favourite in the Mediterranean would have to be Croatia. Cruising between the islands, there is just something for every guest.

There’s historic Dubrovnik, party the night away in Hvar, experience some incredible local restaurants, explore the amazing krka waterfalls or find a deserted island, a tranquil bay where we can go stern to the rocks and just enjoy unspoilt nature.

What is the most curious request you’ve had from a guest?

We had a charter in the Greek islands with Judge Judy and her husband and friends. At the end of the trip, she was gracious enough to pose for photos with the crew. She actually asked me if she could forego the smile and gave me her famous stern Judge Judy look; she pretended to berate me for the photo. Lovely lady, it was quite funny she had to pretend to be angry at the end of a very successful charter.

What is your favourite on board toy? And the guests favourite?

Personally, I love a good cruise around on a stand-up paddle board, its great exercise, peaceful, it’s a wonderful way to explore the coastline.

All guests have different tastes, but the electric surfboard is usually a crowd favourite; they are hard to get the hang of. We don’t have any on board but can easily get hold of some if guests want to have a try.

Another great toy is our drone; we have a couple of drone pilots on board and it’s great for capturing all the smiles from all the water sports sessions.

Watch the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6RwyfRjeMU&t=8s