Antares: Life Beyond the Circuit

There are yachts that stay tied to the Côte d’Azur and Caribbean circuit, and then there are yachts that roam further. For Captain John van der Straaten, the joy of his role has been steering Antares, the 40-metre Royal Huisman sailing yacht that has carried him and her owners across oceans to some of the most remote corners of the world.

“The last five years have been especially good,” he says. “Not doing the usual Caribbean run but exploring Southeast Asia, Australia, the Indian Ocean. That’s what I really enjoy.”

Launched in 2005, Antares was designed by Bill Dixon with an Art Deco–inspired interior by Rhoades Young. Van der Straaten knows her quirks well. In parts of Indonesia or Palau where official charts resembled “rough sketches,” he resorted to iPads, Google Earth, even Yandex satellite imagery to thread her through reefs. At other times, the sails did the work: “Even with light winds, putting up sail saves 30–40% fuel compared to motoring. Sometimes we sail entirely, and then we’re only running the generator—10 litres an hour versus 70–100. On a sailing yacht, we’ve always been hybrids.”

Owners Who Dive First

Her owners are avid divers and photographers, shaping the rhythm of life onboard. “A lot of diving,” John laughs. “That’s been a big part of the adventure.” With four staterooms for up to ten guests and a crew of six, Antares has always felt more home than hotel. “We’re private, no charters. I like it that way. With Starlink, they can work remotely. For them it’s like a second home, and for us it’s more stable.”

Technology as a Lifeline

Connectivity has been transformational. “Our data demands just kept getting bigger, and traditional satcom was crazy expensive. With Starlink, everything changed,” John explains. Beyond communication, Antares carries the modern kit of superyachting—drones, e-foils, underwater scooters. “The challenge is managing it all: charging, fire safety, special storage. Battery technology has to get safer and more efficient—that will make a massive difference.”

Crew: The Timeless Puzzle

Even with technology, people remain the core. “Always crew,” John admits. He’s been fortunate to retain a stable team, but he’s seen plenty of dayworkers grow into strong engineers or mates. “It’s about personality first. They need to care about others, be easygoing, have a good work ethic. Skills can be taught. Attitude can’t.” To keep morale high, he organises karting, paintball, and group activities with other crews in port. “It keeps people happy.”