Superyacht Influencer Interview: Damen Yachting Managing Director Rose Damen

Rose Damen is a friendly force among superyacht builders.

I’ve bumped into Rose Damen—the extremely well-liked and highly respected Managing Director of Damen Yachting—at some pretty fun parties aboard Amels yachts, Damen SeaXplorers, and Damen Support Vessels at boat shows over the years.

As you’ll see below, Damen Yachting will have three superyachts on display at the upcoming Monaco Yacht Show that I’m excited to see (and report on when I get back). But I also love doing superyacht influencer interviews because they show how talented, hard-working, insightful, and passionate (and fun) the people who build some of the world’s largest and most opulent yachts really are. And as you’ll see in Rose’s answers here, she’s all of that and more.

BS: Being the Managing Director of Damen Yachting must be challenging as well as exciting. What do all of your clients have in common? Is it a desire for privacy? Or do they require the ultimate ability to go almost anywhere in the world in luxury? Or is it a simple desire to get together with family away from the distractions of modern, land-based life?

RD: It is very exciting and yes, of course, challenging. Every client is different in terms of requirements, needs, style, wants, and way of life. Being able to address what’s really important for that one client is key. However, what we still experience, regardless of individual specifics, is that the actual goal when it comes to owning an Amels is often the same. It’s about creating the opportunity to enjoy those special moments in life, with friends, with family, at a destination of your choice, and knowing that this is guaranteed. Knowing that the boat will always deliver and that all you have to do, as the owner, is sit back and enjoy.

This is where our complete portfolio of yachting solutions comes into effect, providing the right type of yachting solution to suit an owner’s specific needs, whether that is faster delivery, greater range, or wanting more. Alongside our Limited Editions and full custom solutions, we also have the Damen SeaXplorer range for those clients wanting to reach more remote, pioneering destinations, and the Damen Yacht Support range for those adventurous owners wanting to ensure there is no compromise on the mother vessel whilst guaranteeing everything they need and want is to hand.

BS: You must travel all over the world. Where is the one destination you’ve visited on a yacht that has really made an impact on you? Remote South Pacific? Asia? Antarctica?

RD: I have been lucky enough to travel far and wide, sail in some of the world’s most beautiful destinations, and also to live in various countries around the globe. But for me, the one trip that holds a very special place was our family sailing trip from the Caribbean to the Galapagos Islands. The trip was in part to celebrate my father’s 50th birthday. I was only 10 at the time, but it made a huge impact on me. It wasn’t just the beautiful destination, but it was spending that quality time with family–unique experiences and moments that I will never forget, the moments that shape your character and who I am today. That family time is such an important part of yachting and something that we focus on at Amels in terms of comfort, safety, and reliability.

New markets are opening up within the industry, and these include unconventional ones, such as scientific research and expeditions. These new markets have the potential to attract a new generation of owners. With this comes a greater demand for the industry to embrace these new directions and a responsibility to lay the right foundations for the growth. The Damen SeaXplorer yachts are a great example of this, not only in terms of providing next-gen owners with the yachting experiences they are looking for but also in ensuring fast delivery and innovative technological solutions.

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