Sam and Emily Aldred share their journey to CEO and COO of Morris Nautical, the privately owned luxury fleet now calling Cairns home.
Morris Nautical is a privately owned fleet of luxury vessels, offering bespoke yacht charters across Australia and beyond. Here we asked Sam and Emily Aldred about their journey to CEO and COO of Morris Nautical.
Sam, you left Cairns at just 17 to join your first “white boat” in Genoa, what was that leap like, especially coming from a family of trawler skippers rather than superyachts?
I always had the dream to become a Captain like my parents, who have always encouraged me to spread my wings and take on every opportunity So at 17, I did the opposite to what was considered “the norm” and flew across the world to join my first yacht.
Emily, you were in banking before Sam talked you into joining him overseas. What made you say yes to such a completely different life?
The world of retail banking was changing and I was looking for more adventure in my career, Sam asked me to join him travelling the world on Superyachts which ended up being the opportunity of a lifetime.
You two met at 14, in high school in Cairns. Did either of you ever imagine you’d end up running a superyacht business together one day?
Not at all! I (Em) didn’t even know what Superyachts were at 14!
Between you, you’ve worked on yachts from 25m through to 85m across the Mediterranean and beyond. What are some of the destinations or seasons that have stayed with you the most?
Sardinia will always hold a special place in our hearts; we spent a big part of our career there, the scenery is stunning, and some of the clearest waters we’ve ever seen.
What’s it like actually living and working with your partner as a team on board, is there a “division of labour” between the deck/bridge and interior worlds?
The roles are completely different to each other and we always maintain a level of professionalism whilst working alongside the crew and in front of guests. We both have the same end goal in mind – to offer our guests the trip of a lifetime.
Beyond the destinations, what’s kept you both in this industry for so long?
Travel plays a huge part. We’ve made lifelong friends, working for great owners and met fabulous guests whom we often stay In contact with long after they’ve disembarked.
In 2020 you both moved home to North Queensland thinking your yachting days were behind you, what made you step away, and how did it feel at the time?
We were looking for more of a work life balance, we took a job Managing a Luxury Lodge close to Cairns through COVID, however an opportunity to complete another new build and get back to Europe was too hard to say no to.
A call from Chris Morris changed everything. What was it about that opportunity, and Northern Escape specifically, that pulled you back to sea?
We’d already built a strong relationship with Chris while managing Mt Mulligan Lodge; he’d mentioned he was building a new yacht in Italy and the rest is history.
After three successful seasons chartering out of Cannes, Northern Escape and the rest of the fleet are now calling Cairns home. What has it meant to bring that level of superyacht experience back to your own backyard?
(Sam) as a kid I remember a family friend called Taffy who was Captain on M/Y Tigre d’or pulling into Cairns; I was invited on board to have a look around. I went home that night thinking how cool it was and decided one day I wanted to drive a Superyacht!
We now have the opportunity to show our friends and family on board and give them more of an understanding of what we do.
I went home that night thinking how cool it was and decided one day I wanted to drive a Superyacht!
Sam Aldred, CEO, Morris Nautical
With Northern Escape, Beluga and Flying Fish all now berthed together in Cairns for the first time, what’s the vision for how the fleet works together?
Currently Northern Escape is in French Polynesia operating in the South Pacific, she’s due to join the fleet in Cairns in December. With a few new build projects underway, the fleet offers a number of different charter itineraries and destinations, including both day trips and term charters.
Looking ahead, where do you see Morris Nautical heading, new vessels, new destinations, or new markets for the Australian superyacht charter scene?
2027 is going to hold an exciting program for all of Morris Nauticals vessels.
- M/Y Northern Escape will spend the start of the year in North Queensland before heading back to the South Pacific, including Vanuatu, Fiji and French Polynesia.
- M/Y Beluga will commence 2027 in the waters of New Zealand followed by Fiji before returning to Australia in September.
- M/Y Flying Fish will be operating in Far North Queensland including the Whitsundays, Townsville and Lizard Island.
- We also have a new 61ft Assegai Game Fishing vessel GAMBLER, which will start the Heavy Tackle Season this year on the Great Barrier Reef.
- M/Y Northern Pursuit, a brand new custom built 24m vessel will arrive in Australia in late 2026 as a mother shipping vessel able to sleep 22 passengers + 6 crew, heading up to the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Torres Straits. Equipped with a heli pad, it will open up a new market for Morris Nautical tapping into remote locations.
- And lastly, M/Y Northern Flyer – due to be completed towards the end of 2027, a custom built high spec foiling catamaran with speeds capable of reaching 55knots will make for a unique experience on the Great Barrier Reef.
Featured in Superyacht Australia Magazine
Featured in Superyacht Australia Magazine Issue 14. Explore the full digital edition for more destination guides, industry news and interviews from across the Asia Pacific superyacht sector: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/197365019/
