The Šerka family's success story in Dalmatia
When someone thinks about the Super Yacht industry and shipbuilding in general, the main idea goes somehow like this - A very rich person "orders" a super yacht in one of the famous boatyards, and then he uses it partially for himself and partially for charter, to cover some of the high running costs of the vessel.
The story of a 50-meter "DS Yacht Ohana" is quite the opposite.
The Šerka's family business began in their backyard, where they built their first vessel with their own hands and with very limited financing.
After the initial success they had with chartering, they slowly expanded their fleet, building bigger and better yachts each time, until in 2021 DS Yacht Ohana was built.
In this interview, Josip Šerka, the captain and the owner of ship Ohana, explains how they did it, and how they were a part of the birth of a new yacht charter industry together with Goolets company. Their family was able to switch from cabin charter cruises to yachting, which proved to be a successful business move.
Can you tell us a bit about your family?
Along with my two brothers and our father, we started our shipbuilding careers in our backyard on Brač Island, Dalmatia. Right there, we created our own basic shipyard and build our first wooden ship, San Snova. It was a 30 meters motor sailer with 16 cabins and was specialized for cycling tours. After a very successful charter season with San Snova, we built 2 more ships, Melody and Symphony. Because of the excellent service these ships provided, they were constantly booked, so we decided to build 2 more, Yolo and Ohana.
How did COVID-19 affect your business?
About after a month after we got in touch with Goolets, COVID-19 struck. Our main agency told us that the season of 2021 will be empty, and we realized we will not work for 1 year. Clearly, this came as a great shock to our family. Not knowing what to do, we reached out to Goolets and came to Ljubljana for a lunch meeting. We spent more than 6 hours brainstorming on what are the options, and in the end, we made a huge decision.
What was the plan?
The plan was to try to promote Yolo and Ohana as yachts and only offer them to private groups, which in comparison to cabin charters, were still allowed to get booked. They forwarded us all the » know-how « to organize a private group charter compared to cabin charters. After we got all the details on "how it is done in yachting", our family was more than willing to listen.
Did it work?
During the first COVID-19 season, 90% of these types of ships stayed in port and had little to no bookings. Yachts Yolo and Ohana could accommodate larger groups, had high-end amenities, and offered great value for money, so they were almost fully booked.
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How did the clients respond?
They were all incredibly happy and satisfied with the value for money, that these ships offered. Overall, booking an almost brand new 50-meter ship in superb condition, amazing food, a professional crew, impeccable service, and all the amenities you might expect on a super yacht, was a win-win situation.
How did yacht Ohana evolve over the years?
The year 2022 was even better, and because of that, we decided to increase the value of one of our ships even more. We lowered the number of cabins (from 19 to 14), so the guests would have an even more comfortable experience. We also added a cinema room, children's playroom room, and a master cabin and completely renovated the sundeck. The price went up to € 100,000 / week and she was almost instantly fully booked.
In conclusion, the Šerka family's journey from backyard shipbuilding to a successful yacht charter business is a testament to their dedication and entrepreneurial spirit. With the help of Goolets, they established themselves as a prominent player in the yachting industry. The exceptional value for money offered by their luxury yachts, such as Yolo and Ohana, has garnered high praise from clients. The continuous evolution of DS Yacht Ohana showcases its commitment to providing an exceptional experience for guests. Their story is an inspiring example of turning passion into a thriving business in the world of yacht charters.
If you would like to charter DS Yacht Ohana or other unique yachts, fill out this form and we will gladly assist you.
