About Captain Kharim

But the ocean had been whispering to me since 1987, when I first sailed a modest 420 around Île d'Oléron as a young man. That 120-nautical-mile journey planted a seed that would grow over three decades into something much larger.

Fast-forward to 2016: I'm standing on the deck of my Cap Ferret 652 Open, having just completed another passage through the challenging waters of the Gironde Estuary. Over the next few years, I'd log over 3,400 nautical miles across some of the world's most demanding waters—from the Atlantic swells off La Rochelle to the Mediterranean blue between Marseille and the Balearics.

Adventures That Shaped a Captain

March 2019: The phone rings. "We need someone to deliver a Lagoon 450S from Faro to Palermo. 1,220 nautical miles. Are you interested?"

Are you kidding me?

That convoy across the Atlantic and Mediterranean wasn't just a delivery—it was a masterclass in reading weather, managing crew, and making split-second decisions with million-dollar consequences. When you're responsible for a luxury catamaran and crew through the unpredictable waters off Portugal and Spain, every decision matters.

April 2019: This time it's a Nautitech Open 40, Mediterranean bound for the Balearics. Another 726 nautical miles, another chapter in my growing logbook of blue-water experience.

Each passage taught me something new. Each challenge refined my approach to safety, guest comfort, and the delicate balance between adventure and security that defines exceptional charter experiences.

But the real test of any blue-water captain? Three Atlantic crossings under sail aboard Catamaran Zephyr herself.

There's something profoundly different about crossing the Atlantic under sail versus any other form of ocean passage. It's not just the distance—though weeks at sea certainly test every system and every decision. It's the intimate knowledge you develop of your vessel, the way you learn to read her moods in different seas, the absolute trust that develops between captain and catamaran.

Each crossing with Zephyr taught me something new about her character. How she handles in trade wind conditions. Her behavior in Atlantic swells. The sweet spot where she moves most efficiently through blue water. Most importantly, I learned her safety margins—knowledge that's invaluable when guests trust me with their Caribbean adventures.

You can't truly know a vessel until you've crossed an ocean with her. And you can't truly trust a captain who hasn't.

Building Dreams, Not Just Businesses

While others were climbing corporate ladders, I was building something different. O'Fil de l'Air wasn't just a hot air balloon company—it was proof that you could combine technical precision with pure adventure. Managing everything from commercial planning to safety protocols, I learned that the best adventures happen when meticulous preparation meets spontaneous opportunity.

The same philosophy drives every charter aboard Catamaran Zephyr.

Where Adventure Meets Expertise

Today, when I stand at the helm of Zephyr in Caribbean waters, I'm drawing on lessons learned from Swiss corporate boardrooms, Caribbean airport terminals, French vineyard flyovers, Atlantic crossings, and countless nautical miles between here and there.

That executive who managed 20-person teams across the Caribbean? He knows these waters—and their moods.

That pilot who's read weather patterns from the cockpit of three different aircraft types? He can spot trouble on the horizon before most people know it exists.

That blue-water sailor who's crossed the Atlantic three times with this very catamaran? He knows exactly how she'll respond to every condition you might encounter.

That entrepreneur who built and sold multiple successful companies? He understands that your charter isn't just a boat ride—it's an investment in memories that should exceed every expectation.

These Caribbean waters aren't just my profession—they're my passion. From the challenging passages of the Mona Strait to the trade wind sailing of the Windward Islands, I've learned to read these seas like an old friend's expressions.

When you charter with me aboard Zephyr, you're not getting a captain who learned these waters from a textbook. You're sailing with someone who's negotiated with local partners in Port-au-Prince, managed airport operations in Saint-Martin, and crossed the Atlantic three times with this very vessel. I understand that every island has its own personality, its own secrets, and its own rewards for those who approach with respect.

I've spent three decades proving that the best adventures happen when professional expertise meets genuine passion. Whether you're seeking the gentle trade winds of a sunset sail or the exhilarating challenge of island-hopping through the Windwards, I bring the same meticulous preparation and infectious enthusiasm that's driven every chapter of my wandering life—and every Atlantic crossing with Zephyr.

Safety isn't my job—it's my obsession.
Adventure isn't my business—it's my calling.
The Caribbean isn't my workplace—it's my home.
And Zephyr isn't just my vessel—she's my trusted partner in every ocean we've crossed together.

Every charter tells a story. Some are tales of peaceful sunsets and gentle trade winds. Others are adventures of hidden coves, local cultures, and the pure joy of wind-powered travel through some of the world's most beautiful waters.

What story would you like to write with a captain and catamaran who've crossed oceans together ?