Meet the Captain: Ante Juresko of M/Y TALEYA

During his career, Ante has completed itineraries in the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean, and toured the coasts of Singapore and China.

Now, firmly based in the Mediterranean, he has the pleasure of cruising Croatia and Montenegro.

With Ante hailing from Croatia himself, embarking on itineraries in the region is particularly special for him, and he strives to bring something special to every charter, drawing on his personal knowledge of the Adriatic. “It’s impossible to say which charter has been the best, I always try to get to know the guests ahead of time – what their interests are, what their family dynamic is like,” says Ante. And he recalls an occasion where they had opportunity to really make an impact: “They were an American group, and they had booked two weeks – the first spent as a family, and the second with their friends.” Ante continues, “This charter was a celebration; 30 years of marriage, 10 years cancer-free, and a 60th birthday. On day seven, the family and friends joined together for the evening and we organised some live music on the boat as a surprise and we went all-out to mark the moment for them. They loved it.”

“This charter was a celebration; 30 years of marriage, 10 years cancer-free, and a 60th birthday. On day seven, the family and friends joined together for the evening and we organised some live music on the boat as a surprise and we went all-out to mark the moment for them. They loved it.”

TALEYA accommodates up to 12 guests and is very family friendly, they often have charter groups with younger children or teenagers. “We had four generations aboard at one point!” says Ante. Three children can be accommodated in one cabin, we have an elevator, and the yacht’s design makes her incredibly safe – “Children can walk freely around the boat’s decks, protected by the higher sides. There aren’t any openings on the main or upper deck that they can fall from. And we have gates to access the foredeck or swim platform.”

And Ante thinks this is one of TALEYA’s best features, along with his excellent crew. “I encourage them to put themselves in the guests’ shoes. What would you like to see and do? How can we offer them an experience, like a visit to a restaurant they’ll enjoy or an excursion that will interest them, that they won’t be expecting.”

Although Ante has now been with 55m TALEYA for four years, his background is more varied. Ante first worked in the commercial shipping sector and since moving to superyachts 15 years ago, he’s worked on boats between 50 and 130 metres in length. “Working in the commercial sector could not be more different, and whilst it’s all days at sea, it asks something very different of you compared to working on a superyacht,” explains Ante. “Amongst my 14 crew, I really like it when others have some experience in commercial shipping – I know their skills and ability are tenfold.”

In terms of onboard amenities, Ante notes that the gym is popular amongst guests, “It’s very well setup, and even when people are on holiday they want to use it. We also have the spa suite, and a masseuse onboard.”

“It’s very well setup, and even when people are on holiday they want to use it. We also have the spa suite, and a masseuse onboard.”

TALEYA operates with an Opus 12 chase tender, which extends her versatility on charter. Ante says, “It’s ideal for some of the group to go off on a day-long excursion, along the coast or for swimming in shallower water, beach picnics and alike, it’s really like having a second boat.”

TALEYA had seven weeks of charter in 2024, and the owner is keen to see this increased. “The owner uses the boat too – they maybe did eight weeks themselves aboard last year – but they will happily plan their trips in the low season in order to make the boat more available in summer,” says Ante. “And they are very considerate of crew rest time and reasonable about ensuring we have a big enough gap between trips to properly provision and prepare – to me and the team this is so important and very much appreciated. Like this, I am confident we are always at our very best.”

“And they are very considerate of crew rest time and reasonable about ensuring we have a big enough gap between trips to properly provision and prepare – to me and the team this is so important and very much appreciated. Like this, I am confident we are always at our very best.”

Captain Ante’s itinerary suggestion:

Any itinerary has to be well matched to the guests’ wishes, but for those wanting to see the best of the Croatian coast, I propose a seven-day trip that centres around the natural scenery.

• Start in Dubrovnik and soak up the history. These ancient walls hold many secrets and sights to be seen.
• The National Park of Mijet is a beautiful contrast after a day of travel or a day in the city. It’s virgin nature, and you can go all day without seeing another soul.
• The island of Korčula and it’s serene, calm waters would be next. You can visit the town, enjoy a lunch in the traditional harbour, or there are wineries to visit.
• If the group wants to dance and party, then we’ll call by Hvar where there are many bars and restaurants in the town and a good night life scene.
• Vis would also be a recommended stop. History and nature unite here, and an excursion to the blue cave always delights.
• Moving north from here takes us to the Krka National Park at Skradin. Here you can swim beneath the waterfalls, even dine beneath them, and follow many beautiful walks through the park.

And finally, Zadar. And a chance for final watersports and jet ski runs before disembarkation.

Previous news article

Next news article