Speaking about your professional life, what achievements or milestones are you particularly proud of and how do you see the legal landscape evolving in the coming years?

When I was 17, in 1979, I started selling a top-of-the-range vacuum cleaner priced at €3,000 – a considerable sum at the time.

Despite the skepticism of my parents, who warned me that I would never sell a single unit at that price, I proved them wrong at my second demonstration. The buyer was an impressive figure, the managing partner of Switzerland’s largest law firm.

Eight years later, while working at a law firm in New York, I received an unexpected letter from the same lawyer inviting me to join his firm as an associate. It seemed that not only had he enjoyed the demonstration, but he still remembered me vividly, despite the chaos I had inadvertently caused in his living room during the demonstration.

Years later, I became managing partner of that very firm. At the company’s sixtieth anniversary, I shared this story in my opening speech, alongside the very vacuum cleaner that started it all. It was a powerful reminder that every experience, no matter how small, contributes to our personal and professional growth.

The retired lawyer was in the audience that day, making it a particularly memorable moment.

Moving from your professional role to your passion for sailing, could you tell us the story behind the purchase and launch of your Swan 55 Fujin in May 2023? What inspired this choice and what does this boat mean to you?

In September 2021, I attended the Cannes Boat Show with a friend, with no intention of buying a boat. However, our first stop was the Nautor Swan stand and I was hooked from the start. I had admired Swan yachts since the 1973 Whitbread Round the World Race, and to me it was the epitome of sailing excellence. On that day I was particularly struck by the aesthetic lines of the 48 and 58 models and the impeccable quality of their workmanship. Above all, I was impressed by the spirit of the Nautor Swan team – passionate sailors such as Giovanni Pomati, Nautor Swan Group CEO, Vanni Galgani, Nautor Swan Head of Product Marketing, Robert Holm, Nautor Swan Sales Administration Manager, Jean-Marie Vidal and Christian Tiggeler from Nautor Swan France – who were instrumental in my decision to embark on this significant project.

The initial idea of a leisure project for my retirement in 2027 quickly turned into an immediate sabbatical and sailing project for 2023 with my wife Gilonne. Over the next two months I engaged deeply with Swan owners and professional skippers, exploring all the options and immersing myself in their passion for sailing. It became a deeply human project for me. Gilonne, an architect, and I visited the shipyard in Pietarsaari in early November 2021. We spent the day in awe of the craftsmanship and expertise on display. This visit was a decisive factor. After a deliberate six-week break from all project communication to clear my head, our passion was undiminished and, after a family discussion, we decided to sign the contract for the new Swan 55, which had been unveiled at the Cannes show. In preparation, Gilonne and I underwent extensive training to obtain our Swiss offshore licence and VHF licence.

We logged 1,000 offshore miles in the Baltic Sea, from Marstrand in Sweden to Mariehamn in the Åland Islands, during the summer of 2022. Throughout the construction phase, I enjoyed the interaction with the agent and the project manager at Nautor, Mark de Bruin. Time constraints only allowed two visits to the shipyard during construction, but participating in the specification and construction of Fujin was an unforgettable experience. It was also our first visit to Finland, giving us the opportunity to explore a new country and culture. The launch of Fujin in early May 2023 was a milestone and an emotional event for Gilonne and me, even making the headlines in the local newspaper.

What was it like to set sailing your own boat and how did the months of sailing go?

Prior to the formal delivery and handover of Fujin in early June 2023, we spent two weeks at the shipyard conducting sea trials, familiarisation and preparing Fujin for her maiden offshore voyage to Drobak, headquarter of Nautor Swan Norway, to export the boat from the EU. This was an enriching time as I enjoyed meeting other owners awaiting delivery, as well as Nautor Swan agents, to discuss future voyages, sailing plans and safety protocols.

On June 8th, we left the shipyard at 10 p.m. with two professional skippers, my wife Gilonne and myself onboard. Giovanni Pomati was at the dock wishing us fair winds. This marked the beginning of a four-month adventure that would become a high point for Gilonne, our children and myself. Our first stop after 36 hours was Visby, Gotland, where we spent a few days exploring the island.

We then sailed directly to Marstrand on the west coast of Sweden for an overnight stop, followed by Heitman Marine Drobak, alternating between sailing and motoring.

We spent a few days on the beautiful island of Hanko, before deciding to head north again across the Baltic to Turku to participate in the Swan Europeran Regatta.

With 30 knots of true winds, Fujin performed excellently. The regatta week in Turku was a unique experience. The race course setting was stunning and although I attended more for social reasons, I was impressed by the high level of competition between the crews.

What was it like living on the boat with your family?

The highlight of the sabbatical was a two-week family cruise with my three children and their partners joining us in Turku. With nine people onboard, we sailed through the beautiful archipelagos of Turku and Stockholm. It was ‘champagne sailing’ with perfect winds between 10 and 25 knots. The first overnight crossing from Finland to Sweden was a memorable experience for all. Fujin served as a wonderful social platform. Our family cruise ended in Kalmar, Sweden, where we spent nine days waiting out a strong low pressure system and a storm. The final leg of our journey was sailing Fujin from Kiel to Scarlino (ITA). Leaving Kiel on 16 August, we sailed alongside two other Swan 55s, a fun and communal experience. We reached Gibraltar and Malaga ten days later. Sailing along the Portuguese coast, we experienced strong beam winds and reached speeds of up to 15.7 knots. To avoid orca attacks, we chose a route over 100 miles offshore – a wise decision. Orcas were a real concern. After a short stay at the Nautor Swan Global Service shipyard in Badalona, waiting for better weather, we sailed for Scarlino, with several stops along the coast to meet friends. We arrived mid-September, having achieved our goals of no accidents, no boat damage and no injuries. This four-month voyage was not only worthwhile, but also deeply fulfilling, with challenges that I embraced. It was an extraordinary experience for our family. We deeply loved the Baltic and hope to return one day to explore again the west coast of Sweden, the Stockholm archipelago and the islands around Mariehamn and Turku. Our first season with Fujin ended with the Swan Med Regatta in Scarlino (ITA) in mid-October.