PAUL KELLY, CAPTAIN OF THE SUPERYACHT STARSHIP
“I highly recommend Varador 2000; it’s a very serious and reliable shipyard,” says Paul Kelly, captain of the Starship, a 30-meter-long, 7-inch-wide superyacht built in 2007 by the prestigious Italian shipyard Custom Line, part of the Ferreti Group. Paul Kelly arrived at Varador 2000 in September 2020, after completing the summer season cruising in the Mediterranean. “I’d never been to this shipyard before, but the truth is that the experience has been very satisfactory in every way,” he says. That’s why, “I’ve already recommended it to several captains.”
Kelly also came to Varador 2000 on the recommendation of another colleague, Pere Barrio, captain of the sailboat Sunshine, who “told me that for the work I needed to do on the Starship, this shipyard was the best option near Barcelona.” Kelly visited the Varador 2000 website to see its catalog of services and that of other shipyards in the area, and “I no longer had any doubts; I was convinced.” In previous years, “we had stopped at several shipyards in the Balearic Islands and France to repair the boat, with less success than now,” he comments.
As Kelly explains, he found a great technical team at Varador 2000 who scrupulously adhered to the agreed deadlines. “Now I can go to New Zealand with peace of mind, handing the boat over to the new captain and owner in perfect condition. Everything is correct and supervised,” he emphasizes. Captain Kelly explains that the Starship was recently acquired by another owner and that he will soon embark on another superyacht in his home country.
For just over five months, the Starship has undergone a fairly comprehensive refurbishment on the technical deck of Varador 2000, which has included various mechanical and electrical works, hull repairs, tank emptying, antifouling, and surface polishing, among others. “At all times, I have felt supported by the shipyard technicians, who, in addition to being excellent professionals, offer a very personal and friendly approach. I really liked this way of working. Other dry docks are only looking to make money and sometimes forget the needs of the client,” says Kelly.
The Starship superyacht, a Custom Line 97 model, is for completely private use. It can accommodate 10 guests and five additional crew members. Designed by Zuccon International Project, it is built from composites and equipped with two 2,400 HP engines.
