Odyssey has returned from Tahiti under the command of Captain Rafael Cervantes Mataix, who has been aboard for about a year. He is the quintessential Captain, immensely capable, multi-talented and enthusiastic about exploring the world above and below the waterline with his charter guests. Select Yachts went aboard to tour the yacht and speak with Captain Rafael about his past and future adventures.
Captain Rafael Cervantes Mataix 
Odyssey is a stunning 134-foot Feadship; recently refit with comfortable, contemporary furnishings and state-of-the-art equipment. This elegant motor yacht accommodates up to 11 guests in five staterooms, featuring a main deck master suite and on the lower deck three queen staterooms and a twin with Pullman.
The main salon on board Odyssey has a cozy, conversational furniture grouping and a gracious game table with chessboard and pieces awaiting play. The skylounge is a lovely place to gather and leads through double doors to an expansive aft deck that is ideal for a party. The sundeck has a Jacuzzi elevated by several steps for spectacular views. The Owners are avid divers, so in addition to excellent on board living, there is great on board diving, with superb equipment enhanced by a crew with impressive credentials.
Main Salon
Captain Rafael has been a diving instructor for 22 years as well as a professional underwater photographer. Engineer Pierre Beltran is a dive instructor and an accomplished underwater videographer and photographer. Jethro Atkins is the Bosun/Divemaster aboard Odyssey. Gear for certified divers includes a Nitrox compressor with 12 aluminum tanks, dive computers, BCD’s, wet suits, fins and masks, underwater camera and advanced video camera.
Captain Rafael took command of Odyssey while she was chartering in Tahiti. “I was just blown away by the Tuamotu Islands, mostly because of the diving,” he said. “My favorite clients are those who want to learn to dive. I really enjoy helping newly certified divers discover this thrilling sport. The dive instructors that crew onboard Odyssey are qualified to teach diving, but because it takes eight hours a day to teach somebody we would be neglecting our jobs if we took on the full instructor role. You either have to be the Instructor, or be the Captain or be the Engineer.”
Master Compartment 
Skylounge
In Bora Bora we had charter clients who got their certification at the hotel three days prior to boarding. Of course they still didn’t know how to dive, even though they are certified, and that’s where we came in. New divers are wonderful because everything is exciting and new, they are so keen on everything, I enjoy diving with them very much.”
Odyssey is headed for the Caribbean, a region Captain Rafael is intimately familiar with. He says that while it may be a bit decadent, his favorite island is St. Barths. He has been there a lot and has known and developed relationships with key people over the years, so dockage, even at New Years, is not a problem for him. This year, despite arriving in St. Barths without reservations on the 28th, Odyssey was in a slip by 3:00pm that same afternoon. He accomplished exactly the same feat the previous year captaining a Westport 130. He says with all humility that he was “just lucky”.
For the hurricane season he would like to take Odyssey south to the ABC Islands, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, gorgeous islands south of the hurricane belt and renowned for unparalleled diving and snorkeling. “We are also looking at a charter from Colombia through the Panama Canal, not that far from the ABCs. It’s an unusual charter because it’s for a client that is going by motorcycle from Patagonia to Alaska. There is no road that connects Colombia to Panama, so the client is considering Odyssey for that part of the trip.”
Committed to Dive 
You do not have to be a diver to have a magnificent vacation aboard luxury charter yacht Odyssey; there are enough toys in the chest to make anyone breathless with excitement. There is a 22’ Novurania tender, 34’ McMullen and Wing tender with outriggers for fishing, paddleboards, kayaks, two underwater sea scooters, snorkeling gear, wakeboards, water-skis, slalom skis, assorted angling gear, 9’1’’ Firewire Longboard Surfboard, 7’6’’ Firewire Advanced Surfboard, boogie boards, inflatables, lobster bags and snares, and assorted beach toys.
Odyssey is a charter yacht that will delight all ages and interests. Whether you prefer leisurely cruising or high-energy adventure, with deluxe accommodations, gourmet cuisine, loads of toys and an amazing crew, Odyssey is an ideal choice for you and your guests.
Select Yachts specializes in matching our clients with the perfect yacht and crew. Contact us to charter Odyssey or for detailed information on any of our superb selection of megayachts, power yachts, luxury sailing or racing yachts, and crewed catamarans in destinations worldwide.
