As most people that work in yachting will agree, supply and project management are two essential elements in any refit process and pre-season preparations. Whether a yacht owner, an owner’s representative, captain, chief officer, chief engineer, or chief stewardess, will always be grateful to count on a reliable contact to procure spare parts, products, or a trustworthy contractor to assist in such process. Having someone that makes sure to get the right item delivered on time and a job done hassle-free, could be like finding a needle in a haystack. At First Class Yacht Services, this person is Malwer Andrade (Mal). 

Mal considers procurement as an art form, and as such, it requires talent, dedication, and passion. He has been doing it for almost three decades, in different countries and even in different languages. Fifteen years ago, when he first arrived in Mallorca, he felt a certain appeal and attraction to yachts, but it wasn’t until 2011 that he decided to use some of his sales and procuring talents, skills, and life experience to work in the yachting industry. 

Sales, customer service, procurement, and languages are talents that run deep in his DNA, and therefore a   great foundation to thrive, stand out and succeed long term in the superyacht industry. Thirteen years ago, he started procuring and supplying spare parts, equipment, materials, and services for superyachts during maintenance, refit and pre-season preparation periods in STP shipyard, Astilleros de Mallorca, most marinas in the island and also in mainland Spain. Since day one, he has been captivated by the opportunities, the people, and the vibe in this great industry.  

Anything from a simple rubber door stopper, a special thread bolt or nut, all the way to a full restock on a superyacht, including a new mast, a main sail, or a main engine; he has sourced it all! Projects have included small paint touch ups all the way to a full paint job, upholstery, carpentry, engineering, a main engine swap and even a full refit. Mal has been there to choose the right contractor, organize, and supervise execution and deal with post-sale service. He has an impressive list of satisfied clients that season after season and year after year, either on the island or anywhere else in the world, will reach out to count on him and his reliable services. Working for five years in Nautichandler, nowadays the best and largest superyacht supply company in Mallorca and mainland Spain, has been the perfect “school” to get started in the industry. Afterwards and for seven years he became the Spain Sales Representative for the worldwide well-known UK based company Global Services Superyacht Supply. Mal was serving clients on yachts during low and high seasons, shipyard periods, refits, and even during new build projects of some of the largest yachts built to date. This has taken him to a higher level of understanding, commitment, and completion, making possible just about any kind of supply or service request from clients on yachts of any size. 

In January 2024 he joined forces with his close friends Michal and Ania at First Class Yacht Services, adding his procurement, supply and sales experience to enhance the company’s services.   

He has been fully committed to his role as a managing partner focused on supply for technical spares and consumables for main engines, generators, water makers, pumps, and other main systems on board. He became the “man on the ground” offering clients continuous support, and excellent results. He also helps with a great part of sourcing, organizing, logistics and even hand delivering goods in the island and shipments abroad. 

On the other hand, ten years ago, during a sailing experience to North Africa, in a beautiful 104ft modern classic, designed by German Frers, SY BOLERO, he fell in love with the sailing world. Soon after, he became a day skipper and took over the maintenance of a 54ft sloop based in Palma. Since then, he dedicates a great part of his free time, weekends and holidays to keeping, maintaining, project managing, and of course to sailing. So little by little he has been progressing and growing a business and a reputation of reliability, commitment, and passion for his work, or better said, for a greater part of his lifestyle, and so he has developed his role as a salesperson, project manager and as a skipper. He perfectly understands the dynamics of the industry, such as “time is of the essence”, and having the right part, product, or contractor at the right time in the right place. This also includes the importance of satisfying the high-profile people he has been working for work for and that he also represents.  

His inner drive, positive and self-motivating attitude along with the opportunities in the yachting industry in Mallorca have been essential to expand his maritime and life experience. This has also given him the opportunity of living the best of both worlds, on and offshore. Most importantly it has allowed him to build life-long personal and professional relationships with great people. Some of the crew, business owners and even yacht owners that are part of the yachting community in Mallorca have become friends and even an extended family to him. 

Working in yachting industry in Mallorca supplying products and services, and his mind set that “anything is possible”, has turned into a treasure, an amazing journey and one of his life passions!