Below, you will find a selection of some quotes from references I have received. If you are interested in reading the complete references, please feel free to reach out to me via email.

To Whom It May Concern, 

I am delighted to provide this letter of recommendation for Captain Les Annan. I have known Captain Les personally and professionally for over thirty years. He has consistently showcased superior competence as a captain, father, and friend throughout this time. 

Over the past year, Captain Les has been captain aboard two of our yachts, Lady JJ and Lady Maja I. He joined Lady JJ in the rotation captain's role, and unfortunately, the yacht was for sale. Although the long-term prospects were not promising, he handled his role well. On Lady Maja I Les joined at another awkward moment. The new owner's permanent captain could not join the yacht after closing in July. Les joined the yacht in a shipyard in Split, Croatia, assembled a crew, and navigated the closing, annual class survey, and significant owner's outfitting. It was not an easy billet, but Les handled it with great aplomb. 

Captain Les's leadership and dedication to excellence have been his greatest assets. His commitment to achieving success is commendable. His credentials and soft skills have greatly benefited the programs he has contributed to. 

Based on my familiarity and experience with Captain Les, I endorse him for any significant yacht captaincy role. His history of accomplishments and his positive leadership qualities position him well. 

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

To Whom It May Concern 

I herewith confirm Mr. Lesley Annan’s employment onboard the 74 meter MY “Lady Jorgia” as Relief Captain between 5 October and 7 November 2022, completing a successful crossing from Marseille to Miami, including bunkering in Gibraltar. 

We welcome Captain Annan back anytime and can recommend him to any owner, operation, or vessel. 

Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions.

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing on behalf of Captain Les Annan and would like to personally recommend him for the position of Captain/Chief Engineer.  I was hired by Captain Les as a deckhand on 55M M/Y Axis, in August of 2017. He was the Captain of Axis for almost six years and I was with him for five of them. Over several years I moved up the ranks to become Chief Officer.  Captain Les had a major role in my education. He taught me how to pilot a Triton 3300 submersible, as well as engineering and driving M/Y Axis. As my mentor, he motivated me to acquire my 500/1600 ton Captain’s license. He was always fair, respectful of the crew and safety was always paramount.  He also created a rotational work program, thus preventing loss of crew.

Les Annan is the best Captain with whom I have ever worked.  Over the years, Axis traveled many nautical miles and we always had wonderful trips.  He was loved by the owners and their guests, as well as the many charter guests.  Captain Annan was the Director of Operations, which put him in charge of the marina, overseeing the construction of Walkers Cay whilst commanding a fleet of seven yachts and research vessels.  As the Captain of M/Y Axis, he had the respect and admiration of all eleven crew members, and I would look forward to working for him again in the future.  

To Whom It May Concern:

I have had the privilege of knowing Captain Les for over 20 years, and the pleasure of working with him on three different yacht programs that I have been involved with. Throughout our professional collaborations, I have consistently observed the remarkable qualities that make Captain Les an exceptional candidate for any yacht endeavor.  

Captain Les consistently exhibits professionalism and a strong work ethic. He approaches his responsibilities with dedication and diligence, ensuring that each yacht program he is involved with is executed to the highest standards. I have witnessed first hand how his expertise and attention to detail contribute to the overall success and satisfaction of yacht owners. Captain Les has a proven ability to effectively collaborate with shipyards and vendors, negotiating favorable terms to provide the best possible products and services for owners. Based on my experience working with Captain Les, I wholeheartedly recommend him for any captain position, be it in the private or charter yacht industry. His unwavering professionalism, strong work ethic, and ability to deliver exceptional results make him a valuable asset to any yacht program.

Should you require any further information or have specific inquiries, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

To Whom It May Concern:

Captain Les Annan is a person of great character and experience.  His attention to detail is second to none, and he possesses natural ability to lead a crew and solve problems.  He is an intelligent and insightful person, as well as very pleasant with the guests. Captain Les Annan always follows. all applicable maritime laws.  He has tremendous knowledge of the sea, and his vessel, and it is evident every time he takes command.  He has a tremendous spirit and passion about the ocean and

yachting and more importantly, he makes sure property and lives are safe.  His experience and knowledge makes him fit to captain any vessel. Captain Les was employed on the Motor Yacht Portofino from March 2003 till November 2009 as captain and the only engineer.  

He was the captain when we purchased Portofino and the previous owner recommended him very highly. Captain Les has great boat handling skills and time management as well as just being a nice guy.  We found his knowledge of the boat and yachting in general to be very helpful. Captain Les always maintained the boat in excellent condition and we never missed a trip for mechanical reasons.  Doing a lot of the engineering work himself saved us a lot of money over the years.  He kept two of the crew members for over four years which shows he earned their respect and that they appreciated his fine leadership.

To Whom It May Concern:

Captain Les Annan is a competent, honest, hard working and genuine captain who was a great

pleasure to work with. He brought 20 years of experience to Paradigm and successfully

completed many owners’ trips and charters throughout the Caribbean and Bahamas during his

time onboard. His local knowledge and calm maneuvering manner enabled him to successfully

complete trips where many lesser captains would have failed. Les was well liked by the crew and

managed them in an open and sincere manner. 

Whilst Les has many excellent attributes that make him easy to recommend for future employment the one that I will single out to highlight is his ability to deliver great value to a yacht owner. Not once during his time onboard did I question an invoice, quotation or receipt. Les always used the right vendors, negotiated discounts where they were available and never allowed the pure volume of expenses to overwhelm him to the point that bills were just paid for the sake of it. It’s rare for me to encounter a captain with whom I am comfortable when reconciling each month’s expenses.