Get to Know: Wanderlust Adventures

We recently had the chance to chat with Quek Wee Teck, better known as Captain Q, the founder of Wanderlust Adventures. He shared the story of how he started his yacht charter business and the challenges he’s faced along the way. From finding the right crew to keeping the yachts in top shape, Captain Q gave a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to run a charter business.

What inspired you to start this boat charter business, and how has your journey been so far?

Captain Q: It has always been my passion to go fishing and diving, so it started with my own leisure boat for fishing and diving trip and eventually, it evolved into a charter business. Its been an exciting journey with plenty of ups and downs, especially during the COVID-19 Period. I experienced the very low points during the lock downs, but also high times when locals rushed to book yacht charters after restrictions were lifted!

Can you describe the unique services or experiences your boat charters offer?

Captain Q: Aside from the typical water activities like kayaking and stand up paddleboarding (SUP), our unique selling point is the “catch and cook” experience. Like the name suggests, the guest can catch and cook their own fish after they’ve caught them! With having these kinds of charters, this requires experienced captains who know their way around fishing and especially knowing the best fishing spots, and because of our passion, we can make this happen.

For diving, we also curate overseas packages such as sailing to Indonesian Islands with clearer waters where customers can dive or snorkel.

What are some memorable or rewarding experiences you’ve had while running your boat charter business?

Captain Q: There have been many memorable moments, but one that stands out is the number of marriage proposals that have happened on board! In many cases, the couples would be so touched with the preparations that they were brought to tears. It’s these moments that make the job truly fulfilling.

What challenges have you faced in the boat charter industry, and how have you overcome them?

Captain Q: One of the current challenges of the charter business have changed after COVID, the consumer behaviour is different now to what it was before COVID where local customers would book charters during the holidays. But since travel restrictions have been lifted, locals are now travelling overseas instead of going on charters, and now the challenge is to attract tourists that are travelling into Singapore, as now the locals are travelling out of Singapore.

How do you see the future of boat charters evolving in Singapore, and how are you preparing your business for these changes?

Captain Q: We can learn from those mature yacht charters in countries like Hong Kong. They are doing a lot of yacht cruises for tourists which are very popular and also those in Europe that are doing charters that sail around a week or more to different destinations. These are proven concepts that work, and we are trying to work towards that.

Does your charter business incorporate any environmentally friendly practices in its operations? If so, how?

Captain Q: Yeah, we’re currently looking into moving into electric yachts instead of diesel, but it’s still a work in progress. Hopefully it can be applied to other yachts too!

What advice would you give someone looking to enter the boat charter business or explore maritime tourism in Singapore?

Captain Q: One piece of advice I’d give is to thoroughly research staffing and yacht maintenance. Many people think it’s similar to owning a yacht, where you can just buy one and start running charters. But there’s a lot more to it— things like managing staff and maintaining the yacht are often underestimated. In fact the easiest part is usually just taking the customers out