Thor remembers Kensho’s launch vividly.
"The launch of a boat is always festive and an exciting time for owners, crew and build teams. In those early days, everything felt new and full of possibilities. I enjoyed working alongside the build team and designers to get the boat set up. You to some extent have a blank canvas in designing the spaces on board."
The key work that followed those early months was growing Kensho’s team. Crew came in waves during the build, and a core group has stayed in place ever since. Thor is clear that this is not incidental.
"We've been fortunate to retain a core group of senior crew since the beginning, which has been pivotal for retaining knowledge. That continuity has preserved a deep understanding of Kenshō and its intricacies, which can be invaluable."
Thor has been acting as Relief Captain during crossings and yard periods for some time, so the permanent appointment is in one sense a formality. In another, he is candid that it changes the view.
"There is an obvious mind shift taking over command, where you inevitably need to look at things from a broader perspective operationally. You are no longer just a part of the guest experience, but the one shaping it."
He is quick to credit his predecessor.
"I learned a great deal from him as he involved me, which isn't always the case, and the way he ran the yacht set a strong example."
That sense of trust runs through how Thor talks about his own approach. He trained as a Master Mariner in Sweden and identifies his style more with Scandinavian bridge culture than with the more hierarchical traditions sometimes found elsewhere.
"Being Icelandic, I'd describe my leadership style as Scandinavian, encouraging input and collaboration from the bridge team and crew. This was actually pushed quite hard during my Master Mariner degree in Sweden. I've seen too many micro-managers in this industry and would like to think that I'm not one of them. I trust the crew to make decisions within their roles, which also supports their personal development, and I think this has been beneficial for us, as we like to promote from within."
One consequence of a close-knit crew is that the machinery of running a 75m motor yacht becomes almost invisible to guests, which Thor argues is precisely the point.
"A crew that has worked together for a long time starts to feel like a family."
– Captain Thor Einarsson
"Guests should feel that the operation seems effortless.
We often have tight turnarounds which we have become experts at adapting to. We even had to delay the start of a charter due to Atlantic crossing weather, but the guests didn't really notice any of the chaos behind the scenes. I think that's how it should be, but it doesn't make it easy."
A long-serving crew creates something subtler too.
"Everyone understands their role and can anticipate what needs to be done and when, without someone having to tell them. We've always encouraged training on board. I'd like any of the deck crew to be able to jump in any of the tenders, reducing the risk of delays. That's what makes the operation so seamless, and I hope that for the guests it creates an atmosphere that just feels in sync and relaxed."
Kenshō has accumulated her share of accolades since launch, including Motor Yacht of the Year at the 2023 World Superyacht Awards.
She showed most recently at the Palm Beach International Boat Show, which Thor describes with measured but genuine pride.
"I do feel a sense of pride, especially with the amount of blood, sweat and tears we have put into this program to make it what it is today. The feedback we got from the Palm Beach Boat Show recently was incredible, and it was nice to be reminded of how special Kenshō really is."
On what sets Kenshō apart, he points to the interplay of design and people. "I think the design, both interior and exterior, as well as the atmosphere on board sets her apart."
"Many visitors described her as a work of art, and I think it's something that the owner and designers should be proud of."
– Captain Thor Einarsson
Kenshō’s owner, in love with life at sea, commissioned Admiral to build something extraordinary.
They did just that.
A year on from launch, she took Motor Yacht of the Year at the 2023 World Superyacht Awards. One tour of her asymmetric decks explains why. A six-metre glass-fronted pool sits at sea level on the swim deck. An elevator serves each of her expansive decks.
Her name roughly translates from Japanese as “enlightenment” or "seeing one's true nature". Jouin Manku's Asian-inspired interiors pick that up, lending zen-like calm to six staterooms and a spectacular four-room master suite.
Kenshō sleeps twelve in eight cabins, summering in the Mediterranean and wintering in the Caribbean.
Thor has ambitions that go well beyond Kenshō’s current cruising grounds when it comes to where he would like to take her next.
"I want to build on the strong foundation we already have with the crew, making sure that they want to stay, but also with repeat charter clients. A consistent crew creates that atmosphere, which is why we're seeing the clients again year after year. Looking ahead, I'd like to expand Kenshō's horizons and go further afield. We've mainly done the Mediterranean and Caribbean, but I see real potential in exploring more unique destinations like Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and the Norwegian fjords. Personally, I'd love to take her to Iceland one day, but that might be too cold, even for me."
And if a charter guest were to remember just one thing about a week on board Kenshō under his command?
"I'd want them to leave feeling that the experience was personal and genuine, shaped by the atmosphere on board and the people delivering it. Something that stays with them because it felt natural and not staged, making them want to come back for more."
