Russia’s war on Ukraine and the resulting sanctions on many Russian-owned yachts have created a quandary for their crew.

Editor’s Note: While politics have always played a larger role in our daily lives than many of us would prefer, it’s hard not to feel that the impact nowadays has reached a pathological level. And if anyone thought the somewhat insulated and economically bulletproof world of yachting was immune by virtue of its privileged class, that illusion has now been shattered. The Russian attack on Ukraine and the resulting sanctions imposed by many nations on those who are considered enablers of Vladimir Putin’s aggressions have had hard and varied consequences for this industry. Triton asked captains and crew how the fallout has affected them personally. With watertight nondisclosure agreements in place, they spoke only on condition of anonymity. This report is based on what they told us.

In an industry that operates on a highly confidential basis, determining yacht ownership is challenging in the best of times. Now, a global hunt for Russian-owned yachts has raised the stakes — and often, it’s the crew who are paying the price. 

Whether hiding out in Europe under secret cloaks of misleading information, hunkered down in Turkey, seized and detained, or simply boycotted by marinas and denied critical services, these yachts are not functioning autonomously. Many of the crew are still on board, and an uncertain future is the least of their…