Captain Glenn Shephard joins AkzoNobel as Brand Ambassador
The new global campaign follows the refit of Captain Glenn's yacht, Avalon, using International and Awlgrip coatings.
AkzoNobel has launched a new global Brand Ambassador campaign featuring Captain Glenn Shephard, showcasing best practice in yacht coating application and the importance of achieving long-term performance throughout the refit process.
Known for his role as Captain of Parsifal III on Below Deck, Captain Glenn brings more than 25 years of superyacht experience and over 200,000 nautical miles at sea. As part of the campaign, his own Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42DS, Avalon, will undergo a complete coatings refit using products from International® and Awlgrip®.
A complete refit with International and Awlgrip
The project will document every stage of the application process, highlighting the importance of surface preparation, application techniques and specialist expertise in achieving a high-quality finish and long-term protection.
Below the waterline, Avalon will be protected with International® Micron® 99, a multi-season self-polishing copolymer (SPC) antifouling designed to help maintain a smoother hull surface, reducing drag while supporting fuel efficiency and overall performance.
Above the waterline, the yacht will be refinished using the Awlgrip® system, including the recently launched Awlgrip Gloss Finish Primer, which combines the functions of a finish primer and show coat into a single product to simplify the application process while delivering a high-gloss surface.
Sharing the journey
As the centrepiece of the campaign, Avalon's refit will generate a series of educational and behind-the-scenes updates designed to support professional applicators, refit yards, yacht builders and boat owners. Captain Glenn will also join AkzoNobel at this year's Monaco Yacht Show and METSTRADE to share insights from the project.
Alongside Captain Glenn, AkzoNobel is collaborating with a group of yachting and liveaboard Brand Ambassadors, including Stella.Overboard, Luc Milam, Odd Life Crafting and When.Sailing. Together, these projects showcase the versatility of AkzoNobel's yacht coating systems across a range of boat types, applications and operating environments.
"A yacht like Avalon becomes part of your life. You spend countless hours aboard, so looking after her properly matters. For me, this refit isn't just about making the boat look good, it's about protecting her for the years ahead and making sure she's ready for whatever the next voyage brings." - Captain Glenn Shephard
Boat owners and industry professionals can follow Avalon's refit journey via Instagram:
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