Chef’s choice by Nico

A familiar sight on boat tests for top sailing magazines, Nico has rarely been in front of the camera during his 20 years as a professional marine photographer. We were fast enough to catch up with him in the galley aboard the sumptuous new Privilège Signature 510, after a busy day photographing the boat. He shared with us his recipe for an old German seafarer’s favorite: Labskaus

I’ve already been on a few catamarans for reports and tests, but the Signature 510 is really different. As soon as I entered the saloon, I was impressed by the large galley with the gigantic view!

NICO KRAUSS
Professional marine photographer

“I’ve been sailing since I was 12 and now have a cruising boat, in which I like to sail long-distance in the Baltic or to Norway’s Lofoten Islands,” Nico explains. “Cooking on board is very important to me, even when I’m sailing. I strap myself in front of the oven in the galley and off I go. I like to make dishes that are not too complicated but fill you up nicely, such as the famous Nordic dish Labskaus.”

Made with corned beef and onions, a fried egg and grated beetroot, it is a hearty feast that can be prepared with a minimal amount of dirty dishes. The exceedingly well-equipped galley of the Privilège Signature 510 makes light of the task, with its three-burner hob, large oven and expansive work surfaces. What’s more, the catamaran is so stable that cooking is a real pleasure – no need for Nico to secure himself in front of the oven as he might on his own boat.

“Wow, what a yacht!” he marvels. “I’ve already been on a few catamarans for reports and tests, but the Privilège Signature 510 is really different. As soon as I entered the saloon, I was impressed by the large galley with the gigantic view! And then there’s the big table, which really seats a large group of friends. The shoot on the Île d’Yeu on France’s Atlantic coast was a real highlight. Everyone was totally relaxed and the Privilège was very calm in the water – ideal conditions for shooting on board. We immediately felt this sense of warm conviviality.”

These are the home waters of Privilège catamarans, which are built nearby at Les Sables d’Olonne. This coast, with its low, rocky islands and powerful tides, has a wild beauty to it which did not escape Nico’s professional eye. “I won’t forget the island coast in a hurry, with its rugged cliffs and dreamy bays. Such fantastic backgrounds for shooting! And the fresh catch of the day is a delight – we had very tasty seafood dishes at the restaurant in the harbor.”

Nico plans to return again soon in his own boat, to shoot the scenery for a book he plans to publish himself. “I am really taken with this austere and at the same time lovely coastal landscape.” See more of his work at www.galerie-wasserzeichen.de

Photos: © Nico Krauss, Torge Fahl