June 2013
On the Cover What type of "green" are you: inexperienced or eco-friendly? This issue addresses both topics concerning crew knowledge.
Departments 5. Healthy Crew Diets
22. Take a Break
48. Networking events
9. Life Lessons
26. Reality Check
49. Technology
13. Vacay Destination
28. Meet and Greet
53. Nautical Knowledge
16. Crew of the Month
34. Personal Life
56. Every Month
Find out how you can stay fit and still enjoy life’s pleasures as a crewmember with a chef onboard.
Sometimes it is better to learn from other’s mistakes than on your own.
Tips for a trip to the Mediterranean.
M/Y Silver Cloud has received the ultimate crew experience. They've been traveling the world for a year from Europe to Japan and S. Africa!
Several crewmembers share how they make it work.
Are you on the right boat? Analyze your plans onboard.
Joyce Jones talks about her ups and downs of yachting.
Couples explain how they tackle raising a family, keep their careers and still manage to have time to themselves at the end of the day!
Don't miss the party this year in Ft. Lauderdale hosted by Waxy's Pub on 17th St. Catch up with friends.
Educate your owner on how he is keeping up with technology today.
Freshen up on your terms.
This June we are focusing on how you can be the right green. Let us know how you think we are doing!
Features
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30 How valuable is your formal training?
40 Latest eco friendly products Hors d’oeuvres of the year
20 50 M/Y Endless Sea
Scuba Diving : Important Reminders
Reality Check
There are good boats and then . . . All the rest. Make sure you pick the ride side of the dock!
by Gavin Rothenburger
W
ith experience in the business, most of us recog nize that if the captain uses the chart table for a wet bar, and if the contents of the engineer’s tool bag amount to nothing more than chewing gum, duct tape and a used curtain rod, it might not be the ideal professional situation. But, if you are new to the business or if moving up the ladder, we’re tempted sometimes to work on boats that would be better off in museums and whose crew would be more useful if they were flipping burgers at Taco Bell (yes, I know that makes no sense.) To put the first “chief engineer” or “chief stewardess” position on your CV, many will put up with things that would have caused your average Roman slave to quit their job.
Captain and crewmembers of M/Y Lady Linda.
But where should we draw the line? There are few obvious examples. For instance, maybe you hear of a boat that’s a little rough around the edges, but your keen to give it a go becauste it would be your first job as a mate. You begin your day familiarizing yourself with the decks and at lunch, you’re called to the captain’s cabin. If he says anything even approximating, “Hey, mate, you wanna do some crack?” then it’s time to move on no matter how much you want the job. Unless, that is, you like crack. Captain and crewmembers of Shearwater.
{ continued on page 7 }
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www.threesixty.com
http://www.superyachtdiploma.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/SYD_banner_006.jpg
Dockwalking
Reality Check
“ in a rough sea of positives.
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M/Y O’Mega has 18 crewmembers onboard, although the average number of crew in the industry today is between five and seven live-aboard crewmembers per boat. There are many diverse nationalities and almost always co-ed groups onboard.
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Meet And Greet
an interview with one of your own,
Chief Stewardess: 5. What is the most difficult situation you have faced? The owner purchased a new yacht in the middle of the Caribbean season, we moved ar t work, piano, frozen food, the crew, guest luggage and mattresses over from the old to the new, much bigger yacht; with guests on board… and I was two stewardesses down for six weeks.
6. What did you like or dislike about your last job? I loved setting up the new interior.
Joyce Jones 1. Tell us about yourself. I have been in the industry for 17 years and from Kiel, Germany.studied Ayurveda Spa Therapy in India and trained as a Make-up Ar tist in Munich, Germany. I am 35 yrs old and love interior refits.
2. How did you get into the yachting industry? Through my brother who was a Captain.
3. Have you met anyone famous? Yes, Lenny Kravitz and Steven Spielberg.
4. Where would you like to be five years from now?
7. What is the most embarrassing thing you have ever done? I fell down the sun deck stairs with a tray of champagne glasses and landed on my bum right in front of the guests sitting on the bridge deck table…it was horrifying.
8. What are your some of your long-term career goals? To eventually have my own business doing what I am passionate about!
9. What makes you laugh? My last Captain and “Fruehstueck being Stefanie” which is a German radio comedy and Dickie Bannenberg.
10. What bothers you the most? Imperfection, unreliability, and people who don’t care about their job. ↣
I would like to own a business with a be with a great, loving, and stable par tner.
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www.threesixty.com
The rest of this interview can be found on www.stewardessbible.com
Reality Check
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It’s usually a few negatives in a rough sea of positives.
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cabin, you can’t help but notice that there’s a ball gag on the top bunk, a pair of black leather chaps with the rump cut out and a whip. The chief stew (your new boss and room-mate) winks, smiles and says, “I’ll see you later!” For many, this would be a dream job. (I’m filling out an application as we speak!) For others, it might lead to discomfort in ways they’re not used to. This is one of those gray areas that simply come down to personal taste. Often, it’s not even a matter of the crew or owners. I think we have all, if not been on a boat that has been kept in less-than-stellar condition, made fun of those boats from the dock. Maybe there’s a great boss and crew but, upon examining the machinery space, you discover that the engines are cobbled together from a boucle of broken dive compressors, a sewing machine and a kerosene lantern. The props, much to your chagrin, were originally the working bits of a pair of very nice box fans. In these instances, the decision will come down to your comfort zone. If the crew is great, the money to do things properly is there and you enjoy a good challenge, why not? There’s a lot I’ll do for money when I need it, but what’s most important is safety and the understanding that it never be compromised.
M/Y O’Mega has 18 crewmembers onboard, although the average number of crew in the industry today is between five and seven live-aboard crewmembers per boat. There are many diverse nationalities and almost always co-ed groups onboard.
Whether you’re new to the business and desperately need the money, or you’re finally getting your first captain’s job, if the boss thinks that sailing through a hurricane is a good idea or the boat told you it has always wanted to see what the bottom of the ocean looks like, then — although it may be hard, take it from me — walk away. ↣
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Mind
T h e
Gap
captains talk about CLASSROOM TRAINING, AND IF IT IS WORTH YOUR TIME & MONEY. By Erica Lay
any new crewmembers venture into the yacht ing industry each year after completing a num berof courses to help them beat the competition and get that foot in the door. As each season passes, crew take time out to better themselves and also improve their employability by taking more courses and continuing their education in the classroom. But is this education truly addressing the industry’s needs? Several experienced, qualified captains weighed in on where the industry training can be improved.“This is not the industry it was 20 years ago,” says Mark Lacey, captain of a 50-meter vessel. “In those days, the captain only had an RYA Yachtmaster; a ‘big’ yacht was a 70-foot sailboat, you sent your laundry ashore and you ate with the boss and his family. There was no six-star service, 24 hours a day, whatever you want, whenever you want.” The yachting industry has changed and grown at an alarming rate, and the crew haven’t always kept up. Whereas crew used to join the industry for the excitement of a life at sea, those types are the minority these days - the majority are entering yachting with expectations of rank, privilege and salary.
Basic Training While there might be increased weight given to training, some captains still maintain that the best training you can get is on the job. Capt. Chris Lewis of M/Y Eillix Too recommends new crew to get their STCW ‘95, Powerboat Level 2, and go to sea for a year as a junior crewmember before deciding what it is they really want to do and making a career plan. “Don’t look to be an inexperienced captain in two years,” he advises. “Get the knowledge and experience to do it right.” Overall, the consensus was that the junior courses seem to lack basic seamanship skills. Cost was another issue raised by Capt. Neil Lynall of M/Y White Cloud - in an ideal world, he recommended the basic courses would be held on training ships, which isn’t feasible. “The only way to learn is for a yacht to give a new crewmember a chance; we were all new at some point,” Lynall says. He maintains that not much can prepare someone for the complexities of yacht life. “You just have to get on a respected vessel, learn the trade and absorb the knowledge given from senior crew.” Entering the industry as new crew is expensive - 20 years ago, you might have been able to walk up to a passerelle with just your backpack and a hard-working attitude to work as a “nipper” alongside experienced crew to learn the ropes. Capt. Greg Butler Davis of S/Y Panthalassa, a 56-meter Perini Navi, suggests, “It would be a far better idea for crew to have the possibility to be employed in entry-level positions (if necessary, exempt from duties on the muster list), and be paid appropriately while they receive a combination of real experience and on-the-job training for a minimum period of two full years’ service.” At the end of their two years, they can decide which path to take and choose courses based on that.
Missing Elements Safety is a theme that plays recurrently in today’s yachting milieu. It popped up once more when the captains were asked specifically whether courses adequately address this issue. Capt. Lewis feels there should be more emphasis on working in confined spaces, working aloft and general tender safety. In addition, he thinks deck crew should receive lifesaving training. “Paying customers swimming off the aft deck and only a deckhand with STCW ‘95 watching? No training on how to recover an unconscious swimmer from the water, or knowing what drowning looks like - it’s nothing like the movies!” Lewis says. “Swimming without a lifeguard cannot happen in a pool, so why can it on a yacht?”
“It would be a far better idea for crew to have the possibility to be employed in entry-level positions... and be paid appropriately while they receive a combination of real experience and on-the-job training...” - Capt. greg butler
first mate http://www.ecaptain.com/professionalmariner?page=1
Jason Jones, takes the owners family out tubing in South Flordia. While this day is focused on creating an exciting day for the guests, he must always be aware of their surroundings. When accepting certain positions, you must be aware of how many people you may be responsible for and where the best environment will be at that time.
But, as noted by Capt. Lynall, yacht-related training is a comneed for personnel management training, suggesting this should plicated matter restricted to a classroom environment. Lynall bebe added to senior training courses. As Capt. Craig-Cameron points lieves the deck route progression is improving, but the MCA can out, “A great captain is also a great manager of people.” never properly police those takingof short cutsstcw to achieve their quali- Personal Currently, theSurvival MCA has a Business and Law module in the MasModule two the includes Techniques: fications more quickly than they should. “There are still too many ters training program; most captains agreed that this should be Oneto day ofasclassroom based covering tactics and crew who want progress quickly as possible withouttraining taking expanded to includesea moresurvival about people and account management. the correct steps attain day sufficient knowledge at each level beLet’s not forget, superyachts are multi-million euro businesses enOnetohalf practicing techniques in the pool. fore they move up to the next,” he says. This shifts some of the trusted to captains to run - where do they learn the bookkeeping, emphasis back to the senior crew to ensure they help their juniors refit management or day-to-day management skills necessary for continue their professional development on board. running a staff of 20-plus? The captain designation comes with far Interior crew primarily have relied on senior crew for training unmore than simply being able to drive the boat - it usually involves less new crew had any hotel or resturaunt experience. Last year being an accountant, a dispute resolution expert, a politician and the PYA created Guidelines for Unified Excellence Service Training diplomat. (GUEST) for interior crew. Capt. Roy Dance of the 78-meter M/Y Amaryllis came into Touted as addressing a decidedly lacking need for interior crew yachting from commercial shipping many years ago. After taking training, it received some mixed responses. Capt. Lacey feels it all his CoCs through the MCA system, he does acknowledge that will lead to interior crew asking for more money; Capt. Ben Craigthere are some shortcomings, but maintains that “it’s a very solid Cameron believes it’s a good idea, but it won’t replace anything a system and the qualifications are still highly respected worldwide, season working for a good chief stewardess could teach you - and producing safe operators with a level of knowledge required to in a live environment. Capt. Clive Rogerson thinks it’s a great step carry out their work competently. The rest we have to learn on the for interior crew who have little other than STCW ‘95 on their CV. job at work.” Capt. Lewis suggests that any standards for interior training courses should “mirror high-end hotel practice, plus te marine requirements. Why try to reinvent the wheel?” His concern with interior courses is that stewardesses are taught one way of doing things, only to step on board to work under a chief stewardess who does things differently.
Senior Crew Senior crew have paid their dues, and most have taken courses to advance as they have progressed up the ranks. But one missing element that came up time and time again among the captains surveyed was general management. Every captain highlighted the
“A great captain is also a great manager of people." - capt. craig-cameron
Deck hand
www.oceanindependence.com
Bo Phillips practices crisis aversion with his students in a local pool in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. STCW '95 certificates require minimal hours of physical training. Students are able to understand how the programs trainging applies to certain events while wearing gear that would make tasks just as difficult as if they were in frigid waters.
Capt. Rogerson raises a valid point. “The introduction of the Large Yacht Codes, ISM, ISPS and input from yacht management companies has greatly enhanced the training, operation and management standards of yachts, but this is largely limited to the commercial sector,” he says. “The private yachts really ought to be conducting their business at the same or similar levels, otherwise we run the risk of developing two separate standards in the industry where privately operated yachts and crew may be seen as less knowledgable.” Rogerson maintains that all crew should be better educated when it comes to regulations, such as ILO 180 (hours of work and rest), musters, drills, duties of look outs, basic chart work, seamanship and the practical implications of ISM and ISPS.
“ taking time off to complete courses can be a burden. " - capt. rogerson
Time Management The battle has always been finding the time to continue educational requirements or electives. Taking time off to complete courses can be a burden - it’s not uncommon for crew to quit a job to get their qualifications, as many busy yacht schedules don’t leave enough time during vacations. Of course, crew need a break to recharge, too, which has a knock-on effect of making crew view training and achieving those tickets as a necessary evil rather than a great way to improve their learning and improve employability. Although it might be easy to find fault with training courses, something to consider is that crew taking those courses usually need to be back on board as soon as possible. Most schools understand the pressure crew are under to return to their vessels, meaning they teach the essential facts and theories in order to pass the syllabus, though there should be no doubt that the yachting industry is a more professional and safer place as a result of training. Overall, the system is changing gradually, but we must not lose sight that, for now, it’s doing a satisfactory job in producing good mariners and will continue to evolve along with the industry.
Capt. Lynall sums it up rather beautifully. “All the training in the world won’t help someone who doesn’t want to listen or believe they are already good at something; you should always be learning and willing to learn from others. Arrogance is everywhere, and it’s certainly part of yachting, unfortunately. If you have a crew of motivated, committed, loyal individuals who feel trusted, you should build a very strong team that works for each other, the yacht and the owner. In this learning environment, coupled with good training courses, crew can become excellent members of our industry.” ↣ Article provided by Erica Lay from Dockwalk Magazine
Add a little more
to your worklife. Sound difficult? With all of the new eco-friendly products on the market today, crew and owners can reduce the negative global impact of their floating palaces. By Janine Ketterer
F
rom the linens to the wash-down soap, there’s something green for every part of the boat now-a-days. Whether it is in the chemicals you use for the interior or exterior of the boat, materials that you use to clean them with, or even suggesting a new product or item to the owner for the boat, any step towards a "greener" lifestyle counts. There are endless possibilities of companies these days that thrive on how they can help you. We have narrowed it down to six different companies that specialize with the boating world. New Wave Designs, Earthly Supply, TRAC Ecological, Baudoin Wash-Systems, Yacht Shine, and NeroQom. They range from interior and exterior
products, as well as the type of inventory that crew and guests use on a daily basis. This guide will not answer all of your questions, but will help you start on the step in the right direction towards helping your crew attain more knowledge on how they can become more eco-friendly. Even though the boats that crew live and work on are gas guzzlers, doesn't mean you have to throw in the towel on how you can no longer contribute to preserving the health of the world. So many products and services are used on a large scale. Altering a few, or as many as possible, can make a dramatic change in a positive way. Just make the first step and you will realize how much there is to do.
New Wave Designs Organic linens and eco-friendly countertops? It might be rare that owners and crew think about the environmental impact of their linens, but choosing eco-friendly fabrics can indeed reduce a yacht’s carbon footprint. New Wave Designs is a fairly new yacht interior and outfitting company that caters to the needs of environmentally conscious clientele. The company takes the guesswork out of eco-shopping, with a growing list of interior products that are sustainable and recyclable. The company also has created its own line of eco-friendly bed linens made from eucalyptus wood cellulose and derived through an organic solvent. This easy-care line uses 50 percent less energy to dry, is biodegradable and is exceptionally strong, yet soft. They offer recycled glassware and bamboo products that make lovely serving options such as salad bowls or cutting boards. Rather than use marble or granite for countertops, how about recycled glass – which looks beautiful when backlit – or materials made from recycled paper and cardboard? New Wave Design offers several products that are cradle to cradle, which means they are environmentally friendly from inception to the end of their use. If you decided to get all new linens, NWD will take the old ones off your hands and recycle or do-
Custom Work
Furniture Design Fabrics, Furnishings, Upholstery Walls, Surfaces & Overheads Custom Carpet, Stone, Mosaics
Blinds & Window Treatments Mattresses & Custom Linens Lighting, Art & Accessories Outdoor Cushions & Furniture
Outfitting Table Service & Barware China, Crystal, Flatware Table Linens & Decor Bed & Bath Linens Luggage Pads, Laundry Bags Stateroom Service, Robes Beach & Shore Items Specialty Service Items Bath/Spa Amenities Affordable eco+luxe linens White for crew Embroidered for owners/guests
nate them. They also intend on keeping a running tally of which yachts purchase the largest quantity of environmentally friendly products this year; a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the eco-charity of the owner’s and crew’s choice. www.newwave-design.com
Earthly Supply Equipped with products to use from the bilges to the bridge, they offer economically friendly alternatives that reduce a yacht’s environmental impact. Founders Shelia Goddard and Maria Bendy-Sefton beg the question, “What are you leaving behind?” They present crew with knowledge and support to reduce marine pollution and a yacht’s “chemical footprint.” Environmental Yacht Services offers tutorials to educate crew on the history and impact of chemicals as well as various regulations. They will come aboard a yacht to perform an environmental assessment, during which they will speak to each department in order to help crew work together, as this is vital to being “green” on the seas. Environmental yacht services will even go over all products and procedures used on board. They will then analyze their findings to create a list of strong points as well as areas that need improvement. www.earthlysupplies.com
Brochures describe how Earthly Supply can help train your crew.
TRAC TRAC Ecological’s mission is to provide innovative and environmentally friendly products for cleaning and maintenance of onboard equipment. Its Barnacle Buster is a marine growth remover that is not only cost effective, but also can be circulated safely through seawater cooling systems with TRAC’s PortO-Flush to ensure machinery runs at its optimum potential. It’s nontoxic, biodegradable and watersoluble. TRAC’s GreenClean Boat Soap is also nontoxic and biodegradable in nature and is safe for the entire yacht. While it does not utilize harsh chemicals, the concentrated solution – of which only one capful is needed per one gallon of water – is strong enough to clean away dirt and grime. TRAC also features the eco-friendly Descaler, which will de-scale blackwater, marine toilets and other freshwater plumbing systems. TRAC Ecological is nontoxic, biodegradable, and water-soluble.
www.trac-online.com
Baudoin Wash-Systems The wash system relies on the pure, filtered water to do the cleaning, with no chemicals or detergents used, making the system very friendly to the environment. It offers the TeleWashBoat, which can be rented for cleaning. The boat has a jet drive that enables it to perfectly maintain its position while you clean the hull and it comes equipped with an Aqua Force Pure Water Filter Unit, which filters tap water to eliminate lime, minerals and metals. Filtering the water also prevents streaks, the company claims – so no more need to dry surfaces after washing. Also on board is an Aqua Heating Unit, which can heat the water to 60°C, thereby more efficiently removing heavy contamination like diesel, algae and atmospheric pollution. Baudoin also offers the Carbo Clean Pole, which is equipped with specially developed cleaning brushes with border protection to prevent damage. The Carbo Clean system can be used on glass, teak, polyester, epoxy, coated hulls, stainless or additional metal components. www.baudoin.nl
Top: Carbo clean pole, Bottom:microfiber cloth attachement.
Yacht Shine Yacht Shine is a line of high performance, eco-responsible yacht maintenance products, all of which meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency clean boating and clean marinas guidelines. Its various products range from Marine Soap, which is allsurface safe, will not remove wax and is completely biodegradable; the nontoxic Teak Cleaner, which is ready to use and will not burn teak; and the Teak Preserver, which utilizes a water-based liquid to create a barrier between the wood and stains and pollutions that lasts for months. Yacht Shine also provides many other products including an Inflatable cleaner and Clear Bottomcoat and is committed to developing new, planet-safe products to keep yachts in pristine condition. www.yachtshine.com
Yacht Shine carries multiple planet-safe products.
NeroQom NeroQom, the mother company of Nauticare for Superyachts, is cranking up its “green” credentials. With an eight-year history of developing environmentally friendly products and techniques, it has recently completed a study on increasing the life of materials such as glass, stainless steel and paint work on yachts. And it’s made significant changes in cleaning, renovation and protection products that help reduce or even stop environmental pollution without jeopardizing quality. NeroQom’s glass renovation can remove all kinds of damage, stains and degradation – even sandblasted, coated or etched glass can be renewed, the company claims. The renovation products are pH-neutral. Now more than ever, NeroQom has declared its intentions of developing its business in a sustainable way, with a complete respect to the environment.
Experience new... Glass Paintwork Synthetics Foil Granite Marble Gel coat & Composite Stainless Steel Miscellaneous
www.NeroQom.com
From the linens to the wash-down soap, there’s something green for every part of the boat nowa days. Don't you feel a little more educated about the possibilites that you have to change your ecological footprint? Try to inform the people around you that these products or services are available. Here are some other small tips for daily use: Fiberglass Stains Make a paste of baking soda and water. Use a sponge or soft cloth and gently rub the mix into the stain. This paste can also be used to clean onboard showers and heads. Keep in mind that it is abrasive, so use with care. Use lemon or lime juice as a final wipe-down for a shiny finish. Windows and Mirrors Mix vinegar, lemon juice and warm water. Chrome Use apple cider vinegar on a soft cotton cloth to rub it clean. Then, use a fresh cloth with a dab of baby oil to restore it to a bright shine.
Brass Worcestershire sauce, vinegar and salt solution Copper Fitting Make a paste of either lemon or lime juice and salt. Stainless Steel Clean with a cloth dampened with undiluted white vinegar. Aluminum Clean with a solution of cream of tartar and water. Plastic Surfaces Mixture of one part white vinegar and two parts warm water. Interior Woods Can be cleaned by using olive oil or almond oil. The oil will provide natural moisturizers for the wood and add shine at the same time. Don’t use these oils on exterior surfaces, however, since they don’t hold up in direct sun. ↣ Article provided by Dockwalk Magazine Tips provided by www.eartheasy.com
↣
Family Matters Can you really have it all ? Story by Louisa Cowan
I
am part of a yachtIng famIly. My husband works on superyachts, and we have two children and a dog. We do our best to make our family work, and it isn’t always easy. But when do you ever hear about any form of family life being smooth sailing? There are skeptics out there who will tell you that all longdistance relationships are doomed, that you will never see each other, yachting marriages always end in tears and, if you want kids, forget it, you’d never see them. Those cynics will tell you that families and boats just don’t go together. While they usually speak from bitter experience, there are many success stories out there — They really have got it all, but how do they do it?
Building Basics Many yachting couples met in the industry. They worked together, fell in love...you know the story. So, when children come along, there really isn’t much choice but for mom to leave the boat. As one yacht- ing mom said, “I was able to work until I was about three months pregnant, and then I became land- based; boats aren’t the best environments to be in when pregnant.”
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When building the relationship (and the family), it’s much easier when both partners have an under- standing of the industry. The shore-side partner has to understand that when on board, the other partner’s first priority is the boat, the owner, the guests and the crew. During work time, family has to come second to the yacht — if you don’t understand the industry, this is a tricky concept to grasp. Sarah Burnet, a former crewmember, is married to the captain of M/Y Telleost and splits her time between the UK, Mallorca and the boat. “My own experience on yachts has taught me that I have toremain flexible and really take each day as it comes when my husband is working,” she says. “Don’t get hooked on exact homecoming dates; these things change, and there is no point getting upset about it.” Alyssa Shannon worked as chief stewardess on the yacht her husband captained before she left to start a family. They have two children and she now works as a graphic designer. “[Being a yachting family] works if both partners understand the unpredictability of the industry and remain flexible,” she says.
www.threesixty.com
Personal life
“ With Skype, there is no reason why the children shouldn’t see their father every day, or at least every other day. " - Sarah
Picking the Right Position
Embrace Technology
In yachting, it’s possible to configure the job to one that will work best with the family life you want. Opting for a boat that has a permanent port base is one option or, perhaps, a private boat with a clear cruising schedule. The ultimate way to ensure some quality family time throughout the year is to try and land a rotation job that may mean some long stints away, but at least the time at home is guaranteed.
While time apart is difficult, the distance can seem much less with the use of modern technology, and keeping in touch is remarkably easy. “With Skype, there is no reason why the children shouldn’t see their father every day, or at least every other day,” says Sarah. “We have built it into our daily routine so that just before bed, the boys speak to daddy on Skype. Sometimes it will be a long catch-up, but other times, if there are guests on board, it will literally be a quick goodnight, but it is very rare that we don’t manage at least a brief call.” Although Alyssa travels around the world to keep her family together, being apart at times is unavoidable. “When I am back in South Florida, working and alone with the kids, Skype, Face Time and all these great com- munication avenues are such a blessing,” she says.
Being married to a crewmember on rotation means that you don’t actually need to have any contact with the yachting industry if that’s your wish. A life of travel isn’t for everyone, but that doesn’t mean that you have to rule out having a partner who works on boats. Jen and Mark Pattinson have three children; Mark is an engineer on board an 85-meter superyacht while Jen lives in the UK. “I have absolutely no experience of the yachting industry,” says Jen. “Mark goes away for two or three months at a time and then is home for a couple of months. We think of it very much as if he was in the forces — when he is away,he is at work, and when he is home, he is a full-time father and husband.”
The Traveling Advantage For most yachtie families, travel is an essential part of their existence. Whether they decide to permanently base themselves abroad or move with the boat and the yachting seasons, time away is almost inevitable.
July
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" You’re constantly on the move; however much you plan, you and your partner will inevitably experience fairly long periods apart and sometimes you will feel like a single parent. " - Alyssa
“During my daughter’s first year of life, she made fourteen long-haul flights,” says Sophie, whose husband is captain of a U.S.-based boat. “We are based in the UK, well, our family is, but we just travel with the boat. We spend time in the Caribbean, Florida, Rhode Island, Maine...traveling with little ones is much easier that you’d imagine and they are so adaptable.”Sarah agrees that it makes sense to be with the boat as much as possible. “We have spent long periods of time overseas with the children. We enjoy some of the fabulous places the boat is visiting and when there aren’t guests on board, we have a very ‘normal’ family life.”There are advantages to living this slightly nomadic existence. As a family, you experience different cultures — the children may even pick up another language. You meet other yachtie families and inevitably have a wonderful outdoor lifestyle. Being together in another country can be an incredibly bonding experience for a family, creating memories that will be yours forever.
doesn’t come without sacrifice,” Alyssa says. “Traveling frequently with the kids means we sacrifice having a real home life. We miss out on lasting friend- ships with wonderful people back home, and we endure an element of loneliness when we travel to a distant land and can’t speak the language.” She explains that there are also disadvantages even when you are “home.”
The Time Apart
“When daddy is leaving and we are ‘left behind back home,’ it’s difficult, so of course I sympathize with the kids’ feelings of sadness,” she says. There’s no denying it’s hard work being a yachtie family. You’re constantly on the move; however much you plan, you and your partner will inevitably experience fairly long periods apart and sometimes you will feel like a single parent. "We try and set a six-week limit to our time apart,” Sophie explains. “Whether I take the kids to the boat, or dad comes home, it doesn’t matter, but by about week four, I find the single mom thing relentless, and I am counting the days until there is anotheradult around to do bedtime.”
There is no denying that there are disadvantages and these can sometimes be challenging to overcome.“All this
For some, it can prove too much and the thought of a permanent home and a steady, structured lifestyle is just too
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Personal Life
" It works as long as both partners respect each other, communicate openly and frequently, and make an effort to be together as much as possible. " attractive. Erica, a former yacht chef, couldn’t fathom the idea of being a part-time single parent. “My partner and I had both worked together on yachts for [more than] six years, but when we decided we wanted a family, there was no way I was going to face lots of time on my own with a baby. There was no question for me, if we wanted children, we had to come off boats.”
The Financial End The decision to start a family isn’t just about whether you are up for the adventure of travel or can endure long periods apart; there also are costs to consider. Not only is there the expense of traveling, especially with airfare, but spouses often will have to rent property during the high season in expensive parts of the world to keep the family together, or find cheaper accomodations.
Sarah used to work aboard M/Y Telleost and is sometimes asked to come back and work during an owner’s trip. “When I am working, the kids come and stay on board with me,” she says. “We have a full-time nanny who comes, too, so I can focus on the job and not be worrying about the boys. She can then take them ashore as much as possible, which works out really well.” Integrating children with your work life often can be an advantage. It makes the times apart easier because they understand where Daddy (or Mommy) is, what they are doing and who they’re with. Relish the opportunities — the chance to travel, the time together, but also the time apart; it all can be positive and help families remain happy and fulfilled with their careers and family life. ↣
July
Article provided by Dockwalk Magazine
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