Soot-free
Double Haven gets new generators.
A8
Vol. 2, No. 12
Crew drug use is black, white and gray issue Six crew members on the 301-foot Tatoosh were asked to resign their positions in January after they tested positive for cocaine use, according to news reports and crew members familiar with the yacht. In light of the news, we asked the captains gathered From the Bridge for our monthly Lucy Chabot Reed Bridge luncheon how they handle signs of drug use and abuse on their yachts. As always, individual comments are not attributed to any one person in particular so as to encourage frank and open discussion. The attending captains are identified in a photograph on page A28. The conversation started abruptly. “How can there be a discussion about it?” one captain said of illegal drug use. “It’s just no.” Then there was a pause. A long pause. “What do you do when your owner is on deck smoking a joint?” another captain asked. Welcome to the gray area. Though the topic over lunch was introduced to focus on how captains handle substance use and abuse among crew, the conversation first turned to owners and guests. “It’s part of the culture with young crew who have disposable income,” one captain said. “But drugs and guests put captains in awkward situations. You have to handle it tactfully.” One captain has approached a guest using drugs on the boat and said “Can we take you to the beach so you can enjoy the evening and the moonlight?” “If they resist, you have to let them know they could cost the owner his boat,” this captain said. “This is my boat, my career, my license,” another said. “I’m not going to jail so you can have a joint.” Most captains suggested setting a zero tolerance standard with the owner
See THE BRIDGE, page A28
Setting sail
Changes coming
Young sailors start a lifetime’s passion.
A list of upcoming marine regulations.
A38
A6
www.the-triton.com
March 2006
No answers on Princess Gigi, Electra cases
Sitting Pretty? S/Y Legacy, the 156foot Perini Navi pushed into the national marine sanctuary north of the Florida Keys during Hurricane Wilma, remained there in February. Held upright with no fewer than six lines, the yacht rests in a few feet of water. Wilma blew the yacht to this position on Oct. 24. It was unclear if the owner was still onboard. PHOTOS/LUCY REED
By Lucy Chabot Reed The Bahamas claimed another yacht last month when M/Y Princess GiGi took on water and rolled under on Feb. 6. All eight crew members aboard the 124-foot Trident were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard. Neither salvors nor attorneys for the yacht would comment on the incident so it is still unclear what caused the yacht to take on water. According to sources in the area, she has been righted and saved. Another motoryacht wasn’t so fortunate. M/V Electra, an expedition-style yacht of about 100 feet, was a total loss after breaking in two upon salvage in February. Electra hit the reef entering the Lyford Cay channel on Jan. 14 and quickly took on water. According to crew members in the area at the time, she was the only boat on the water late that afternoon. Winds were estimated at about 30 to 40 knots with 9- to 10foot seas. The eight guests and crew were rescued by passing vessels. By the time salvors reached her with a barge crane a few days later, another storm was brewing and salvage operations had to be suspended, said Marcus of Overseas Salvage, which worked the wreck. That second storm broke the aluminum-hulled craft in two. The See ELECTRA, page A27
Triton immigration seminar set for March 14 By Lucy Chabot Reed Foreign yacht crew coming into the United States know this story. It begins on a sunny South Florida day as their yacht pulls into port. They travel with their captain to the immigration office to clear in. Some days the captain takes their passport to the counter while they wait. Some days they are called to the counter to do it themselves. Some days they get a smile and a few procedural queries. Some days they get a frown
and a lot of questions. On all days, they cross their fingers and hope for the best. It’s time to let the U.S. Department of Homeland Security know just what yacht crew deal with when their yacht calls on an American port. The Triton is hosting its second annual customs and immigration seminar from 10 a.m. to noon March 14 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. We’ve invited a panel of high-ranking officials from the U.S. Coast Guard as well as customs and immigration to
answer questions about the seemingly inconsistent clearing-in procedures. Come hear the latest developments. Watch www.the-triton.com or sign up for our weekly e-mail blast for details about registration. “A boat just arrived this morning from the Bahamas behind us,” said one veteran captain in Ft. Lauderdale recently for some yard work. Though he and his crew got stamped in for one month, the crew on the next yacht were cleared in for six. “Go figure.”