The other side
Brokers have their say in captains’ style.
A28
Vol. 3, No. 1
New marina
GiGi ‘a loss’
Old Best Western to be razed, rebuilt
Princess GiGi cut in two, towed to yard
A32
A6
www.the-triton.com
April 2006
Adrian Fisher Crew: U.S. immigration rules a mystery passes on, leaves legacy By Lucy Chabot Reed
By Lucy Chabot Reed Adrian Fisher, founder of the Antibes-based yacht crew placement agency that bears his name, died in his sleep in early March. He was 63. “It was terribly unexpected,” said Eleanor Bloodworth, Mr. Fisher’s personal assistant. “He hasn’t been ill. No one thought he would be leaving us so soon.” FISHER Known among megayacht crew for his terrific memory and love of fine food and wine, Mr. Fisher used an old world approach to service what he considered an old world industry. “Adrian was a thoughtful, kind person,” said Ann-Wallis White, a charter broker in Annapolis. “He was kind to people he didn’t have to be kind to. He was kind to people for whom he could do something. It’s the cornerstone of how this industry got started, and that’s not how it is now.” Several of his colleagues said they will remember his charming demeanor, passion for the industry and kind heart. “He was one of those incessant workers; wherever you are, he was always working,” said Sarah Sebastian, director of Nicholson Yachts in Antigua. “He launched a lot of people in this industry and he took care of people as well. He was never judgmental and always supportive. He gave really good advice. “It’s not so much that I’ve lost a friend, it’s that the industry has lost someone it could have used a little bit longer,” she said. “Some people starting out now will never have the guidance and stewardship of their careers that Adrian offered a lot of people. I’m sorry for that loss because there are too few people like that.” Mr. Fisher also quietly supported several charities and families in Antigua, a place he worked and lived
See FISHER, page A13
Six officials from the Department of Homeland Security – three representing the U.S. Coast Guard and three from U.S. Customs and Border Protection – fielded questions from captains and crew in March, reiterating the common understanding that their rules and regulations are not commonly understood.
“As a U.S.-flagged vessel under 300 tons, do I have to file an NOA when I come to Florida?” one captain asked. “The rules about Advanced Notice of Arrival are for large foreign-flagged yachts and they’re nothing new,” said Terry Steinford, assistant chief of vessel inspection for Sector Miami. “In 2001, the reporting time was changed from 24 hours [in advance] to 96 hours, unless you are on a journey of less than
24 hours. Nationally, vessels of 300 tons and more are required to file to the National Vessel Movement Center in West Virginia. In the 7th Coast Guard district – which covers South Carolina, Georgia, Florida except the panhandle, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands – there is no low tonnage limit.” So any foreign-flagged vessel coming
See IMMIGRATION, page A14
Close quarters Neil Rooney, left and owner of Buccaneer Beach Bar in St. Maarten, goes along for the ride as Capt. Guy O’Connor brings M/Y Phoenix through the Simpson Bay Bridge in March. The megayacht’s stabilizer fins extend about 18 inches farther than the beam, making the passage a close call. The night before, the men joined about 250 other yachties for a party hosted by the new U.S. Superyacht Association at Rooney’s bar. Read more about the USSA and see photos from the party on page A30-31. PHOTO/DAVID REED
Captains: Know the rules before clearing in After two hours listening to officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security speak about yachting, a group of captains gathered to voice their thoughts on U.S. immigration policy toward megayacht crew. As always, individual comments are From the Bridge not attributed to Lucy Chabot Reed any one person in particular so as to encourage frank and open discussion. The attending captains are identified in
a photograph on page A27. The captains each had a story about a run-in with U.S. immigration officials, up to and including a denial of entry. They described incidents where they were permitted entry for anywhere from one week to the much-desired six months and everything in between. One of the most confusing situations for them was the variation in admission for different crew on the same vessel. Most were encouraged by comments from Bruce Boswell, chief of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Miami office, that a crew on legitimate business with documentation to
support it should request a supervisor if they are not granted enough time to complete their work schedule. Away from the seminar speakers, however, the captains spoke more candidly. “I think that guy’s dreaming [to say] call a supervisor,” one captain said. “It becomes a matter of how much do I want to push my luck?” said another. “Sometimes it works,” said a third. “Crying helps, too.” One captain brings a print-out
See THE BRIDGE, page A26