Triton December 2017 Vol. 14, No. 9

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/tritonnews | www.The-Triton.com | December 2017

Show tests yacht sale in duty-free FTZ

News from FLIBS CBP, USCG panel U.S. Customs and Coast Guard officials hear crew concerns over B1/B2 visa denials and cruising permits.

37

Foreign trade zone offers new options for American buyers

Will U.S. business pay a price?

At least one yacht skips U.S. over visa snafu.

By Dorie Cox M/Y Clorinda is able to do what few other foreign-flagged yachts for sale in the United States can do: The 120foot ISA can be shown and sold to an American. The yacht is one of a handful that is in a new U.S. Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ).

Currently in Lauderdale Marine Center in Fort Lauderdale for yard work, the yacht was able to travel to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) at Bahia Mar Yachting Center. And the phones have been ringing at Bahia Mar ever since, marina General Manager Megan Lagasse said.

“We have gotten a lot of follow up from yachts that are not sold that want to come into the Foreign Trade Zone,”

See FTZ, Page 42

Recognition for jobs well done PHOTO/TOM SERIO

FRONT AND CENTER: Yacht crew dress for success on opening day of the 58th annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, which ran Nov. 1-5, wincluding some of the team from M/Y Muchos Mas, a 145-foot Crescent. See more crew photos on pages 16-17.

New FLIBS dates get rave reviews

By Dorie Cox Wednesday worked. For as long as most people remember, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show has started on Thursday and run through Monday. But this year, for the 58th annual show, organizers pushed the dates back for the five-day show to start midweek and end on Sunday.

Capt. Aaron Steenbhom, of S/Y Zenith, was happy with the change to the show that ran Nov. 1-5 in Fort Lauderdale. And the show was a success because the 133-foot Sabre catamaran is in negotiations to sell.

“To my surprise, we were busy from the beginning to the end of the show,”

See Show, Page 8

Cybersecurity risks just part of captains’ job From the Bridge Dorie Cox

The view from the 128-foot M/V Grand Floridian in the center of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show overlooked hundreds of yachts rigged with intricate electronics. For this month's Triton From the Bridge

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lunch we gathered 11 captains to learn how they handle these yachts' potential cybersecurity risks.

Large yachts, like other businesses, try to stay ahead of hacks, spams, viruses, intrusions or otherwise compromised electronics. Yacht captains respond to these threats in the same way they handle a yacht fire, accident or flooding: They focus on prevention and implement solutions when there is

a problem.

Each of the captains tries to stay educated, but most have had a cybersecurity incident related to the yacht.

"My experience has been with vendors and contractors being hacked," a captain said. "Someone duplicating the invoice and following up for payment.

They are very slick. It will even have the

See BRIDGE, Page 28

ISS, Fraser awards honor outstanding captains and crew. 9

100 years and growing Centuries-old marinas make room for megayachts.

14

News USVI Charter Boat Show Signs of hope for a strong season after hurricanes.

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Where in the World Fort Lauderdale boat show Crew at work and play on new docks, new days.

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Events Triton Networking Yachting calendar

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Contents

December 2017 The-Triton.com

What’s Inside 37

Crew Health

Where in the World

34 35 36

16

50

The Yachtie Glow Take It In Sea Sick

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Triton Spotter

Interior 24 25 26 27

Culinary Waves Top Shelf Stew Cues Crew’s Mess

NEWS 27

1 Captains lunch 6,7,45 News 1,8-15 FLIBS News 37-39 FLIBS Visa News 41 Boats / Broker 43 Marinas / Shipyards

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Events 4,46 Triton Networking 47 Calendar

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7

Operations 31 32 33

COLUMNISTS Career 18 19 20 21 22

Crew Compass Taking the Helm Owner’s View Crew Coach On Course

Diesel Digest Sea Science Rules of the Road

Correction:

“On Course” columnist Clive McCartney’s photograph on Page 31 of the November issue of The Triton was incorrect. The correct photo is seen here. We regret the error.

Contributors

Publisher / Advertising Sales Lucy Chabot Reed, lucy@the-triton.com Production Manager Patty Weinert, patty@the-triton.com Editor Dorie Cox, dorie@the-triton.com Associate Editor Susan Jobe, susan@the-triton.com

Carol Bareuther, Tim Davey, Capt. Jake DesVergers, Paul Ferdais, Capt. Rob Gannon, Peter Herm, Chef Mary Beth Lawton Johnson, Alene Keenan, Lauren Loudon, Clive McCartney, Chef Tim McDonald, Michael Moore, Keith Murray, Chief Stew Angela Orecchio, Maria Romeu, Tom Serio, Jordanna Sheermohamed, Capt. John Wampler, Capt. Jeff Werner

Write to Be Heard 48 48 49

Letters to the Editor Crew Eye Guest Column

Advertisers 51 55

Business Cards Advertisers Directory

Contact us at: Mailing address: 757 S.E. 17th St., #1119 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 Visit us at: 1043 S.E. 17th St., Suite 201 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 Call us at: (954) 525-0029 FAX (954) 525-9676 Online at: www.the-triton.com Vol. 14, No. 9

The Triton is a free, monthly newspaper owned by Triton Publishing Group Inc. Copyright 2017 Triton Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.

4 Triton Networking

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LONGBOW MARINE

early 300 captains, crew and industry pros joined us on the third Wednesday in November for Triton Networking at chandlery Longbow Marine in Fort Lauderdale. Low humidity and a cool breeze added to the Southern hospitality theme as guests enjoyed fried chicken, potato salad and banana pudding along with camaraderie.

Join us at Triton Networking in December; see page 46 for details.

PHOTOS/LUCY REED

The-Triton.com December 2017

6 News

The-Triton.com December 2017

Industry Updates Bank sells seized megayacht

M/Y Natita, the 217-foot (66m) Oceanco seized by U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs for unpaid debt, has been sold, according to the Wall Street Journal. The unidentified buyer, who reportedly lives in Malta, paid $27.5 million for the boat, the Journal reported.

Goldman Sachs seized the yacht in August at Rybovich shipyard in South Florida, where it was docked at the time.

Its owner, American oil tycoon William Kallop, owed the bank $28 million, according to court records. The bank additionally incurred maintenance and fuel costs of $438,000 while it had custody of the yacht, according to the Journal.

The yacht, built in the Netherlands in 2005, was originally owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, who sold it to Kallop for $59.9 million in 2010.

Zytexx opens U.S. headquarters

Zytexx Ceramic Coatings has opened a U.S. base in Boca Raton, Florida, with operations in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Ash Moore has been named CEO of Zytexx-USA. Moore, who has years of experience in the yacht coating industry, will be responsible for expansion into the North American market and will oversee all aspects of the business, according to Zytexx International founder Michael Pass.

Zytexx ceramic clear-coat is a hard, yet flexible, high gloss, abrasion-resistant hydrophobic finish that offers marine surface protection from damage caused by UV rays, salts, pollutants, acid rain, caulk, oils and diesel soot. It’s quick to apply, cures within 24 hours of application and doesn’t incur the costs or downtime related to a full repaint, according to the company.

For more information, visit www. zytexx-usa.com.

Shipbuilder opens yacht division

The Rosetti Marino Group, builder of high-tech commercial vessels for the offshore/onshore oil and gas industry, is launching a yacht-building division under the brand Rosetti Superyachts.

The division, to be headquartered in Monte Carlo, will build luxury superyachts, long-range supply vessels and expedition yachts from 40 meters to 150 meters at the group’s San Vitale shipyard in Ravenna, Italy.

Fulvio Dodich, who has held management positions with brands such as Ferretti and Sanlorenzo, is chairman of the new division.

The company’s first concept, developed by Italian designer Tommaso Spadolini, is an 85-meter expedition

supply vessel of 2,200GT with MTU main engines and propulsion systems supplied by Rolls Royce.

Nautical Structures now in Barcelona

Florida-based boarding systems manufacturer Nautical Structures opened a sales and service center at the shipyard MB92 in Barcelona, Spain, in September. Nautical Structures’ MB92 Sales and Service Center will be initially staffed by four specialists, with plans to grow staffing to 12 employees, according to President Colin Kiley. The operation will be managed by Worldwide Service Director Ron Beilman and European Sales Director Rob Knoop.

For more information, visit www. nautical-structures.com.

Alert system wins innovator award

A new software platform that provides real-time, onboard alerts for maritime uses received the Chattanooga Technology Council’s Early Innovator Award in November.

The beta version of ARMS displays risk and threat information to vessels at sea that is geo-location specific, according to Corey Ranslem, chief executive officer of International Maritime Security Associates. IMSA has partnered with Bluewater Superyacht Bridge Services in Fort Lauderdale to deliver the platform to yachts.

“The automated alerts show port and waterway delays and closures, civil unrest and terrorism, migrants, piracy, navigation hazards, medical warnings, as well as major weather and notice to mariners,” Ranslem stated.

For further information, visit www. bluewaterbridgeservices.com.

Project targets ocean’s deepest point

Finnish foundry Tevo Lokomo Ltd. has joined forces with a Chinese scientific research company to explore the deepest spot in the ocean – the Marianas Trench.

One goal of the project, to be conducted by the Rainbow Deepsea Equipment & Technology Co. of China, is to explore a new point identified as the deepest spot in the world.

The manned submersible cabin, to be built by Tevo Lokomo at its foundry in Tampere, Finland, must be made to withstand pressure at depths of more than 36,000 feet. Previous MIR submersibles made in 1987 for exploration of the trench had a maximum depth of 19,685 feet, or 6,000m.

The venture intends to break the depth record set by film director and explorer James Cameron.

December 2017 The-Triton.com

News

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USVI Charter Show confirms readiness for cruising season

By Carol Bareuther It felt like business as usual at the USVI Charter Yacht Show, hosted Nov. 11-14 by the newly formed Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Sixty-six brokers from the United States and Caribbean toured 37 sailing and motor yachts at IGY’s Yacht Haven Grande Marina.

Each yacht was luxuriously unscathed, brimming with power and all the comforts of floating hotel rooms. It is only on land that signs of the two recent Category 5 hurricanes were visible: vegetative debris, palms with crew cuts, some closed shops, few functional street and traffic lights, and sparsely lit hillside neighborhoods that echoed with the hum of generators.

It is the self-contained nature of ships – cruise ships that returned Nov. 10 and a fleet of crewed charter yachts – that will make the marine industry the key focus for the territory’s 2017-2018 tourism season. That says a lot, considering that visitors are the Virgin Island’s main source of income.

It was concern on the part of charter clients that led Kelly Corbett, yacht charter agent for NGYI, in Fort Lauderdale, to the show.

“I wanted to see for myself, so that I could report back,” Corbett said. “What I do see is that the beaches, the reefs, the islands are still here, and so is the resort-type experience of the yachts themselves.”

The 37 yachts at the show are not the only ones ready to charter. For example, Xenia 50, a 50-foot Privilege Leopard catamaran, missed the show because of a charter that coincided.

“There was no question of whether we’d come back to the Virgin Islands for season or not,” first mate and chef Jade Konst said. “It just takes longer now; two days to provision rather than one.

“Marine services are coming back.

We just had some air-conditioning work done and the company employees were glad for the work. Right now, it’s all about managing expectations, our own and our guests.”

Clearing U.S. Customs may take more effort. Currently, work is underway to open a tent on St. John, where there is no open office.

“I’m getting active leads for bookings for March now, and it’s like a breath of fresh air,” said Ellen Stewart, of Ellen

Stewart Charters in St. Thomas. “The first two questions I get are: ‘Will I be able to get there?’ and ‘Will I be able to get a place to stay for the first night?’

The answer to the first is yes, but there have been cancellations and flights delays due to airport damage. The answer to the second question is less certain.”

Of a total 3,000 rooms, only 420 are currently functional and at capacity housing federal recovery workers, according to Lisa Hamilton, president of the USVI Hotel & Tourism Association.

Timeshares and some small hotels are expected to reopen by the first quarter of 2018, with larger properties reopening later in 2018 or 2019. Several crewed charter yachts are offering first-nightaboard accommodations this season.

Capt. Dan Conashevick, owner of Yacht Charters International in St. Thomas, said he sees this as a trend. “I think next year, you’ll see about 80 percent of the crewed yachts offering to let guests stay on board the first night.”

Another movement is crews “reinventing” their charter route. For example, with the Bitter End closed, Willy T beached and no restaurants open ashore in places like north shore on Virgin Gorda, alternate shore calls are necessary.

“It’s hard to take people into places like Cane Garden Bay and see all the devastation,” Capt. Martin Cameron said. “This has led us to rethink our itinerary. Instead, we are planning to add stops like Magens Bay on St. Thomas.”

Some crew, such as Travis Krueger and Missy Kom on Pisces, a 47-foot Leopard catamaran, have found that not all favorite stops are damaged. “We did a charter in October and went to the Indians [dive site in the British Virgin Islands]. The fish are back, or maybe they never left. Either way, it was a beautiful dive. You wouldn’t know there had been storms.”

Looking ahead, crews are optimistic.

“We have six charters on the books, all broker-driven, and no cancellations,” Capt. Roy Sayvetz, of the 92-foot M/Y Suite Life, said. “I have high hopes for this season.”

For more detailed information on anchorages in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, visit www.vimarinerebuild.org and www.sailorshelping.org.

Carol Bareuther is a freelance writer in St. Thomas. Comments on this story are welcome at editor@the-triton.com.

8 News

Fort Lauderdale international boat show

The-Triton.com December 2017

Wednesday start and other changes garner positive feedback SHOW, from Page 1 Capt. Steenbhom said. “At 6 p.m., at the closing bell, we had a guy walk up. Even at the Las Olas, north end of the show.”

He and the crew said it was better without Monday, then he joked, “We could do without the Sunday.”

“It was a really good show and we saw very good clients, qualified buyers,” he said.

Bob Denison, president of Denison Yachts Sales in Fort Lauderdale, said he

loved the date change.

“The crowds on Wednesday were a little bit light,” Denison said. “But better than any Monday I’ve ever seen from years past.”

He reported 11 boats under contract during the show, a “mix of big and small, four new Hatteras and Beneteaus and seven brokerage yachts.”

As to future sales from leads made during the show, Denison said it’s tough to predict right after the show.

“If I were a betting man, I’d bet lunch

on Wednesday and Thursday, said Mike and dinner our team will sell another Joyce, chairman and CEO of Hargrave five-plus boats as a result of FLIBS,” he Custom Yacht in Fort Lauderdale. He said. said there were lighter crowds on the Phil Purcell said statistics showed weekend, but he expects final numbers that the date change worked. He’s monitored shows for years and is execu- to be similar to last year and the year before. tive director of the Marine Industries “The pattern’s the same,” he said.

Association of South Florida, which “We have a couple owns the show. of used boats under “There was never “The industry is contract and we expect a Monday that felt reinvesting in itself, a couple more. And a like that Wednesday,” tweaking itself. couple contracts on new Purcell said. “It created construction.” value to both attendees This show is the He thinks there is a and exhibitors.” culmination of lots massive change cycle unStatistics after the of reinvestment.” derway and is watching show back the positive – Phil Purcell what he sees as a trend reports. Organizers said Executive director, MIASF with new and younger attendance was up 7 perboat buyers. cent over last year, with “The next generation approximately 105,000 is in for experience,” Joyce said. “I’m not visitors from more than 50 countries. sure where we’re headed, but eventually There was little rain to dampen atwe will be in the experience business.” tendance and Washington didn’t do He said although boat slips will alanything disruptive, Purcell said. ways be full, how the boats are built and “People felt good. Without question, who buys them is all up in the air. In if we didn’t have the best, it was one of preparation for anything the future will the best shows,” he said. bring, he said, his staff put extra effort Purcell likes to see things that work, especially growth in the industry reflect- into potential future buyers. Even if they were just 10 years old. ed in after-show statistics that report “Kids are annoying, but I was that more boats on display in the water (up little kid,” Joyce said. “I’ve owned 32 4 percent) and more new boats under yachts since then. Those little kids are 100 feet (up 9 percent). Plus there were the future.”

10 percent more pre-owned brokerage Denison said there are noticeable boats over 100 feet. changes in the attendees looking at “The industry is reinvesting in itself, tweaking itself,” Purcell said. “This show boats. “There is higher interest in charter and shared-consumption models, is the culmination of lots of reinvestlike BoatSetter,” he said. ment. Lots of new boats never seen Interest in the charter side was active before, bigger boats, lots of new models for Westport as well, said Alex Rogers, and new tooling.” director of sales in Fort Lauderdale.

Richard Lambert, head of sales at Rogers is a fan of the new schedule in Burgess, said the show compared favorably with recent years and the mood was that it eased the rush on Thursday seen in previous years. positive and encouraging.

“It made for a softer start for the There seemed more of a move to largmadness and then it carried through er yachts, he wrote in an email. “And consistently,” he said. “It took pressure also representation by a more diverse cross section of shipyards, which is good off brokers to meet everyone all at the same time. Mondays have been slow in news for the future of the show.” the past. I think people went home on U.S. Superyacht Association Sunday and back to work Monday.”

President Kitty McGowan said associaThe company expects several brokertion members told her the overall show age deals to come together and offers are results were positive. coming in, he said.

“Member exhibitors felt the crowds “We had great activity and we met were a bit lighter this year than last, but new people, mostly from the U.S.,” were much more qualified and actually Rogers said. “And many new to yachtbuying,” McGowan said. “We’ve had a number of exhibitors who had their best ing. It was pleasant.”

Overall, the largest in-water boat show ever and have already asked to sign a contract for next year. I definitely show in the world just worked. feel that our industry is on a very posiDorie Cox is editor of The Triton. tive track right now.”

Comment at dorie@the-triton.com.

It was a good show with good traffic

December 2017 The-Triton.com

Fort Lauderdale international boat show

News 9

Captain humbled with recognition for South Pacific assistance

By Lucy Chabot Reed Between jobs last year, Capt. Marvin Wilson spent six months volunteering as skipper on the 178-foot (54m) R/V Pacific Hope, a medical ship that spent the past three years around Vanuatu providing medical care to thousands of people in the South Pacific, including 60 who had cataract surgery.

For those actions and others, the International Superyacht Society honored Capt. Wilson with its Distinguished Crew Award at its gala on Nov. 1.

“It was very humbling,” Capt. Wilson said after the event. “You know when you help someone, help them change a tire or something, you don’t think you’re going to be honored for that. But I’m really glad that more people are going to know about Pacific Hope now, all the engineers and managers who were there [at the gala]. People in the marine industry do good things, too.”

He continues to work with the vessel as its land-based manager to help with its paperwork and class compliance. The faith-based Pacific Hope is headed to the Caribbean and has volunteer opportuni-

ties for most crew positions.

Capt. Wilson and his crew also secured the charter guests aboard the 100-foot Hargrave M/Y Limitless before a fire consumed the vessel in the British Virgin Islands last spring. All 11 souls aboard were unharmed.

Capt. Wilson was headed back to Georgia the day after the gala to his current vessel, the 143-foot Broward M/Y Lady Nora (previously Cocoa Bean), which is completing a shipyard period in Savannah before heading to the Bahamas for an owner’s trip.

“It’s got all new linens and towels, new bedding, new uniforms, everything is new,” he said. “We are all so excited for the boss to see it.”

During its Design and Leadership Awards Gala, ISS also honored Derek Munro of the Superyacht Charities Foundation as Business Person of the Year, Andrew Winch of Winch Designs with its Leadership Award, Kymeta and e3 Systems for Excellence in Innovation, and Suntex Marinas’ Loggerhead Marinelife Center with its Fabien Cousteau Blue Award.

The naval architects, builders and designers of yachts in these categories

Longtime crew, enthusiasm and cost control lead to Fraser award

By Lucy Chabot Reed Capt. Trevor Usher was honored on Nov. 3 as Fraser’s Yacht Management Captain of the Year.

Capt. Usher, in command of the 100-foot (30m) Benetti M/Y Keiki Kai, has been in yachting more than 20 years and has traveled the globe, including Central and South America, the Med, the Bahamas and Florida.

“Thank you,” he said in accepting his award. “It’s been a good ride with Fraser, just over 10 years, same boat, same guys.”

He thanked the Fraser managers who praised his accounting and cost control skills, as well as his wife, Britt, who left the boat in 2009 when they started a family. They now have a son and daughter.

“He’s had his core crew for three years, and his enthusiasm for everything on the water rubs off,” said Lisa Peck, global marketing manager for Fraser.

Keiki Kai means children of the sea in

Hawaiian.

The award included several gifts, including a Ulysse Nardin watch, a weekend with a Porsche, $3,000 credit from UJet for gadgets from the technology show in Las Vegas in January, and a $1,000 travel voucher from ISSGMT. This is the third year Fraser has honored a captain in its management fleet. Last year, Capt. Wayne Williams of the 50m Amels M/Y Karima won. In September in Monaco, Fraser honored Capt. Paul McWilliams of M/Y Latiko as its charter captain for 2017. It has been granting that honor for 16 years.

Any member of the Fraser yacht management team can nominate a captain in their fleet. Those nominees are short-listed and a panel judges them based on cost control, management of crew, safety culture on board, respect of the planned maintenance, and the happiness of the owner and guests.

Lucy Chabot Reed is publisher of The Triton. Comment at lucy@the-triton.com.

PHOTO/DORIE COX

Capt. Marvin Wilson walks the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show with his parents, who visited from Georgia to watch their son accept the Distinguished Crew Award from the International Superyacht Society.

were also honored: For best power over 65m, the 316foot (96.5m) Feadship M/Y Faith.

For best power yacht 40-65m, the 160-foot (49m) Christensen M/Y Chasseur.

For best power yacht 24-40m, the 127-foot (38.6m) M/Y Jetsetter.

For best refit, the 280-foot (85.5m)

M/Y Aquila.

For best sailing yacht over 40m, the 230-foot (70m) Perini Navi S/Y Sybaris, which also won for best interior design.

For best sailing yacht 24-40m, the 130-foot (40m) S/Y My Song.

Lucy Chabot Reed is publisher of The Triton. Comment at lucy@the-triton.com.

10 News

Fort Lauderdale international boat show

The-Triton.com December 2017

Today’s fuel prices Prices for low-sulfur gasoil expressed in US$ per cubic meter (1,000 liters) as of Nov. 15.

Region

Duty-free*/duty paid U.S. East Coast Ft. Lauderdale 572/608 Savannah, Ga. 567/NA Newport, R.I. 560/NA Caribbean St. Thomas, USVI 897/NA St. Maarten 770/NA Antigua 725/NA Valparaiso 602/NA North Atlantic Bermuda (Ireland Island) 539/NA Cape Verde 488/NA Azores 567/1324 Canary Islands NA/1056 Mediterranean Gibraltar 550/NA Barcelona, Spain NA/1,411 Palma de Mallorca, Spain NA/1,651 Antibes, France 940/1,440 San Remo, Italy 733/1,746 Naples, Italy 718/1,731 Venice, Italy 788/2,129 Corfu, Greece 660/1,475 Piraeus, Greece 602/1,440 Istanbul, Turkey 623/NA Malta 771/1,330 Tunis, Tunisia 499/NA Bizerte, Tunisia 504/NA Oceania Auckland, New Zealand 683/NA Sydney, Australia 577/NA Fiji 675/NA

One year ago Prices for low-sulfur gasoil expressed in US$ per cubic meter (1,000 liters) as of Nov. 15, 2016 Region Duty-free*/duty paid U.S. East Coast Ft. Lauderdale 446/477 Savannah, Ga. 615/NA Newport, R.I. 692/NA Caribbean St. Thomas, USVI 757/NA St. Maarten 639/NA Antigua 482/NA Valparaiso 529/NA North Atlantic Bermuda (Ireland Island) 565/NA Cape Verde 433/NA Azores 489/1,115 Canary Islands 707/718 Mediterranean Gibraltar 476/NA Barcelona, Spain 432/1,045 Palma de Mallorca, Spain NA/1,1263 Antibes, France 947/1,223 San Remo, Italy 609/1,568 Naples, Italy 500/1,404 Venice, Italy 663/1,904 Corfu, Greece 527/1,208 Piraeus, Greece 494/1,165 Istanbul, Turkey 642/NA Malta 729/1,252 Tunis, Tunisia 450/NA Bizerte, Tunisia 454/NA Oceania Auckland, New Zealand 454/NA Sydney, Australia 471/NA Fiji 505/522

*When available according to local customs.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Winners and judges of the Northrop & Johnson Chai Rum Cocktail Contest gather at left.

Ingredients of the overall winning cocktail are pictured above.

Crew stir up winners in cocktail competition Winners of the N&J Chai Rum Cocktail Contest APPEARANCE CATEGORY AND OVERALL WINNER: M/Y Far Niente for their Roasty Toasty Thai Chai (pictured), which included homemade chili-infused syrup, Chai Rum and ginger beer with a toasted marshmallow rim, a garnish of candied ginger and a lit sparkler.

TASTE CATEGORY: M/Y Heartbeat – with assistance from their neighbor M/Y Tumblehome – for their Chai Rum Bloody Mary, created with homemade bloody mary juice and dressed with grilled shrimp, olives stuffed with blue cheese and a sprig of celery.

CREATIVITY CATEGORY: S/Y MITseaAH for The Engagement, a drink inspired by Capt. Andrew’s proposal to Chief Stew Charlotte during their sail to Florida. It featured strawberries, strawberries frozen in ice, prosecco and Chai Rum.

Seven megayachts competed in the Northrop & Johnson Chai Rum Cocktail Contest at the 2017 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Each yacht was given a bottle of the botanical rum on the opening day of the show and were tasked with creating a unique concoction.

On the fourth day of the show, the drinks were assessed by a panel of four judges, including Kiran Akal and John Fleming, of Chai Rum; award-winning Chef Michael Schwartz, of Michael’s Genuine Food in Miami; and Yachts International Editor-atLarge Jill Bobrow. They considered taste, creativity and overall appearance.

Category winners were given a bottle of Chai Rum. The overall winner was presented with a trophy; a bottle of Chai Rum’s latest cocktail, the Chai Rum Sazerac; and a $1,000 gift certificate to Michael’s Genuine Food in Miami, with Northrop & Johnson providing limo service to the restaurant for the crew on the day of their choosing.

– Triton staff

December 2017 The-Triton.com

News 11

Fort Lauderdale international boat show

CHECKING THE TIDE: Triton Today’s Question of the Day Yacht crew are interesting and diverse and what better place to chat with them than the Fort Lauderdale

International Boat Show? The Triton staff asked about 15 crew members a different question each day to see what they had to say about a variety of topics. Below are a few highlights from the Triton Today, a daily publication produced by The Triton during the show.

PHOTOS/TOM SERIO, DORIE COX, LUCY REED

Do you have a tattoo?

Deckhand T.J. Miskella M/Y Zoom Zoom Zoom 161’ Trinity “None. I think if you have too many it can be a problem in this industry.”

Dayworker Jessie Sahaydak M/Y Long Aweighted 116’ Lazzara “Six pirate tattoos.

My ancestors were pirates. Like this one on my feet is Rum Runners because that’s what many were.”

Deckhand Kevin Simpson M/Y Boxer 112’ Westport “No tattoos. My dad would sand it off or chainsaw my arm off. And I don’t think I could pull it off, anyway.”

Mate Laura Ransing M/Y Cheers 46 140’ Benetti “One, a couple of stars. I hate it, I want it removed. I got it when I was younger.

But it is hidden. Of all the questions you could ask, that is my worst thing.”

What would you change about your uniform?

Eng. Jaco Scheepers M/Y Lady Genyr 140’ CNR “More stretch material and the type that breathes.

We need it with the work we do. And no floppy shorts; I like them long.”

Bosun Toni Jones M/Y Safira 129’ Newcastle “One problem is the dark color; we are in the sun and it’s so hot. If I could change something it would be to cotton.

And for things to fit every body type.”

Mate James Derby M/Y Status Quo 150’ Richmond “The uniform is important. The captain should look different and distinguished from the crew. The belt helps with radio and knife.”

Chief Eng. Stephen New M/Y Silver Lining 164’ Christensen “I hate the penguin suit [epaulets, black pants]. I know it’s traditional, but it’s not logical.”

What is the scariest thing that has happened to you in your yachting career?

Chief Stew Tenielle Dunkley M/Y Nomadess 121’ Benetti “The fire alarm went off at 3 a.m. on a crossing. We had just trained all day, but we could feel the fear.”

Chef Trisha Bromfield M/Y Spirit 125’ Delta “When the captain passed out on the aft deck. He went to the engine room and had heatstroke, and we were underway.”

Deckhand Tom Leese M/Y Vabene 156’ Kees Cornelissen “When my mate dropped the crane control and the [tender]. Not on this boat. He thought he killed me.

Mate Johnny Schoppy M/Y Southern Star 112’ Westport “The first time I drove by myself docking. Just the fact that there’s no one there to help if you mess up. Now, it’s no big deal.”

If you owned the yacht you work on, what would be your favorite location on board?

Chief Stew Marie Ramsay M/Y Te Manu 162’ Codecasa “I prefer the main deck, the dining area and library. With the oak and walnut wood, it’s warm and homey, a place to relax.”

Deckhand Anthony Newell M/Y Va Bene 155’ Kees Cornelissen “Has to be the sundeck. It’s nice to be out with the good views and fresh air, when the weather is nice.”

Deckhand Byron Grant M/Y Triple 8 142’ Royal Denship “All guest cabins, main cabin, dining are all out of bounds. But, I would be in the jacuzzi.”

Stew Blake Freeman M/Y Southern Star 112’ Westport “The flybridge, the view is a must underway. You’re in the sun with a drink, there’s a hot tub and grill.”

Where is the boat heading after the show?

Chief Stew Jennifer Lanza M/Y Lady Sheridan 59m A&R “Getting ready for an owner’s trip.

This winter, we’ll be in and around the Bahamas. We normally are in the Caribbean.”

Chief Stew Sarah Pitchford M/Y Nita K II 171’ Amels “St. Martin, the Antigua show and the Caribbean. A lot of crew have friends there, we’ll be bringing things to them, making water.”

2nd Stew Nicole Fowler M/Y Plan A 130’ Westport ”We go back to Epic Marina. The dock has been fixed [after the hurricane].

Then we charter in the Bahamas.”

Mate/Eng Alex Lipson M/Y Fae Lon 120’ Burger “Fisher Island.

If I could go somewhere, I would go to the Bahamas.

It’s close enough to get things done, but still scenic.”

12 News

Fort Lauderdale international boat show

Tabletops reflect a culmination of extensive detail

By Dorie Cox The work of interior yacht staff is misunderstood. That’s what several stews said during two tabletop setting competitions that took place on yachts during the the 58th annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in November.

Stews on about 20 yachts designed their best displays for a regular feature of both the Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach boat shows. Aqualuxe Outfitting holds the Top Notch Tabletop event and Liquid Yacht Wear hosts the Table Top Challenge.

Both events are judged by industry professionals to highlight work that is not often seen. What appears to be just a place to dine is really the culmination

of a long chain of detail-oriented work, said Stew Leann Weckbacher of M/Y Lady Joy, a 157-foot Christensen.

“It’s Leann’s first show and she is so excited,” Chief Stew Radka Janeckova said. “It’s so nice to see that spirit.”

This show competition was Weckbacher’s chance to do her “own thing” and she followed an intricate system to create her design. First she consulted the yacht’s computer inventory that is managed by Janeckova.

“This all starts with organization,” Weckbacher said. “We inventory everything onboard.”

Weckbacher opened a cabinet to show three shelves of placemats with descriptive labels taped under each type.

Eight varieties of mats range from green

M/Y Take 5

plastic to sea shell-rimmed jute. And this is just one cabinet onboard.

Weckbacher couldn’t hold her excitement to show her work as she walked through the salon toward her exterior table, pointing to hiding places along the way.

“You would be surprised to learn where all the storage is,” she said, as she pointed to walls and coffee tables. “This is all fragile, some is in foam from when it was stowed. That is so very important, because lots of things break.”

She explained that to begin a table design, she first must choose “what level of fancy.” That dictates the theme for which plates, flatware, glassware, napkins and decorations will fit her vision.

Most all interior work has the owner or guests first in mind. These interior competitions offer stews the chance to add a personal touch, she said, and she enjoys spending the time to do it well.

“I have learned to express myself more,” Weckbacher said. “There is a little wiggle room to express yourself.

First I work with the owner’s preference, then I add my pizazz.”

The stews on M/Y Cheers 46, a 140foot Benetti, also spent a lot of time on preparation for the competitions. Chief Stew Nina Stojicic, Second Stew Jana Martinkova and Third Stew/Masseuse Kimberly Laplante held a briefing for the competition Thursday night. They chose the tablecloth, placemats and tableware, and at 7 a.m. on competition day, Friday, they implemented their plan.

With an ironing board set up in Laplante’s massage room, the stews

M/Y Te Manu

worked as a team to flatten, fold and tuck two types of napkins into a tuxedo shape. At the same time, foremost on the stews’ duty list was to prepare for show visitors. Each either carried a dust cloth in hand or grabbed the vacuum as they multi-tasked.

Stews on M/Y B/W, a 120-foot Palmer Johnson, said the level of service they do requires dedication. Second Stew Tracy Chandler hopes that people realize interior staff work as hard as other crew.

“Some people think we just clean things one time and that’s it,” Chandler said. “They think we are just doing arts and crafts.”

Chief Stew Agnese Bosevica and Chandler’s table setting took more than three days to complete, and the centerpiece needs daily care.

“Every day, the asparagus dies,” Bosevica said of her flower vase made of full asparagus stalks.

“And every day we tweak and add more to the table,” Chandler said.

Both said not everyone gets the chance to see what they do; people usually just see the deck crew outside.

“We are hidden,”Bosevica said. “We

News 13

December 2017 The-Triton.com

M/Y Cheers 46

M/Y Mine Games

M/Y Plan A

M/Y SuRi

Fourteen yachts entered seven categories of interior categories for the Aqualuxe Outfitting Top Notch Tabletop. The winners are: • Interior: 1st Place M/Y Nita K, 2nd Place M/Y Safira, 3rd Place M/Y Allegria • Outdoor: 1st Place M/Y Sofia, 2​ nd Place M/Y Spirit. 3rd Place M/Y Abbracci • Most Artistic Napkin Fold: 1st Place M/Y Te Manu • Top Creative Centerpiece: 1st Place M/Y MAG III are misunderstood. People don’t realize how much work it is to detail each thing we do.”

Weckbacher loves what she does, and she thinks the tabletop competitions are important for the industry to realize the value of interior staff. She hopes others can understand her efforts, including her family in Orlando. Before Weckbacher was hired in yachting, they didn’t really know how hard the job can be, she said.

“My family considers my attention to detail as crazy,” she said. “This job can be hard to explain.”

Dorie Cox is editor of The Triton.

Comment at dorie@the-triton.com.

PHOTOS/TOM SERIO, DORIE COX and LIQUID YACHT WEAR

• Stylish Menu Design: 1st Place M/Y Spirit • Best Beverage Presentation: 1st Place M/Y Te Manu • Tip of the day: 1st Place M/Y Octopussy Ten yachts entered Liquid’s Table Top Challenge. First place went to M/Y Mine Games, second place to M/Y GiGi and third place to M/Y Aspen Alternative

14 News

Fort Lauderdale international boat show

The-Triton.com December 2017

Century-old shipyards to meet yacht needs on the Miami River

By Dorie Cox One hundred years ago, a 100-foot private yacht was immense. Two Miami shipyards that serviced the commercial and private boats on the Miami River during that era are still in business. Both are upgrading for megayachts.

RMK Merrill-Stevens and Jones Superyacht Miami announced plans at separate events during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

The yard now known as RMK Merrill-Stevens began in 1885. Today, the company plans to invest more than

$25 million for new infrastructure and a 2,700-ton rail transfer shiplift.

Aaron Leatherwood, company president and CEO for more than a year, aims to work with today's larger yachts.

"We'll be able to easily lift a 200-foot yacht and, depending on the dimensions, some up to 235 feet with the largest shiplift on the east coast of Florida south of Jacksonville," he said.

The 6-acre yard is split by the river; old structures on the north yard were recently demolished upland of the 450foot continuous bulkhead. There is a 240-square-foot workshed and, when

renovations are complete, the yard will house 30,000 square feet of workshops, ship's store, offices and a crew lounge.

The company also reopened its MerrillStevens Yachts brokerage business.

Jones Boat Yard, now Jones Superyacht Miami, hosted a champagne toast to celebrate the company's 100 years in business.

Fred Laporte, general manager and chief operating officer, said the name change reflects the the company's fiveyear plan to rejuvenate the property. He said the company is training its employees on the newest technologies for

Westrec focus is on crew and Caribbean aid

By Lucy Chabot Reed

California-based Westrec Marinas, celebrated its 30th anniversary at a press conference during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

Westrec manages eight marinas in South Florida, including Hall of Fame Marina, Sunrise Harbor Marina and Harbortowne Marina, and Haulover Marine Center.

Westrec has given back to the industry including sponsorship of the International Superyacht Society’s annual Distinguished Crew Award for the past 15 years.

And the company shared the stage with the newly formed Superyacht Aid Coalition, a partnership of some 80 yachting businesses to support and fund relief for the Caribbean.

“This is not a one-month operation,” said Norma Trease of ISS and organizer of the coalition. “This process of rebuilding will take a year or longer.”

Superyacht Aid Coalition has partnered with YachtAid Global to handle the logistics of collecting, delivering and distributing the aid. By early November, YAG has overseen

the departure of six containers of aid for Puerto Rico and 250 tons of aid for Dominica, said Capt. Tim Forderer, who volunteers to manage the coalition’s efforts with YAG. John Collin McIntrye, acting prime minister of Dominica, was there to tell the crowd first-hand of his island’s status after Hurricane Maria.

“Dominica is known as the Green Island and tranquil, but it’s now totally deforested,” he said. “The parrots are on the ground, starving for food. Eighty to 90 percent of houses have roof damage. I feel like I came from a battlefield when I flew here. There are no lights, no air conditioning, no Wi-Fi, no water, no shelter. You live in paradise here – that’s no exaggeration.”

He noted that about 25 islands were hit by one of the two Category 5 storms that blew through in September.

“We are very thankful for what you have done for the Caribbean,” he said.

Lucy Chabot Reed is publisher of The Triton. Comment at lucy@the-triton.com.

modern yachts.

"And we have a huge machine shop that does all work in-house," Laporte said. "Few yards have that capability."

The yard has hauling and dry-dock capabilities for yachts up to 300 feet, and can do welding, carpentry, electrical, paint and more on most any of today's yachts, he said.

"We've seen growth from 50 meters to – is there a limit?" Laporte said. "They get bigger, bigger, bigger."

Dorie Cox is editor of The Triton.

Comment at dorie@the-triton.com.

Las Olas side of show to grow in 2020

By Dorie Cox The north end of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show will look much different in 2020, according to Suntex Marinas Investors during FLIBS. Suntex was selected by the city of Fort Lauderdale to redevelop the Las Olas Marina and will work with Edgewater resources, a development firm. The company was also awarded a 50-year lease to operate the property.

During the show, a fence separated attendees and boats on display on the existing docks from construction on the upland area. The land housed the former marina building, which has been razed for a 600 space parking facility.

The project's new design includes green space on the south side of Las Olas Bridge, as well as green space between the future parking facility and the Intracoastal Waterway and marina docks.

The new marina configuration is set to include 6,300 linear feet of dockage and will be able to accommodate yachts more than 300 feet in length, according to David Filler, a principal with Suntex.

He said the north end of the current marina will be excavated.

"This will almost double the marina space and will support this show," Filler said. "The marina will be reverting back to history. This area used to be the Intracoastal Waterway before it was filled in."

Dorie Cox is editor of The Triton.

Comment at dorie@the-triton.com.

December 2017 The-Triton.com

Fort Lauderdale international boat show

News 15

Owner says crew ‘heart’ of yacht, advises care in keeping them

By Lucy Chabot Reed A yacht is an organic thing. Sure, it’s made of metal and fiberglass, pipes and hoses, but it also has a heart. That heart – the crew – makes up the life of the thing, and wise owners would do well to take care of it.

“It’s like going into the garage to choose the horse or the motorcycle,” said Michael Saylor, owner of several yachts and Fleet Miami. He shared his insight in a leadership seminar titled “Captain and Owner Communications, a Two-Way Street” during the Fort Lauderdale boat show.

His analogy was simple: If the horse is sick, it will lie down and cannot be ridden. A motorcycle, on the other hand, gives few signals of its distress and can still be ridden, until it can’t.

“This,” he said, with a sweep of his hand in the main salon of M/Y Usher, “is an organic creature with a beating heart. When you push it too hard, you are going to give it a heart attack. And before it gets to that point, it will get sick and diseased, and all your valuable crew will leave.”

By most accounts, Saylor is an un-

usual owner, hiring his captain 10 years ago because he had “gray hair,” saying he wanted someone with experience running his yacht. Over the past couple of years, Saylor and Capt.

Capt. Allen Glen Allen have worked together to create team building and crew leadership courses.

The seminar was organized as part of the YachtInfo series through the International Superyacht Society.

About 40 people gathered to discuss captain-owner communications. Many times it is the lack of communication, or miscommunication, that makes the relationship a challenge. Saylor told the story of a simple exchange between him and Capt. Allen over the painting of one of the small vessels in the fleet: The vessel is fiberglass and therefore doesn’t really need painting, he said, but having it lie unpainted alongside the big boat, with its gleaming paint job, sends a message. And that message is that this owner either does not care to maintain

Unlimited license still exclusive

By Dorie Cox So far, there are five yacht captains that hold the Master (Yachts) Unlimited license of the The Marshall Islands Registry. This remains an exclusive group partly because of the magnitude of knowledge and sea time required to pass the assessment that was created nearly four years ago.

A speakers panel covered details of the Capstone Course certification at a U.S. Superyacht Association seminar during the Fort Lauderdale boat show.

The Master (Yachts) Unlimited Tonnage Certificate of Competency (CoC) serves as a yacht-specific assessment.

It is designed for captains who meet 14 prerequisites based on STCW requirements and includes relevant sea time to allow captains to gain their commercial unlimited license without reference to the cargo elements of the license.

"This is for the culmination of a career at sea," said Capt. Ted Morley, COO/Academic principal of Maritime Professional Training. "Right now there are about 11 captains in the pipeline and about 20 for next year."

“This is not a yacht program adapted

for an unlimited tonnage, but an unlimited tonnage adapted for yachts,” Capt.

Morley said.

The Cayman Islands Shipping Registry recognizes the license and there are several training centers qualified to teach the courses. Lisa Morley, MPT vice president of sales and marketing, said that when crew inquire, they need to supply their coursework, sea time, training, experience and previous courses. Only then does an inquiry get sent for an initial assessment.

"Many captains think they have everything they need," Morley said. "But they haven't."

Capt. Rafael Cervantes Mataix, of M/Y Azteca, a 236-foot CRN, completed the requirements for the license in April.

"The main point is the misconception that this is a week course – it is nothing of the sort," Cervantes said. "The depth and breadth of knowledge is much more than that. I didn't see it coming."

For details in Fort Lauderdale, contact Lisa Morley at lmorley@mptusa. com or +1 (954) 525-1014.

Dorie Cox is editor of The Triton.

Comment at dorie@the-triton.com.

the image of well-run yachts or cannot afford to. In either case, the message rings loud and clear to crew and makes it harder to keep the best ones, and hard to hire their replacements. Then, little by little, the program is affected.

The same is true when the owner disregards a captain’s safety-related advice.

“The crew will know you made the captain do something unsafe, and that undermines the captain’s authority,” Saylor said. “The chief officer will quit, and another won’t join the program.”

His key advice to captains: Don’t shirk your duty to educate owners.

“The captain needs to walk in and say, ‘I don’t know what the broker told you, but…’ and talk big picture about how you want to operate,” he said.

“You can take an ignorant and arrogant person and turn them into a knowledgeable and thoughtful person. Tell stories of the stuff you’ve dealt with, and tell the owner, ‘You don’t have to learn from your own mistakes, you can learn from other people’s mistakes. You can avoid problems vicariously by these stories.’

“Don’t fail to fight that first battle, because there will be 1,000 more after that one,” he said. “Establish your relation-

ship at the beginning.”

Saylor’s final bit of advice was in sizing up an owner from the beginning, before even taking a job.

“If I was looking for a job, my first questions would be, how chaotic is his business life,” he said. Note the relationships with wives, ex-wives, family members, even friends. If they argue or fight all the time, that won’t make for a fun match. “You don’t want to work for those guys. … That’s a cancer coming into your yacht operation.”

Finding the right owner to work for is much like finding a spouse. Don’t be afraid to talk about money and lifestyle.

“Ask, what’s your maintenance budget?” Saylor said. “Or did he get a really good deal and he’s going to charter it to offset costs? If so, then it’s going to be 10 times harder for you. Some people can operate an 80-foot yacht, but they have a 160-foot yacht. Someone’s got to have integrity in this situation. You have to say, ‘I don’t really think you are prepared for this’ – but you are going to marry him anyway?”

Lucy Chabot Reed is publisher of The Triton. Comment at lucy@the-triton.com.

News in the World 16 Where

Y

Fort Lauderdale international boat show

acht crew were a vital part of the 58th annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, which ran from Nov. 1-5.

Alert to continual maintenance and cleaning, each crew worked to provide top-notch service for more than a hundred thousand visitors. This year's show changed days to Wednesday through Sunday, instead of the historical Thursday start and final day on Monday.

PHOTOS/TOM SERIO, DORIE COX, LUCY REED

The-Triton.com December 2017

December 2017 The-Triton.com

Fort Lauderdale international boat show

Where in the World News 17

18 Career

The-Triton.com December 2017

Instant coffee saves the day after hot mess on Atlantic crossing Crew Compass Lauren Loudon

For some, crossing the Atlantic is just another week at work – little changes but the constant motion. For some, it’s a great adventure, full of joy and bliss. For others, it is a time to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with the inner self, away from all communications and everything external. For me, it’s a combination of the latter two, and a bit of the first, in the sense that it’s still work. Crossing the Atlantic on a 110foot sail yacht is a wonderful adventure and a chance to take in everything the beautiful ocean has to offer, knowing that nothing past the bow or stern can possibly bother us.

A grand total of 5,062 nautical miles from our departure point of Antibes across to our “home base” of Fort Lauderdale. It took twenty-six days, three fuel stops (Gibraltar, Tenerife and St. Thomas) and six crew from start to finish of motor/sailing through the deep blue with nothing in sight, literally

nothing – except a few flying fish on one exciting day. We were lucky with the weather for the most part, though the first few days were “rolly,” as the timing of the swell threw us from side to side through the waves.

Sleeping gets tough when you’re concentrating hard on not falling out of bed all night, and walking around is a little tedious too. Imagine what it’s like to be cooking in that – yeah, that’s my job. Luckily, I’ve done it long enough now that I’ve got my methods down to a T: a combination of three rolls of nonskid on the galley sides, metal attachments to hold pots in place on my stove and a secure metal bar to protect the essential galley appliances, such as kettle, toaster and, of course, the crucial coffee machine.

For me, that’s all just part of the fun.

I love my job. I hop from my morning watch shift on the bridge down to the galley to prepare meals for the day, then have time to soak up the sun, read a book and enjoy the freedom of being somewhere in the middle of ... nowhere.

One morning, about halfway across, I came up from my lunch prep in the gal-

PHOTO/LAUREN LOUDON

ley for a breath of fresh air. Everybody was sitting outside in the cockpit discussing how much of a drag the last day had felt thanks to the swell, but knowing we had already crossed the halfway line, we all remained positive. That very moment, in a sudden gust of wind, the boat took a huge roll to port as if a giant killer whale had just breached from underneath us, which sent things flying.

With the sound of clattering, we all ran off in our separate directions to assess the situation, but I was doomed with the worst possible outcome.

Hot coffee, freshly brewed beans and

glass of the carafe all over the galley. A million tiny pieces of glass that twinkled like the starry sky I’d witnessed the night before, mixed with ground coffee that was the closest thing to earth we’d seen in a week, and steamy hot coffee that should have been anywhere but the floor – it was absolutely not what our stewardess and I fancied dealing with that particular morning, or any morning for that matter! After cleaning up the hot mess, literally, we were all thankful that somewhere in my delirium of provisioning I had picked up a couple of jars of instant coffee granules. Personally, I was just thankful the lunch I’d been busy preparing was safe (and also secretly counting my lucky stars that I didn’t have to put up with the boys without their caffeine fix for the rest of the trip). Amid it all, I found the silver lining; but seriously, what a disaster that would have been.

Lauren Loudon has worked as a yacht chef and stew for more than four years.

She hails from Lancashire, England.

Comments are welcome at editor@ the-triton.com.

Career 19

December 2017 The-Triton.com

Harassment must be confronted with direct honesty and courage Taking the Helm Paul Ferdais

With recent news reports on harassment from famous, powerful people, the main question I hear is: “How can this behavior still happen in 2017?” The short answer is that it continues because it works for the bully or harasser – and they know they can get away with it, usually because of a power imbalance between the harassed and the harasser.

First, let’s consider how we’re socialized as children. Most of us were told by our parents that if we didn’t have anything nice to say, we shouldn’t say anything at all. This starts many of us on a path toward conflict avoidance.

At its foundation, harassment is fundamentally a conflict situation that stems from a power imbalance between people. Someone either wants us to do something we don’t want to do or does something to us that we don’t want done. We often comply because of the power the other person has.

Because of the conflict avoidance behaviors we learned as children, we try to ignore inappropriate demands made on us or pretend the behavior isn’t a big deal, which only enables harassers to continue their behavior.

In his book “Power,” Jeffrey Pfeffer states: “People avoid difficult situations and difficult people, rather than paying the emotional price of standing up for themselves and their views.”

Harassment and power

Once people have a little power, it may go to their head. For example, a new bosun may feel power over the members of the deck team. This may be displayed by acting superior to the deckhands, or perhaps by barking orders and expecting obedience. These types of behaviors demonstrate that power has gone to the bosun’s head.

Power affects everyone who has it in different ways. People in power sometimes become drunk on their authority, which means they don’t make the best decisions or behave in the most favorable ways. Perhaps they become overconfident, which leads to poor decisions.

Perhaps they no longer feel constrained by social norms, like touching someone inappropriately, which can lead to sexual harassment. Perhaps they ignore the good work done by those around them

and claim all credit for themselves. The list goes on. The important point here is that power is the force that enables a harasser or bully to do what they do.

What can the harassed do?

How do we eliminate harassment and bullying in the workplace? The short answer is that we probably never will.

But in individual circumstances, we can stand up to the person doing the harassing. This is the challenge. We must face our fear of conflict and speak up.

Confronting someone involves many aspects, most of which hinge on the power the other person holds: this person holds my job in their hands; this person holds my evaluation in their hands; this person has the ear of the boss and can say bad things about me; etc. We need to stand up to harassers with full knowledge of the loss we may face. It’s the fear of loss that predators use to get their way.

I realize that it’s easy to talk about facing fear, but it isn’t easy to do. In fact, purposefully engaging in conflict may be one of the hardest things we can do.

Consider the following strategies when speaking up to the harasser: l Stay focused on your priorities for the discussion, don’t get distracted l Be straight forward, honest and direct l Be assertive. Use ‘I’ statements, not ‘you’ statements: I need, I think or I feel, instead of you must, you should or you need. Own your statements. l Review expectations of job performance standards to remind everyone what is – and is not – part of the work to be done.

What can a leader do?

l If a harassment complaint comes to you, believe it. It has taken great courage on the part of the person to open up and start the conversation. Don’t ignore what’s being told to you. l Don’t rush to judgment. l Ask for details of the complaint in writing. This will start a paper trail. l Follow through by looking into the matter. l Take action once the facts are laid out.

A former first officer, Paul Ferdais is founder and CEO of The Marine Leadership Group (www.marineleadershipgroup.com). Comments are welcome at editor@the-triton.com.

20 Career

The-Triton.com December 2017

Fire early and quit often – ultimately, it is the right thing to do Owner’s View Peter Herm

I am old, fat and have high mileage. Like a used car, it is not the age, it is the experience and mileage. With my 300,000-plus miles, I should know better. In theory, I have learned many things through multiple ventures and thousands of employees over the past 30 years. But damn if I don’t make some of the same mistakes over and over and over again. While this article is primarily for captains and crew who hire and fire people, I hope there is a life message in it for everyone, beyond employment.

Today, I finally got around to firing someone who I should have fired months ago. I believe you will know in 30 days whether an employee is right for the position, and conversely, whether you as an employee are right for the job you have been hired to do. Today’s belated termination is merely another confirmation of that theory.

Today’s winner, we will call her Sheila, started in a unique position here

at the Herm empire that required almost 100 percent self-management and motivation. It was up to her to make or break her position. After interviewing a dozen candidates, she seemed to be the right fit. Alas, by the end of 30 days, I knew in my heart that she did not have what it takes to be successful in the position. The personal drive and motivation level will show itself early on. You would guess a person in a new position would be their most motivated in the first weeks. Oops. No. Within less than 30 days on the job, I knew she was not going to work out.

I owed it to the company and to her to give her the opportunity to seek employment elsewhere (my euphemism for firing someone). I should have let her go then, not today, 90 days later. Her motivation and performance fizzled and I procrastinated and hoped.

As we all know, hope is not a strategy. I hoped that Sheila would miraculously change and grow into the position. It did not happen and rarely does.

Think about it. Go back over all of your hires and fires. I guarantee you will never think of a single situation where

If you are employed in a position that you know is not the right fit for you, are you not better off to go to your employer, tell them the reality and resign gracefully? I think this would result in a great reference. It would from me. you now say, “Gee, I sure wish I had not fired that person.” Instead, you will find that in almost every instance, you will say, as I am today, “Why didn’t I give that person the opportunity to find a career path that was right for them when I knew? Why didn’t I let them go when I knew in my heart many months ago it was not going to work?”

The flip side of this coin is the employee. There is, of course, a difference – the employee is collecting a check every two weeks. Their motivation to quit and then seek employment elsewhere is not quite the same. But if you are employed

in a position that you know is not the right fit for you, are you not better off to go to your employer, tell them the reality and resign gracefully? I think this would result in a great reference.

It would from me. It would be a classy move and ethically the right thing to do.

Instead, what normally happens is that when an employee knows they need to move on, they schedule clandestine interviews and spend their time thinking about how to get their next job, instead of focusing on what they are being paid to do every day. Is this really the right moral behavior?

I realize it is not easy to forgo a paycheck, but in your heart of hearts, isn’t it more fair to the employer and to your career to quit early and quit often? I think getting a head start on the next job would be beneficial for you, just as it would be fair to your current employer.

Bow west and high tide only.

Peter Herm is the pen name of a veteran yacht owner who is an entrepreneur based on the East Coast of the U.S. Comments are welcome at editor@ the-triton.com.

December 2017 The-Triton.com

How well a job interview goes could depend on 4 key aspects Crew Coach Capt. Rob Gannon

Recently I saw an ad for a television program that shows job interviews. I haven’t watched it, and don’t think I will, but I thought it an interesting, kind of weird idea for a show. I guess the show’s producers are banking on our common experience in going through the interview process and that, for some reason, we will want to see the uncomfortable moments of others.

I don’t know. What I do know is that I have been on both sides of the process for nearly 40 years of a working life and would like to share some observations that hopefully may help someone along the way.

I understand some of these tips may seem a bit obvious to some, but at the same time, I’m still amazed at how some basics of the drill are not. So let’s look at four aspects of the interview process that, if handled well, will probably result in a good experience.

Punctuality

I believe there are only two choices here: being right on time or just a little early. We all know late is not good, but we can recover from being a little late if we do well with the rest of the areas I’m going to get to. Remember, just a little early is OK – and by that, I mean five or 10 minutes max. Showing up at 8:15 for a 9:00 interview usually is not the best idea. Too often the person interviewing may not be ready or available, which leads to awkwardly hanging around, or leaving and coming back later. Nothing really good accomplished there. Being that early doesn’t really show a positive eagerness; it tends to leave the interviewer questioning our approach and whether we listen and follow simple agreements. Bottom line: Show up right on time or five minutes early and all is good.

Anxiousness and nerves

It’s OK to feel and even show that you are a little nervous. I find that more appealing and real than someone trying to be too cool and relaxed. Being a little anxious shows this means something and is important to us. As an interviewer, I would much rather see someone sitting up straight and making good eye contact, and yes, maybe being a little

nervous, than Mr. or Ms. Too Cool for School. It’s about being ourselves, and if we feel a little nervous, feel it, remember to breathe and carry on. Remember that a little nervousness is to be expected and will be respected.

Honesty

I know this one seems like a nobrainer, but I believe it is violated way too often. Please don’t embellish or outright lie on your CV. This really has a way of coming around to bite anyone who decides to go there. We can get help with CV prep or write it ourselves, but either way, limited or seemingly unrelated experience should be presented in an honest way that connects it to our desired position. A good, honest presentation can go a long way. It may turn out that the interviewer is looking for a more experienced candidate. That’s OK, it happens. At least our best foot was put forward and we may be remembered down the road as a solid character with potential. Leaving a good impression is great groundwork for our future.

Compatibility

This might sound initially as an odd one to add here, but think about it; if you’re applying for a position on a yacht, this really becomes important.

The job requires working and possibly living aboard in close quarters. In the typical shoreside 9-to-5 job, it can be tough to spend eight hours with differing personalities, but a live-aboard yacht position takes that to a whole other level. A captain interviewing someone to join a crew will be looking at compatibility. Will you fit in, or will it be a rough mix. We want to come off as easy to be around and to deal with. I believe if you have the skills needed and a real willingness to learn and grow, along with an attractive personality, that’s the package right there. Go for it.

I believe if someone can do well in these four areas of the interview process, it’s a good recipe for a successful and positive outcome. It doesn’t mean we are always going to be hired, but we have put our best selves out there and that’s the best way forward.

Enjoy the voyage.

Capt. Rob Gannon is a 30-year licensed captain and certified life and wellness coach (www.yachtcrewcoach.com).

Comments are welcome at editor@ the-triton.com.

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22 Career

The-Triton.com December 2017

Invest time in newbies – the return will be energy, enthusiasm On Course Clive McCartney

Earlier this week I enjoyed one of those episodes that refreshes the mind and resets the attitude. Here at Bluewater we held an “Introduction to Yachting Open Evening” – 45 new crew members, eager and excited to discover what their next step would be along the path to yacht crew-hood.

If you’ve ever been to the Bluewater training center, you will be familiar with the cavernous showroom, which also now serves as the social area. This space acts as an echo chamber in which 45 people sound like 500 as the conversation gets going, with Bluewater staff from both the training and the crew placement teams in attendance.

I was interested to hear some of the background stories for these newbies, so, armed with a few stock questions, I joined the throng. Where are you from?

How did you hear about yachting? Have you completed your basic STCW safety training?

PHOTO PROVIDED

Here are a few snapshots of the answers I heard: Where from?

Panama City in Florida, Tampa, Philadelphia, Wisconsin, Maryland, Idaho, California, China, Colombia, Zimbabwe. Probably about 75 percent of the group was U.S., the others a veritable United Nations.

Why yachting?

“My friend’s cousin did it and I wanted to try,” “I came from the corporate world with a degree in PR and advertising and needed a change,” “I want to

travel,” “My brother did it,” “Managing hotels back home earning $600 per month wasn’t going to last.”

The vast majority indicated they had already completed their basic STCW training, which tells us that as an industry we are doing something right.

These snapshots, however, do not convey the energy, the enthusiasm and the connections being made. These people were mostly strangers to each other, but as they joined the queue (sorry, the “line”) for the photographer to get their headshots, they were engag-

ing with each other and with us, sharing their stories and eager to get information from the Bluewater staff and each other. A few already had jobs working on yachts. Others were anticipating picking up day work through FLIBS or still actively looking, including one who took a call with a job offer while she was at the event.

Speaking as one who is generally “glass half empty,” this was assuredly a “glass full” event and we can draw inspiration from it – not only to harvest and mirror the enthusiasm of the newbies, but to encourage and lead them well, ensuring that their efforts are not wasted or discounted for their inexperience.

Take time to get to know their stories, build a relationship, ask specific questions regarding the advice and guidance that they need, set them on the right path and invest in their journey.

Clive McCartney is vice president of maritime operations and business development at Bluewater Management & Crew Training USA in Fort Lauderdale.

Comments are welcome at editor@ the-triton.com.

24 Interior

The-Triton.com December 2017

Chef’s worth on board is based on ability to be a team player Culinary Waves Mary Beth Lawton Johnson

Too often the newbie graduate of a culinary program or certification curriculum has the idea they deserve top dollar entering the market as a new yachtie.

There is a misconceived perception that salaries for chefs are up at the top, no matter the amount of experience, simply because it is such a demanding job.

The larger the yacht, the more money – that’s generally the idea. Too many yacht chefs, and other crew, focus on the money aspect and not the love of the job. Sure, the money is good, but the employment aspect of traveling and meeting new people is a valuable perk.

Salary guidelines

Salary guidelines are published each year, and sometimes chefs will find that their salary falls in the middle; other times, it’s at the top or even in the lower three-quarters. Regardless, all chefs should spend some time looking at it.

The key is to know our worth. Maybe our expectations are not even in the ballpark.

The question we should ask ourselves is not how much training we have had, although it does help the scenario. The question we should ask ourselves is what our worth is to others on board as a team member.

Forget the demands of being chef – everyone’s job has the capacity to be overwhelming on board. There is nothing that makes the chef more special than anyone else. Simply put, in plain language: Everyone is replaceable. What most captains, chief stewardesses and other crew members want to know is are you a team player or just a player?

Chefs have have been called many things in this industry – loners, weirdos, moody people, and the big keyword: selfish. Most captains and owners have been through the gamut, so when they think of hiring a chef, they cringe.

Worth to fellow crew

Typically, it’s our job as chefs to rise early and have a plan in place for the entire day, but also the ability to shift that plan and think fast on the fly. Our day ends late and is focused on pleasing the guests and owners on board.

What we need to add to our reper-

toire is the ability to please our team members as well – by being just that – a team member. How do we accomplish this? Simply ask.

What would the chief stewardess like to see coming from the galley? More proficient plating? Timely executions?

A timetable? More adaptability to the guests needs? More upscale food coming from the galley? A cleaner galley?

Perhaps the crew food needs updating.

Ask what you can do to help her with her job and make it easier on her.

The question we should ask ourselves is not how much training we have had. ... The question we should ask ourselves is what our worth is to others on board as a team member. Forget the demands of being chef – everyone’s job has the capacity to be overwhelming on board.

Think about a chef’s worth to the crew. Don’t forget to cook each one’s favorite meal. This also helps us become more aware of different cultures and ethnic cuisines. We should ask ourselves, am I a good roomie on board?

Do I regularly take showers, clean my bathroom and change my sheets once a week?

Go that extra mile

The big idea here is to do more than what is asked, to go the extra mile and be the crew member that everyone wants in the industry. No one likes a complainer. Why is it that chefs are always singled out as the biggest complainers on board? Probably because many chefs have had a love/hate relationship with their jobs on board. Today the push is for compliance and a copacetic relationship with others, so don’t rock the boat.

Knowing our worth as a fellow crew member can elevate a career that we may otherwise view only as a means to an end. It isn’t always about the money.

Mary Beth Lawton Johnson is a certified executive pastry chef and Chef de Cuisine and has worked on yachts more than 25 years. Comment at editor@the-triton.com.

Interior 25

in the galley

December 2017 The-Triton.com

Big Alvin’s Antiguan Mahi Ceviche The key to the ceviche is spanking-fresh mahi – locally caught, of course.

Top Shelf Chef Tim McDonald

With our yacht about to cross to the Caribbean, visions of hot sauce, barbecue ribs, jerked chicken, mac ‘n cheese and slaw served on paper plates at the wooden roadside bars have begun to dance in my head.

I thought I would offer a local Antiguan favorite of the island’s police chief, Big Al. The combination was first served barbecue-style to a group of local Antiguan characters quickly assembled by Big Al to bolster his approval rating at my expense.

The ceviche played muse to juicy barbecued pineapple, local corn with old bay, jerked ribs, roasted veg and quinoa macrobiotic salad, steaks….

The key to the ceviche is spankingfresh mahi – locally caught, of course.

With the ceviche, the trick is to serve it in a vessel that’s “out of the box.” There is nothing wrong with

1/2 cup finely chopped onion.

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves.

1 finely sliced bird’s eye red chilli Sea salt and 1 teaspoon rose peppercorns Coriander micro sprouts

Method Mix the ingredients and marinate for two hours. Once served in your vessel of choice, add the micro sprouts.

PHOTO/ TIM MACDONALD

using a vase. It’s all about catching the color of the ingredients before the acid component breaks it down.

Ingredients 1kg fresh mahi diced into bite-size chunks

1 cup lime juice (about 8 large limes) 1 cup diced ruby grapefruit segments 1 cup chopped avocado 1/2 cup seeded chopped tomato.

1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded and finely diced.

Tim MacDonald (timothymacdonald. weebly.com) has more than 20 years experience as a chef. He was named Concours de Chefs winner for Yachts over 160 feet at the 2011 Antigua Charter Yacht Show. His recipes are designed for owner and guests.

Comments are welcome at editor@ the-triton.com.

26 Interior

The-Triton.com December 2017

Proper care of leather shoes and bags pays off with longer wear Stew Cues Alene Keenan

The cool spell we’ve been having makes me nostalgic for fall clothing and boots, and the smell of leather polish.

I love that smell. I collected cowboy boots, and living in the cold, wet winters of Wyoming, cleaning, polishing and protecting them was a ritual I enjoyed.

Part of a stew’s job is caring for the owner’s high-quality shoes and bags, and probably for the crew shoes, as well.

Whether it’s a $1,500 pair of the boss’s John Lobb shoes, or that pair of Biondi Castana ankle boots you couldn’t resist for yourself, the level of care is the same.

Women’s shoes need to be protected before the first wearing, to keep them looking good for as long as possible.

The soles of most shoes are made of thin leather that wears quickly. A shoemaker can add a thin layer of rubber to the sole, and heel caps that will prevent heels from wearing down.

Store shoes properly to prevent scratching, fading and damage. Wipe

with a soft cloth or brush before you put them away. Standard cedar shoe trees or inexpensive plastic models work well to dispel moisture and hold the shape for heels and boots. Keep the boxes for expensive shoes, and use linen or flannel shoe bags for the others. Don’t throw them into the closet or stuff them into hanging plastic shoe holders. If they are not in boxes or shoe bags, line them up neatly in pairs on the floor or on shelves, with plenty of room for air to circulate.

Both women and men should use shoe horns to prevent breaking down the backs of shoes, and ladies should not drive wearing heels to avoid pressure on the heel that will ruin the backs.

Smooth leather needs to be conditioned, moisturized and polished to prolong its life. Patent leather and suede do not need to be polished. Suede should be brushed with a stiff-bristled suede brush. There are other special products for treating suede if needed.

Conditioning leather keeps it soft and prevents cracks. Shoe polishes have been around for hundreds of years, starting with wax and tallow. Today’s polishes are usually a combination of synthetic

and natural materials. They are usually flammable, can be toxic and should be used in well-ventilated areas, taking care to protect clothing, carpet and furniture. Whether you use a paste, cream or liquid to shine and waterproof leather shoes or boots, it will help maintain their appearance and extend their life by months, if not years.

Leather care requires the right products: • Terry cloth rags to apply creams • A mild sudsing cleanser or saddle soap • Clean, damp sponge to apply cleanser or saddle soap • Small and large horsehair brushes • Polishing cream, protective cream, or protective wax First, clean the shoes by using the large brush to remove any dirt or debris.

Pay particular attention to the feathered edge, the part of the shoe where the upper and the sole are joined. Be sure this is clean to properly protect the stitching that holds the shoe together. Next, clean the surface with the dampened sponge and cleanser. Don’t leave it on so long that the cleanser soaks in. Buff dry.

Next, start to moisturize the leather.

Wrap the terry cloth rag around your finger and apply product in small circular motions. Then use the small brush to apply cream to the feathered edge. Polishing creams come in different colors. To keep the color of the shoes as they are, choose a shade slightly lighter.

For a richer color, go for a shade slightly darker. This will also color the stitching; to avoid that, consider a neutral shade.

Use the small brush to apply a small amount of cream and rub gently. Allow it to soak into the leather for 5-10 minutes. Use the large soft brush to brush off any excess cream.

Leather is porous and needs to be protected from the elements. Apply a protective cream or a wax next. Use wax for a shinier finish. Apply the wax with a cloth wrapped around your finger. Add a drop of water to get the desired glaze.

For softer leathers, use a cream. Then buff to a nice shine with a large brush.

Some tips for leather shoes: • Regular cleaning and moisturizing of shoes will protect against salt

See STEW CUES, Page 27

December 2017 The-Triton.com

in the galley

Lemongrass, Thai Basil and Lime Mojito and lemongrass. Chop the lemongrass stalks into 1-inch pieces, and bruise using the back side of a chef Capt. John Wampler knife or a mortar and pestle. Place them in a pot with 1 cup of water The many health benefits of lemand 1/4 cup sugar. Bring to a boil, ongrass has been known by Asians then reduce the heat and simmer for more than a millennia. Citral, for two minutes. the primary chemical component in Turn off the heat and let the syrup lemongrass, has anti-microbial and infuse for about two hours, or allow anti-fungal properties. For to cool and refrigerate instance, lemongrass tea for 24 hours. can act as a diuretic and is Before use, strain the highly effective in flushsyrup, pressing down on ing toxins and waste from the lemongrass stalks to the body, improving the extract maximum flavor. function of many different Chill until ready to organs, including the liver, use. (Once the syrup spleen and kidneys. is strained, it will also Lemongrass is a favorkeep in your fridge for a ite ingredient in Asian couple of weeks). soups, stir-fry and salads.

To build each cocktail, Think Thai tom yum gai or arrange four cocktail nam sod. But, as menglasses on a work surface tioned above, lemongrass and place 1/2 teaspoon PHOTO/ JOHN WAMPLER can also be a delightful sugar in each glass. ingredient in tea, as well as Add one lime slice into cocktails. It is in this vein that I offer each glass along with a handful of up a mojito with Asian influences.

Thai basil, and muddle together.

Pour in 2 ounces rum and 2 ounces Ingredients lemongrass syrup. Top with ice and club soda.

2 stalks lemongrass If you desire a non-alcoholic drink, 1/4 cup + 2 teaspoons sugar omit the rum and add a little extra 2 limes, sliced into 8 lime wedges lemongrass syrup.

Large handful fresh Thai basil (also Stir and serve. Yields four cocktails. called pepper basil) 8 ounces white rum Capt. John Wampler (www.yachtaide.

Club soda, as required to top up com) has worked on yachts for more Ice, to serve Lemongrass stalks, trimmed (option- than 30 years. His recipes are casual enough for anyone to prepare. al, to use as stir sticks) Comments are welcome at editor@ the-triton.com.

First, make a batch of simple syrup

Crew’s Mess

STEW CUES, from Page 26 exposure.

• A magic eraser or pencil eraser will remove minor marks, especially on white leather.

• Hair spray applied to a cloth may remove ink marks.

• Apply a 50/50 water and vinegar solution with a cloth to remove wine.

• Spot removers applied with a cloth may take out oil and grease stains.

• If shoes get wet, insert a shoe tree or stuff the toes with newspaper or paper towels. Lay on their side and allow to dry naturally. Do not dry the boss’s shoes with a hair dryer or put them in the engine room to dry.

• Don’t wear the same shoes two days in a row. (Unless you work on a yacht and wear the same shoes every day for 8-10 weeks at a time.) Shoes need a day in between to dry out and breathe.

• Clean the inside of shoes with a damp cloth. Tea tree oil may be used as an antifungal.

Alene Keenan is lead instructor of yacht interior courses at Maritime Professional Training in Ft. Lauderdale. She shares her experience from more than 20 years as a stew in her book, “The Yacht Guru’s Bible: The Service Manual for Every Yacht”, available at www.yachtstewsolutions.com. Comments are welcome at editor@the-triton.com.

Interior 27

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The-Triton.com

December 2017

From the Bridge Captains set rules, protocols on email, internet, confidentiality BRIDGE, from Page 1 picture of the vendor and the full thread of all previous correspondence."

In this case, the vendor called the captain to say he had been hacked.

Fortunately, the payment was not sent.

"It never got to that point, but it was headed that way," the captain said. "I could have paid a rather large invoice to a source that was mimicking as someone else."

[Individual comments are not attributed to encourage candid discussion; attending captains are identified in the accompanying photograph.]

Most of the group had experience with emails from a friend or contact that had been hacked. And there were other common themes.

"We were locked out of our computers in Mexico; someone had tried to log in too many times," a captain said.

Several yacht credit card numbers had been stolen. One was charged $27,000 and another was hit for $5,000 at Target. One captain switched credit cards after frequent small unauthorized purchases.

Most anyone connected to a computer is exposed to cybersecurity problems.

Captains are aware of global incidents, as well as issues that may be tailored to yachts, and implement policies to try to prevent them on board.

"We are proactive," a captain said.

"We try not to log into any open source marina Wi-Fi; that's usually where the trouble comes into play. The crew are required to use the boat system. And I cut down on opening of attachments and things that are recognizable as problems."

Another captain protects yacht business by connecting via hardwire instead of wireless or bluetooth, and he requires

crew to use their own laptops for personal emails. Several captains protect the owners by separating their access from the yacht business and crew.

"The owner has his own network," a captain said. "It is important to separate bands and sites to monitor and set controls for everyone. I can block and set timers on the crew."

By isolating each IP address, which identifies specific users, this captain can monitor and protect crew bandwidth use, and he can block specific internet sites such as social media. When crew use is too high, this captain has gone to extremes to make a point.

"Sometimes I'll walk to the rack and turn it off," he said.

"Crew should be careful with their social media anyway," another captain said. "Most crew agencies check Facebook and those sites."

Another captain uses different emails

and changes passwords on a regular basis.

Several captains said well-defined crew confidentiality agreements address privacy issues in regard to electronics.

"But it can be contentious," a captain said. "Crew live and work on board. It is hard to shut everything down."

Confidentiality agreements vary by yacht, but one common clause is that no pictures of crew on board or pictures of the yacht are allowed for the public, a captain said.

"As captains, we have to define clearly what the owner wants," he said.

Charter guests present a challenge.

Celebrity guests are common on some yachts, and several captains had stories of fans and paparazzi waiting at the dock.

"If it's a charter, you have to figure out how to handle the guests because they do not have a nondisclosure," a

December 2017

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29

From the Bridge captain said.

"You can watch TMZ [celebrity news] and see the boats, so I don't know how you can control that," another captain said. "They can check online and see who's on board."

One yacht owner said to a captain, "If Google can find my name, it doesn't matter – there's nothing you can do."

There are other systems on board that link yachts to the cloud of information.

Automatic Identification System (AIS) is required on many yachts to display vessel location through a satellite system. This can include ship name, course and speed, classification, call sign and registration number.

The captains agreed that AIS is vital to navigation, but is typically turned off when not underway. But the system is popular with yacht owners who follow their yacht's locations through a public website that shares AIS information.

"The boss calls when he's using it," a captain said. "I can see you are using a lot of fuel, can you throttle back?"

Another owner was watching the yacht online and called when he saw it had not moved for several hours.

Basically captains don't have a choice because the system is helpful and often mandated. But there are a few precautions available.

"AIS yachts are allowed to turn it off in dangerous situations," a captain said.

"There is a stealth mode where the yacht does not broadcast," another captain explained.

And there is a delay with Marine Traffic, the online private version of AIS. A captain said yachts can pay for premium services to increase security on the program.

Several captains were familiar with a 2013 experiment in which a yacht was taken off course by GPS spoofing.

"I read about that,” a captain said.

“There can be transmitters that confuse the signal to navigation."

Spoofing and loss of power or electronic contact are a couple of reasons why several captains have the crew plot a course on a paper chart.

"I had a crew say, 'The electronic navigation is down, how are we going to get into port?'" a captain said. "They had no idea."

"If something looks wrong, they should check," the first captain said. "It's important to teach them how to use the charts."

Many yacht electronic systems are complex and not under crew expertise; that is why two of the yachts have remote information technology companies.

"We have an IT guy in Indiana who controls the boat," one captain said. He said the technician recommended that the yacht's satellite service run through the United States instead of other countries so he could better monitor service.

So much of the technology frequently changes, it's difficult to keep current.

A captain recommends people ask for help.

"When techs are on board servicing your sat system, make sure to have the security checked," this captain said.

Many yachts have monitoring systems and most have camera security systems. Many captains receive messages when the bilge runs or an alarm sounds. One captain logs in and monitors the systems remotely. Another

See BRIDGE, Page 30

30 From the Bridge

The-Triton.com December 2017

PHOTO/DORIE COX

Attendees of The Triton’s From the Bridge luncheon for this month’s issue were, from left, Capt. Stephen Burke of M/Y Sovereign; Capt.

Aaron Steenbhom of M/Y Zenith; Capt. Jason Milton; Capt. Kelly Esser of M/Y Cheers 46; Capt. David Nathan, formerly of M/Y Marbella; Capt. Brett Dobbins and Capt. Teri Jacobs of M/Y Heart Beat; Capt. Keith Talasek of M/Y Alessandra III; Capt. Paula Sonnenberg, freelance; Capt. Mark Howard, freelance; and Capt. Jacques Falardeau of M/Y Magic Days.

Threat future same in business and yachting BRIDGE, from Page 29 captain recommended that all systems be evaluated by a trusted technology company to confirm systems cannot be compromised.

We asked what the future holds for cybersecurity risks in yachting.

"There's nothing different in yachting than in other industries," a captain said.

So, like anyone in business or using personal electronics, the captains seek good technical advice and try to stay alert to what could happen.

"I've heard of many different things that can happen, and it doesn't take long," a captain said. "I think it's going to be a concern from here moving forward. All our information is out there

anyway."

"I think in the future there could be a meltdown," another captain said.

"Maybe everyone is hacked all at once."

"We were in the Bahamas with no communication for two days; the cell towers were down," another captain said. "We could use our old sat phone but we really could see the limitations."

"The government can shut down the satellite system, but we have other nations' satellites to use," a third captain said.

"Or we can use our Stargazer app," another captain said with a laugh as he held his phone to the sky.

"Yes, maybe sometime in the future, whether weather- or terror-related, we will have to function without," a captain

said. "But for now, it's a tool."

It is a reason to know celestial navigation, and one captain noted yachts still need their compasses.

"If it turns out our power is completely out and everything is down, we can't make it to shore anyway," a captain said. "Everything runs on power now."

"We've been careful," another captain said. "But lucky is probably the real word."

Dorie Cox is editor of The Triton.

Comments on this story are welcome at editor@the-triton.com. Captains who make their living running someone else’s yacht are welcome to join in the conversation. Email us for an invitation to our monthly From the Bridge lunch.

December 2017 The-Triton.com

Sailboat engines benefit from enhancements for megayachts Diesel Digest Capt. Jeff Werner

While the primary focus of the yachting industry is superyachts, vessels with an LOA in the 50-foot range also make up a good portion of boats that are sold.

These include sailboats, both monohulls and catamarans, and sport-fishing boats.

Tracking the recent advances in diesel engine design for the sailboat sector is a good way to understand the development of larger horsepower marine diesel engines.

Over the past 30 years, Yanmar has been the leader of diesel engines used on board small charter and recreational sailboats. During this time, engine manufacturers such as Universal and Westerbeke have fallen by the wayside or lost significant market share. The key to Yanmar’s success has been developing a reliable engine and taking it into the 21st century using the latest technology. At the same time, they listened to their customers and abided by environmental regulations.

According to the Yanmar Develop­ ment Division, “performance requirements for diesel engines in the pleasure boat market are growing year by year. In addition to things like high output and quiet operating, recent years have also seen rising interest in environmental performance factors such as fuel economy and exhaust emissions”.

To meet the changes in the small marine diesel engine market, Yanmar melded their tried-and-true mechanical marine engine with the special technologies of their industrial diesel engine, and with the advancements in larger electronically controlled marine engines used aboard superyachts and commercial vessels.

Mechanically controlled diesel engines rely on gear-driven fuel pumps, spring-loaded injector nozzles and mechanical governors to continuously squirt the same amount of fuel into the cylinders. Electronically controlled diesel engines use speed sensors, servos, microprocessors and electronic injectors to deliver the exact amount of fuel needed at any given moment.

Yanmar decided to address a recur­ ring complaint of sailboat operators: hull stain from the black smoke emitted by the engine. Many sailboats have a white hull, making the black stain

caused by the smoke in the exhaust gas particularly noticeable, and it is difficult to remove, the company said.

To control the black smoke, Yanmar added an electronically controlled common rail injection system to precisely meter the exact amount of fuel necessary for complete combustion. Yanmar also incorporated numerous industrial engine combustion technologies, “such as optimization of the timing and number of fuel injections.” The company reported a resulting 80 percent reduction in the density of black smoke in the exhaust gas under normal conditions.

Engine vibration and noise are a design issue on superyachts, and an even greater factor on small sailboats because of the proximity of the engine room to the cabins. The separation of this mechanical space from the living space may be a single bulkhead. Since there is only so much soundproofing that can be done in an engine compartment, other technologies must be used to reduce noise and vibration. Switching from a mechanically controlled to an electronically controlled engine allowed Yanmar to reduce vibration by 30 percent and the noise level by almost 50 percent.

The final enhancement available by adopting electronically controlled engines is the ease of connecting them to electronic displays. Using the engines NMEA 2000 digital output has significantly improved the interface with equipment that requires the input of engine speed or fuel consumption.

Another benefit of the the electronic control system is the ease of installing multiple helm stations. This electronic “fly by wire” concept was pioneered in military and commercial aircraft.

Regardless of whether operating a vessel with a classic mechanically controlled diesel engine or an up-to-date common rail engine, optimal performance can only be achieved with clean fuel. The way to assure that the fuel that powers the engine meets the engine manufacturer’s specifications is by following a detailed fuel preventive maintenance program.

Capt. Jeff Werner is a 25-year veteran of the yachting industry as a captain on private and charter yachts, both sail and power, and a certified instructor for the RYA, MCA, USCG and US Sailing. He also owns Diesel Doctor (MyDieselDoctor.com). Comments are welcome at editor@the-triton.com.

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The-Triton.com December 2017

Ol’ seafaring weather lore jibes with tenets of modern science Sea Science Jordanna Sheermohamed

Before the invention and integration of high-tech weather instruments such as satellites, radar, and computer models, individuals often used environmental observations to determine impending weather. At a recent lunch with retired Captain Terry Pope, the topic of historical seafaring methods of weather prediction came up. For example, captains sometimes kept an elderly sailor on board whose rheumatic pains could warn of incoming low pressure or rain.

Seafaring weather proverbs were born of natural observations. It turns out that examining these sayings through a scientific lens actually proves that one can trust the great salty grandfathers of the high seas.

One of the most well-known of these sayings is “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight; red sky at morning, sailors take warning.” In order to make sense of this proverb, there are a couple of scientific points to understand: the vertical direction of air during high/low pressures, the general movement of weather patterns from west to east, and how the human eye perceives specific colors.

Of all the colors of the visible light spectrum, red has the longest wavelength and violet has the shortest.

Therefore, when traveling long distances or through a region of atmospheric contaminants, such as dust or pollution, the shorter wavelength colors are scattered while the longer wavelength colors make it through. This is often why we see red and orange at sunset, when the sun is lowest on the horizon and the light has to travel the farthest. This also explains why the sun appears white during noontime hours; the sun’s position directly overhead means the light has the shortest distance to travel, with all colors effectively making the journey to the human eye. Another way to understand this concept is by observing something in the dark. The object doesn’t change color, but the human eye is unable to perceive it because of the absence of light, so it appears black.

With the sun setting to the west, red color indicates sinking/drier air associated with an incoming high pressure, which prohibits the rising air and upward cloud development that lead to thunderstorms. Conversely, a red

sunrise to the east indicates the high pressure is to the east of an observer’s position, meaning a relatively low pressure is located to the west. The rising air associated with a low pressure instigates clouds that, with enough vertical ascent, lead to the potential for stormy weather.

Another useful proverb, “Mackerel skies and mares’ tails make tall ships carry low sails,” scientifically makes the grade as well. Clouds are useful in determining the state of the atmosphere at a given time. When cirrocumulus clouds are observed in tandem with cirrus clouds, it generally indicates convection occurring at high altitudes, and usually precedes rain within a day.

Cirrocumulus clouds appear similar to the scales of a mackerel fish, and cirrus clouds are much like the strands of a mare’s tail, so this saying delivers a general warning to lower the sails, as the higher winds associated with thunderstorms are impending.

“A wind from the south, has rain in its mouth” is a third axiom that jibes with sound science. Winds will always move from high to low pressure, so a breeze from the south will indicate a high pressure is situated to the south or southeast of a location, blowing towards a lower pressure located somewhere to the north or northwest.

Since low pressure induces rising air, cloud formation becomes possible.

With enough moisture and rising air, storm development occurs, increasing the possibility of precipitation. Another useful fact to consider is that the faster clouds move, the more imminent the ​ arrival of a frontal boundary associated with an advancing low pressure.

Without the aid of modern technology, the time frame for a credible weather forecast drops from five days to about 24-48 hours. Even so, it’s good to know that if modern weather forecasting tools are unavailable for some reason, a pretty credible weather forecast can still be produced by simply turning to the sky.

Captains who would like to see a particular ocean/weather topic addressed in a future column are welcome to send a request to jordanna@ WeatherForecastSolutions.com.

Jordanna Sheermohamed is president and lead meteorologist of Weather Forecast Solutions, a private weatherforecasting company (www.Weather ForecastSolutions.com). Comments at editor@the-triton.com.

Operations 33

December 2017 The-Triton.com

Navy reports on recent collisions at sea offer lessons for yacht crew Rules of the Road Capt. Jake DesVergers

In November the U.S. Navy released several reports detailing the events and actions that led to two ship collisions this year in the Pacific Ocean. The first report outlined the Navy’s findings for the collision between the U.S.S Fitzgerald and the merchant container ship ACX Crystal. This accident occurred off the coast of Japan on June 17.

The second report provided the Navy’s findings for the collision of the U.S.S John S. McCain and the oil/chemical tanker M/V Alnic MC. This accident occurred Aug. 21 off the coast of Singapore and the Strait of Malacca in the South China Sea. Initial comment from Adm. John Richardson, the U.S. Navy’s highest ranking officer, was clear: “These accidents were preventable and the respective investigations found multiple failures by watch standers that contributed to the incidents. We must do better.”

Though three U.S. Navy investigations concerning each of these incidents have been completed, collisions at sea between U.S. registered vessels and foreign registered vessels are also subject to a Marine Casualty Investigation. These investigations, conducted independently by the United States Coast Guard on behalf of the National Transportation Safety Board, are ongoing. Normal turnaround time for a full investigation is approximately 10-12 months, and the results will be published by the NTSB. The key highlights from the U.S. Navy’s reports indicate multiple failures in the ships’ operations.

U.S.S Fitzgerald: The collision between the U.S. Navy combatant and merchant ship was totally avoidable. The accident resulted from an accumulation of smaller errors over time. Ultimately, the resulting lack of adherence to clear and concise navigational practices created the incident. Specifically, the U.S.S. Fitzgerald’s watch teams disregarded the established norms of basic bridge resource management. More importantly, the ship’s leadership failed to adhere to well-established protocols implemented to prevent collisions at sea. Additionally, the ship’s command triad, specifically the commanding officer, executive officer, and command master chief, was absent during an evolution where their ex-

perience, guidance, and example would have greatly benefited the ship.

The accident killed seven sailors on the Fitzgerald. At least three more of the crew of nearly 300 were injured, including the ship’s commanding officer. The top two senior officers and the top enlisted sailor were relieved of duty; about a dozen other sailors received nonjudicial punishment.

USS John S. McCain: The collision between McCain and Alnic MC was also totally avoidable. It resulted primarily from complacency, over-confidence and an absence of procedural compliance. A major contributing factor to the collision was a substandard level of knowledge regarding the operation of the ship’s control console. In particular, the McCain’s commanding officer disregarded recommendations from his executive officer, ship’s navigator and senior watch officer. They had advised the captain to set sea and anchor watch teams in a timely fashion. This was to ensure the safe and effective operation of the ship as they approached the Strait of Malacca, one the world’s busiest seaways. Regarding standard operating procedures, no one on the bridge watch team, including the commanding officer and executive officer, were properly trained on how to correctly operate the ship control console during a steering casualty. They had never run a contingency drill for a loss of steering.

These were military vessels with highly trained and experienced crews.

How does something like this happen?

And more importantly for this column’s readers, how does this affect yachts?

We cannot overlook lessons learned from these incidents simply because they are not yachts. The failures identified can happen on a white hull just as easily as a gray hull. Poor bridge resource management, failure to follow navigational procedures, ineffective command structure, and an absence of emergency preparedness are clearly issues of human performance.

The most important finding in both reports is the identification of complacency. When you hear a fellow crewmember say, “That will never happen to us,” or “We have always done it this way,” that is your one and only warning.

Capt. Jake DesVergers is chief surveyor for International Yacht Bureau (www. yachtbureau.org). Comments are welcome at editor@the-triton.com.

34 Crew Health

The-Triton.com December 2017

More sleep or exercise: Which is best option after long work days?

The Yachtie Glow Angela Orecchio

After working long days on board, stews often wonder if they should skip their exercise and sleep more the next day. The answer completely depends on the person and the situation, however, there are ways you can gauge what is best for you in the moment.

Choose your exercise

After a 12- to 15-hour day, 30 minutes of cardio or a very intense HIIT workout may not be the best for your health. Rather, choose efficient toning exercises you can do in a short period that will raise your heart rate a bit but not wear you out more than needed.

This will keep your muscles toned so you don’t lose them when you’re not able to do longer workouts.

Try this 10-minute toning workout for arms and abs: l 15x tricep dips l 15x pushups l 15x plank elbow to knee l 1 minute plank Repeat for a total of 10 minutes.

Know your body

If you’re completely worn out from working and have not had a break all day, you may need the extra rest. Plan to work out a few days a week if you can, and take special care of areas of your body that need rest or stretching.

Instead of an intense toning workout, you might choose to do 10 minutes of stretching/yoga instead. Either way your body will thank you for the movement and care.

Give yourself the best fuel for energy When you’re tired and overworked, the last thing your body needs to do is fight off junk food and heavy, greasy meals. Eat more fruits and veggies than you normally would and plan ahead to have healthy snacks at your disposal.

This may include fruit, fruit and nut bars, rice cakes etc.

In addition, don’t forget to drink plenty of regular water. Add lime or other fruit for taste and to boost vitamins and minerals.

Let it go

Ultimately, if you can’t exercise as much as you normally would because you’re working long hours without a break, let the mental chatter about it go.

Do what you can, when you can and resolve to not give up entirely just because you’ve had some time off.

Eventually, you’ll recover from the long hours and you’ll be able to get back into your healthy lifestyle again.

Angela Orecchio is a chief stew, certified fitness instructor and health coach. This column was edited from her blog, Savvy Stewardess, The Smart Girl’s Guide to Yachting (www.savvystewardess.com).

Comments are welcome at editor@ the-triton.com.

TRITON FILE PHOTO

December 2017 The-Triton.com

Get the best holiday nutrition with festive reds and greens appetizer. Or eat strawberries topped with low-fat Greek yogurt before going Take It In out to a party, big restaurant meal or Carol Bareuther buffet. The combination of high-fiber strawberries and satiety producing protein in the yogurt can make you feel full, Red and green are the key colors of thus not as susceptible to overeating. the winter holidays. Fresh fruits and Green-colored foods, such as brocvegetables of either of these hues procoli, green peppers, lettuces, cabbage, vide an abundance of disease-preventBrussels sprouts, asparagus, green ing nutrients that may be missing from grapes and kiwi, get their hue from natfestive fare such as baked goods, party foods and even big sit-down celebratory ural plant pigments such as chlorophyll, as well as phytonutrients such as cancermeals. Adding these colorful produce preventing isothiocyanates. Green fruits items to your diet is likely the best present you can give yourself. That’s because and vegetables are rich sources of vitamins A, C and K as well as eating too little produce minerals such as potassium. ranks among the top 10 risk Avocados are a green fruit factors for a shortened life that have proven to be espespan, according to the World cially healthful, and are abunHealth Organization. dantly available from Mexico Red-hued foods, such as for the winter. Unlike most strawberries, watermelon, other fruits, avocados contain cherries, raspberries, apples, a rich source of monounsatured peppers, red cabbage, rated fat. and tomatoes, get their color PHOTOS/DEAN BARNES In 2015, U.S. researchfrom plant-based nutrients ers tested to see if it was the like lycopene and anthocyafat content in avocados or nins. These phytonutrients something else in the fruit in are powerful antioxidants combination that proved to that can protect against heart be heart-healthy by lowering disease, some forms of canblood levels of LDL (lowcer like prostate cancer, high density lipoprotein) or ‘bad’ blood pressure, stroke and cholesterol. Subjects were the blinding eye ailment of fed chicken salad in onemacular degeneration. Red half of an avocado at lunch fruits and vegetables are also and a turkey taco with half an avocado abundant in vitamins A and C and difor dinner. Control subjects were fed etary fiber. the same foods, but other monounsatuOne of the most popular red fruits rated fats, such as canola oil mayonnaise is strawberries. Florida supplies most and sunflower oil, were substituted for of the nation’s fresh strawberries from the avocado. Results showed that the December through March, with berries healthy fat in avocados, in combination harvested in California the rest of the with its dietary fiber and plant-based year. Eating one cup of fresh strawberphytosterols, lowered LDL cholesterol ries within two hours prior to a meal most effectively. Put this fact in action can aid in reducing post-meal blood sugar levels and inflammation, the latter during the holidays by trading butter of which can lead to the development of for mashed avocado in turkey stuffing, add slices of avocado to salads or crudité chronic illnesses. This is the take home platters, and substitute half of the butmessage from U.S. scientists, who published their work last year in the journal ter or oil in baked goods with mashed avocado. This especially works well in Food and Function. chocolate cakes and cupcakes.

The reason for this beneficial effect So, this holiday season, eat strawberis that the anthocyanin in strawberries ries before meals and substitute avocado tends to peak in its activity one to two for other dietary fats and you’ll be ready hours after consumption, thus working for a healthy new year. its wonders when eaten before a meal.

Good ways to get this berry boost durCarol Bareuther is a registered dietitian ing the holidays is simply snacking on and freelance health and nutrition writone cup, or about 8 fresh strawberries.

Or, eat a small fruit salad with strawber- er. Comments are welcome at editor@ the-triton.com. ries, raspberries and watermelon as an

Crew Health 35

36 Crew Health

The-Triton.com December 2017

Carbon monoxide from generators killed many after hurricane Sea Sick Keith Murray

Recently my home state of Florida was hit by Hurricane Irma. When you ask people in Florida what the leading cause of death was from Hurricane Irma, most will say drowning or windblown debris.

After researching the leading causes of death, I was surprised by the large numbers of people who died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

What is carbon monoxide? Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a poisonous gas that you cannot see, taste or smell.

Carbon monoxide exposure happens when you breathe in CO gas. You can be poisoned by exposure to high levels of CO. People with mild poisoning usually recover completely with oxygen treatment. Severe CO poisoning can cause permanent brain injury or death.

Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas created by engines. In the open, this gas is not typically a problem, but in poorly ventilated areas CO can be deadly.

In the case of Hurricane Irma, most of the CO injuries and fatalities were caused by generators. These generators were either running inside the home or close enough to the home for the gas to enter. Barbecue grills, lawn mowers, boat motors, fireplaces, gas stoves, propane heaters, propane lanterns, chain saws and cars also can cause CO exposure if you use them in poorly ventilated areas.

Early signs and symptoms

Here are some of the first symptoms of CO poisoning. l Blurred vision, dizziness or a headache l Nausea or vomiting l Faster breathing than normal or trouble breathing l Weakness or muscle pain l Dark or red urine l Chest pain, or a heartbeat that is fast, strong or irregular l Confusion, fainting or seizures

Advanced signs and symptoms

These later-stage symptoms may be temporary or permanent, and they may

as a breath analyzer and an EKG. After occur 2 to 40 days after you have been determining you have been exposed to exposed to CO. CO and are suffering from CO poisonl Changes in behavior ing, your doctor may treat you with l Increased anxiety or depression extra oxygen, with IV therapy or with l Difficulty controlling bodily a hyperbaric chamber functions: urine or bowel oxygen treatment. movements If the CO If you believe you are l Difficulty concentrating, suffering from CO poifocusing or learning new things detector on soning, you must seek l Difficulty moving, bending your boat is medical treatment quickyour arms or legs, or walking over 6 years ly as this may become l Difficulty speaking, old, consider life-threatening. chewing or controlling facial replacing it.

As with most medical muscles emergencies, prevenl Tremors, or shaking of tion is the key. If you do not have a CO your fingers or hands. detector in your home and on your boat, you should install one today. If your CO What to do after CO exposure detector is more than 6 years old, you If you believe you have been exposed should consider replacing it with a new to CO and have CO poisoning, you one. should seek immediate medical attention. The doctor can perform various Trained as an emergency medical tests, including a neurologic exam, durtechnician, Keith Murray now owns ing which your pupils, memory, hand The CPR School, which provides ongrip and balance will be checked. This board CPR, AED and first-aid training test is similar to the FAST stroke test. as well as AED sales and service (www.

Additional tests include a blood gas TheCPRSchool.com). Comments are test to check the amount of oxygen and welcome at editor@the-triton.com. carbon dioxide in your blood, as well

December 2017 The-Triton.com

Fort Lauderdale international boat show

Coast Guard, customs issues by-the-law, yet case-by-case

By Dorie Cox

broker site. Often yachts are listed, but if the officials would click through to the source they would find the actual No matter how often immigration, charter is a “similar yacht” and not the cruising permit and charter rules are named yacht after all, she said. discussed, questions persist. Answers "If that happens, come tell us," are based on laws and regulations, but Fortunato said. often there is room for interpretation, The stew suggested the government said government officials from the U.S. groups work with the Charter Yacht Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Brokers Association or a broker group and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). to find current yachts listed for charter During the Fort Lauderdale instead of trusting the internet.

International Boat Show, more than 80 Ortiz said the industry has abused people in the yacht industry paid close permits and brought attention. The Marine yachts in to sell, Industries Association “We use open and that has caused of South Florida orgasources to check if increased scrutiny. nized the speaker panel They can be penalized and lunch on Nov. 4 a yacht is for charunder other laws, said to address industry ter anywhere in the Phil Purcell, executive concerns. world.” director of MIASF. One message from – John Ortiz Purcell suggested the the officials was: "There U.S. Customs and Border officials not deny perare regulations we have Protection, Port Everglades mits for that reason. to follow, but we can trade operations supervisor "I am mandated to work it out.” enforce the laws, but captains can write that it was available Cruising permits and charter issues for charter but we will not in the U.S.," In regard to cruising permits, nothFortunato said. ing has changed, said John Ortiz, CBP An attendee asked for clarification Port Everglades trade operations supervisor. Yachts listed for sale are generally that if a yacht is a bareboat charter, it can still be issued a cruising permit. not allowed to obtain a cruising permit.

"A bareboat is considered recreIf the owner wants to use it for a short ational and is not commercial trade," event, he said, officials will try to work Fortunato said. with captains.

To determine which yachts are charter and therefore not eligible for a Yacht inspections cruising permit, CBP officers check the Ensign Ryan Gilbert is a port state internet. control officer who handles foreign"We use open sources to check if flag issues for USCG Sector Miami. He a yacht is for charter anywhere in the said that after a yacht sends a Notice of world," Ortiz said.

Arrival for check in, the USCG office In response to a collective groan from will return an email with a questionthe crowd, Anthony J. Fortunato, chief naire with the list of required certificates CBP officer, said, "If the captain says it's to email back, and a flow chart that an old listing, the captain can provide a should ease compliance. statement, a signed affidavit."

"If we ask you for documenta"We can make a decision on a casetion, you can expect us to show for an by-case situation," Ortiz added. Crew inspection," Gilbert said. "The two big can present a document showing that things we look for are the Certificate of it was commercial and is now pleasure.

Financial Responsibility and the Vessel But what if a vessel gets identified as Response Plan." charter?

Most yachts are required to be in"We look at each case because the spected at least once every three years. regulations say, ‘if it charters anywhere But of key concern for the department is in the world,’" Ortiz said. "But if we see that the vessel is safe, he said. the owner and a clear itinerary, we are issuing permits."

Crew working in the U.S. A yacht stew raised concerns about Foreign yacht crew apply for visas officials using the internet to find a and then interview to be admitted into yacht's charter status. She said that See CUSTOMS, page 39 yachts are used to lure clients to a

News 37

38 News

Fort Lauderdale international boat show

The-Triton.com December 2017

U.S. loses business when crew visa snafu sends yacht elsewhere

By Lucy Chabot Reed M/Y Savannah, the new 274-foot (83.5m) Feadship that turned heads at last year’s show, decided not to visit South Florida this fall because of difficulties some of its 22-member crew had obtaining B1/B2 visas. Several were issued C1/D visas, which are meant for crew on commercial vessels and limited to 29 days.

Because the yacht is listed on a few websites as available for charter, consular officers interpreted that as being commercial and issued the C1/Ds. M/Y Savannah carries a Marshall Islands flag and can have limited charters under its private registration.

“The boat is privately registered, and the rules say we need a B1/B2,” said Capt. Michael Dailey, delivery captain on Savannah and other large yachts.

“Being given a C1/D is like being given tickets to a double feature that are only good for the first movie. It doesn’t work for what we need to do.”

Capt. Dailey was instructed to take the yacht directly from the Med to its winter cruising grounds in the Southern Caribbean.

As a relief and delivery captain, Capt.

Dailey has crossed the ocean five times this year alone, and has worked on at least as many large vessels. In a recent phone conversation from La Ciotat, France, he relayed similar visa stories from each one.

• Four crew on a 200-plus-foot yacht came back from the U.S. embassy in Paris with C1/D visas, and one came back with a B1 for a year. They had previously all been denied. The yacht was leaving the Med, and the plan had been to come to Florida. But Capt. Dailey said it will depend on whether crew get their B1/B2 visas.

“They had planned to stay six weeks, but if half the crew get C1/Ds, they won’t do what they planned to do,” he said. “If they hadn’t had the hassle, all that work would have been done in Palm Beach.”

Dailey said that even the captain, an industry veteran who had 10-year B1/B2 visas in the past, was denied on his most recent application. He has reapplied in a different embassy.

• One of the rotational second officers on M/Y TV – the largest yacht in the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show this year at 257 feet (78.4m) – was to report for duty during the show, but was still in the Med awaiting his visa. At his interview in Florence, he handed the consular officer all his paperwork from

“If anything over 40m stops calling on Fort Lauderdale, we’re all going to wake up and say what the hell? It’s going to turn South Florida into a ghost town. That’s just unacceptable.”

– Capt. Michael Dailey

the privately registered yacht. The officer immediately did an internet search on the yacht’s name and saw it listed for charter. Five minutes after he had arrived, the second officer was denied and sent away. He later reapplied for his B1/B2 in Madrid and was approved, but was also awaiting his passport to see how long the visa would be valid.

“You look it up on the internet and suddenly it’s the God’s honest truth,” said Capt. Dailey, an American. “It’s not the people in Washington [that are the problem]; it’s the people at the various embassies around the world -- some civil servant paid with my tax dollars, deciding to use Google instead of relying on the official documentation from the vessel’s master.”

M/Y TV carries a Cayman flag and, like many yachts, flips its commercial registration to private during its crossing so that it enters the United States as a private vessel.

• On M/Y Constellation, a 262-foot (80m) private yacht, the crew all received their B1/B2s, but one came back with a C1/D. “What they obviously don’t understand at the embassy level is that yachts can charter here in the Med or the Caribbean on a commercial registration and then switch registrations to enter into the U.S. as a private yacht,” Capt. Dailey said. “And many make the switch, like I just did on TV on the way across. The yachts and management companies all know full well they cannot charter in the U.S.” About a dozen large yachts share the shipyard in La Ciotat with Capt. Dailey and Savannah, many of whom are still deciding on their winter programs, he said.

An American who lives in South Florida, he said he’s worried that more captains will choose to avoid U.S. port calls due to the hassles their crew are having getting B1/B2 visas.

“Crew have been denied visas previously for any number of reasons, which are completely valid,” Capt. Dailey

said. “That’s random. This is rash. It’s been happening for about a month, and I’m hearing all the guys complain about the same thing. It’s happening embassy-wide.”

At the Fort Lauderdale boat show, officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard spoke with captains and crew at the annual luncheon hosted by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida.

(See story on page 37.)

“If we address this all together, we could draft a memo that could go up the chain of command,” Capt. Dailey suggested. “CBP could help you all get to the bottom of this rash of C1/D visas being issued instead of B1/B2s, and why embassies are relying on Google to issue visas.”

It may be too late for M/Y Savannah,

which was headed to the Caribbean. It had planned to stop in South Florida to provision for a lengthy, off-the-beatenpath season.

“They had some maintenance work to do, and they wanted to give some of the crew time off,” he said. “They wanted to stay longer than 29 days.

“The biggest impact is going to be right there in Fort Lauderdale – not in Charleston or San Diego, but in South Florida where all the big yachts go,” he said from France yesterday. “If anything over 40m stops calling on Fort Lauderdale, we’re all going to wake up and say what the hell? It’s going to turn South Florida into a ghost town. That’s just unacceptable.”

Lucy Chabot Reed is publisher of The Triton. Comment: lucy@the-triton.com.

Stew whose visa was canceled rejoins yacht in time for FLIBS

By Dorie Cox There is at least one yacht stew who was especially happy to be at this year's Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

The Triton wrote about trouble she had with her B1/B2 visa in August.

As a foreign passport holder, she was on a flight back to the United States to rejoin her yacht after a holiday when officials removed her from her seat. It turns out that her visa had been canceled in April, and she did not know it.

"We were not notified it was canceled," her captain said. "If we would have known, we would have handled the situation sooner."

The captain and stew asked not to be named.

In an attempt to get her back on board, the captain worked with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and filed with the Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP), a resource for people who have been denied U.S. entry or exit.

"Redress was a waste of time," he said. "We were issued a redress number and were told if she flies or comes in, to use that."

Even using that number she was denied a visa, so she returned to her

home country and went through the process again. She was issued a B1/B2 visa in mid-October.

"This time, the officer believed her," the captain said. "That she had worked on the yacht and had not been posting her CV online."

He said he can forgive the nonyachting officer for not understanding, but would like to see consular officials be educated about the work of yacht crew. More importantly, he wants the yacht to be able to travel in the United States and to avoid another lengthy visa issue.

"The owner is sick and tired of it," the captain said. "He said, 'It is so hard to own a boat.' He is considering keeping it in the Bahamas and told me to stay out of here [the U.S.]."

The captain, who has more than a decade in the industry, said he has not heard of another yacht with the same problem, but does not want this to happen to another crew.

"I think more people involved in this conversation with officials will help everyone work out a plan," he said. "And clear this up so there are no more gray areas."

Dorie Cox is editor of The Triton.

Comment at dorie@the-triton.com.

December 2017 The-Triton.com

Fort Lauderdale international boat show

U.S. Customs officials answer questions about visa problems CUSTOMS, from page 37 the United States. An attendee asked how crew, as non-residents, can best give evidence that they are not living in the United States. Fortunato said the officers look for bank statements, utility bills, and paperwork to connect the applicant to a home country. That sort of documentation proves the applicant doesn’t intend to stay in the U.S. It makes their job difficult if crew can't provide those documents, he said.

The attendee said it’s a challenge for crew who are young and without assets, to which Fortunato replied that if they have a bank account and the majority of the money is sent to their home country, that may satisfy government officials.

"But it is only a small piece to the puzzle," he said.

A yacht captain shared an example of six of his crew denied visas in the application process overseas after a consular officer did a Google search that showed the yacht had chartered.

"Even with the correct paperwork," the captain said. The yacht's rotation captain was among the group denied.

"We comply with regulations and we follow rules, but this has become Russian roulette," the captain said. "We have to tell the owners we can't offer assurances?"

The crowd applauded the captain’s comments and question.

Fortunato said the issuance of visas is a U.S. Department of State function that could not be addressed by either CBP or USCG. But, he said, the issuance of entries in South Florida is three times more than the rest of the country and the refusal rate is in line with the norm.

In reference to conversations among yacht crew about B1/B2 visa denials, MIASF industry liaison Patience Cohn recommended yacht crew request both C1/D and B1/B2 when applying for a visa to come to the U.S. on a yacht.

“That’s how the aviation industry has done it for years,” she said.

If both are issued, the admitting officer will decide which to grant admission under, depending on the intent of the visit, Fortunato said, noting that the C1/D is for commercial vessels. Crew on private yachts would be admitted under the B1/B2, he said. A crew member with both "should be covered," he said.

After a captain expressed his frustration at having done what he thought was the right thing only to be denied,

the panel said they want to grant visas and admit visitors to the U.S., but they need to follow the law. Paperwork and documentation that proves the crew will not overstay their allotted time and that the boat will not violate the terms of its cruising permit will make the process smoother.

Dorie Cox is editor of The Triton.

Comment at dorie@the-triton.com.

News 39

PHOTO/DORIE COX

Officer John Ortiz, CBP Port Everglades trade operations supervisor, answers questions during a speakers panel during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in November.

December 2017 The-Triton.com

Yachts sold

Project Ayla, a 164-foot (50m) Heesen with an expected delivery date of April 2018, has been sold, with British brokerage Abberley Luxury Yachts bringing the buyer.

M/Y Casino Royale, a 163-foot (49.7m) Christensen built in 2008, sold

by Northrop & Johnson brokers Joe Foggia, acting on behalf of the seller, and Kevin Merrigan and Wes Sanford, acting on behalf of the buyer. Asking price was $20.5 million.

M/Y Wildflour, a 156-foot (47.5m) Delta built in 2008, sold by Denison Yacht Sales broker Chris Daves, who represented the seller, and Fraser broker Stuart Larsen, who represented the buyer. Wildflour will be renamed Paladin.

M/Y Logica, above, a 147-foot (44.8m) Logica built in 2014, sold by Northrop & Johnson broker Michael Graff, who brought the buyer. Asking price was 15.9 million euros.

M/Y Drew, a 140-foot (43m) Benetti launched in 2015, sold by Northrop & Johnson, with brokers Wes Sanford and Kevin Merrigan acting on behalf of the seller, and Joost Goverts acting on behalf of the buyer. Asking price was $18.75 million.

M/Y Man of Steel, formerly Totally Nuts, a 121-foot (37m) Heesen built in 2005, sold by Ocean Independence broker Thom Conboy. Asking price was 10.9 million euros.

M/Y Intimis, a 112-foot (34m) Ferretti built in 2003, sold by Northrop & Johnson broker Joost Goverts, who represented the seller.

New in the sales fleet

M/Y Lady Michelle, a 180-foot (55m) Benetti built in 2003, listed with Merle Wood & Associates broker Kevin Greene for $21.5 million M/Y Invader, a 164-foot (50m) Codecasa built in 1999, listed with Ken Denison of Denison Yacht Sales for $12.5 million.

M/Y Iron Man, a 125-foot (38m) Benetti launched in 2015, listed with Merle Wood & Associates for $15.75 million.

M/Y SOC, a 122-foot Delta Marine built in 1997, listed with Denison Yacht Sales broker Kurt Bosshardt for $4.5 million.

M/Y Clorinda, a 120-foot (36.5m)

boats /brokers ISA Yachts new build, listed jointly with Northrop & Johnson and Ocean Independence for 12.9 million euros.

S/Y Sovereign, above, a 118-foot (36.2m) Alloy sloop built in 1995, listed with Northrop & Johnson broker Jochen Brill for 2.95 million euros.

M/Y Victoria, a 113-foot (34.4m) Hatteras launched in 1991, listed with Northrop & Johnson broker Bill Titus for $895,000.

M/Y Island Time, a 110-foot (33.5m) Broward built in 1991, listed with Northrop & Johnson broker Kristen Engelmann-Klein for $1.69 million.

M/Y Perla Nero, a 109-foot (33m) Cyrus built in 2007, listed with Camper & Nicholsons broker Rytis Babravicius for 4.9 million euros.

M/Y Aquarius S, a 106-foot (32m) Falcon built in 2002, listed with Northrop & Johnson broker Gregory Dagge for just under $1.8 million.

M/Y Negoseator, a 105-foot (32m) Leopard built in 2005, listed with Denison Yacht Sales broker Bob Anslow for just under $3 million.

News in the charter fleet

M/Y Icon, above, a 221-foot (67.5m) Icon yacht built in 2010, will be available for charter in the western Med next summer through Bluewater Yachting.

M/Y Rebel, a 157-foot (48m) Trinity built in 2005, available for charter in the Bahamas through Northrop & Johnson.

M/Y H, a 140-foot Benetti launched in 2015, available for charter in the Bahamas and Caribbean this winter and the western Med next summer through Northrop & Johnson.

M/Y Lady Azul, a 129-foot (39.4m) Heesen built in 2001, available for winter charter in Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar through Northrop & Johnson.

M/Y Shadow, a 100-foot (30.6m) yacht built in 2013, available for summer charter in Sydney, Australia, and winter charter in Whitsundays, Australia, through Northrop & Johnson.

News 41

42 News

The-Triton.com December 2017

Boat show tests tax-free sale of foreign-flagged vessel in U.S. FTZ, from Page 1 Lagasse said of the marina at the center of FLIBS. “They want to show to a whole new market that didn’t see the boat during the show.”

Previously, a foreign-flagged yacht had two main options when for sale at the world’s largest boat show: pay the U.S. import duty, or get a boat show bond. The duty can come with a “Not for sale or charter to U.S. residents while in U.S. waters” placard, and the boat

show bond restricts potential buyers to contacts made during the show.

The FTZ does not have those restrictions. Yachts in the zone are available to show to new prospects, can conduct sea trials and can visit shipyards for repairs and maintenance.

“Yachts can even close and sell and don’t pay duty,” said Steele Reeder, owner of Howard S. Reeder, a customs brokerage based in Miami. “Whoever buys it has to satisfy what is needed, whether to take it out of the country or

register to use it. Or he may export it and go foreign.”

Yacht owners, brokers and captains will want to weigh costs, owner use and travel schedules to see if being part of the FTZ works for them, Reeder said.

And there will be some cost. The initial cost has been covered by the main operator of the FTZ subzone, the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF). The association paid Interport Group of Companies, a customs brokerage and consulting firm

in Miami, to create the zone, said Gary Goldfarb, Interport’s chief strategy officer. But the association activated the zone free for members who applied to join. Those 14 or so businesses will split an $8,000-a-year bond cost. And each business has made investments to tailor zones to meet U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other federal government requirements. Yachts fees involve coverage in case a law is broken or the yacht leaves the zone incorrectly.

“Each marina has to have a bond with customs to cover if the vessel takes off,” Goldfarb said.

Reeder explained that it is known as a back-to-back bond.

“It is a bond the owner of the yacht purchases that protects the zone in case he takes the yacht and never returns or does not come back in 120 days,” Reeder said. “This would trigger the duty. We can’t risk being in that bind with customs. It is highly unlikely that this will happen, maybe a first-time user who doesn’t understand it.”

Yachts will see yards like Lauderdale Marine Center (LMC) require payment for a berth in the zone whether the yacht is physically in the slip or traveling. This stems from CBP monitoring requirements.

“We’re not charging markup on the slip, it’s just regular dockage,” said George Whitehouse, business development director at LMC. Although the yard will charge a fee of several thousand dollars to maintain compliance with CBP paperwork and administration, those costs will be worth the benefits, he said.

“It will benefit brokerages in the U.S.,” Whitehouse said. “They don’t have to take the yacht offshore to close.

If it is going through a refit, anything they bring from outside the U.S. is dutyor tax-free. And they can leave the slip and promote the boat for 120 days.”

M/Y Clorinda is expected to reap these benefits when LMC gains official “production authority” in January.

Although LMC is currently activated as an FTZ, once all the government paperwork is complete, duties can be deferred on all imported parts while a yacht is in the zone on site. Whether it is piping or furniture, the yacht will not pay duty or sales tax on components. Once a project such as Clorinda is ready to leave the zone, the vessel must depart the U.S. to avoid paying required duties or taxes on those items.

Although there is great potential for specific scenarios, not every yacht will

News 43

December 2017 The-Triton.com

want to participate in the FTZ, Reeder said. “The FTZ eliminates owner use – they can’t even spend the night.”

If a yacht just wants to be for sale for a boat show, they can do it easier and less expensively on a boat show bond, Reeder said.

“For them to be in FTZ may not be economically feasible,” Reeder said.

“The zone definitely works for brand new boats. I see this zone being useful to commercial importers, brand new boats with no intent to use.”

Pier 66, another FTZ that has been activated, has just such a scenario.

Sanlorenzo Americas is a longtime

MARINAS C&N Marinas appoints COO

Camper & Nicholsons Marinas has appointed Dan Hughes as chief operating officer. Hughes will be responsible for day-to-day management and operations within the Camper & Nicholsons Marinas portfolio. A certified marina manager, Hughes has over 25 years of marina management experience. He is a board member of the Global Marina Institute, which provides marina training and certification, and is chairman of the European Certificated Marina Managers Group.

Camper & Nicholsons Marinas Ltd. operates marinas in Grenada, Italy, Malta, Cyprus, Turkey and the U.K. For more information, visit http:// en.cnmarinas.com.

Valentines upgrades for season

Valentines Residences Resort and Marina, the largest marina complex on Harbour Island in The Bahamas, has completed several updates to its facility, including a newly installed marina relay protection switch that ensures a stable supply of electricity to visiting boats.

Valentines came through hurricanes Irma and Maria with no damage. The resort has reported that the marina is fully operational and ready to receive guests for the winter yachting season.

Valentines’ marina has 51 transient slips, 33 of which are over 80 feet with 7 feet of draft. Several slips have a 9-foot draft and the marina has accommodated vessels up to 204 feet.

The full-service marina offers diesel fuel service, full electric, unlimited fresh RO water, wireless internet access, and nighttime security.

Valentines is the winner of The Best Marina in The Bahamas from the World Travel Awards and is a proud member of the Association of Bahamas Marinas.

For more information, visit www. valentinesresort.com

tenant on the Fort Lauderdale property, and George Jousma, president and CEO of Sanlorenzo Americas, said the company had several yachts in this year’s show. Historically, the company pays the duty on its yachts, but this year Jousma tried the FTZ and delayed the typical 1.5 percent import duty on the foreign-made new yachts. Jousma said after the show that the company is still assessing the benefits.

Many businesses have high hopes for the foreign trade zones. Bahia Mar expects to benefit financially from an increase in the quantity of yachts and subsequent business from those visitors,

said John R. Hopwood, vice president of special projects with RCI Group, one of Bahia Mar’s group of owners.

“We feel it will be such an advantage to people to be able to show to the U.S. market,” Hopwood said. “So much so, the savings will be worth paying dockage to sit.”

He expects brokers will find the zone beneficial to continue to show the boat and use it to attend the Palm Beach and Miami shows.

“The approval came so close to the show, next year we hope for more boats,” Hopwood said.

“In the future, this whole marina

could be a foreign trade zone.”

So, in addition to potential buyers, M/Y Clorinda is being watched by Foreign Trade Zone applicants, yachting businesses, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to see if everything works as expected.

“The intention of the Fort Lauderdale show, and the zone, is to sell boats,” said Charles Walker, marina manager at Bahia Mar. “In 2018 and ’19, this foreign trade zone will have a different face. It has opened our eyes to what is possible.”

Dorie Cox is editor of The Triton.

Comment at dorie@the-triton.com.

December 2017 The-Triton.com

Bluewater to offer certification program on refit skills at show Bluewater Crew Training and The Triton have partnered to develop a seminar series for the 2018 Refit Show, Jan. 10-11, 2018, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The two-day "Introduction to Yacht Refitting for Yacht Managers, Captains and Crew" certification program is part of the Refit Show's conference at the Broward County Convention Center. Industry professionals who complete six of the nine sessions offered will be awarded the new certification by Bluewater Crew Training.

The Bluewater certification seminars available at the Refit Show are: • Refit Yards • Legal and Liability Issues for Refits • Trends in Design • Basic Refit Preparation • Teamwork and Communication • Refit Case Studies • Department Responsibilities Before and During Refits • Creating a Refit Planning Guide • Conflict Resolution Bluewater faculty are developing the curriculum for the new certification to improve the skills of captains and crew during yard periods and to expand job prospects for those who complete the program.

"The refit process involves a wide variety of expertise and experience that must be well organized and coordinated,” said Kevin Petrovsky, chief academic officer at Bluewater. “This seminar series is designed not only to provide an overview of the process, but to provide practical and tangible guidance at each

stage of the process."

All of Bluewater's courses are also open to Refit Show attendees who aren't seeking certification, but who wish to develop their own refit management skills.

"Captains and crew are integral to the refit process in any shipyard," said Jim Miller, Refit Show director. "Providing them with the communication, management and teamwork skills offered by Bluewater will improve their efficiency, making them more valuable to yacht owners and their representatives."

The 2018 Refit Show is a two-day trade show featuring exhibitors on every facet of a refit, including shipyards, designers, painters, equipment manufacturers, service professionals and more.

Now in its third year, the show will take over the entire exhibit hall, a space it shared with the International Marina and Boatyard Conference (IMBC) previously. All exhibitors will now focus on yacht refits, their processes and skills.

The seminar series, too, has expanded to 24, up from 15 last year. More networking events and live product demonstrations are also in the works, organizers said.

To register for the Refit Show or to learn more about the new certification program, other seminar options, and reduced seminar rates for captains and crew, visit www.refitshow.com.

The Refit Show is owned and managed by www magazine.

– Triton staff

Captains, owners panels at Refit The Triton is hosting two special events at the Refit Show this year.

Once again, we will host our monthly From the Bridge captains lunch during the show. Unlike our regular monthly captains roundtables, which are held in private, at Refit each year we invite the public to participate.

Triton Editor Dorie Cox will assemble a panel of captains on Thursday, Jan. 11, to discuss a refitrelated topic (it’s a secret until we all get in the room) and the audience can eavesdrop. The first 40 minutes will be the Triton-captain discussion, with time at the end for a question-and-

answer session.

Bring a bag lunch (available in and around the convention center) and listen first-hand to captains discussing this important topic.

The other session is a first for us, an owners panel to open the show on Jan. 10. Triton Publisher Lucy Chabot Reed will assemble a group of yacht owners who have recently gone through a refit to discuss the process, especially the role of their captains and crew, and project managers. Like the captains lunch, the first 30-40 minutes will be the Triton-owner conversation, with time at the end for a question-and-answer session.

News 45

46 Triton Networking

OCEAN WINE & sPIRITS of a following. He already knows his customers' palette. Because of his wine knowledge, if we don't have a wine his customer likes, he can recommend a similar wine.

Triton Networking kicks off the holidays Dec. 6 at Ocean Wine & Spirits in Fort Lauderdale, where a veteran yacht provisioner has joined a new shop.

Join us on this first Wednesday of the month to catch up with wine specialist Fernando Jewett, meet shop owner Monty Lelwani, and discover Ocean Wine & Spirits.

Until then, learn more about the shop and how the duo plan to make yacht provisioning easier.

Q. Tell us about Ocean Wine & Spirits.

ML: We’re a boutique fine wine and spirits store. We have three locations in Fort Lauderdale, and our newest location on East Las Olas Boulevard caters to the yachting community.

FJ: We carry everything you would expect, from $5 bottles of wine to $500 bottles. People are surprised when they come into the store that it's small but so well-stocked.

Q. Monty, what’s your background?

ML: My family's business is a tourist shop in that corner off A1A and Sunrise Boulevard that my parents opened in 1975. My father had another building and I wanted to start a business, some-

thing different, something that was mine. So I opened a liquor store. And we offered delivery from Day 1 because there's no parking there.

Q. Fernando, what’s your background?

FJ: I started working with Crown Wine & Spirits in 2004, then joined Total Wine & Spirits as the wine manager in 2006, when they had just opened the store on 17th Street. They didn't have a yacht provisioning program, but my customers were asking for it.

Crown had 1,500 wines; Total had 5,000. But Crown recruited me back, and I stayed there for 10 and a half years on the yacht provisioning side and wine education.

Q. The liquor business can’t be easy.

Why open in this sector? Why target yachting?

ML: It wasn’t easy, in the beginning.

My customers and sales reps taught me, and I learned every day. Having great reps and customers has made a difference.

I knew I wanted to expand into the yachting sector, and Fernando was the perfect fit. He has 11 years worth

Q. How can your experience help yachts?

ML: Just by asking the chief stew a few questions, we can set them up for success. If they can find out what the chef will be feeding the owner and guests, Fernando can offer some great pairings.

FJ: That's my ideal customer, someone who comes in and says here's what we're serving, can you recommend a

Monty Lelwani and Fernando Jewett

The-Triton.com December 2017

wine? They don't have to know what they want when the y come in. Most of these yachts have amazing chefs, so we can provide amazing wines to go with that amazing food. I can do the whole cellar for them if they know the owner's or guest's palette.

Q. How are you different from other liquor stores or provisioners?

ML: We will honestly try to the end of the earth to find what they want. And if we can't locate what a yacht needs, we'll say so, and we'll offer five options to meet their needs.

Also, we deliver free to every marina in town, and there's no minimum or maximum order. If the call comes in from a boat or marina, it's free delivery.

What I would like to suggest for every yacht is to let us take care of all the beverages, from water to liquor.

Anything that has to do with liquid, leave it to us. We don't charge a fee, just for the product we sell.

Join us on Dec. 6 from 6-8 p.m. at 2901 E. Las Olas Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale (33316). No RSVP necessary. Just bring business cards and a holiday spirit to enjoy yachting camaraderie and casual networking.

Calendar 47

December 2017 The-Triton.com

upcoming events Nov. 29 The Triton From the Bridge captains luncheon, noon, Fort Lauderdale. A roundtable discussion of the issues of the day. Yacht captains only. Request an invite from Editor Dorie Cox at dorie@the-triton.com or 954-525-0029. Space is limited.

Nov. 29-Dec. 1 International Workboat

Show, New Orleans. www.workboatshow.com

Nov. 30-Dec. 3 St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show, St. Petersburg, Fla. www.showmanagement.com Dec. 2-10 Nautic Paris Boat Show, France. This year, for the first time, the show will feature an innovation space and the Nautic Innovation Awards. www.salonnautiqueparis.com/en Dec. 6 Triton Networking, 6-8 p.m.,

the first Wednesday of every month at rotating locations in Fort Lauderdale.

This time with Ocean Wine & Spirits.

Captains, crew and industry professionals are welcome to join us for casual networking, no RSVP required. Read more about this new liquor store on page 46. www.the-triton.com

Dec. 7-10 16th annual Art Basel Miami Beach. The international art event hosts shows for modern and contemporary works. www.artbasel.com Dec. 9 Winterfest Boat Parade, Fort

Lauderdale. The 46th annual parade travels east on the New River and north on the Intracoastal Waterway to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach. Starts in downtown Fort Lauderdale at 6:30 p.m. This year's theme is “Broadway on Parade”. winterfestparade.com

Dec. 10-15 Advanced Marina

Management Course, Jacksonville, Fla.. marinaassociation.org

Dec. 12 Marine Industry Holiday Party, 5:30-8:30 p.m., at the new offices of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, 221 SW 3rd Ave. [33312]. Open to members and guests of MIASF, U.S. Superyacht Association, International Yacht Brokers Association and Young Professionals in Yachting. $10 in advance; $20 at the door, with proceeds to benefit the Marine Industry Cares Foundation. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy for children under care at the Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center. RSVP and details at www.marineindustrycares.org.

PICK OF THE MONTH Dec. 4-10 56th annual Antigua Charter Yacht Show

One of the industry’s largest charter shows, showcasing more than 50 yachts at three marinas: Nelson's Dockyard Marina in English Harbour, and Falmouth Harbour Marina and Antigua Yacht Club Marina in Falmouth Harbour. Other events include Concours de Chef and stew competitions, CYBA Hall of Fame presentation, seminars and yacht viewings, cocktail parties and yacht hops. antiguayachtshow.com

Dec. 15 16th annual PYA Christmas Ball Carlton Hotel, Cannes. Professional Yachting Association's annual holiday event. www.pya.org Dec. 20 No Triton Networking on this third Wednesday of the month due to seasonal holidays. Join us on Jan. 17 with Culinary Convenience. www.thetriton.com Jan. 3 No Triton Networking on this first Wednesday of the month due to seasonal holidays. Join us on Jan. 17 with Culinary Convenience. www.thetriton.com

MAKING PLANS

Jan. 10-11 Refit Show Fort Lauderdale A trade show and technical seminar series focused on improving yacht refits. The Triton has partnered with show organizers to help with seminars, exhibitors, and attendance. Editor Dorie Cox will host the monthly captains lunch during the show. Request an invite at dorie@the-triton. com or 954-525-0029. Space is limited. refitshow.com

48 Write to be Heard

We seamen depend on insurance too much This is in regards to Peter Herm’s Owner’s View column, “Lesson learned from Irma: Insurance doesn’t replace skill,” on Page 16 of the October issue.

It is comforting to know that Peter is among the very small number of crewed yacht owners capable of preparing a yacht for a hurricane, but we are all complicit in the current state of things.

We pay, directly or indirectly, the insurance premiums that finance the payouts for unprepared yachts, marinas and boat yards.

We occasionally hire captains, and often hire crew, who have very little hurricane preparation experience or education, and use marinas and yards that prioritize operational considerations to the detriment of the reduction of hurricane damage.

We provide the cash flow that defines the yachting business, so what we see is our creation.

We are far too polite to advise other owners or their crew when we observe equipment and procedures that indicate a high probability of heavy weather problems.

South Florida is problematic, as are the Carolinas, so the boats in our program are almost never below Hatteras during the hurricane season. However, we have found it necessary to undergo hurricane preparation as far north as Prince Edward Island.

In those instances, local yards, marinas and owners watched with amazement as we employed techniques and gear that Peter would find appropriate, explaining that we are a Florida boat and follow a conservative hurricane plan, even though our hull and liability coverage would easily cover any damage.

Perhaps the owners and crew who depend upon insurance, for the relatively few years that they are part of our community, are more rational than those of us who believe that protecting the vessel is a measure of seamanship, in which case we shall not be missed when we pass from the scene.

Melvyn Miller Yacht owner

from our readers

The-Triton.com December 2017

Crew Eye

S

econd Officer Gerhard Amstel (left) and First Officer Nathan Wells collect M/Y Sea Owl's UK Hydrographic Office chart folios from Bluewater Books and Charts in Fort Lauderdale in November. Flag registries and international laws require up-to-date paper charts on many of the large yachts.

The officers confirm the British Admiralty charts meet compliance.

PHOTOS/DORIE COX

Crew see yachting like no one else can. Send us images of yachting as you see it, in all its beauty and luxury, or all its toughness and tedium. Consider it your canvas to share your views of yachting. Send your photos to dorie@the-triton.com. Be sure to include where it was taken, when, and what kind of equipment you used.

Crew abuse B1/B2; ‘charter’ hurts cruising, too Visa abuse impacts U.S. jobs

Regarding the visa snafu story [on Page 38], this is a difficult situation, for many reasons. It will cost Florida revenue for the work being done. However, nobody seems to consider the impact on U.S. jobs. Non-U.S. crew are getting some of the best jobs in the industry.

Some owners and managers do not even consider U.S. crew for their vessels.

So, do I personally feel bad about this? No, I do not. Far too many jobs are being taken by non-U.S. crew, in my opinion. I am currently running a small vessel. Luckily, the owner is amazing as this is what matters anyway. I hope that this does not seem narrow- minded and uncaring, but I have a family to support.

Capt. Jeff Huffman

That word charter ups the paperwork Regarding your front-page story “Charter or private can affect crew visa” [November issue], in addition to difficulties concerning visas, if the vessel in non-U.S. flagged and is chartered or listed for charter anywhere in the world (Bahamas, as an example) then the vessel even as a private vessel cannot get a U.S. cruising permit. The document must be surrendered to the customs office at the port of arrival, which will issue a letter of deposit on the document.

The geographical limitation of operations are restricted. Arrival at Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) and you are restricted to Broward County out to three miles from shore. To cruise to Palm Beach, you must clear out from the Port Everglades district to the Palm Beach district (not open on Saturday or Sunday). You will receive your vessel document back, then you must clear in again (and have your document held) at the next district, and every time you move to the next customs district.

This is the case even if you write a statement that the vessel will not be used for charter in the U.S. waters.

The only way to get this “charter vessel” restriction removed by letter is also to state and take action that all advertising, all brokerage charter listings and any brochures are not available for public offer, even for future charter outside of the U.S. If the vessel is offered for charter outside of the U.S. for future dates, it is still considered a “charter vessel” by the immigration/customs department.

This policy has been in force for about the past five years. Previously, the designation as a private yacht and a private yacht for charter was not separated into different classes.

Capt. Dan Doyle

Experience counts, too

Regarding Peter Herm’s Owner’s View column in the August issue [“Help wanted: Dynamic, multi-taskers needed for real boat,” Page 12], I agree with him in most respects. Attitude in this service industry is a must, though I also agree with the argument that a multimilliondollar asset should be treated as such.

More importantly than an amenable joker is a captain who can ensure the guests have a wonderful time enhanced by the fact the yacht was brought safely and “sans drama” back to harbor.

Experience is not learned in a book.

Capt. Christopher Hezelgrave

Engineer left memories

Regarding the obituary of Chief Eng. Jan “Yannie” Nielsen [Page 10, November issue], Yannie was my chief of scuba for two seasons at Club Med in St. Lucia. I have many fond memories of him, but my favorite are: On my first official day as a scuba instructor, he warned me about “the landsharks” at Club Med; and when I wanted to quit, he knew how to challenge me in a way that my pride wouldn’t let me walk away. Thanks for sharing the news.

Kellie Shoemaker Charter Marketing Division Camper & Nicholsons International

December 2017 The-Triton.com

U.S. yachts will find same ease in cruising Cuba as last season

By Michael T. Moore and Maria Romeu The 2016-17 Caribbean yachting season was the first time since 1958 that U.S. yachters could visit Cuba, and they did so in droves. Canadians have made up the majority of tourists for the past few decades, but last year U.S. citizens came in No. 2, surpassing Europeans and Asians.

Since the late 1990s, Cuba has focused on developing the 3,500 miles of nearly virgin coastline offering three major archipelagos, four harbor cities with berthing conditions for superyachts and 12 marinas, seven of which have international entry and executive airports nearby. Many of the archipelagos and beach towns offer all-inclusive resorts operated by international hotel chains and not the Cuban government.

Yachts originating from U.S. waters have participated in U.S.-approved activities, such as fishing tournaments and marine ecology programs sponsored by The International SeaKeepers Society.

The 2016 Hemingway Billfish Tournament had over 90 participating fishing boats from the U.S., more than any Hemingway Tournament since its inception 65 years earlier. Sailing regattas between the U.S. and Cuba graced the Havana oceanfront with more sails in the panorama than ever before.

The superyacht Christina O crossed from Monte Carlo to Cienfuegos and made her way around the western tip of Cuba to Havana. M/Y Atomic followed a similar route, exploring what many believe to be some of the most spectacular reefs on Earth, from Cayo Largo to Cabo San Antonio. Jamaica Bay spent 10 days in Havana Bay while 18 yachts from the Ocean Reef Yacht Club established a historically significant friendship agreement with the Hemingway International Yacht Club of Cuba – the first and one of the few non-governmental and nonprofit organizations in Cuba. The Key West Yacht Club and about half a dozen others did the same.

One private dive boat achieved a BIS permit from the U.S. and a two-month cruising permit in Cuba to dive more than 50 spots off the Archipelago de Los Canarreos and the Maria La Gorda International Dive Center. The yachts Jopaju, Babieca and Reflections are among those that have made multiple trips to Cuba. Others that have cruised there include Michaela Rose, Lagniappe,

Top Dog, Big Eagle and Infinity. Every yacht came and went without a hitch.

So, are we going to treat the “Pearl of the Caribbean” like a one-night stand, or do we keep cruising to Cuba? There are two things to take into account: the law as defined by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control, aka OFAC; and insurance underwriters, who must make sure the extremely valuable property is protected.

Both of these challenges are easy to overcome and can be done with something as simple as an OFAC-compliant itinerary, a compliance affidavit or letter of sponsorship from a nonprofit organization for the guests aboard the yacht, a Cuban visa for the guests and crew, and a CG 3300 permit from the U.S. Coast Guard. Nothing has changed in regard to U.S. law since last year – the same process is followed; the same laws apply.

The only difference is that five marinas run by Gaviota – the Cuban company owned by the military arm of the government – are off limits to U.S. yachts. Also, a list of hotels and a few shops have been deemed off-limits to Americans. That leaves all the rest of 3,500 miles of coastline, two major archipelagos and all marinas run by the Marlin Group, which comprises most of the marinas in Cuba.

Cuba welcomes the yachter with open arms. Local navigation laws are relaxing and authorities are becoming more flexible in their attitudes and responses to private or charter recreational yachts from the U.S. Permits for private planes and helicopters are easy to obtain, as well as cruising permits to multiple ports and fishing permits. The marinas and ports are safe and their personnel are among the most professional in the world.

With the biggest, most beautiful island in the Caribbean close by and welcoming U.S. yachters with open arms – and no new restrictions from the U.S. government – it’s only natural to set sail for Cuba sooner rather than later.

Editor’s note: For updates from the U.S. government on travel to and business with Cuba, visit www.treasury.gov and search the word “Cuba.”

Michael T. Moore is a maritime and aviation lawyer with Moore and Company, in Miami, and Maria Romeu is president of Concierge Cuba, LLC in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

News 49

50 Where in the World

Triton Spotter

The-Triton.com December 2017 Crew and industry pros are spotted with the Triton Today during this years’ Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. The Triton staff produces a daily edition and is on the docks talking with captains and crew to learn what’s happening in the industry. Visit www.thetriton.com [click “articles’ then “boat show news”] to flip through the Triton Today daily issues.

Temperatures dipped into the 50s as the boat show was setting up in late October, so Ken Rawley, of Hacker-Craft, dug out one of his trusty long-sleeved Triton T-shirts. This blue one, from our boat show party in 2006, was spotted at Southport Raw Bar on a glorious pre-show afternoon.

We love to see The Triton all over the world, and we love to see our readers as they work and travel.

Share a photo of you and your Triton wherever and however you read it, whether in print or on your device.

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Tim Davey, of ISSGMT, was so busy overseeing The Oasis at the Fort Lauderdale boat show that he didn’t have time to read his Triton Todays. So he took them with him on a business trip to Athens, Greece, catching up on the plane.

December 2017 The-Triton.com

Find the Directory online at www.The-Triton.com.

Business cards 51

52 Business cards

Search hundreds of companies in the Triton Directory.

The-Triton.com December 2017

December 2017 The-Triton.com

Find the Directory online at www.The-Triton.com.

Business cards 53

54 Business cards

Search hundreds of companies in the Triton Directory.

The-Triton.com December 2017

December 2017 The-Triton.com

Find the Directory online at www.The-Triton.com.

Display Advertisers Company Alexseal Yacht Coatings Amerijet International Antibes Yachtwear Beers Group Bellingham Marine (Fifth Avenue Landing) Bellissima Fine Art Services Bluewater USA BOW Boat Owners Warehouse Bradford Marine Broward Shipyard Brownie’s Yacht Diver Business card advertisers/Puzzles C&N Yacht Refinishing Cable Marine Crown Wine & Spirits Culinary Convenience Estela Shipping Galley Hood GeoBlue Insurance Gran Peninsula Yacht Center HMC Handcraft Mattress Company Hyatt Regency Pelican Landing ISS GMT Global Marine Travel Landfall Marine Lauderdale Propeller Lifeline Inflatables/Zodiac of Fort Lauderdale Longbow Marine Maptech Marina Bay Marina Resort Marina Mile Yachting Center Maritime Marine Matthew’s Marine A/C MPT Maritime Professional Training Neptune Group

Page Company 6 19 41 8 28 43 44 7 18 19 20 51-55 26 2 5 13 50 24 27 30 9 25 42 31 14 37 45 21 12 45 10 35 56 24

Ocean Marine Yacht Center Ocean Wine and Spirits Pier Sixty-Six Marina Palladium Technologies Refit Exhibition and Conference River Supply River Services Ronnie’s Carpet Cleaning Roscioli Yachting Center Rossmare International Bunkering Royale Palm Yacht Basin RPM Diesel Engine Sailorman Savannah Yacht Refinishing Seafarer Marine Sea School Sirocco Marine / Brig Inflatables Smart Move Accomodations Staniel Cay Yacht Club SunPro Marine Superyacht Insurance Group TowBoatU.S Trac Ecological Green Products Tradewinds Radio Universal Marine Center United Yacht Transport VBH USA Ward’s Marine Electric Waterway Guide Watermakers, Inc. Watermakers Air Westrec Marinas Yacht Entertainment Systems Yacht Equipment and Parts Zeno Mattress

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Business cards 55