The Triton Vol.8, No.10

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Chefs delight

Concours de Chef competition judges chefs best. A6

Crew innovate In memoriam Capt. Kluttz of M/Y Dream dies. A4 Vol.8, No. 10

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and instincts. “This type of thing happens often, boats that had had crew injured, charter guests gone missing and not found, and heart attacks,” a captain said. “This made news because of her fame.” “But accidents are different from crimes,” another captain said. “There is a big difference.” As always, individual comments are not attributed to any one person in particular so as to encourage frank and open discussion. The attending captains are identified in a photograph on page A14. The investigation into the 1981 drowning of Wood, star of films such

A17

January 2012

Owners push the edge of law; captains won’t Yacht captains and yacht owners don’t always agree on what is right and wrong. The events surrounding the death of actress Natalie Wood are an example. In media reports, the captain of M/Y Splendour and yacht owner Robert Wagner disagreed on whether to search From the Bridge and call the U.S. Dorie Cox Coast Guard when Wood was missing. At this month’s Triton From the Bridge luncheon, captains discussed how to handle instructions from the boss that are contrary to their training

Let their enthusiasm help innovate a better way.

as Miracle on 34th Street, Rebel Without a Cause and Westside Story, was reopened in November when several witnesses, including Splendour Capt. Dennis Davern, presented new information. At the Triton lunch, we did not speculate on the details of Woods’ case but instead used it to explore how captains handle orders from the owner in cases of drugs, illegal actions or other questionable behavior. “Not one of us here will kiss a** for the owner and jeopardize our careers,” a captain said. “I don’t want to work for someone

See BRIDGE, page A14

TRITON SURVEY

How did you get your start in yachting? Someone I met in yachting opened a door for me Recruited from – 37.5% shore-based Friend life – recruited/hired 13.6% me – 22.2%

Walked docks until I was hired – 10.2% Replied to a job posting – 8.5% Crew agent – 8.0% – Story, C1

America’s Cup

Large yachts mostly no-shows for tune-up in San Diego The vision all along was to have dozens of superyachts anchored just outside the perimeter of the newly designed America’s Cup race course. Sleek, shiny yachts were supposed to mark the course boundaries while giving yacht owners, guests and crew a In the Cup front-row view of Capt. Paul Warren the action of the speedy AC Class 45foot catamarans zipping around at up to 25 knots. At least, that was the way it was presented by the new management team at the America’s Cup Event Authority at a superyacht forum in Ft. Lauderdale last spring. The ACEA is the San Francisco-based marketing arm for the America’s Cup organization. When the America’s Cup World Series (ACWS) racing action started in Cascais, Portugal, in early August, the catamarans knew exactly where the course boundaries were, thanks to electronics that warned them as they got close to the computer-generated boundaries. A new blend of GPS transponders and race committeemanaged chart plotters monitored each racer’s position. It’s a good thing, because the scores of megayachts needed to line the race course failed to appear in November in

GreenComm Racing from Spain sails past one of the few megayachts that watched the racing in San Diego in PHOTO/CAPT. PAUL WARREN November. San Diego. “The program is in test mode, prepping for San Francisco,” said Kate Pearson, president of the San Diego Superyacht Association (SDSA) and vice president of business development at Knight & Carver shipyard. “This was not the main event for the America’s Cup.”

The 183-foot Perini Navi ketch S/Y Zenji and the 106-foot Horizon M/Y Maximus II were consistent spectators, and a couple of other megayachts came out on individual race days, but that was all. This seemed to follow the pattern of low participation in earlier ACWS events in Europe, where photos and videos

showed only a handful of large yachts in the spectator fleets. The absence of superyachts was due to a breakdown in the ACEA’s planned Superyacht Program. The program was billed as a major element of the overall America’s Cup plan.

See AMERICA’S CUP, page A10


A January 2012 WHAT’S INSIDE

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Tropical treats

One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish. Visit their new PHOTO/TOM SERIO home on page A8.

Advertiser directory C12 Business Briefs B12 Boats / Brokers B5 Calendar of events B14 Columns: Crew Coach A17 Fitness B11 In the Galley C1 Interior C5 Latitude Adjustment A2 Nutrition C7 Personal Finance A16 Photography B10 Onboard Emergencies B2

Rules of the Road B1 Crew news A4,6,B1 Fuel prices B5 Marinas / Shipyards B9 Networking Q and A C4 Networking photos C3 News briefs A4 Obituaries A4,18 Photo galleries A8,B7 Puzzle C12 Tech Briefs B4 Triton Spotter B15 Triton Survey C1 Write to Be Heard A19


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LATITUDE ADJUSTMENT

Charter captains move on and up; former yachties keep going Capt. Greg Clark is at it again. Readers of this column may remember that three years ago, he moved his entire crew from M/Y Mystic to M/Y Lohengrin, then quickly onto M/Y Casino Royale. Now, for the third time, Capt. Clark and Chief Stew Marlys Clark took six of their crew with them to a new Latitude boat, the 188Adjustment foot (58m) M/Y Lucy Chabot Reed Excellence III. “We’re not really sure where this opportunity will lead, but when you’re surrounded by good people who respect each other, it’s tough to go wrong,” Clark said in a recent e-mail. Excellence’s owner has built a new yacht (the 60m M/Y Excellence V) and took veteran Capt. Ray Shore and his crew with him, leaving Excellence III wide open for Clark’s team. They were in Jacksonville after the Fort Lauderdale show for their Lloyd’s 10-year survey, then were headed to St. Barths for the holidays where they will be based for the winter. See them in the Med next summer, if the yacht doesn’t sell before then. Of course, a 58m takes more than eight crew, so Clark has hired more. “It’s nice to work with professionals who really care about doing a good job and get along well together, too,” he said. “Marlys and I have been very fortunate over the years to have great crew on our team. It makes the experience better for everyone.” He would never say it, so I will: That great team starts at the top. Congrats to you and Marlys After more than four years on the 135-foot charter yacht M/Y Atlantica, Capt. Roy and Stephanie Hodges have taken command of the 150foot Trinity M/Y Encore (ex-Magic). Stephanie, who was the chef, will now be chief stew. Based in Palm Beach, the team will develop a similar charter program to what they had on Atlantica, only bigger. The yacht will cruise the Bahamas, Caribbean and possibly New England. No word on who is taking over Atlantica, but it’s down to minimum crew for the short term. Congrats again to Capt. Elie Trichet of M/Y No Compromise who received a certificate of commendation from the Republic of the Marshall Islands for his role in rescuing two divers at sea. A story about the incident appeared in our November issue.

Necessity is the mother of invention, and so can be sore muscles. Former yacht Chef Dean Silva has launched a Web site filled with short videos of recipes and chefs cooking them so he could stop lugging more than 50 kilos of cookbooks around the world with him. Today’s World Kitchen.com is a video-based site with footage of chefs from around the world preparing and presenting their own seasonally inspired signature dishes. Launched over the summer, it already has video demonstrations of 70 dishes from 35 world-class chefs and more will be added soon. “While the books served me well, they were not practical to keep on board or travel with due to their sheer weight and lack of space,” Silva said in a press release about his new site. “They also were stagnant in their information. There is a constant demand for international yacht chefs to develop new skills, appreciate new flavors and create new dishes for their VIP guests.” The Australian chef has worked on the 47m Delta M/Y D’Natalin and the 50m Feadship M/Y Major Wager, where he traveled 20,000nm around the Pacific from Australia and South Pacific islands to Alaska and Mexico. Former yacht Stew Ann Marie Skordy has written a children’s book. Though she has no kids of her own, she based much of the message on her own experiences. “Start With Your Heart” lets kids know it’s OK if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. Skordy, 43, didn’t know what to do after college in 1991. That was, until she heard about Montserrat in the Caribbean. “I got my passport and was on my way with a one-way ticket,” Skordy said by phone from her home in East Palatka, Fla. “I’m a born gypsy, like every other yachtie.” Her subsequent adventures appear in her book for 4- to 8-year-olds. Skordy presents options that she herself took including being a chef on a private yacht, a teacher in Japan, a bartender in Guam and a dog nanny. “Scuba-diving fish feeder is my favorite,” Skordy said. She worked on yachts including M/Y Double G and M/Y Heritage III. For more information visit www. itsoktobdifferent.com. Have you made an adjustment in your latitude recently? Let us know. Send news of your promotion, change of yachts or career, or personal accomplishments to Editor Lucy Chabot Reed at lucy@the-triton.com. Triton Associate Editor Dorie Cox contributed to this column.

January 2012 A


A January 2012 NEWS BRIEFS

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Captain dies on voyage; chef electrocuted; fire destroys four family requests donations be made to Wounded Warriors at support. woundedwarriorproject.org. –Dorie Cox

Yacht chef electrocuted

Capt. Warren Kluttz, seen here in a recent photo in New York, was an PHOTO PROVIDED avid fisherman.

Capt. Warren Kluttz, 58, dies

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Capt. Warren Kluttz died on Dec. 16 of natural causes while onboard M/Y Dream. He was 58 and had been captain of the private 105-foot Hargrave for about three years. The yacht was under way from Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale bound for Antigua when the captain became unresponsive, First Mate Mike Brandt said. Deck/Stew Courtney Stephens found the captain having difficulty breathing. Chief Stew Ashley Chambers and the captain’s guest, Eduardo Contin, also assisted in the yacht’s medical procedures. The crew used the defibrillator, reached the U.S. Coast Guard on the satellite phone, contacted the flight medic and continued CPR. Brandt, 25, then navigated the yacht back to Bahia Mar marina in Ft. Lauderdale. “The captain loved to joke around, he was a very warm person,” said Brandt, who had been with the yacht for less than two months. “He made you instantly feel like family.” Speaking for the crew, Brandt said Capt. Warren was a lot of fun, and a great captain and friend. “He was always willing to help in any way he could, whether it be to talk and give advice, or to just listen,” he said by phone on Dec. 20 while driving to Charleston, S.C., for the funeral. “The only comfort that we, as friends of Warren have, is knowing he passed doing what he loved. Capt. Kluttz had a passion for boating and fishing. “He was a big fisherman and looked forward to fishing in the islands,” Brandt said. “He kept talking about the grand slam. It was one of his goals.” Broward County Medical Examiner reports said the captain succumbed to hypertensive arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Capt. Kluttz is survived by his wife, Natalie Marques Kluttz, three daughters and a son, a granddaughter, sisters, and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, his

Yacht Chef Eduardo Garcia was hiking in Montana on Oct. 9 when he was electrocuted by an unmarked electric company power source. He lost his left hand but is recovering. According to a Facebook page created by his family and twin brother, Garcia was near Yellowstone National Park when he found a bear carcass. He poked it and was electrocuted and burned, and then he walked more than two miles to find help. Garcia was taken by ambulance to a local hospital and was then airlifted to the University of Utah Hospital Burn Center where he was admitted in critical condition. In a post on Nov. 25, Garcia said he had been released from the hospital. “After nine surgeries, I came walking out of the hospital with all eight exit wounds healed and repaired, 20 pounds lighter, three rib sections missing and insanely without my left hand,” he wrote on the page “Eduardo Garcia Updates.” The post also said he has four more surgeries scheduled in the near future. Garcia was living in Paradise Valley, Mont., and ran a salsa and specialty foods business, Montana Mex, with a partner. –Dorie Cox

Fire destroys four in Miami marina

Four yachts docked at a marina in Coconut Grove, a suburb of Miami, were destroyed by fire on Dec. 17. The cause of the fire was still under investigation as of presstime. The fire started aboard the 65-foot M/Y Frieda Spirit around 6:30 a.m. at Grove Harbour Marina, according to a report in the Miami Herald. The fire spread to the neighboring 72-foot M/Y Zaza and then to the 88-foot M/Y The Parranda. A fourth vessel, the Splendour, was pulled out into the bay by tow when it began to smoke. It eventually caught fire as well. All four yachts were destroyed. A fifth vessel suffered heat damage, according to the Herald. The fire was reportedly brought under control about 9 a.m. A person from the first yacht was taken to a hospital with non-serious burns and the other vessels were said to be vacant. Dock cameras are being viewed for more information about the fires. –Dorie Cox

See NEWS BRIEFS, page A12



A January 2012 CREW NEWS: Antigua Concours de Chef

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Chef Tim MacDonald of the 180-foot Huntress won in the division for yachts PHOTOS/LUCY REED of 160 feet and larger.

Chefs shine at Antigua show, despite challenges of deadline By Lucy Chabot Reed The 12th annual Concours de Chef at the Antigua Charter Yacht Show honored top chefs during a threeday judging tour of more than 30 vessels. Judges had just 30 minutes to rate competitors on everything from use of local ingredients and taste to presentation and a chef ’s knowledge of food handling. The chefs were asked to prepare a Caribbean banquet, and were honored in three yacht size categories. Additional honors were given to stews in a table setting competition and to the chef with the most innovated use of Carib Bean Coffee. During the competition, judges also selected two yachts for special recognition for creativity in recognizing the show’s 50th anniversary: M/Y Passion for a “50” display made from crushed champagne bottles, and M/Y Sea Quell for its anniversary display using banana leaves. The winner for yachts of 160 feet and larger: Chef Tim MacDonald of M/Y Huntress Chef Tim MacDonald took the “banquet” theme to heart and created a full array of appetizers, entrees, sides and desserts, more than 25 items in all. With his judging occurring at 11:30 a.m., he just didn’t sleep the night before. “The best thing to do is work through the night,” he said. “The way to mess up is to put yourself under pressure.” A few of his submissions: cold lobster medallions in mango and Kaffir lime leaf sauce; soused local conch with pink grapefruit and white rum-soused salsa and avocado; jerked chicken and barbecued pineapple wrapped in banana leaf with green papaya and hot mint coleslaw; and wholegrain rice, black bean and sugar snap pea salad. “It’s nothing that I don’t do for the owner of charter guests,” he said. (His captain confirmed that.)

Second place in this vessel size category went to Chef Heather Kaniuk on M/Y Numptia. Third place went to Chef Thomas Frank on M/Y Passion. MacDonald’s favorite part of the competition was the desserts. Main courses as usually a big chunk of meat, he said, “not very exciting.” He prefers starters and desserts. “People lose a lot of points on charter with desserts,” he said. “They get lazy at it.” As with the other winners, he acknowledged that the hardest part was the timing. “Going into that redline fatigue stage – you’ve been on your feet for 1213 hours – and that’s when you need to be at your best,” he said. “Getting the timing right was definitely the hardest part. I didn’t want to overcook the ham or the snapper.” MacDonald worked nearly 20 years in French restaurants and star-rated restaurants, learning his craft until a friend spend a year in Greece, working partly in a villa and partly on a yacht. He’s been working on yachts now for about six years, including the past 16 months on Huntress. The winner for yachts of 101-160 feet: Chef Emma Beckett of M/Y Lady J New to her yacht (she joined Lady J just three weeks before the competition), Chef Emma Beckett has spent the past nine years as a successful freelance chef on yachts. The English chef offered a straight menu of courses, beginning with a papaya green chili ’tini cocktail, yellow fin tuna ceviche, and prickly pear and avocado chilled soup. Her main fish entree was rock lobster stuffed with sweet potato and crab mousse with cabbage and cucumber kimchi. Her main meat entree was jerk marinated filet mignon with a roasted corn fried dumpling and

See TOP CHEFS, page A7


The Triton

www.the-triton.com CREW NEWS: Antigua Concours de Chef

January 2012 A

Favorite part for all three winners was making the desserts TOP CHEFS, from page A6 a thyme curry sauce. She followed that with a trio of mini desserts, her favorite part of the competition: Antigua lime pie; thyme, chili salt chocolate torte; and coconut and ginger ice cream with a white chocolate ginger wasabi ganache. “It was a fun challenge,” Beckett said. “I’ve never entered a competition before. I should quit while I’m ahead.” Second place in this size category went to Chef Gabrielle Scott of M/Y

Chef Emma Beckett of M/Y Lady J had never competed before.

Va Bene. Third place went to Chef Jerry Bond of M/Y Arioso. Beckett presented her menu to the judges at 9:30 a.m., making the timing of getting everything out at the specified time the hardest part of the competition. That, and creating the menu, which she researched online for weeks before the show. “I didn’t want to do all the typical things with the Caribbean ingredients. I wanted it to be elegant, so I figured out what I didn’t want. I didn’t want too much fruit or coconut.” Beckett started her culinary career with a private catering company in London, working as a sous chef in charge of nine chefs. She went to Antigua on a holiday and met a woman who worked on a yacht. When she got back to London, she quit and packed a bag for Newport, R.I. She was 25. Within a couple of weeks, she was chef on the charter yacht Kaori. Her freelancing has enabled her to travel during her off time, but now she’s back on yachts full time to save money for her newest adventure, a chocolate business based in Miami that puts a twist on the sweets, Jaded Treats. (www. jadedtreats.com) The winner for yachts of less than 100 feet: Chef René Kappetein of S/V World’s End After just a season on yachts, Chef

Chef René Kappetein of S/V World’s End didn’t sleep the night before. René Kappetein wowed the judges with a sophisticated, Caribbean-inspired menu. The 30-year-old chef from Holland offered an assortment of entrees, including: a lemongrass skewer with grilled pork tenderloin and a jerk spiceflavored sauce, lobster bisque with bacon-wrapped lobster tail medallion, and mango and chili stuffed chicken breast with caramalized cashew crushed potato. His dessert (for which he also won the most creative use of coffee in a recipe in this yacht size) was a pineapple compote, chocolate cremeux,

coffee reduction, roasted coffee bean and star anise powder with a coconut biscuit. Second place in the under 100-foot division was Chef Adrian Martin of M/Y Lady Alliaura. Third place went to Chef Caro Uy of M/Y Muse. Before joining the 65-foot catamaran World’s End in May, Kappetein spent two years on a small cruise ship. He came into the marine industry from the Burj Al Arab hotel and restaurant in Dubai. He’s had no formal training, just a lot of experimenting, and a lot of traveling. His favorite part of the competition: making the dessert. “It all just came together exactly the way I wanted it to. The hardest part: “Preparing and keeping everything clean as I go by myself.” Kappetein’s judging was at 9:30 in the morning, so he didn’t sleep the night before. The Concours de Chef competition was sponsored by Boat International Media, Piper Heidsieck champagne and LIAT. For full profiles of the winners, visit www.the-triton.com and search for their names. Lucy Chabot Reed is editor of The Triton. Comments are welcome at lucy@ the-triton.com.


A January 2012 PHOTO GALLERY

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We found M/Y Ronin stews Jackie Moran and Stacey Burscough strolling the Rybovich yard. You would think that the 196-foot Lurssen they work on would be large enough to stretch their legs.

Dayworker Stefan Najbicz had the arduous task of polishing metal components on the 147-foot Feadship M/Y Lionwind. Hailing from South Africa, Najbicz has been seeking a full-time deck/ engineer position. His dream is to be chief engineer on a PHOTOS/TOM SERIO 130-footer.

Just in from South Carolina and battling lumpy seas, the 106-foot Westship M/Y Miz Doris III was getting a washdown from Mate Russ Perkins. This is Perkins’ first crew job and so far, after a year, he’s still enjoying it.

Tending to the tender of M/Y Arms Reach are Capt. Brit Robinson and Mate Danny Toro. From her home port of Palm Beach, this 130-foot Westport is heading to the Bahamas for the winter.

Heading to the Caribbean for a few months is the 112-foot Royal Huisman S/Y Billy Budd. Some of the crew getting her ready are Chef Michela Saragoni, Eng. Geoff Manchester, and Mate Alec Spain.

Getting the dirty work done aboard M/Y White Cloud is First Mate Charl Dettmer, 2nd Officer Adam Butterfield, temporary Deckhand Brandon Rose, and deckhands Blayne Astley, Blake Turczak and Sam Tuwaites. Look for this 220-foot Feadship in the Caribbean this winter.

Enjoying the happenings at a recent Rybovich-hosted happy hour was the crew of the 174-foot Delta M/Y Silver Shalis. Deckhand Mark Spooner, Deckhand Jim Weiderman, Chef Carlos Manriguez, Capt. Michael Santoff and Purser Mariel Santoff, his wife. On the right is Tony Leyva from M/Y Ingot, Mariel’s brother.

Still able to break a smile after a long day of tending to M/Y Bad Girl, her crew is ready for some rest and relaxation. Heading up this crew on this 186-foot Brooke Marine-built yacht is Capt. Stephen Jeckells, far left. Look for Bad Girl in the Caribbean this winter then off to the Med for the summer.



A10 January 2012 FROM THE FRONT: America’s Cup

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Captain cited ‘frustrating’ lack of direction AMERICA’S CUP, from page A1 However, it suffered from a midstream change in program managers, with the new manager coming onboard right before the San Diego event in early November. Apparently, there was also a superyacht responsibility transfer from the ACEA to the America’s Cup Race Management, the on-the-water event management team, adding to the organizational confusion. Perhaps the organizational and staffing changes contributed to a “frustrating” lack of communications and directions from the ACEA/ACRM organizers that plagued the San Diego planning process, according to one San Diego superyacht industry participant. For example, AC managers distributed their “Course Marshal Instructions – Flagged Vessels” two days before racing started. These instructions were directed toward the cadre of team chase boats, team VIP boats, TV and photo chase boats and participating superyachts, all of which were issued specially designated flags indicating their status on and near the race course. The original concept, as presented in May, was for the AC Superyacht Program to offer yacht owners, guests and crew “unprecedented access and involvement” in the America’s Cup racing and festivities. Initial plans included “establishment of an America’s Cup Yacht Club, and new, integrated superyacht involvement on and off the water.” The program also called for inclusion of a steering committee to “insure compliance of superyachts” for AC certification and a captains advisory committee to act as ambassadors to promote the America’s Cup events. No information could be located about either of these committees having been created. San Diego was the third and final stop on the 2011 introductory tour for the America’s Cup World Series. The California regatta was held from Nov. 12-20. Nine teams representing seven countries competed. Unlike previous America’s Cup regattas, which were held 4-5 miles offshore, the new AC series features “stadium sailing” with a race course set up in an inshore area, usually within the venue’s harbor, providing easy viewing by shore-side spectators. Several in the local superyacht community were disappointed in the ACEA’s lack of effort to turn out stronger numbers of large yachts. While the SDSA sent out a save-thedate notice and other ACWS-related

See AMERICA’S CUP, page A11


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FROM THE FRONT: America’s Cup

America’s Cup changes create trial-and-error learning lab AMERICA’S CUP, from page A10 e-mails to local superyacht captains and industry members, participation was minimal. The sense was that the ACEA was not focused on the superyachts. Capt. Rick Litchfield of M/Y Mercedes, a 98-foot Versilcraft Super Challenger took the owners out on Nov. 16, a warm and sunny day with about 12-knot winds – perfect, he said, for a high performance sailboat race. Litchfield, a sailor himself on his family’s C&C 38 Ambush, said he had been looking forward to the fast-paced speed of the race boats and the close proximity of the racing. He said his owners, who are non-sailors, found the event exhilarating and entertaining. Despite his enthusiasm, Litchfield echoed other comments about streamlining future communications with the ACWS organizers. He said he looks forward to improvements regarding furnishing schedules, charter availability, social events and any other potential involvement in the ACWS’s week-long program for large yachts. The radical changes taking place across the entire America’s Cup scene are also creating confusion and a trial-and-error learning experience for everyone involved. Fortunately, most of the impact of the learn-as-you-go approach is on people behind the scenes. The spectators saw, simply, hightech racing machines – the sailing counterparts of Formula 1 race cars. They saw exhilarating speeds they’re not used to seeing from sailboats. They saw real athletes – not laidback sailors – bouncing from side to side in 10m sprints with each tack and jibe. Then there was the closemark roundings at up to 25 knots and windward hulls flying so high you think a capsize is imminent. The new-format America’s Cup is definitely not your father’s America Cup. The racing is lively. Shore-side crowds are involved. And the world’s superyachts have – potentially – a significant role to play in 2012-2013 ACWS events scheduled for Naples and Venice, Italy; Newport, R.I.; and San Francisco. However, as San Diego showed, there’s much work to do on the AC Superyacht Program to make the vision come true. Capt. Paul Warren is a boating and travel writer based in the Tampa Bay area. He will follow and report on news relating to the 2013 America’s Cup. Contact him through editorial@ the-triton.com.

New law lets foreign yachts charter during AC regattas On Nov. 29, U.S. President Barack Obama signed the America’s Cup Act of 2011, which provides an exemption for foreign-flagged megayachts to move owners and charter guests between ports if they are involved in the regatta and related events. “The new legislation is not intended to cater for foreign-flagged superyachts attending AC34 events,” said Sam Hollis, general counsel with America’s Cup Race Management. “Under the current coastwise laws, foreign yachts are not barred from participating altogether; far from it. “Foreign superyachts can come to the U.S. and operate as a pleasure vessel under a cruising license,” he said. “An owner or bareboat charterer can bring their boat to the U.S., sail to or around U.S. ports and points for pleasure purposes, berth in U.S. ports and use the craft to watch AC34 events. The only restriction is on the carrying of business guests, who are deemed to be passengers under U.S. law, and their carriage is not allowed under a cruising license.” Certification is issued by the U.S. Maritime Administration with an endorsement by the ACRM. Under the restrictions of the America’s Cup Act, vessels must not transport merchandise, must not be a ferry carrying passengers between ports and are limited to 25 nonpaying passengers. Passengers must be engaged in the staging, operations, or broadcast of the competition, race team personnel, members of the media, or event sponsors. The exemption was necessary because back-to-back America’s Cup World Series regattas will be held this summer (Newport, June 23-July 1; San Francisco, August).

AC marina moved from park

A megayacht marina slated to be built for the America’s Cup to be held in San Francisco this fall has been moved, according to stories in the San Francisco Chronicle. After complaints from citizens and environmental appeals, the AC will move its planned marina from piers 14 to 22½ to Pier 54 in Mission Bay. At issue was the section of waterfront by Rincon Park, which provides a views of the bay along the Embarcadero. “This will move the [planned] longterm marina from ... a passive area to a more a working waterfront,” Monique Moyer, executive director of the port, told the Chronicle. The America’s Cup Village is planned for Piers 27 to 29.

January 2012 A11


A12 January 2012 NEWS BRIEFS

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USCG upgrades ANOA site; MPT upgrades its simulator NEWS BRIEFS, from page A4

Mustang PFDs recalled

Mustang Survival has voluntarily recalled all model MD2010 and MD2012, 22-pound buoyancy inflatable personal flotation devices (PFDs) sold in the United States in 2011. Mustang PFDs without white, sewnon safety labels that are also missing the MIT stamp above the CO2 cyclinder should be returned to the company. Those PDFs with the MIT stamp do not need to be returned. The company has added a page to its Web site with photographs of the affected PFDs: www.mustangsurvival. com/22lb-product-notice. “This recall is being issued for the inspection and repair of an inflater installation inconsistency that may prevent some units from fully inflating,” the company states on its Web page. “Mustang Survival has developed a solution that corrects any affected product and prevents re-occurrence of this issue. The inspection and repair can only be performed at a Mustang Survival factory.” The company expects testing and repair to take no more than four weeks. For shipping instructions, call 1-800526-0532. Mustang Survival will pay for all testing, repair and shipping costs.

Legacy owner loses lawsuit

Peter Halmos, owner of the 158foot S/Y Legacy, has lost his bid to get insurance companies to pay up to $25 million more for the rescue and repair of his yacht, according to a story in the Key West Citizen on Nov. 23. During Hurricane Wilma in the fall of 2005, S/Y Legacy was blown aground into a nature preserve off Key West, Fla., where it remained for more than two years before being pulled off the grassy bottom and taken in for repairs. Chief U.S. Magistrate Stephen Brown decided the case in a non-jury trial in Miami.

USCG upgrades ANOA site

The U.S. Coast Guard will release version 2.0 of the Electronic Notice of Arrival/Departure (eNOAD) Web application on Jan. 10, according to a government statement. The majority of the application’s graphical layout remains the same; however, the overall look of the interface has undergone major changes, and some new features have been added as well. A detailed listing and description of these changes, including images comparing the current and new versions of the application, has been posted to the NVMC Web site: https:// enoad.nvmc.uscg.gov/.

MPT upgrades simulator

Maritime Professional Training (MPT) has upgraded the visual projection systems of the Main Bridge located at its S.M.A.R.T. (Simulation for Maritime Assessment, Research and Training) campus in Ft. Lauderdale. The simulator is the most advanced, privately owned simulator in the industry. NavSim Services performed the upgrades to the system’s hardware, including new F32 projectors that supply up to 8,000 lumens each projected onto a 120-foot (36.5m) curved screen. The upgraded installation will also feature Projection Design’s patented multi-image processors supplying image adjustments at the pixel level. Transas USA will continue as the software provider. MPT’s S.M.A.R.T. campus features three full-mission INS/IBS-equipped navigational bridges along with ARPA, ECDIS, and electronic navigation labs. The campus is used primarily by ships’ officers and crew, pilot groups, and vessel operators to provide training and assessment for the USCG, MCA, BMA, MI, and STCW regulations. For more information, visit www. MPTusa.com.

Some TWIC cards ‘unreadable’

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States has announced that about 26,000 TWIC cards issued before April 5 may not work correctly with all TWIC card readers. The agency attributes the problem to integrated circuit chips that were improperly encoded. Defective Transportation Worker Identification Credential cards will be replaced free of charge. All mariners who hold a U.S. license must have a TWIC to enter the secure area of a port or place without escort, and must have one to renew their license. To find out if a card is affected, go to http://tiny.cc/faultytwic. To request a replacement, call the TWIC Help Desk at 1-866-347-8942, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., EST. Reported in a recent edition of Wheelhouse Weekly, a newsletter of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots. It has been reprinted with permission.

Pirates get life in Quest deaths

Two of the pirates charged in the deaths of four American cruisers aboard S/Y Quest were sentenced on Dec. 15 to life in prison. Nine of the

See NEWS BRIEFS, page A13


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NEWS BRIEFS

Supercrew contest to open; Miami OKs idea of marina NEWS BRIEFS, from page A12 original 19 pirates involved have now been sent to prison. One of the pirates was a former Somali police officer, the other an electrician, according to a story by the Associated Press. The pirates hijacked the 58-foot Quest in February several hundred miles south of Oman. T he Americans were killed several days later after U.S. warships started shadowing the Quest and negotiations between the Navy and the pirates broke down. The cruisers – Quest’s owners Jean and Scott Adam of Marina del Rey, Calif., and their crew, Bob Riggle and Phyllis Macay of Seattle – were shot to death onboard and all the pirates were detained and brought to the U.S. for justice.

New contest opens for yacht crew

Yacht management company Krystal Yachts of Hampshire, UK, has organized a new competition for yacht crew. Called Supercrew 2012, the competition is open to professional crew members who work on any luxury yacht. Each quarter, captains will be able to nominate the crew member who has demonstrated excellence in their abilities and attitude to work. The best nomination each quarter will win an engraved iPad. The first competition will open this month. For more information, visit krystalyachts.com/supercrew.

PYA OK’d for CI endorsement

The Antibes, France, office of the Professional Yachtsmen’s Association (PYA) has been approved by Cayman Maritime as an examination center for mariners sitting their online Law and Procedures exam, which must be passed to obtain a Cayman Islands endorsement.

Rendevous raises $1 million

The 24th annual Showboats International Rendezvous in late November raised more than $1 million for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County. Held at Rybovich near West Palm Beach, the three-day event included a yacht hop and a black-tie gala at the Mar-A-Lago Club.

Bradfords raffles two jobs

During the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in late October, Bradford Marine and Interlux Yacht Paints raffled off two bottom jobs. Capt. Jay Fortier of the 116-foot

Lazzara M/Y Le Bon Joujou won the job at Bradford Marine in Ft. Lauderdale. Capt. Kevin Ward of the 83-foot Ferretti M/Y Emerald won the job at Bradford Marine Bahamas.

Greece loosens cabotage rules

Greece is abolishing all restrictions on cruise ships unaffiliated with the European Union at Greek ports offering round trips, according to a story in Maritime Executive in mid-December. Last year, Greece began to unwind their restrictions that required foreignflagged ships operating in territorial waters to employ Greek sailors. Cruise companies were required to sign agreements that included tax payments for Greek sailors, and only permitted cruises that lasted a minimum of 48 hours in Greek waters. After a conference in Athens, Michalis Chrisochoides, Greece’s minister of development, competitiveness and shipping, said that Greece wanted international cruise ship companies to use Greek ports. The draft law for the full abolishment of cabotage restrictions was expected to be submitted to the Greek parliament in late December.

CBP opens training facility

U.S. Customs and Border Protection opened its new National Marine Training Center in St. Augustine, Fla. The center will deliver advanced marine law enforcement training to the agency’s 350 marine interdiction agents and 260 U.S. Border Patrol agentsmarine via 30 maritime courses. An interim training facility opened there in December 2010. The new space was dedicated in November. CBP Office of Air and Marine patrols the coastal waters of the U.S., provides support to federal agencies, and provides search and rescue support.

Miami port OKs marina idea

The city of Miami has approved the idea of a megayacht marina in the Port of Miami, according to media reports. The concept is included in the city’s master plan, a voluminous document that helps city planning and zoning officials create areas for the development. The master plan runs though 2035. The plan calls for a marina at the southwest corner of the port, beside which would be a public promenade with restaurants and shops. “These are just ideas,” Port of Miami spokeswoman Paula Musto told Miami Today. “The important thing to keep in mind is that the master plan is just a guide as proposals and opportunities [for development] are identified.”

January 2012 A13


A14 January 2012 FROM THE BRIDGE: Making decisions

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If the owner breaks the law, ‘it should be his penalty’ BRIDGE, from page A1 who compromises my principles,” another captain said. One captain said his line is clear: never compromise, no matter what. Another explained his litmus test is the level the decision affects him personally. It boils down to whether the infraction will affect the owner or the captain. “If the owner wants to get around something, it should be his penalty,” this captain said. The group’s conversation took a serious tone when it came to captains quitting instead of complying. Several said they would quit their position before doing something they disagree with, but clearly, the group hoped never to be tested. “If he still says do the wrong thing, you have a dilemma, especially if you need a paycheck,” a captain said. One captain said no matter what, he would not work for such an owner, and said there are plenty of other jobs out there. “Well, not really so many jobs,” another said. But, a captain’s job description is

what the owner hires him to do, and that can cover anything, a captain said. “Your job is 100 percent to make these people happy,” he said. “Your job is to say yes as much as possible.” “To a point,” another captain said. Sometimes situations are not clear, another captain said. He told of a trip where the owner said to tie-up in a restricted area. He said the owner was willing to risk a fine if caught. “You explain to the owner the worst thing that could happen,” the captain said. “If there is a $5,000 fine and it’s still ‘go ahead,’ you do it.” “If it’s only a fine, and no one will impound boat,” another captain said. “Or if it’s my license at risk, obviously not,” the first captain said. Sometimes you have to pull the book out to gently tell them the laws, a captain said. You have to educate them. “They may skirt laws,” a third captain said of yacht owners,” but captains can’t.” Sometimes owners or guests use drugs, but the unspoken rule is to not talk about it. They may think it’s acceptable if the captain doesn’t know about it, a captain said. “But things are going on,” another

Attendees of The Triton’s January Bridge luncheon were, from left, Randy Boatwright of M/Y Island Seeker, Harry Furey of M/Y Perfect Lady, Guy McClave of M/Y Ronin, Veronica Hast of M/Y SoTaj, Clark Shimeall of M/Y Joana, Richard Stalford and Brian Conner. PHOTO/DORIE COX captain said. “Ever walk around Atlantis docks at night and smell? It’s going on, but I’ve never heard of anyone losing his license because of drugs.” “It can be very sticky with drugs,” a third captain said. “If it’s the owner’s party and the authorities come, then it comes back to you.” Owners take different approaches when dealing with their captain, one of the group said. Some may take the attitude of “what they don’t know won’t hurt them,” a captain said.

Other owners figure “if they [the captain] can’t see it, then it’s not a concern,” another said. “With some owners you tell them, ‘don’t tell me anything you don’t want me to know’,” a third captain said. The group discussed whether saying no to instructions to allow contrary legal or moral situations is an issue because of boat rules or society rules. “Are we doing it because it’s legislated or because it’s the right

See BRIDGE, page A15


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www.the-triton.com FROM THE BRIDGE: Making decisions

Captains’ liability often not understood BRIDGE, from page A14 thing?,” a captain said. “Seems like we’re legislating the right thing to do.” “The rules on a yacht are not that different than the rules of life,” another captain said. “But it is different when it comes to culpability.” “That stuff may go on in a hotel, but the management is not going to get arrested,” a captain said. Maybe disputes come from owners not understanding captains’ liability for everything and everyone onboard, the group discussed. “People do not understand what we do and what we’re responsible for,” a captain said. “They see the fun stuff.” “I think people in our industry know what we do, but not outside,” another captain said. Several in the group said most owners are very familiar with laws and may know how to by-pass or get away with things. Most have legal expertise or access to it, a captain said. “We are dealing with people that are used to doing what they want,” a captain said. “This group knows what they’re doing, they know how to cover themselves,” another captain said. “For some of the owners, legal issues are a pasttime,” a third captain said. The type of captain-owner relationship has a lot to do with how decisions are handled, a captain said. “They treat you like family, the owner and I are best friends, we’re tight,” a captain said. “He respects what I say.” “They invite you out for drinks but how friendly you get is up to you,” another captain said. “It can be tricky.” “Sometimes you bend a little, sometimes look away, but because he respects you and your job,” a third captain said. “I worked with one family and we became very tight,” a fourth captain said. “If I said no, they said fine.” If involved in a scenario such as the night Natalie Wood died, all the captains at the table said they would abide by the law, even at the expense of their job. A captain’s first responsibility is to the safety of passengers and the yacht. Ultimately, captains can’t control what yacht owners do, but they can control what they do. “The owner is just the owner,” a captain said. “You are responsible, nobody else.” Dorie Cox is associate editor of The Triton. Comments on this story are welcome at editorial@the-triton.com. If you make your living working as a yacht captain, e-mail us for an invitation to our monthly Bridge luncheon.

January 2012 A15


A16 January 2012 PERSONAL FINANCE: Yachting Capital

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Procrastination, we are all guilty of it from time to time Procrastination is the art of putting government but from specific colleges a off or deferring an action to a later student is qualified to attend. time. We are all guilty of it from time to Some parents have already gone time. through this application process with A further an older sibling. They learned that there definition of was much more that they did not know. procrastination They learned that there where things should include that they should have done. Bottom an additional line: They could have saved money component: what with some financial adjustments and a we do when we better choice of college. are not sure how One option is a career test that to proceed. students can take to narrow down their The end of major and minor. By doing this, the Yachting Capital every year is the added expense of paying for classes Mark A. Cline busiest time in they don’t need if they change their my business. major is minimized. Adding another Many people wait until they have no year of college costs is expensive. It’s option except to make an investment important to take the extra effort to decision. Typically, because it’s near the pinpoint an education direction. end of the year, these decisions are tax Another point is paying for college. related so they do not have to pay as It’s hard for some parents to accept, much. especially ones who have already put Examples of investments that reduce money in 529 plans or prepaid college immediate tax obligations would programs. I tell them to explain to include the Natural Gas LPs that I have their child that there is not enough written about in the past or an IRA money for college and that the student contribution. will need to help by applying for Just as I encourage diversification scholarships. of investments for my clients, I There are scholarships that do not do the same for my business. This get awarded because no one even summer, I added training for College applied for them. The next year, only Financial Aid Planning to my business one student wrote the essay, and guess diversification. This decision started what they won? The scholarship. If off mostly because students think I am the parent they will have to Many people wait of a collegepay for college, until they have no bound daughter. they will spend a I did not think more time looking option except to make college financial for scholarships. an investment decision. planning had any They will also be crossover with the more conscious yachting side of my business. I do these about taking unnecessary classes and workshops at high schools and only participating in the party scene. when the parents come in to see me do The graduation gift you give them, I learn what they do for a living. of course, is a “paid for” education. Last week, I met two yacht brokers At graduation, when the student feels who have children graduating high stuck with the burden of a student loan, school this year. We have to make you take that payment book and tell several changes to their portfolios them that you will take care of it. before Jan. 1. This is the first possible A win-win. They got a free education time student FASFA forms are due and you get it for less than you would so graduating seniors can qualify for have if it was known that you were student aid or loans for college. paying the full ride from the beginning. FASFA is the Free Application for You also are building their credit Student Financial Aid. The form is position by making the payments on much like the 1040 tax forms that we their student loan. all fill out. Just as you should sit down So where are you on the with your accountant and financial procrastination of your finances? adviser to discuss legal strategies to Information in this column is not minimize your tax liability, these yacht intended to be specific advice for brokers are going through the same anyone. You should use the information thing in trying to qualify for free money to help you work with a professional for college. regarding your specific financial goals. By waiting until the last minute, the options are fewer. In other words, Capt. Mark A. Cline is a chartered if you start this process in your child’s senior financial planner. He is a partner freshman or sophomore year of high in Capital Marine Alliance in Ft. school, you have many more options. Lauderdale. Reach him through www. Frequently, you can make subtle capitalmarinealliance.net. Comments changes to your financial portfolio to on this column are welcome at qualify for more aid, not only from the editorial@the-triton.com.


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YACHT CAREERS: Crew Coach

Welcome creativity onboard when crew show enthusiasm What’s the creativity vibe on your vessel? Are imagination and creativity welcomed and encouraged, or are you on the proverbial tight ship where everything is done the same way it’s always been done? Now before I make my case for creativity, let me state as someone who has been a captain with crew that Crew Coach there certainly Rob Gannon are tasks and procedures that have a proper way. How things are going to be done should be clear. I am also aware of our maritime history and the place a structured, disciplined approach has held. Again, clear procedures and expectations are vital. We all know you can’t, in the middle of most situations, debate how things should be done. That leads to chaos. Docking situations, heavy weather, and other operating procedures rely on the captain and his experience. The captain is ultimately responsible for the vessel, crew and guests so his authority must be respected. The situations for creativity I’m talking about are more related to the everyday-type tasks and routines, tasks that could very well be improved upon with a little imagination and creativity. Sometimes a creative mind may develop a new approach to an everyday routine that has become mundane with its repetition and sameness. So this kind of creativity is not disruptive or any threat to authority on board. Rather, it can be a valuable and moralebuilding mentality to have aboard. American novelist John Updike looked at creativity this way: “Creativity is merely a plus word for regular activity. Any activity becomes creative when the doer cares about doing it right or better.” There you go; that’s what I’m talking about. Creativity may come about just by trying to do a task right or better. Think of everyday activities such as cleaning, waxing, polishing, or organization of space and storage. Creativity certainly can have a place here. Even in engineering and fixing things, creativity is in part a solution to a problem. Just about all the engineers or any kind of engine mechanic I’ve known are some of the most creative people you will meet. They are trained and understand the laws by which machinery operates but sometimes just have to get creative to make things work.

In the yachting industry – really, in any career environment for that matter – a big morale killer is when creativity and ideas are squashed, not welcomed and devalued. It’s a downer for sure. If the issue isn’t safety or a vital operating procedure, what is the harm in trying some new approaches to things? If the old way was better, you go back to it, no big deal, but at least your crew’s suggestion, voice and idea was heard, considered and tried. When I had my charter boat in the Virgin Islands, I had a certain way I wanted things done. I had all the details worked out, even down to the look of the boat. One season, I took on a new mate and I could tell right away she was bright and creative. One day she looked around the boat and said, “We need to brighten things up a bit; everything is either gray or white.” I looked around and yes, everything was gray or white. She thought, since it was showing wear anyway, that the main sitting area should be replaced. I agreed and in my keep-it-simple, uniformed thinking, would have replaced it with another gray cushion. With just a little persuasion, I agreed to a cool sky blue with accent colors running through it. It looked really great, really livened up that area and people commented on it often. I would have never gone for it. Now I know you can’t change cushion colors on other people’s yachts but I think you catch my drift. As a captain, I don’t think you want grumbling robots for crew. What you want are thinking, creative, sharp individuals who feel valued and, in turn, will want to be part of a team and an effort they can be proud of. I came across this quote from Abdul Kalam. He considers himself first and foremost a scientist and educator but also happens to be the former president of India. He is speaking about educators here, but I think his words apply to captain and crew relations and creativity as well. “Educators (captains) should build the capabilities of the spirit of inquiry, creativity and leadership among students (crew) and become their role models.” So, calling all role models, you are needed. Step up, lead, be creative and encourage the creative. It will keep morale and spirits up. Show you are secure in your position of authority and create a nice situation to be a part of. Rob Gannon is a 25-year licensed captain and certified life and wellness coach (yachtcrewcoach.com). Comments on this column are welcome at editorial@the-triton.com.

January 2012 A17


A18 January 2012

OBITUARIES

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Richard Merritt of Merritt Yacht Brokers dies By Dorie Cox Richard L. Merritt, owner of Merritt Yacht Brokers in Ft. Lauderdale, died after a bout with cancer on Nov. 24. He was 69. “The Merritt family has been known in this industry forever,” said Charlie King, a broker at Merritt for the past 17 years. Mr. Merritt was the third generation of the Merritt family Merritt to grow up in the boating industry in South Florida. Mr. Merritt’s grandfather started Merritt Boat and Engine Works in 1948. His father, Buddy Merritt, worked at the yard, which started building boats in the 1950s, and built the popular Merritt 37 fishing boat. In the 1960s, Mr. Merritt served in the U.S. Army and then worked as a broker with Richard Bertram and Co. He started his company in the 1970s. “Richard had an uncanny knowledge of boats, of all kinds,” King said. “He was well-respected and so was his company.” “He trained half the brokers in town,” said Paul Engel, a broker at Merritt for the past nine years. “They all started with him; he broke ‘em in.” “They called it the Richard Merritt School of Yacht Brokers,” King said. “The industry owes him a lot,” Engel said. Several staff of Merritt Yacht Brokers shared stories of Mr. Merritt’s sense of humor. Sara Ingersoll, business manager and marketing director, said the staff had fun in the office. “Richard always walked in the office with a smile on his face and you would hear his big, loud, belly laugh

throughout the day,” Ingersoll said. “When Charlie King would sneeze, Richard would yell, ‘Open the bridge’. And every time Paul Engel would walk into the office mid-day, Richard would start clapping and say, ‘I’m glad you could make it to the office today.’” “Every Thursday we had whippings, our staff meetings,” Engel said. “You’d get a pat on the back or a kick in the butt. He had a sign saying ‘the beatings will begin today.’” But he took the business seriously and was always trying to improve with seminars and training, said Doug Roberts, a friend and colleague for 30 years. Sometimes there were eight or nine brokers in the office and Mr. Merritt was generally the top salesman, Roberts said. There was a family atmosphere at the brokerage, and the staff was often invited to the Merritt home and to events, including the Winterfest parade. Mr. Merritt had a special talent when it came to speaking to strangers over the phone, Ingersoll said. “He made them feel like they had known him forever,” she said. “He was an amazing negotiator.” Mr. Merritt was known for his fishing tales, Ingersoll said. “His eyes would light up as he was telling them,” she said. “He could really pontificate and tell stories, and a lot of them were true,” Roberts laughed. And everyone was treated fairly in the buy-and-sell relationship, King said. Merritt was knowledgeable about all aspects of the industry and enjoyed “the deal”, selling boats. “He seemed to know everything,” King said. “Ask him any question, he had an answer.” “He was there every day and he worked very hard,” Roberts said.

“He’s been a constant in an everchanging industry.” “He was a paradox sometimes,” Roberts said. “He could be the cheapest S.O.B., yet generous; especially with his knowledge and time. He would always listen. And he was extremely generous and loyal.” “He was happy and he had a great attitude,” Ingersoll said. “He was a class act, truly one of a kind, and we are going to miss him very much.” “He was a hell of a good guy,” King said. Mr. Merritt is survived by wife, Lucille Merritt, three children and four grandchildren. Dorie Cox is associate editor of The Triton. Comments on this story are welcome at dorie@the-triton.com.

Cancer takes Merle Wood’s Peter Croke Peter Croke, managing director of Merle Wood & Associates, died Dec. 2 of cancer. He was 62. Originally from Australia, his career included work with Fastlane Boats and Lloyd Ship in the United States. He was in marketing and development at Norship and worked in international sales and as marketing director at Oceanco, according to media reports. Mr. Croke joined Merle Wood & Associates as managing director in 1997. He is survived by his wife, Vicki, sons Simon and Nathan, and his grandchildren, Luke and Kylie.


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WRITE TO BE HEARD

January 2012 A19

Abuse article reminds all of us that abuse is never OK Thank you for your December article on abuse [“Domestic abuse among yacht crew a reality; know the signs,” page A4, December issue.] In recent years, I have twice been called to deliver vessels because domestic violence had left the boats without captains. In a recent incident, the new captain on the vessel had been jailed for beating his girlfriend. In another, the captain had been knifed by his wife; self defense was offered as an explanation. Abuse is never acceptable and it is never excusable. Verbal abuse is abuse. As your article clearly stated, if you are in an abusive relationship, get out and get out now. We live and work in an environment that can be a pressure cooker. That does not make abuse acceptable, but it can make it more likely. In few other careers can one work and live with one’s significant other in such proximity. Many conventional employers try to avoid hiring spouses because relationship issues may be brought into the workplace. Victims of domestic abuse feel that they somehow bring the abuse upon themselves. Their abusers reinforce this misconception. It is not your fault. Unfortunately, it is a pattern that will not change. This is a pattern of behavior that is difficult to break, even with professional intervention. Verbal abuse is damaging not only to the direct victim but to those around them. We associate abuse with men, but women can also be abusive. In Ft. Lauderdale, women can get help, support and housing at womenindistress.org. Capt. Ned Stone Director of Program Development Guy Harvey Outpost, LTD

Crew on B1/B2 visa can’t look for work in U.S. In reference to your article about crew getting creative with job networking [“Hopeful yacht crew innovate to catch the eye of captains,” page A8, December issue], you should know that it is against U.S. law for a non-U.S. citizen to look for daywork or to be paid to do daywork while they are in the United States on a B1/B2 visa. The B1 part of the visa (visitor for business) is used when crew enter who are already gainfully employed and signed onto a yacht full time. It is associated with that particular yacht only. If the crew member leaves that yacht while in the U.S., the crew member is supposed to be officially signed off of the yacht in the log book and/or by letter of dismissal (which often does not happen due to captain disregard or ignorance about all of this). Then the crew member must leave the U.S. If they want to return, they come back in via the B2 (visitor for pleasure) part of their visa. Any foreign crew who are not employed full time on a yacht enter on the B2 part of their visa. The facts on this subject are often misunderstood or ignored in our industry. Your article has only confused the situation by sending out the wrong signal to unaware or misinformed

Editor Lucy Chabot Reed, lucy@the-triton.com Associate Editor Dorie Cox, dorie@the-triton.com Publisher David Reed, david@the-triton.com

Production Manager Patty Weinert, patty@the-triton.com

Advertising Sales Mike Price, mike@the-triton.com Becky Gunter, becky@the-triton.com

The Triton Directory Mike Price, mike@the-triton.com

foreign crew and captains. Capt. Denise Fox

In job search, age matters

I enjoyed the article about captains and finding jobs [From the Bridge captain’s lunch “Want to find a job? Stay on people’s minds,” page A1, December issue]. Dan and I have been looking for a team job since we left M/Y Blitzen in February. Most owners like our experience, but want younger crew. The fact that you are discriminated against because of your age is frustrating. I would think if you own a yacht large enough to hire crew you would want the most experienced. Mate Marlene Dinsmore

Yachting doesn’t need unions

Here are my two cents in reference to Rob Gannon’s column about unions [“State of the union: discussion time for the yachting industry,” page A11, December issue]. I have more than a dozen years in commercial vessel operations, which required joining and being represented by unions. All sounds great and reasonable, but the reality was as follows. Within unions, semi-competent people who magically become vested through easy Contributors Carol Bareuther, Capt. Mark A. Cline, Capt. Jake DesVergers, Rob Gannon, Beth Greenwald, Chef Mary Beth Lawton Johnson, Chief Stew Alene Keenan, Keith Murray, Steve Pica, Rossmare Intl., James Schot, Tom Serio, Capt. Paul Warren

postings, friends or not getting caught doing something dangerous are making the same money as those who are hard working, safety conscious, and trying to improve themselves and the vessel they are part of. You can’t fire them without having the union getting in the way and a payoff being made someplace. A master of a vessel needs to have total ability to hire and fire to create the correct team for their clients. A union will start out as a good idea for a moment, but will slowly strangle a yacht or company in the long run. Capt. Tim Hull M/Y Sea Owl

Careful of rescues in Italy

Here’s a tid-bit to add to your beaware-of-a-rescue article [“Lesson Learned: When saving someone’s life is bad for you,” page A3, December issue]. Lampedusa Island is the southernmost part of Italy. Refugee boat people make the treacherous crossing in whatever floats. Any yacht that encounters a refugee boat at sea and renders assistance, consistent with international maritime law, will be arrested by the Italian police. The rest of the story gets uglier by the chapter. Capt. Gordon Reid Vol. 8, No.10

The Triton is a free, monthly newspaper owned by Triton Publishing Group Inc. Copyright 2012 Triton Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.

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Engine room logbook is better by design Dave Hammond’s register deletes irrelevant categories and includes yacht-specific ones to help engineers keep track of maintenance, operations and parts.

January 2012

PSC focuses on safety equipment, charts, licenses It has been a full year since the European Union revised its rules for the inspection of vessels calling into its ports. The New Inspection Regime (NIR) for port state control and the associated THEMIS database are in full swing. For the first time, we saw yachts, both private and commercial, included in the Rules of the Road inspection process. Jake DesVergers Understandably, the majority of yachts were examined during summer and fall, but be prepared for a busy winter, too. Upon review of the inspection reports, we are able to determine specific areas that port state control inspectors focused upon.

By Lucy Chabot Reed Dave Hammond may be young, but he’s quick. Just 25 years old, the yacht engineer has published an engine room logbook designed specifically for yachts. “The majority of yacht engineers are using commercial books specific to shipping,” said Hammond, who is from New Zealand. “They really don’t work for superyachts. We’re always crossing things out and adding our own columns.” After five years in shipyards as an apprentice in marine systems integration on new builds and five years at sea on private yachts, Hammond created the book to simply be more efficient in his own job. “There are two options out there, but both weren’t very good,” he said of other logbooks sold to yacht engineers. “That’s the reason I did it, mostly for myself.” Hammond is now second engineer on the 230-foot M/Y Utopia. The hard-cover book, which simply says “Engine Room Log” on the cover, eliminates irrelevant categories and includes yacht-specific ones to help engineers keep track of maintenance, operations and parts. It incorporates a daily record and operational log in a combined format, and includes pages for a 183-day record. It is written to fulfill the requirements of any modern superyacht, either commercial or private, up to 3000 gross tons. It includes instructions in the front on how to use the book, and at the back are pages where engineers can keep

B11

Safety Equipment

Rather than merely complain about bad logbooks – “We’re always crossing things out and adding our own columns” – Dave Hammond created an alternative that is superyacht-specific and will hold a half a PHOTO FROM DAVE HAMMOND year of information. track of specific pieces of machinery, their maintenance, and spare parts. “That’s where engineers can jot down every maintenance that was done to have a full running list,” he said. “That way, you can see a better picture to see what’s happening with each particular piece of machinery. “But it’s also generic so it’ll work with a Dutch-built boat as well as an American-built boat,” he said. Though many yachts use computerized systems to track parts, record operations and plan for

preventive maintenance, Hammond said most engineers keep a hard copy of those records. “What I do, we have fully computerized preventive maintenance system, running log, inventory lists,” he said. “You type out your daily log on the computer. But you also have a hard copy log, otherwise if the computer crashers, you’ve lost everything.” Some engineers print out the

See LOGBOOK, page B8

Inspectors concentrated their efforts on a number of lifesaving, firefighting, and general safety items. The majority of deficiencies addressed the expiration of equipment such as flares, line throwing appliances, and life jacket lights. Other areas of concern focused on the actual location of safety equipment. Because inspectors are familiarizing themselves with yachts and the associated equivalencies allowed, many issues were cleared, but still reported. In one instance, port state control questioned the color of a life buoy, which had too much white paint and not enough orange.

Charts, Publications, Voyage Plans

It is surprising to see this topic so high on the list, but upon further investigation it becomes apparent as to why so many yachts fell short. As we know, the majority of yachts use electronic charts as the

See RULES, page B13


B January 2012 ONBOARD EMERGENCIES: Sea Sick

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New Year’s resolution: Schedule a check-up for your medical kit It’s that time of year again. Time to buy a new calendar, make new year’s resolutions and go through your first aid medical kit. The first step in refreshing your medical kit is to gather all of your medical equipment, first aid kits, oxygen and your AED – Automated External Sea Sick Defibrillator. Keith Murray Don’t forget any small kits on the tender, in the galley and in the engine room. I suggest gathering your fellow crew members around as it is a good learning experience. Here are five easy steps. 1. Check each kit for missing or expired items, opened packages or things that look out of place. If you are not sure what something is, ask. If nobody knows what it does, you may not need it. Let’s start with the simple things such as medical exam gloves, eye protection (safety goggles) and a CPR mask. Gloves and masks have a shelf life and should be replaced annually. Gloves are inexpensive, about $6 for a box of 50, so when in doubt, throw them out.

Does the CPR mask look cracked, dirty, discolored or melted? If so, replace it. Again, this is an inexpensive item, about $20. 2. Next, look at each medication. Is it current? Is it organized? What is it used for? If anything is expired, order replacements and dispose of the old medication properly. Unsure what the medication is for, check the manual or USB drive that came with your medical kit. If you can’t find the them, call or email me and I will try to assist. This is where having an organized medical kit and quality CPR AED first aid training comes into play. It is very important to understand your medications, how to use them, where they are located and when they expire. 3. If you have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), inspect it. Most manufacturers recommend a monthly inspection. If you are not doing so, create a log book or use an AED inspection tag to track inspections. If you are not comfortable performing the inspection call or email me for a walk-through inspection. AEDs have two major parts that must be replaced periodically: the electrode pads and the battery. Most electrode pads have a two-year life and the expiration dates should be clearly marked. Verify that you have a spare set

as well as pediatric electrodes, if you ever have children on board. The battery, once installed in the unit, has a life span from 2-5 years. Write the installation date on the battery or on a sticker on the back of the AED as a reminder. Don’t wait until the AED is beeping. This is the low battery warning. Be proactive and order a new battery before this happens. Check to see if your AED has been updated to the new American Heart Association guidelines. Also, check to see if your AED has been recalled or requires a software update. Several companies have issued recalls on their AEDs. Yours may have been affected. If you are unsure, check with the manufacturer or e-mail me the make, model and serial number and I will check for you. Having at least one AED onboard is essential. Without an AED, the chances of surviving sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital are small, less than 5 percent. However, if the AED is applied quickly, the victim’s odds increase to about 70-90 percent. Many of the boats I work with have two AEDs, one on the main ship and the other on the tender. Often, the tender is where medical emergencies occur. Unfortunately, it is often the tender’s medical kit that gets overlooked.

4. Look at your medical oxygen. Is the tank full? When was the last time the oxygen tank itself was inspected? Oxygen tanks generally require hydro testing every five years and should only be filled with “medical” oxygen, which is highly filtered. Turn it on to make sure the regulator and tank function properly. What about the oxygen masks, nasal cannulas and tubing? Do you have both adult and pediatric masks? Are these in good condition? If they look old, worn or yellow, it’s time to replace these. Practice and learn all about your oxygen equipment when you have time, not during an emergency. Ask one of the crew to apply the mask to another crew and see if they know how to properly work the equipment. Please note: If you are using the oxygen for training purposes be certain to have it re-filled immediately. Training for any and all emergencies is crucial. Being prepared for emergencies is the key to saving lives. Have a safe and happy new year. Keith Murray is a former Florida firefighter EMT and owner of The CPR School, which provides onboard CPR, AED first aid safety training for yacht captains and crew (www.TheCPRSchool. com). Comments on this column are welcome at editorial@the-triton.com.



B January 2012 TECHNOLOGY BRIEFS

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Emergency radio and satellite phone offer new safety options ACR Electronics has introduced the ACR SR203 survival radio series. The radio meets FCC approvals, including IMO requirements and MED directive. Built for marine applications, it automatically tunes to Channel 16, has 16 hours of battery life at minus 4 degrees F and receives Weather Channel broadcasts. A battery protection tab allows the primary battery to be permanently attached without losing charge. The two SR203 versions include the 2827 for emergency use only (suggested retail price $690) and the 2828 combination for everyday and/or emergency use (suggested retail price of $865). For more visit www.acrelectronics.com.

SOS service added to sat phone

Iridium Communications has added a GEOS emergency response service for Iridium Extreme users. The service automatically dials the GEOS emergency response center to connect to a live GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC). GEOS receives emergency alerts and notifies Response Search and Rescue (SAR) authorities via a global, 24/7/365 service. The IERCC has translation capabilities for up to 200 languages. The SOS button meets international standards for satellite emergency notification devices (SENDs). The button can be set to call any number. Visit www.iridium.com for details.

New bilge switch has sensor

Unified Marine has introduced SeaSense Solid-State Sensing Bilge Switch. It converts manual bilge pumps to automatic and works in fresh and salt water. A sensor activates when water reaches the switch’s installed height in the bilge. With no moving parts, the switch works through oil and stray electric current. The switch is a waterproof unit that is enclosed in a small, durable housing for easy mounting with a waterproof fuse holder and 7.5-amp fuse. Visit www.seasense.com for details.

Navslide offers three new mounts

Navslide AS launched three products to ease access to navigation monitors. The mounts have an adjustable arm that enables a 360-degree rotation. Two of the mounts are designed for attachment to varying sizes of tubing, horizontal or vertical, and the third mount can be used on any flat surface.

The new products are designed to cover requirements on boats with Navslide Navigation Monitor Sliding Mount. For more information, visit www.navslide.no.

Novurania raises speed on tender

Novurania’s Chase 38 yacht tender and sport boat has hit new speeds, thanks to the new Yanmar 8LV-370 from Mastry Engine Center. “We were never able to get the Chase 38 above 50 mph, but with twin 370 hp Yanmar 8LV diesels, it tops out at 56 mph,” said Robert Collada, president of Novurania of America. Both the Yanmar 8LV 370 and 320 hp models are new options on the Novurania Chase 38, with twin Yanmar 260 hp diesels now listed as standard power. New from Novurania is the Chapman series, three models with a unique opening bow for easy entry, sporting Yanmar 260 hp diesel engines with Hamilton jet drives. For more, visit www.mastry.com.

Hella launches new downlights

Hella Marine has introduced new EuroLED 115 downlights. With energy consumption under 4.5W, the 4.5inch downlights deliver uniform light throughout the 54-degree beam angle. Using no remote drivers or control wires, the pre-wired lamps are connected directly to 12V or 24V systems and operate on 10-33V DC input voltage. With no bulbs or filaments to break, the lights are shock and vibration resistant. Sealed against the elements, they also feature UV- and impact-resistant acrylic lenses. The downlights are available in white or warm white light models, with white plastic or stainless steel rims. Retail prices start at $120. For details, visit www.hellamarine. com.

Smooth cam cleats available

FenderHooks has launched a line of cam cleats called Line Lockers. Designed, engineered and manufactured by European craftsman, the finished and polished cam cleat is cast in 316L stainless steel. The top is smooth with no nut or bolt head to mar the clean look. They are fastened with 8mm machine screws and are presently load rated at 500 lbs SWL. Line Lockers are available in two sizes, medium and large, both handling lines to 17mm. For more information, visit www. fender-hooks.com.


The Triton

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BOATS / BROKERS

January 2012 B

Trinity launches two, including largest at 242 feet Mississippi-based Trinity Yachts has launched two yachts recently: the 242-foot (74m) M/Y New Horizon and the 187-foot (57m) M/Y Lady Linda.

M/Y Lady Linda New Horizon is Trinity’s largest custom superyacht to date. It has an interior by Evan Marshall, a full-width main-deck master stateroom, office and study, and six guest staterooms and eight crew cabins below deck. It also has an elevator. The yacht was sold by Bob Cury of RJC Yacht Sales for long-time repeat customers who wanted to build a large yacht with an American builder, according to a news release of the launch. New Horizon is expected to be delivered this spring. Lady Linda also has an interior by Marshall, and an 8-foot draft at half load. It has six staterooms and can carry a crew of 14 in seven cabins. Delivery is expected early this year. Merle Wood & Associates has recently sold the following: the 205-foot Oceanco M/Y Lady Lola, the 136-foot Intermarine M/Y Bossy Boots II, and the 132-foot Northcoast M/Y Life’s Finest II. The brokerage has added the 171foot Amels M/Y Bel Abri to its central agency listings for sale in a joint listing with Imperial Yachts. The new 201-foot (61m) Benetti M/Y Diamonds are Forever launched

in late November at a James Bondstyled christening party in Italy. Veteran owner John Staluppi names all his yachts after Bond films. It has an interior by Evan Marshall and Usonia V, a London-based designer Her charters are managed by Ocean Independence. It is available in the Caribbean this winter and the Mediterranean this summer. She can accommodate 12 guests in six cabins. Heesen Yachts has sold Project Zentric in collaboration with Nakhimov Yachts. YN 15944 is the eighth in the 147-foot (44m) all-aluminium class. The first vessel, M/Y Sedation, launched in 2007. The aluminum-hulled Project Zentric has twin MTU 2.720kW engines and reaches 25 knots, the fastest 44m yacht of her style on the market, according to a company press release. Frank Laupman from Omega designed the exterior lines and the interior in a classic deco design. Ten guests are accommodated in five cabins. Heesen has 12 vessels in commission (four on speculation) with a total length of 584m, with deliveries up to 2015. Camper & Nicholsons recently sold the following: the 112-foot (44m) M/Y Catalonian Spirit, built by Inace Yachts; and the 107-foot (32.6m) Navetta 33, built by Ferretti. New to the CNI sales fleet include the 121-foot (37m) Sunseeker M/Y The Snapper with Alex Lees-Buckley and Gaston Lees-Buckley for 6.7 million pounds; the 116-foot (35m) Pershing M/Y Mistral 55 with Jean Marie Recamier for 7.95 million euros; , the 108-foot (33m) M/Y Perla Nero from Cyprus Yachts with Rytis Babraviucius for 4.9 million euros; and the 103foot (31.4m) M/Y Negara from the

Overmarine (Mangusta) yard with Babraviucius for 4.2 million euros. Monaco-based YPI Brokerage has sold the 79-foot (24m) Southern Wind S/Y Acaia Cube.

S/Y Acaia Cube Launched in 2003, Acaia Cube has naval architecture by Farr Yacht Design and Italian lines of Nauta Design. The yacht had an asking price of 3.1 million euros The firm has added the following to its central agency listings for sale: the recently refit 143-foot (43m) Sterling M/Y Antinea in a joint central with Fraser Yachts for 6.85 million euros; and the 112-foot (34m) Ferretti M/Y Lady Maria for 6.3 million euros. Yachting Partners International has also added the following to its charter fleet: the new 203-foot (62m) schooner S/Y Athos built by Holland Jachtbouw, in the Caribbean this winter; and the 169-foot (52m) Royal Huisman S/Y Meteor, also in the Caribbean this winter. Australia-based Bury Design has been commissioned by U.S. submarine builder Triton Submarines to design a support vessel specifically designed to support a Triton 3300/2 personal submarine and small crew. The vessel will be a steel hulled displacement craft with a range of more than 5000nm at

See BOATS, page B6

Today’s fuel prices Prices for low-sulfur gasoil expressed in US$ per cubic meter (1,000 liters) as of Dec. 15. Region Duty-free*/duty paid U.S. East Coast Ft. Lauderdale 870/930 Savannah, Ga. 850/NA Newport, R.I. 845/NA Caribbean St. Thomas, USVI 970/NA St. Maarten 1,060/NA Antigua 1,150/NA Valparaiso 840/NA North Atlantic Bermuda (Ireland Island) 965/NA Cape Verde 925/NA Azores 915/NA Canary Islands 915/NA Mediterranean Gibraltar 870/NA Barcelona, Spain 910/NA Palma de Mallorca, Spain NA/1,810 Antibes, France 920/1,845 San Remo, Italy 1070/1990 Naples, Italy 1,185/2,100 Venice, Italy 915/1,815 Corfu, Greece 1,045/1,820 Piraeus, Greece 950/1,820 Istanbul, Turkey 940/NA Malta 890/1,680 Tunis, Tunisia 850/NA Bizerte, Tunisia 855/NA Oceania Auckland, New Zealand 970/NA Sydney, Australia 980/NA Fiji 980/NA *When available according to local customs.

One year ago Prices for low-sulfur gasoil expressed in US$ per cubic meter (1,000 liters) as of Dec. 15, 2010 Region Duty-free*/duty paid U.S. East Coast Ft. Lauderdale 720/760 Savannah, Ga. 690/NA Newport, R.I. 705/NA Caribbean St. Thomas, USVI 800/NA St. Maarten 910/NA Antigua 860/NA Valparaiso 880/NA North Atlantic Bermuda (Ireland Island) 830/NA Cape Verde 805/NA Azores 760/NA Canary Islands 715/NA Mediterranean Gibraltar 710/NA Barcelona, Spain 820/1,680 Palma de Mallorca, Spain NA/1,570 Antibes, France 790/1,490 San Remo, Italy 910/1,600 Naples, Italy 800/1,550 Venice, Italy 865/1,575 Corfu, Greece 850/1,590 Piraeus, Greece 820/1,580 Istanbul, Turkey 780/NA Malta 750/1,530 Tunis, Tunisia 720/NA Bizerte, Tunisia 715/NA Oceania Auckland, New Zealand 720/NA Sydney, Australia 740/NA Fiji 790/NA *When available according to local customs.


B January 2012 BOATS / BROKERS

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IYC hires Peens as manager, will start crew placement division BOATS, from page B5 12 knots. More information can be downloaded at www.bury.com.au. Ft. Lauderdale-based International Yacht Collection has added four central listings and three yachts for charter. New listings include the 162foot (49m) M/Y Streamline II by MondoMarine with Kevin Bonnie in Monaco for 17.5 million euros; the 124foot (38m) Trinity M/Y Wheels with Chany Sabates III in Ft. Lauderdale for $7.89 million; the 90-foot (27m)

M/Y MJ built by Posillipo with Frank Grzeszczak in Ft. Lauderdale for $1.98 million; and the 84-foot (25.6m) Lazzara M/Y Finish Line with Sabates for $3.89 million. New to the firm’s charter fleet include the new 197-foot (60m) Abeking & Rasmussen M/Y Excellence V in the Mediterranean and Caribbean/ Bahamas beginning this summer under the command of veteran Capt. Ray Shore; the 188-foot (57m) Abeking & Rasmussen M/Y Excellence III in the Caribbean this winter and Med this summer under the command of Capt. Greg Clark; and M/Y Wheels.

IYC also has hired Capt. Andre Peens to head up its yacht management division, the division vacated by Graeme Lord in September. Peens has run and managed several yachts in his career, including the 286-foot Oceanco M/Y Seven Seas, the 280-foot Royal Denship M/Y Princess Mariana and the 245-foot Blohm+Voss M/Y Katana. Among his duties will be establishing a crew placement division within the company. Sauter Carbon Offset Design, known as SCOD, has designed a zero-

SCOD’s zero-carbon tender. carbon superyacht tender that hits a top speed of 80 knots. The Emax Super Marine 45 is a solar hybrid jet-propelled tender powered by twin CMD TDI V6s coupled to GM Allison Hybrid transmissions. Each 450hp diesel electric power plant weighs no more than its gasoline equivalents while consuming 40 percent less fuel, the company said in a news release. The Super Marine 45 relies on a 32KWh Lithium UPS to propel it at up to 25 knots. Push the throttles full ahead and the transmission kicks into low gear engaging the V6s and loading the high-torque RR waterjets. Once on a plane, the transmission selects the most economical rpm for the load at all speeds up to 80 knots. Available from Ned Ship Group, the teak-decked vessel can seat up to 10 people, plus four on the sun bed. Inside, it has a shower room with stand up head, a double bed, kitchenette, and a foredeck table. For details, visit SauterCarbonOffsetDesign.com. Ft. Lauderdale-based All Ocean Yachts has been appointed the worldwide agent for Dauntless Explorer Yachts. Dauntless has four models: 73 feet (the first under construction), 80 feet, 90 feet and 100 feet. The vessels have a full-displacement hull form, giving them increased speeds and fuel efficiency in comparison to other vessels in their size range, according to a company statement. And each design has a lower equipment deck accessed by walk-down stairs with full laundry, additional refrigerators and freezers, dry good storage, parts storage and a dedicated pump room. The D73 and D80 are built in fiberglass with solid vinylester hulls and the D90 and D100 are built in steel and aluminum. The first D73 is under construction at the yard in Turkey and is available for delivery late this year. Churchill Yacht Partners has been accepted into MYBA, a professional organization of brokers from around the world. New members are only accepted with a track record of professional excellence in the yachting industry. Churchill Yacht Partners was formed in early 2004 to provide yacht brokerage, charter and charter management services to clients worldwide. Churchill bought charter company Rikki Davis Yachts in 2005.


The Triton

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ANTIGUA CHARTER SHOW

January 2012 B

T

he charter crews at the 50th Antigua Charter Yacht Show in early December showed their best, always with a smile and a tidy uniform. More than 110 yachts were on display to charter brokers from around the world. The 12th annual Concours de Chef competition, daily lunches, and nightly yacht hops kept crew busy. PHOTOS/LUCY REED But they always made time for a photo.

M/Y Calliope

M/Y Andromeda La Dea

M/Y Sequel P

M/Y Huntress

M/Y Slipstream

Charlie Petosa of Virginia’s Ocean Marine raffled off a free haulout during the Antigua show. It was won by Capt. Adrian O’Neill of the 197-foot M/Y Oasis. The haulout includes all haul and launch fees in the shipyard’s 1250-ton Syncrolift. Petosa estimated the prize value at more than $10,000.

M/Y Bliss

M/Y Hampshire


B January 2012 FROM THE TECH FRONT

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Others have had the thought but Hammond followed through on it LOGBOOK, from page B1

A preprinted, organized logbook will help engineers avoid the unprofessional look that comes with printing out spreadsheets. PHOTO/DAVE HAMMOND

computer documents and Excel spreadsheets, “but it’s not very professional,” he said. As with the vessel log book, if there’s ever an accident where the crew has to abandon the vessel, Hammond would grab the engine room log book to have a record of what transpired. “Every engineer I’ve talked to keeps a daily log,” he said. Hammond admits that the content in the book isn’t unique. Plenty of engineers have likely had the same idea and perhaps even created their own. The difference, he said, is that he went through the process of having it published.

He created a business called Morgan Marine to do it, and hopes to follow it with a preventive maintenance system book. For now, though, he’s happy to be “slowly making my way to the top,” he said. “I love my job,” he said. “Doing this log book, it’s something I need and something other people do, too.” The book is available for $99.99 at Bluewater Books and Charts in Ft. Lauderdale and through marine suppliers National Marine Suppliers and Yacht Chandlers. Lucy Chabot Reed is editor of The Triton. Comments are welcome at lucy@the-triton.com.

Rybovich adds M/Y Café, improves gym By Tom Serio On the heels of an upgrade to its marina and shipyard , Rybovich near West Palm Beach has improved its shoreside amenties for crew. New is a gym facility of about 3,500 square feet and a new café. “The old gym was too small, it got crowded,” said Mario Byrne, director of marketing at Rybovich. “We built a new facility that can compete with any fitness club in the area.” The new cardio machines have built-in televisions and iPod docking stations. The restaurant, called M/Y Cafe, opened in mid-December and should be fully operational this month offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, beer and wine. It will be operated by local eatery This Is IT Café just north of downtown. The yard has also started a shuttle to get crew downtown, complete with drivers who are Rybovich employees. “Crew can hop on the shuttle right in the yard, and make a quick phone call for a return trip,” Byrne said. The shuttle will run Monday through Saturday until midnight, and sometimes later, he said. Plans at Rybovich North, a shipyard about a mile and a half north of the current yard, continue. It will have a 4,000-ton Syncrolift and rail system that can haul superyachts to about 360 feet and in-water dockage for vessels up to 400 feet. Capt. Tom Serio is a freelance captain, writer and photographer in South Florida. Comments on this story are welcome at editorial@the-triton.com.


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MARINAS / SHIPYARDS

January 2012 B

Guy Harvey Outpost takes over Sumner Point on Rum Cay Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts plans to open its second boutique resort on Rum Cay in the Southern Bahamas. The Sumner Point Marina & Villas property is undergoing renovation and is expected to reopen this spring as the Guy Harvey Outpost Club & Marina, Rum Cay. “Rum is the southern gateway in and out of the Bahamas, just like Bimini is to the north, so this is a great complement to our system,” said President Mark Ellert, who oversees location selection for the firm. Rum Cay has about 60 permanent

BAE lands Navy contract; facelift at STP BAE Systems shipyard in Jacksonville, Fla., has won the U.S. Navy contact to repair the USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58), a guided missile frigate. The $13.5 million contract includes drydock and topside maintenance repair work as well as numerous onboard systems repairs. This contract includes options, which could bring the value of the contract to $16.25 million. Work is expected to be completed by May.

STP yard gets facelift

RS Global has modernized and refurbished its facility in the STP yard in Palma, and hosted an opening party in November. The building was taken over in 2010 by the Palma-based chandlery, rigging and yacht-painting company Rolling Stock Group. It is the central building to the boatyard providing canteen facilities for workers and yacht crews, as well as some workshop and storage space. The building now offers a restaurant called the Dock Bar, and modern offices for up to 20 superyacht refit and repair companies. The STP (Servicios Técnicos Portuarios) yard has several travel lifts of up to 800-ton capacity, several keel pits for sailing yachts up to 60m and deep-water moorings. The concession allows STP to lift or moor yachts and provide basic service such as power, water and waste management. Marine services onsite include Rolling Stock Group, RSB Rigging Solutions, Astilleros de Mallorca, e3 Systems, Technocraft Scaffolding, Pinmar, Pendennis, Pure Superyacht Refit, Metalnox, Soft Interiors, Master Yachts, Palma Refit, Trappmann Consulting, Universal Nautic and BM Composites.

residents and is 50 miles southeast of Georgetown in the Exumas. The Sumner Point Marina is situated on the southeast tip of Rum Cay. The marina and adjoining club facilities have been owned and operated by the Little family since 1960. “It’s time for our family to take this incredible property to the next level,” said Bobby Little in announcing the conversion of his boutique resort. “I was raised on Rum, as has my son. With our renovations and the support of the Guy Harvey Outpost brand and management, I expect our property

to become a beacon for sustainable tourism in the Southern Bahamas.” The Bahamian government has recently invested in the island, adding a 5,000-foot runway and upgraded electric and telephone service. In converting to the Guy Harvey Outpost Club and Marina, immediate plans include rebuilding the 28-slip marina and relocating the fuel dock, adding a dive shop, refurnishing existing beachfront cottages and redeveloping the club’s Out of The Blue restaurant. These improvements are scheduled for completion by the start

of the summer boating season. In the fall work will begin on adding new marina and beachfront suites, a small spa and a freshwater pool with terraced patios and pool/beach bar. Plans also call for additional bulkhead side-to tie up areas. Controlling depth is 6 feet, MLW, with plans to dredge to 9 feet for the 2013 season. The marina can take vessels up to 155 feet. Once complete, dockage will range from $2-$2.50 a foot in summer. For more information, visit www. GuyHarveyOutpostRumCay.com.


B10 January 2012 PHOTOGRAPHY: Photo Exposé

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Photographing the bright white world of yachts

Photo Exposé James Schot

Welcome aboard photo enthusiasts. The yachting world has a lot of white, that is high key backgrounds and surroundings. This reality really stands out when at the boat shows. Most boat hulls are white or light, as are most crew uniforms. Let’s discuss this in terms of photography: the affects, considerations, Photo Exposé and ways of dealing James Schot with bright-white scenes. How are you shooting? In A for auto, P for program, or M for manual? There are other settings, such as Tv, Av, shutter and aperture preferred, respectively, and other options, but A, P, or M would be the primary choices, and out of those I chose between P and M. The P setting allows you to set the ISO and flash, beyond which the camera will select everything else for a proper exposure based on the built in meter reading of the light reflected from the subject you are photographing. The M setting is dependent on the same meter reading for proper exposure, but in this case you will need to make adjustments to match the light reading, primarily the ISO, aperture, shutter speed. Whether it is the camera set in auto or manual, it all begins with the light meter reading, which indicates the settings made will give a balanced exposure (see diagram). Notice the little white arrow representing the meter dial has been placed slightly right of center and this is to show that slightly overexposing is a good thing. Why? Because, in digital photography, half of all the tonal information is in the 20 percent of

brightest areas of the photograph. When enhancements are needed to improve a photo, the areas having more information are easiest to work with. What else does this mean? The darker areas have a lot less information, therefore when you expose to the right, that is when slightly over-exposing, you are exposing for the shadows. They become slightly brighter have more tonal information for adjustments. Do you see the benefits of exposing for the shadows? By slightly overexposing, knowing your brightest areas have the safety net of holding half the tonal information in the photograph, you now have more control over both the shadows and highlights. It is important to become aware of what every camera meter reads. There are two ways photographers can read light. One method, using a handheld light meter, is known as an incident light reading. It measures light falling on to a subject, and it is an exact way of reaching a proper exposure. Camera meters are unable to take advantage of this method, and resort to an imperfect reflected light reading, or light that is reflected from the subject or object. This is a problem, because they all reflect light differently. To deal with this inconsistency, readings are based on a mid-tone range, between the extremes of total

black and the brightest white, of 18 percent gray (this may vary to a slightly lower percentage). What does this mean? This is best described through an example yacht crew are faced with…all that white. If your camera LCD viewfinder frames a shot to be taken that is dominated by white…white hulls and uniforms, your meter will jump to +1, 2 or beyond and it will tell you in manual or the automatic adjustments to increase the shutter speed and close down the aperture (from 1/60 to 1/500 and/or from f/4 to f/8, respectively, for example), because there is so much light (not any more than usual, but it appears to be so from all the white reflected by hulls and uniforms). Your meter is adjusting those whites to be 18 percent gray, what it has been set for to give the best overall normal exposure. Scenes dominated by a lot of white or dark areas are not normal for a camera reflected meter reading, and now, by reading this article, you are aware of this. You do not want your whites to appear as 18 percent gray. If you are photographing scenes dominated by very light or dark overall tones, be aware your meter will tend to balance them to 18 percent gray. In the case of white scenes you need to open up (usually) 2 stops, and with dark scenes close down 2 stops (f/8 to f/4 or 1/500 to 1/125 in the former and the reverse in the latter) to get exposures with the best overall tonal range to work with. Next time we will look at this again through the graph of the histogram. For now I take permission to come ashore. James Schot has been a professional photographer for more than 35 years and has a studio/gallery in Ft. Lauderdale. Send questions to james@ bestschot.com.


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FITNESS: Keep It Up

Jumping rope is an exercise routine that can be done by everyone onboard PHOTO/DORIE COX in just about any location.

Jump into a heart-healthy, easy routine you can do anywhere Jump-start your new year with this workout. All you need is 10 minutes, a jump rope, and of course water to drink. Everyone can join in to keep the energy high. Do your best, but allow yourself to rest if you need to. This workout will be sure to get your heart rate up.

Keep It Up

Beth Greenwald

Minutes 0:00-1:00 Double jump. Jump twice each time the rope comes around.

Minutes 1:00-2:00 Single jump. Turn the rope faster and only allow yourself one jump as it comes around. Minutes 2:00-2:30 Left arm figure 8. Hold both handles of the rope in your left hand, extend your arm out to the left side and trace a sideways figure 8. Move your arm as quickly as possible. Minutes 2:30-3:00 Right arm figure 8. Hold both handles of the rope in your right hand, extend your arm out to the right side and trace a sideways figure 8. Move your arm as quickly as possible. Minutes 3:00-4:00 Forward-backward jumps. Lay the jump rope on the ground and stand with both feet together, toes facing the rope. Jump forward over the rope and immediately upon landing jump backwards over the rope. Repeat forward and backward jumps as fast as you can. Minutes 4:00-5:00 Ski slalom. Leave the rope on the ground and stand with either your left or right side to the rope. Jump from side to side, over the rope as quickly as you can. Minutes 5:00-5:30 Push up. Get down for 30 seconds of push-ups.

Do as many as you can. Minutes 5:30-6:00 Plank. Lie face down, resting on your forearms. Align your shoulders with your elbows and ensure your arms are parallel to each other. Push off of the floor, balancing the weight of your body between your forearms and feet. Contract your abdominal muscles to hold your body off of the ground, keeping the neck and spine aligned. If you are feeling this exercise in your lower back, prop your hips slightly higher off of the ground (buttocks will be higher). Hold the plank for 30 seconds. Minutes 6:00-7:00 Front and back. Get back up on your feet and grab the handles of the jump rope. Begin jumping alternating forward and backwards jumps each time the rope comes around. Minutes 7:00-7:30 Left leg jumps. Jump on your left leg only. Minutes 7:30-8:00 Right leg jumps. Jump on your right leg only. Minutes 8:00-9:00 Single jump. Turn the rope faster and only allow yourself one jump (on both feet) as it comes around. Minutes 9:00-10:00 Double jump. Jump twice each time the rope comes around. Beth Greenwald received her masters degree in exercise physiology from Florida Atlantic University and is a certified personal trainer. She conducts both private and small group training sessions in the Ft. Lauderdale area. Contact her at +1 716-908-9836 or bethgreenwald@hotmail.com. Comments on this column are welcome at editorial@the-triton.com.

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B12 January 2012 BUSINESS BRIEFS

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The Triton

New West Marine store has place for yachts By Dorie Cox West Marine opened a new flagship store near Port Everglades in December, making Ft. Lauderdale once again home to the marine retailer’s largest store. “We asked customers what needs were not being filled at the old Ft. Lauderdale store and then we listened,” President and CEO Geoff Eisenberg said at the store’s grand opening event Dec. 7. Ft. Lauderdale was home to the largest West Marine until 2009 when the company added eight flagship stores in the United States. Now, the largest of the company’s 319 stores is back in town at the southwest corner of Andrews Avenue and State Road 84. At 50,000 square feet, it is twice the size of any of the company’s flagship stores and five times the size of a standard West Marine. It carries more than 35,000 products, 50 percent more products than the

company’s next largest store. The store is divided into sections, called worlds. Categories include diverse markets such as fishing, apparel, rigging and boat supplies. Most of the boating market is concentrated on vessels up to 80 feet, said Erik Rimblas, southeast regional vice president. But in Ft. Lauderdale, where superyachts are prevalent, the new store includes a “world” for large yacht services. “We brought in focus groups,” Rimblas said. “We got input from chefs, engineers, all the crew and asked them questions for hours. The majority of their requests are now in this store. “Because large yachts are a unique market, 10 percent of the products here are not available in other stores, like fenders the size of Volkswagens,” he said. The centerpiece in the store is a giant flybridge built by Hargrave Custom Yachts filled with electronics. At the bow are more than 300

electronic units. Fishing systems are on the port side. Communication equipment is starboard. “When you look up into the flybridge, you can see the arrays, so sales people can show that this equipment would interact with that,” said Bruce Edwards, executive vice president of the stores and port supply division. Sustainability is a big part of the new store design, Chief Marketing Officer Lynn Ferguson said. Elements such as natural lighting, controlled infrastructure systems, unfinished concrete floors and the use of recycled products are part of BlueFuture, West Marine’s program to focus on sustainability. The store’s general manager is Demi Warner, who has worked for West Marine for nearly 20 years. Dorie Cox is associate editor of The Triton. Comments on this story are welcome at dorie@the-triton.com.

Denison opens in Conn.; Kemplon relocates Denison opens in Connecticut

Ft. Lauderdale-based Denison Yacht Sales has opened its first New England location at Island Cove Marina

in Old Saybrook, Conn., where the Connecticut River meets Long Island Sound. The new office, led by Connecticut native Todd Schenk, will focus on brokerage and new boat sales. Schenk has been involved in the industry for 25 years and brings a domestic and international client base. For more information, call +1 860883-4904.

Kemplon moves to new offices

After five years at its warehouse location just east of the railroad tracks in Ft. Lauderdale, Kemplon Engineering has moved across the tracks to the neighborhood behind Lester’s Diner. Its new, 7,00-square-foot office is at 223 S.W. 28th St. Phone numbers remain the same. For more information, visit kemplonmarine.com.

Yachtronics turns 20

Yachtronics celebrates its 20th anniversary in the marine electronics industry this year. Yachtronics was founded in 1992 by Dave Deacle, Don Ehrlich and Eric Feenstra to provide sales, installation and service of marine electronics in the new yacht construction market. The company has FCC- and CMETlicensed technicians and is an NMEA master dealer. Visit www.yachtronics.com for more information.

Marine charity names board

The Marine Industry Cares Foundation recently named its 2012

board of directors and appointed an executive director. Joining the founding directors Mole Telfer of Rob Price Services, David Reed of The Triton, Sabrina Farmer of IMA Yachts and Peter Hult of MHG Insurance Brokers are the following: Bradley Briggs of MTN Satellite Communications; Peter Brooke of Blue Interactive Agency; Jerry Hamilton of Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel; Lisa Morley of Maritime Professional Training; Gregory Oram of ClubCorp/ Tower Club; Lisa Scott-Founds of Winterfest; Karen Short of S3GC; and Louise Steynberg of MHG Insurance Brokers. Gordon Connell is the new executive director. Previously, he was director of association services for the Marine Industries Association of South Florida and currently works with the law firm of Houck Anderson. For more information, visit www. marineindustrycares.org.

Sailing Week picks charity

Sailing Heals was chosen as the named charity for Miami Sailing Week to be held March 4-10. The event hosts sailors from 22 countries to compete for the Bacardi Cup and BMSW regatta trophy. Sailing Heals takes people battling cancer and their caregivers out for a day on the water. With this event, the charity pays tribute to Tito Bacardi, who died in October from cancer. For more on Miami Sailing Week visit miamisailingweek.com. For information on Sailing Heals, visit sailingheals.org.


The Triton

www.the-triton.com FROM THE TECH FRONT: Rules of the Road

A dozen yachts were detained in Europe this past year by PSC RULES, from page B1 primary means of navigation. In a very few instances, it was noted that the CDs and memory cards for a yacht’s Transas, Nobeltec, or similar program were not current. Where the large majority of yachts ran into trouble dealt with the validity of their paper charts. It is common for busy yachts to have their chart catalog corrected at the beginning of a season. This leaves the captain and mates available for more pressing issues. However, this is not acceptable with international regulation. Safety of navigation rules require that a vessel maintains charts for the voyage area onboard and corrected with the latest published corrections. Also, frequently absent was the proper recording of voyage plans. IMO Resolution A.892(21) requires the documentation of a vessel’s movement from berth to berth. Now this gets tricky for yachts, especially when a guest wants to move from one anchorage to another one 200 meters away. Even this small movement must be documented. Does it need to be a full blown, four-page passage plan? Not necessarily, but port state control inspectors are looking for something. And something is better than nothing.

Licensing and Certification of Crew

This was a significant area that nearly every commercial yacht inspected was questions on. Under the STCW Code and various flagstate regulations, the captain, officers and crew must be certified. These certificates must be issued by the flag in which the yacht is registered. For example, a first officer possesses an MCA Officer of the Watch license from the United Kingdom, but is working on a Marshall Islandsflagged yacht. To legally serve as a first officer, s/he must be in possession of a Marshall Islands-issued certificate of endorsement for the license and a Marshall Islands-issued seaman’s identification and record book. Port state control inspectors are wellaware of this requirement. It has been in place on merchant ships for years and enforced since the late 1990s.

Oily Water Separator

When noting the types and numbers of deficiencies identified on merchant ships, this is an all-time favorite of port state control inspectors. While it is still near the top of our list, it is good to see that yachts are not having the same types of problems. With merchant ships, many of the deficiencies deal with illegal modifications to the equipment or false entries in the oil record book.

For yachts, it appears to be a lack of use of the oily water separator. Many inspectors comment in their reports that when asking the engineer to operate the equipment, there was a certain level of uncertainty. The main reason? Most yachts had not operated their oily water separator since the last annual survey. “We just don’t use it,” was the common mantra. And for the oil record book, there were no false entries or missing pages, but incorrect coding. While simply a paperwork issue, the oil record book is a legal document that must be accurately maintained. The above top four deficiencies can be seen as minor when reviewed individually, but it is the cumulative effect that is detrimental to yachts. Each deficiency on its own is not a major cause for concern, but if a port state control inspector sees a series of items, it can warrant an expanded boarding. If that does not go well, it is quite feasible the yacht can be detained. And please do not assume that yachts do not get stopped. There were more than 12 yachts officially detained this past year for failing to maintain the minimum requirements for safety and environmental protection. Overall, inspectors appear to have been understanding toward yachts and their newness to the process. Not to be a bearer of solely bad news, the Paris MOU did make some positive changes to its inspection procedures. For yachts to qualify in the preferred Low Risk Ship (LRS) category, several new flags were added to the list. They are: Bahamas, Belgium, Bermuda, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Liberia, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Poland, Russian Federation, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. With this new list of approved flag administrations, there remain several major yachting registries absent, but hopefully that will also change over time as everyone becomes more familiar with the process. Capt. Jake DesVergers currently serves as Chief Surveyor for the International Yacht Bureau (IYB), a recognized organization that provides flag-state inspection services to private and commercial yachts on behalf of several flag-state administrations. A deck officer graduate of the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, he previously sailed as Master on merchant ships, acted as Designated Person for a shipping company, and served as regional manager for an international classification society. Contact him at 954-596-2728 or www.yachtbureau.org.

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B14 January 2012 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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The Triton

Boat shows in the U.S. and Europe offer winter options for fans Jan. 4 The Triton’s monthly networking Jan. 5 The Triton Bridge luncheon, event (the first Wednesday of every month from 6-8 p.m.) with Patton Marine at Lauderdale Marine Center. www.the-triton.com

Jan. 4-8 106th New York Boat Show, NYBoatShow.com.

noon, Ft. Lauderdale. A roundtable discussion of the issues of the day. Active captains only. RSVP to Editor Lucy Reed at lucy@the-triton.com or 954-525-0029. Space is limited.

Jan. 6-15 The London International

Boat Show, London, England. 500 exhibitors showcasing power and sail boats, dinghies, deck equipment, charter holidays, sailing courses and more. www.londonboatshow.com

Jan. 7-8 24th annual Las Olas Art

EVENT OF MONTH Jan. 19-20 7th annual USSA Captain’s Briefing

Yacht Club at Isle de Sol, St. Maarten. For captains, senior crew and industry leaders. Topics include: STCW, The Manilla Amendments; a MLC panel discussion and entering U.S. waters. ussuperyacht.com

Festival-Part I, Ft. Lauderdale. More than 300 regional and national artists exhibit. www.ArtFestival.com

Week. 25th anniversary race features strong international programs and top-tier competitions. www.premiereracing.com

Jan. 8 Sunday Jazz Brunch, Ft.

Jan. 17-20 ABYC Marine Systems

Lauderdale, along the New River downtown, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., (SunTrust Sunday Jazz Brunch is typically on the first Sun. of each month). Free. www. fortlauderdale.gov

Jan. 10-12 ABYC Basic Marine

Electrical, Miramar, Fla. Designed for the marine professional who is an electrical novice. Call +1 410-990-4460 or visit www.abycinc.org.

Certification, Tampa, Fla. Call +1 410990-4460 or visit www.abycinc.org.

Jan. 21-22 3rd annual Indian River Nautical Flea Market and Seafood Festival, Vero Beach, Fla. www. flnauticalfleamarket.com

Jan. 21-29 43rd annual Boot,

Düsseldorf, Germany. www.mdna.com

23-28 annual Rolex Miami Jan. 11 37th annual Fort Lauderdale to Jan. OCR, the world’s top Olympic and Key West Race. www.keywestrace.org

Jan. 13-15 38th Stuart Boat Show

at four locations in Stuart, Fla. allsportsproductions.net. Also the 4th annual Cruiser Expo, for details visit www.cruiserexpo.com.

Jan. 13-15 Tampa Nautical Flea

Market and Seafood Festival, Tampa, Fla. flnauticalfleamarket.com

Jan. 15-20 Quantum Key West Race

Paralympic class sailors compete on Biscayne Bay, Fla. The event is part of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, a worldclass annual series for Olympic sailing. www.RolexMiamiOCR.org

Jan. 28 6th Annual Dania Beach

Vintage Motorcycle Show, Dania Beach, Fla. Antique bikes, music, vendors, bike parts swap meet, food, skill team demonstrations, motorcycle field games, Roller Derby Girls, vintage bicycle display, skateboard demos.

Free to public, proceeds benefit Stray Aid & Rescue. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. www. daniabeachvintagebikeshow.com

Jan. 31- Feb. 3 Gasoline Engine

and Support Systems Certification, Miramar, Fla. Call +1 410-990-4460 or visit www.abycinc.org.

February 24 - March 30 Major

League baseball’s spring training in Florida. Atlanta Braves in Lake Buena Vista, Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota, Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers, Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, Houston Astros in Kissimmee, Miami Marlins in Jupiter, Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers, New York Mets in Port St. Lucie, New York Yankees in Tampa, Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter, Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte, Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin, Washington Nationals in Viera. www.floridagrapefruitleague.com

Feb. 1 The Triton’s monthly networking event (the first Wednesday of every month from 6-8 p.m.) with RPM Diesel in Ft. Lauderdale. For details visit www. the-triton.com.

Feb. 1-3 10th International Marina

& Boatyard Conference (IMBC), Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Geared toward marina and boatyard owners, operators, managers, dockmasters, harbormasters, boat builders and repairers, and industry consultants. Produced by the Association of Marina Industries. www.marinaassociation.org

Feb. 2 The Triton Bridge luncheon, Ft.

Lauderdale, noon. This is our monthly captains’ roundtable for people who earn their livings as yacht captains. RSVP to Associate Editor Dorie Cox at dorie@the-triton.com or 954-525-0029. Space is limited.

Feb. 4 23rd annual Women’s Sailing

Convention, Southern California Yachting Association, Corona del Mar, Calif. Open to all women with workshops presented by top women sailors. www.scya.org

Feb. 7-10 Electrical Certification

Course, Annapolis, Md. Call +1 410990-4460 or visit www.abycinc.

MAKING PLANS March 31 Westrec annual Sunrise Harbor Marina Captain and Crew Appreciation Party Ft. Lauderdale. This year’s theme is Toga! www.sunriseharbormarina. net


The Triton

www.the-triton.com SPOTTED: New Zealand, Maryland

Triton Spotters

Jeff Gibbs, president of Jeff Gibbs Teak Deck Repairs, took his Triton on a recent trip to New Zealand. This is his Ocean Views Holiday Home “Pimanu” near Whangarei on the Ngunguru Coast of New Zealand’s north island. Fellow Triton readers are invited to visit at www.BookaBach.co.nz/8624

Capt. Brian O’Connor, Capt. Steve Hill, Capt. Natalie Hannon and Capt. Donald Hannon take a break from their trip south aboard M/Y Red Head to sample the crabs at Jimmie and Sook’s in Cambridge, Maryland, and catch up on their Triton news. By the way, we know that jimmies are male crabs. Anyone have any idea what a sook is? (First three correct answers to editorial@the-triton.com get a little Triton goodie.)

Where have you taken your Triton recently? Send photos to editorial@the-triton.com.

January 2012 B15



December networking

January networking

Tweet, text and type away

What it takes to lose a pound

Newsworthy Cafe debuts

Join The Triton, Patton Marine

Social media on the job can be a problem

It’s one calorie at a time to gain or lose

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January 2012

www.the-triton.com

Section C

With smart choices, bring modernist cuisine aboard

TRITON SURVEY: HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START IN YACHTING?

Simon Harvey started in yachting as a deckhand in 1982 and progressed to be a captain. In late 1990, as captain of the first M/Y Mi Gaea, he visited the DeVries shipyard in Holland to see the boss’s new Mi Gaea PHOTO PROVIDED being built. Read the story about how he got his start on page C10.

Skills, credentials matter, but timing is king By Lucy Chabot Reed Every yachtie has a story, and they are as different as the people who tell them. This month, we asked every yachtie in our database how they got their start in yachting and we got an incredible response. More than 350 people took the survey, about half of whom gave us details of their start. One thing kept coming up for many yachties, and that is timing. “I was applying for a position in a bar in order to keep the money flowing and saw out of the corner of my eye a note looking to hire and took it from there,” said a woman who joined yachting in the 2000s. “From day one, I realized that getting a job is about being in the right place at the right

time. The windows of opportunity are only open for a few days, in most cases, and captains seem to take whoever is there and available at that time.” Yes, skills matter. Yes, credentials and experience matter. But getting your foot in the door often takes simple dumb-luck. “I was working in a restaurant, and instead of going out back to smoke with the girls I went out to the dock to help a boat tie up,” said a woman who has worked in yachting more than 20 years. “I was asked if I would rather work in the marina instead. It was divine intervention.” First, we should note that although we opened this survey to everyone in our database, we still got a majority of captains and crew responding, about

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70 percent of the 361 respondents. The largest group of non-crew were business owners, just more than 13 percent. Looked at as a whole, the length of time our respondents spent in yachting (either working on yachts as crew or on land in some support capacity) was an almost perfect bell curve with the largest group between 5 and 15 years. The bulk of our respondents got into yachting in the 1980s (23.3 percent), 1990s (25.3 percent) or 2000s (29.7 percent), meaning the largest single group is those relatively new to yachting, landing their first jobs since the turn of the century. (We know this isn’t true of the

See SURVEY, page C8

The contemporary cooking technique called molecular gastronomy is really restructuring food chemically, which allows technology to improve food and flavors. It’s been around for a few decades, thanks to a creative chef who brought it into the limelight. Molecular gastronomy is not the term world Culinary Waves reknown chef Ferran Adria likes; Mary Beth Lawton Johnson he prefers to call it modernist cuisine, and offers it in his El Bulli restaurant in Spain. Now, Chef Adria has decided to close his restaurant to turn it into a think tank for chefs. Heston Blummenthal is the first to put the concept of molecular gastronomy on the map, and Sam Mason, the head chef for WD-50 in New York City, followed in a close second offering up his freeze-dried, nitrogen test tube bacon ice cream. With the varied products and cooking techniques, not taking into account the danger involved in recreating molecular gastronomy onboard, is it practical for yacht chefs to use this concept in our food production? If there ever was a poster child for molecular gastronomy and what can go wrong, it is the German chef who made headlines more than two years ago when he accidentally blew his hands off working with nitrogen. This is not the ideal ending to a career. However, I do want high-end modern cuisine uniquely mine. So how and what do you select?

See WAVES, page C6



The Triton

T

www.the-triton.com

NETWORKING LAST MONTH: Newsworthy Cafe

he Newsworthy Cafe welcomed nearly 300 captains and industry professionals on the first Wednesday in December. The group gathered outside in great weather and inside with freshly painted PHOTOS/TOM SERIO walls. Even Santa Claus made a visit.

January 2012 C


C January 2012 NETWORKING THIS MONTH: Patton Marine

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The Triton

Networking with The Triton and survey company Patton Marine Join us for Triton networking with Patton Marine on Jan. 4 from 6-8 p.m. at Lauderdale Marine Center in Ft. Lauderdale. It’s an opportunity to meet with the staff of the survey company and enjoy food and beverages. Until then, get to know a little more from company president Donald M. Patton. Q. What do you do? Patton Patton Marine is an independent survey company. It was started in 1973 for other purposes, but in 1981 we went into surveying. Q. What is your background in the industry? I went to work at 16 years old. I am now 82 heading toward 83, if I make it. At one point I was in the marine salvage and research business. This was helpful for insurance claim work, damage and construction. Earlier on I was an apprentice to a wooden boat builder in New England. In 1948, I worked at Miami Ship. It is no longer there, what a shame. I worked in Sarasota in Regal’s Boat Yard and had three years in the Coast Guard running patrol boats involved in port security. Q. What sets you apart from other survey companies? I started this company because I felt that the surveys were not in depth enough. We learned how to make sure the owner and the insurance company receive both the survey text and the recommendations. Q. Who will captains work with? Captains, owners, and inquiries will be directed toward Tom Jones, the office manager who is well versed in what is required, who to put on the job and how many it takes to perform a particular survey. When we go on a very large yacht, several people from PMI attend but also subcontractors. We have two in-house electrical engineers and an air conditioning engineer. We are knowledgeable in the regulatory bodies’ requirements, including class, MCA, LY2, and flag state, etc. Q. In what part of the world do you do business? We do business all over the world. I don’t think there is any country where yachting is involved that we haven’t been. It’s definitely a worldwide operation. Q. How often does the survey seal the deal on a sale versus stop a sale? The answer to that is simple. A good broker (and there always should be a broker involved) gets a proper survey. If it turns out that it is not favorable and the buyer is not interested in that yacht, the most important thing that the broker or salesman can do is to make sure he maintains his client.

That the prospective buyer’s salesman helped him get a survey for the yacht and it didn’t work out that well is a tribute to the broker. The prospective buyer certainly would stick with the broker because of that. On the other hand, if the broker/ salesman connected the prospective buyer with a surveyor that didn’t point all these things out, the prospective buyer would be mad when he goes to buy his next boat, and would probably try another broker/salesman. Q. You’ve been in business for a while, what trends have you seen? Wow, that’s a good one. After the war, the boats were smaller and the new boats, even for the wealthiest, were afraid of being too ostentatious. They didn’t build very big yachts for a long time after the war. I was mostly in the sail boat game and raced in ocean and transatlantic races, when the limit was 73 feet. Anything over that wouldn’t qualify. Power boats were usually 40 to 60 feet, and eventually to 80 feet. In the 1980s they started to get bigger and today there doesn’t seem to be a limit. When I was sailing, you had to know celestial navigation and there were few electronics. Today, it is all electronics and we’ll go on a yacht where the captain doesn’t have a sextant or the tables to work out a sight. That is a little disturbing, but on the other hand, these crew are more intelligent and better educated than we were. The computers, electronics and systems onboard are amazing, however I think that they should still be able to navigate by non-electronic ways. Today, with water makers, the heads are fresh water. In the old days, they were saltwater, which caused interior rust , damage and smell problems. There have been improvements, with many developed by surveyors, captains, engineers and interior personnel for the betterment of today’s yachts. Paints and finishes are far superior. Another area of change is with bigger and better engines and hull forms. Especially in sailboats, which we have always been very heavily involved with since several of us are ex-sailboat guys. The changes in rigging, hardware, winches, hull forms and speeds have been tremendous. A lot is due to design but also the materials. Is it for the better? Some of it, yes. Some is a little on the unsafe side. People are trying to make better procedures but some are trying to break records. That will never be controlled but, I think a lot could be safer. Find more details about Patton Marine, visit www.pattonmarine.com, call +1 305-854-3821 or e-mail pattonmar@aol. com or pattonmarineinc@aol.com.


The Triton

www.the-triton.com

INTERIOR: Stew Cues

‘Netiquette’ concerns surround social media, work environments In today’s world, using the Internet first Blackberry phones came out. I to connect with people has become an worked with a deckhand who had important way to stay in touch. Social one, and he seemed to constantly be networking sites are a great way to distracted and messing with his phone. find people you Needless to say, it annoyed all of us. haven’t spoken When the infamous Blackberry fell into to in a long time the drink one day, we were all relieved. and to keep up Nowadays, almost everyone is guilty with your closest of such bad behavior, myself included. friends. They can In the past 2 or 3 years I have seen really help to dispel people, including captains, become the loneliness the obsessed with their iPhones. As rude as yachting lifestyle it is to be checking your phone when sometimes creates. you are in the company of others, it Stew Cues After a long round has nearly become socially acceptable Alene Keenan of holiday charters, behavior. it feels good to As we introduce people into the log onto Facebook and see what your workplace, they bring with them fellow yachties have been up to. standards of behavior that gradually But what become happens when accepted. What you log on and is acceptable At issue is our professional find a friend varies from persona. In yachting, we live request from boat to boat. So in a close environment. It is the captain, or what’s a stew important to try to maintain the chief stew to do? (with whom Personally, some sense of privacy. you’ve just had I think we an argument)? must rely on Is it wise to connect with colleagues or individual accountability. Set a good higher-ups? example for your co-workers, and That’s a tough question. In yachting, talk to your superiors about what is our business and personal lives are acceptable social media behavior. already blurred. We are expected to be One of the biggest problems is the available 24/7 as it is, but how do you tendency to give out too much of the react when you go off duty and discover wrong information. Communication your co-worker has been posting about via social media is somewhat deyour recent falling out? personalized, and it is hard to control There are huge “netiquette” issues the subtle nuances of tone and surrounding interactive social media, meaning. What we might intend to be including Facebook, LinkedIn, and sarcasm could come off as an insult, for Twitter. It’s a struggle to develop rules instance. and standards for how to use these And remember that even though you modern communication tools. may think you are only reaching your At issue is our professional immediate friends and contacts, the persona. In yachting, we live in a close information you post could actually environment, often much closer than reach millions of people. Sensitive we would like. It is important to try to information that you post about the maintain some sense of privacy and crew or the boat and its location, not be too familiar with those we are itinerary and guests may constitute not sharing a space with. That is one of the just a breach of etiquette, but may be tenets of Social Responsibility from a breach of contract as well, with legal STCW class. ramifications. Maybe you shouldn’t How do we keep our various post those photos of the amazing “selves” intact: the self we are with parties that you attended over the friends, the self we are with family, holidays. and our professional self? Many times, It amazes me how much our younger crew have not yet developed perceptions about improper etiquette a professional persona. They do change over time. Let’s remember not understand how valuable their that we are the process of creating reputation is, and how easy it is to standards for proper “netiquette.” Llet’s damage. Be careful what you post. resolve to keep our wits about us. Some boats have strict rules about cell phone/smart phone usage, but Alene Keenan has been a megayacht it is tough to monitor. How much stewardess for 20 years. She offers productivity is lost by crew who interior crew training classes, are constantly tweeting, texting workshops, seminars, and onboard or checking e-mail and Facebook? training through her company, Probably considerably more than the 10 Yacht Stew Solutions (www. percent lost by smokers on the job. yachtstewsolutions.com). Comments on Standards develop over time, and this column are welcome at editorial@ policies evolve. I remember when the the-triton.com.

January 2012 C


C January 2012 IN THE GALLEY: Culinary Waves

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The Triton

Fruit Sushi with Coconut Rice By Mary Beth Lawton Johnson Even though molecular gastronomy has been with us a while, you can still take a simple classic idea, such as sushi, and transform it into something with a modern twist: fruit sushi for a dessert. Serve sushi for dessert by simply substituting the main ingredients of tuna or salmon with fruit, the nori with a gellified wrapper, and sushi rice with coconut-scented rice. Instead of wasabi paste, use raspberry and mango sauce. Don’t wait too long to serve this. The wraps do begin to disintegrate after some time.

Beautiful but on the clock:To keep the wraps from disintegrating, PHOTO/Mary Beth Lawton Johnson don’t wait too long to serve this.

Fresh fruit wraps made with Agar-Agar cut into thin strips Coconut Rice (sushi rice made with coconut milk) Fresh fruit syrup For the wraps:

1/4 cup honey 1/2 cup raspberry puree 1 teaspoon Agar-Agar Boil all. Pour out onto flat tray or silicon mat. Spread thin. Refrigerate. When solid, remove from silicon mat and cut into strips. Prepare sushi rice adding 1 cup of coconut milk instead of the required water to the rice. Puree 2 pints of fresh raspberries and press through a fine mesh sieve, extracting juices. To thicken, add a pinch of Agar-Agar. Assemble by laying rice on the thin strips of fruit and rolling into a wrap. Top with pieces of fresh fruit and serve with fruit sauce.

Want to learn modernist cuisine? Conferences are available WAVES, from page C1 When trying something new, be sure to check with the captain first as these products can produce serious risks if not handled properly such as nitrogen in combination with other ingredients. You will need specific tools coupled

with the effort it takes to create experimental foods. You might just forego the effort. If you want to achieve that molecular gastronomy look, first you need to know the basics and how to use them. There are now several conferences

on modernist cuisine offered around the globe. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, be sure to take one in. It is quite easy to find those hard-tofind culinary products if you know what you need. These Web sites offer books on the subject, recipes, and culinary tools, not to mention incredible food photography. l www.lomejordelagastronomia.com l http://blog.khymos.org/tag/hervethis l www.thespicehouse.com l www.moleculargastronomynetwork. com l www.lepicere.com l www.auiswiss.com Amazon carries several books that are well worth investigating. l “Modernist Cuisine” by Nathan Myhrvold et al., a volume set. This is expensive. l “Alinea the Cookbook,” well worth having onboard. l “Keys to Good Cooking: A Guide to Making the Best of Foods and Recipes” by Harold McGee. l “Cooking for Geeks: Real Science, Great Hacks, and Good Food” by Jeff Potter l “The Big Fat Duck Cookbook” by Heston Blumenthal l “Bakewise: The Hows and Whys of Successful Baking with Over 250 Magnificent Recipes” by Shirley O’Corriher. She knows what works and why. Don’t pass this book up. l “Kitchen Mysteries” by Herve This l “Kitchen Chemistry” by T. Lister and H. Blumenthal l “Molecular Gastronomy: Exploring the Science of Flavor” by Herve This l “On Food and Cooking, The Science and Lore of the Kitchen” by Harold McGee l “Eleven Madison Park: The

Cookbook” by Daniel Humm and Will Guidara l “Cooking Science” by Adria Vicenc Here are a few staples to have on hand in a modern cuisine kitchen: 1. Methyl Cellulose, which is mainly used as ice cream stabilizers. You would use it as a thickener or emulsifier. It only dissolves in cold liquid. When heated, it turns back into a viscous gel. 2. Activa. This was sent to me by the company that produces it, Aginnoto, and there are varying forms of it. The one sent to me binds proteins together such as a multi-layered sushi (salmon, tuna and a white fish). 3. Calcium Lactate Gluconate, also known as Glocol. This is used with acid or fatty items, and the process of reverse spherication. Add it to the item you want to gel and then dip it into a sodium alginate bath and the gelling agent is stopped, producing a caviar. 4. Ultratex 3. This is a modified food starch that uses a cold water application made from tapioca. 5. Freeze-dried Berry Powders or Dehydrated Fruit Powders. These can be used in candy fillings or dessert toppings, and when used with sugar produce a perfect color coating for fruit jellies and sauces. 6. Freshcut. Instead of using lemon juice or sugar to prevent oxidation, which can alter the taste of vegetables or fruits, sprinkle with Freshcut instead. 7. Versawhip. This item produces twice the amount of volume for whipped egg whites than sugar or cream of tartar. Mary Beth Lawton Johnson is a certified executive pastry chef and Chef de Cuisine and has worked on yachts for 20 years. Comments on this column are welcome at editorial@the-triton.com.


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January 2012 C

Lose pounds and keep them off by cutting 500 calories a day Everyone loves holiday parties but equally hates the seasonal weight gain. While many people think they gain lots of weight – 10 pounds or more – a study in 2000 revealed that the true average holiday weight gain is about a pound. However, this extra pound can accumulate through the year so that by New Take It In Year’s, many may Carol Bareuther definitely be looking to get rid of 10 to 15 extra pounds. The trick to losing weight and keeping it off in the New Year is to know what a pound is and how to lose it. What is a pound? A pound weighs 16 ounces or 454 grams. To gain one or lose one takes 3,500 calories. Consider that calorie needs range from 1,800 per day for a relatively inactive senior woman to 3,200 or more for an active young man. It’s hard to eat an additional 3,500 calories a day and gain a pound overnight. However, it’s easy to eat an extra 500 calories a day and gain a pound in a week and more than 50 pounds in a year.

It can be equally easy, if you know herbs, you can save 80 to 90 calories per how, to eat 500 calories less or exercise tablespoon. Switching from whole milk 500 calories-worth more and lose a to skim saves 60 calories per 8-ounce pound a week. cup. Eating a chicken breast without What does 500 calories look like the skin saves 70 calories per serving. in terms of food? If you go the exercise route, there On one hand, 500 calories can be a are a variety of activities you can do to surprisingly small amount of food. For burn calories. How vigorous you need example, an 8-ounce cup of eggnog to be depends on how much time you with a jigger of have. rum serves up For example, about 450 calories. and according Only 75 percent of A 1/12th slice of to the American chocolate cake College of Sports those who make New with frosting Medicine, one Year’s resolutions provides 537 hour of step keep them past the calories. aerobics burns just first week of the On the other over 500 calories, hand, 500 calories while it would take year, according to can be quite filling a little over three a landmark study – 4 large apples, 45 hours to burn the published in 2002. stalks of broccoli, same number of seven 6-ounce calories playing containers of plain, darts. nonfat yogurt. The good news is that there are What does it take to lose a many great calorie-burning activities pound? you can do, and maybe already do, Simple: Eat less or exercise more. as part of your job. For example, If you want to lose weight by food competitive sailing burns 295 calories alone, eat 500 calories less per day. per hour, scuba diving 413 calories, Look at little ways to save calories. snorkeling 295 calories and fast For example, replacing regular salad freestyle swimming 590 calories. dressing with a diet variety that has When it comes to work, cleaning less than 10 calories a tablespoon, or cabins (house work) burns 207 calories a sprinkle of lemon juice with fresh per hour, painting burns 266 calories

and carrying heavy loads burns 472 calories. Only 75 percent of those who make New Year’s resolutions keep them past the first week of the year, according to a landmark 2002 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Psychology. This drops to 71 percent past the first two weeks, 64 percent after a month, and only 46 percent after the first six months. Even though this may sound like a dismal amount, researchers say that those who make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than those who never make resolutions at all. So go ahead, make a resolution to lose weight in the New Year. Then, assure your success. The best of both worlds is to eat a little less and exercise a little more. This isn’t an exciting loseweight-while-you-sleep prescription, but it’s guaranteed to work if you stick with it. What’s more, if you learn how to eat less and add more activity to your day, you’ll have the best shot at keeping those unwanted pounds off all year long. Carol Bareuther is a registered dietitian and a regular contributor to The Triton. Comments on this column are welcome at editorial@the-triton.com.


C January 2012 TRITON SURVEY: How I got my start

When did you get your start in yachting? 2010s – 4.4%

1960s – 5.0%

2000s – 29.7%

1970s – 12.2% 1980s – 23.3%

1990s – 25.3%

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Why did you take that first yacht job? Did you know anything about yachts when you got your first crew job? For a boy/girl – 5.8% Needed money – 4.4% Other – 12.8% Needed a job – 17.8%

Love being at sea – 38.1% Wanted to travel – 21.1%

Learned a lot in school – 3.1% A little bit, from a few trips– 16.2% Nope, not a thing – 19.8%

Yes, I grew up on the water/around boats – 61.0%

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If you had experien get it? Cruise ship – 3.2% Military – 4.5% Fishing boats – 8.7%

Power boats – 36.1%

The people you know and when you ask them for a job have greatest eff SURVEY, from page C1 industry as a whole; it’s just true of our survey, so view the results through that lens.) Most of our respondents – more than 62 percent – never left the yachting industry, which coincides with our crew-heavy response rate. If they did leave, they came back (nearly 32 percent), either to their same post or to another yachting job. Just 6 percent got out of yachting and stayed out. We crunched these folks to see if they were women, thinking that women would get out and stay out to raise families, but just half were women, making it statistically insignificant. Of course, what we really wanted to know in doing this survey was How did you get your start in yachting? The ways are as diverse as yachting itself, but it seems that the largest group got into yachting because of someone they met or already knew. The largest group – 37.5 percent of all respondents – got into yachting when someone in the industry opened a door and helped them land that first job. “After working the showroom at a yacht brokerage, it was decided by some senior

staff that I ‘could handle the crewing life’ and was sent off on a few Bahamas charters,” said a woman who is a junior crew member on yachts today. “That was almost nine years ago. So happy things went that way.” “I had been looking for work for three months and I was in a bar in St. Maarten when a girl (a former co-worker of a crewhouse mate) gave me the name and number of a captain friend,” said a woman who joined yachting this decade. “I met him two days later and got the job.” (These stories support our theory that it’s all about the timing, don’t they?) “I was working on a live-aboard dive boat in the Caribbean,” said a captain in yachting more than 10 years. “I met the captain off a private yacht in the marina. He showed me around the boat and told me a little about what the industry had to offer. I never looked back.” “I met my now husband when my family chartered a sailboat,” said a woman who joined yachting in her 20s. “He was my captain for the week, and I was so amazed that 1. You didn’t have to live in the United States, and 2. I could live and work on the thing I love the most, the ocean. It was an awesome revelation.”

The next largest group at 22 percent indicated that a friend recruited or hired them. “My parents were actually guests on board a charter yacht (M/Y Big Eagle) and they told me I would fit in with crew on a yacht with my personality,” said a woman who worked on yachts 3-4 years before joining a yachting business. More than 13 percent were recruited from their previous life ashore. “I was the manager of a local furniture store and a broker came in and bought a house full of stuff,” said a broker who joined the industry in the 1990s. “He liked how I handled everything and told me I’m wasting my time with furniture.” Just 10 percent got their first yacht job by walking the docks. “The biggest boat I’d ever seen in my life, a 180-foot Maridome, was tied up in Vancouver,” said a captain who joined the industry in the 1990s. “I was cooking at a nearby waterfront restaurant. I walked down after work to ask if they needed a chef. Turned out the chef broke his ankle the night before. I offered to work for free. The captain and owner liked me so I stayed on for couple of years (and got paid).”

About 8.5 percent were successful replying to a job posting. “The Triton had a classified ad I responded to,” said a man who joined yachting in the 2000s. “I packed my s from Michigan, overdrafted my bank account, quit my job, sold my stuff an to Ft. Lauderdale to compete with an dayworker for my deckhand job.” And just 8 percent said a crew age found them their first job. “I got sailing delivery jobs easily ju hanging out at the marina for a few d said a captain in his 50s who joined y in the 2000s. “I got my first job on a y before I dropped my bag at the crew I got a full-time mate position throug crew agent within a day of arriving in Lauderdale in 2006.” When we looked at this last group closely, we discovered that the larges group of yachties who used a crew ag joined the industry just this decade ( percent, in the 2010s); the next large to use an agent, 12.1 percent, joined 2000s. Even more interesting than how p got into yachting might be why, so w Why did you take that first yacht jo


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TRITON SURVEY: How I got my start

nce, where did you Did you take classes before your first yachting job? ps

January 2012 C

Took classes before first yachting job, If you left yachting at any time, why? by decade when they did:

Tugs/tow boats – 2.3% 75.0% Sail boats – 45.2%

Wanted a normal life – 28.3%

Other – 33.8% Yes – 36.0% No – 64.0%

35.3%

30.1%

36.3%

41.5% Age – 6.6%

20.4%

Family demands Time to – 17.7% get out – 9.1%

Onerous licensing – 4.0%

1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s

Needed job – 0.5%

fect on being hired

Simple start: ‘My dad put my butt to work’

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ust by days,” yachting yacht house. gh a n Ft.

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people we asked ob?

The most ideal reasons won, hands down. Nearly 40 percent said they took that first yacht job because they love being at sea. “I will most likely continue yachting until my death at sea,” said a senior crew member in yachting more than 30 years. “My love of the oceans, the places I have sailed and the wonderful people I’ve met along the way will be with me for the rest of my life. I’ve sailed to more than 60 countries and survived four hurricanes at sea.” Slightly more than 21 percent said they wanted to travel. Less than 20 percent said they did it because they needed the job. Just 4.4 percent did it for the money. We were curious to learn if yachties were backpackers who stumbled into the industry or if they were the kind of people with saltwater in their veins. Given the response to the previous question, it’s no surprise that when we asked Did you know anything about yachts when you got your first crew job?, the majority said yes. More than 60 percent grew up on the water and around boats.

See SURVEY, page C10

l

l

l

During my first week, a pressurized crew head discharge line burst below decks in a storage area and cleanup was my responsibility. It was bad – I mean real bad – but I rationalized this was my baptism into the “exclusive” arena of luxury yacht employment. If I could survive this, it must only get better. Oddly enough, I’m still in it, approaching the 10-year mark. Every day on the water is a good day. Some days are better. l

l

l

My dad put my butt to work. l

l

l

I was bartending at Frenchman’s Reef talking to someone from Ziedel’s Nautical Apparel. We got on the subject of these yachts that pull into the St. Thomas harbor and the next thing I realize I am flying to Antigua for an interview as a steward. Looking back, that was the day that prolonged my liver. (I

am still in the yachting industry, though, so it is not necessarily saved.) l

l

l

The owner of a boat on a neighboring dock asked if I could take him out on his boat. l

l

l

I was hired at 19 by a Long Island family to run their 44-foot, double-ender Reimers sailing yacht. He sent a small plane to pick me up for the interview and a storm cancelled the flight so I drove three hours in miserable weather to have the interview. He hired me for that reason alone. l

l

l

I was called in to a professor’s office in college after a test one day. He said, “Robert, is there anything else you would rather do with your life?” I quit school and started at a boat rental on Ft. Lauderdale beach. From there I realized how much I loved boats and went to Smallwood’s where they told me about a mate’s job on a 92 footer. It

has been one incredible journey ever since. l

l

l

I was managing a night club and one customer was always in and out. So I asked where he’d been. “Delivered a yacht to Cozumel,” he said. I told him if he ever needed help, I’d be available. I got a call a month later to help bring the yacht back from Mexico, and the rest is history. l

l

l

I got the job because I was available immediately. l

l

l

I started out baiting hooks on the Flamingo when it ran out of West Marina on the northwest side of the 17th Street bridge. I thought I was in heaven. I now operate a 140foot private yacht. I still think I am in heaven. It hasn’t always been a smooth ride but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. l

l

l

I was hired because of my computer background.


TRITON SURVEY: How I got my start C10 January 2012

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Nearly 20 percent admitted they knew nothing on Day 1 SURVEY, from page C9 Still, nearly 20 percent of respondents admitted they didn’t know a thing. “I walked on the aft deck of a 40m Jongert and pointed at the large, round, stainless steel thing, and asked the captain, ‘What is that?’” said a man who joined yachting in the 2000s. “He chuckled and said it was the winch. Later in the day, I sat with the owner, he offered me a salary and a trip to the western Caribbean from Maine. Kind of hard to turn down. It lasted two years.” Of those with experience on boats, more than 45 percent got it from sailboats; about 36 percent getting it from power boats. “I sailed a 23-foot engine-less yacht 17,000 nm singlehanded and when I got back to my small sailing club in the UK, the club put on a big party,” said a captain who joined yachting in the 1980s. “A man came up to me and said, ‘I have bought a yacht and want to sail to the Caribbean and back like you. Will you be my captain?’ I said yes, if it’s bigger than 23 feet. It was a 55-foot Swan so I said OK.” Less than 5 percent got it from being in the military. “I was still in the Coast Guard, and the executive officer at the SAR station I was at worked part time for Bill Koch running his 55-foot Rybovich Gryphon,” said a broker who joined yachting in the 1980s. “He asked me if I wanted to crew for him one day and I thought what a cool way to make a living when I got out of the CG. I logged my sea time and took the captain’s test. I’ve been a licensed captain since 1985.” Considering that most of our respondents are fairly new to the yachting scene, including more than a third who started since 2000, we were surprised at the answer to this question: Did you take classes before your first yachting job? Sixty-four percent said no. But looking more closely, we saw that the number of yachties who first took classes before taking that first job increased as the decades wore on. Only 20 percent of those who got into yachting in the 1970s took classes; 41.5 percent of those who got into the industry in the 2000s took classes first; 75 percent of those who are just getting in took classes first. In inviting our entire database to this survey, we were curious to know why those who got out of the industry made that decision, so we asked If you left yachting at any time, why? The answers were hard to categorize. The largest group, more than a third of respondents, chose “other.” “I left yachting because I wanted to move away from steward and into the deck department, so I took two years

“ ... in my local pub ...”

Here’s the story about how Simon Harvey got his start in yachting in the early 1980s: “By chance one weekend in my local pub in the UK I met a friend of a friend who was a captain aboard a 22m in Cannes. We chatted and I asked if he might know of any jobs in the south of France. Turns out he needed a person to drive a Riva for the summer as the 22m was not big enough to carry the Riva, and the owner’s son liked water skiing. (This family went on to build the Feadship M/Y Rio Rita). I jumped at the opportunity and off I went the very next next week to Cannes. I spent the summer driving and polishing that Riva, making trips from Cannes to St. Tropez and back. A wonderful summer and a wonderful start to yachting. I, just as many yachties, could write a book about the rest.” Harvey’s company, N2, is a U.S.-based leadership and communication skills training company for the yachting industry. out and came back as a junior deckhand and worked right up to captain within seven years,” said a captain in his 40s. “I left the industry to travel for eight months,” said a crew member in her 20s. “It is really important to get a good balance of life. Being at sea all the time starts to give you a false sense of reality. There is a whole world going on out there. It’s good to stay in touch.” The most popular reason was that the person simply needed a break. Other popular reasons were to attend university and to pursue a land-based opportunity, either enticed by the yacht owner or someone else. More than a few noted that they had at least one terrible boss (be they captain or owner) or several in a row and simply got discouraged. “I left yachting because in the space of five months I had two bad boats in a row,” said a captain in his 50s. “I was maltreated, my physical and mental health suffered and I seriously questioned why I was in the field. After two years out, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else, and decided I’ve just had bad luck.” The next largest group, at 28.3 percent, said they wanted a normal life. “I still do some yachting; I just don’t want to be part of a permanent crew,” said a woman in her 40s who has been in yachting more than a decade. “I want to live my own life, not the life the owner

See SURVEY, page C11


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TRITON SURVEY: How I got my start

What do you recall thinking? ‘$4 an hour was good money’ SURVEY, from page C10 wants.” More than 17 percent left yachting because of family demands. Just 4 percent blamed the onerous license requirements. And less than 1 percent got out because they needed a job and couldn’t find one in yachting. We went into our survey assuming that most of our respondents would be former yachties, so we asked When was the last time you were out to sea? Given the number of respondents still working on yachts, however, these answers don’t surprise. More than half have been to sea within the past month, with half of the rest in the past six months. Just 7 percent admitted it’s been a long time. This sort of survey lends itself to reminiscing, possibly about the best times in life – being young, unencumbered, and brave. So we asked What do you remember most about the day you got that first yacht job? The answers didn’t disappoint. “The best day of my life.” “A lot of wax.” “That I had finally legitimized the years spent messing about in boats.” “A very nice dinner at the Ritz Carlton.” “The thrill of being on board an 80foot Camper Nicholson, as a rookie. No pay, just a cabin and food, hands-on training. Worked my way up from bilge rat to captain.” “That $4 an hour was good money.” “I remember the feeling that, no matter what happened, my entire life was changing.” “Thinking ‘what do you mean I could cook on a boat?’ Although I had lived on Nantucket and been to the islands many times (and worked as a chef), it never occurred to me that that was an industry that I was qualified for.” “I remember thinking it seemed too good to be true.” “I didn’t want to break anything.” “Being truly shocked. After winning two local fishing tournaments, I received a call while attending boarding school and was offered a summer/part-time job as captain of a 50-foot private sportfishing boat … as a 17-year-old. I could not believe that anyone would trust a teenager to run their boat, but went for it anyway.” “I’m going to get paid for doing this?” “I remember meeting the first mate, Shay, who gave me my first opportunity. She had a profound effect on me in more ways than one, a true professional.” “It is easy for me to remember: It was the day I turned 65. Instead of retiring I started a new career as a yacht captain. I have had a captain’s license for years

but never used it in a professional status. Here I am, eight years later, with the same owner but with a much larger boat. You’re never too old.” “My dad asking me if that is what I intended to do with the rest of my life.” “How great it felt.” “Being paid in cash at the end of the day an amount that would have taken two weeks to earn at my other job.” “The excitement of having my dreams come true. I had grown up on boats and was excited to get into yachting as a career.” “I was terrified, curious, excited. I drove to the yacht and sat in my car and spied on it for about three hours the night before I started. The next day I moved on board, stayed on the boat for four years, and have been on yachts ever since.” “Thinking ‘what have I gotten into?’” “Getting a free lunch.” “Sitting on the outside dock at LMC scrubbing teak chairs thinking, ‘wow, I’m in Florida, broke, hot, scrubbing chairs outside in the blazing heat. I’ve really made it.’” “The smell of Feadship interior.” “Stunned at the tiny crew quarters and having to share a cabin with a guy.” “I didn’t have any idea what I was doing.” “Getting very dirty within minutes of being hired.” “Bikinis.” “I remember the thrill of being at the helm of a 68’ Sunseeker and thinking ‘I’d better not screw up’.” “Relief, and wondering (as I was stowing my quarters) what life was going to be like in the future and how long I’d last?” “Seeing a Canadian flag flying on the mast of a huge sailing vessel in Rio De Janerio. I had been traveling for three months in South America and when I saw that flag, I nearly cried. I am Canadian and missed a good Canadian conversation.” “Thinking I’d hit the jackpot.” “Getting sea sick off of Point Judith on my way to Miami aboard a 55-foot yawl named Tara.” These first impressions came from yachties who got into the industry in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990, 2000s and 2010s. Some things don’t change. Lucy Chabot Reed is editor of The Triton. Lawrence Hollyfield is an associate editor. Comments on this survey are welcome at lucy@the-triton. com. We conduct our monthly surveys online. All captains and crew members are welcome to participate. If you haven’t been invited to take our surveys and would like to be, register for our e-mails online at www.the-triton.com.

January 2012 C11


C12 January 2012 BUSINESS CARD ADVERTISERS

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SUDOKUS

Try these puzzles based on numbers. There is only one rule for these number puzzles: Every row, every column and every 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 through 9 only once. Don’t worry, you don’t need arithmetic. Nothing has to add up to anything else. All you need is reasoning and logic.

ADVERTISER DIRECTORY Company

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B11 B11 C10 B15 A15 B9 C9 A16 A5 A10 B13 B8 A15 A12 B2 C10 B11 A13 B8

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Company

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C14 January 2012 BUSINESS CARD ADVERTISERS

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