I began my working career in the then
safe and solid communications industry. Beginning as a technician, I quickly worked up into management.
After eight years, I wavered from the predictable
course and did a series of jobs in the search for something more satisfying.
Finally, at the invitation of a friend I visited Sunsail in Greece and my eyes
were opened. A month later I had wrapped up my affairs in England and was on a
plane to Athens.
I have now spent ten years as a professional in the yachting industry and hold the MCA Class IV deck officer certificate.
Initially I spent four happy years working for Sunsail. I started off in a boatyard near Athens as a general hand. It was a fast-track learning process, and I picked up a lot of technical know-how. I soon found what I then considered to be my dream job - flotilla skipper.
It's a hectic life leading a flotilla. Three people shared the "lead boat" (in those days), a 32ft yacht, thereby living in very close proximity during the season. Crew changes are quite common, but I was pleased with my own record; I never had cause to change my crew, (nor they their skipper!) from the start of the season 'til the season's close.
We had some wonderful times, and so did the guests, many of whom were generous enough to write in and
tell us so.
I ran the sailing yacht "High Five" for three years. She was owned by two German businessmen who made much use of her with their families and parties of friends. I ran the boat alone, doing most of the maintenance and servicing work of the yacht and her systems myself. I also took pride in preparing the boat for guests; cleaning and laundry etc. In November 1998 I sailed her to the Caribbean, (from the Balearics) for the winter season, and then on to Florida for a refit. We spent the '99 summer season cruising between New York and Camden, and then returned to the Caribbean via Bermuda, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. In May 2000 I brought her back to Germany for another refit and Baltic sea cruising. My last duty was to negotiate her sale through Berthon yacht brokers.
I was then offered a post aboard s/y "Mirabella" as the engineer. This was a temporary assignment while the yacht completed her Med season and was delivered to Antigua. This was a good opportunity to prove my technical skills, and get valuable experience aboard a highly prestigious sailing yacht. This spurred me on to study for my Class IV certificate.
Recently I was engaged on m/y "Fair Lady" as the first mate. Having gained my Class IV certificate, I decided it would be to my advantage to take a command position aboard a large and well run yacht. My time on Fair Lady gave me the chance to participate in the running of one of the industry's most well loved yachts. In this highly complex vessel, my technical knowledge and expertise were exploited to great advantage.
Penny and I have just completed a pleasant temporary assignment running the 22 metre Jongert, s/y "Cyrano de Bergerac". The objective was to finish the existing refit and have her ready in just a few weeks for Greek Island cruising with the owner and his family. We took her from Palma to Corfu, and then spent the summer firstly in the Ionian, and then on to the Aegean, to finish up in Marmaris, Turkey. We laid up the boat, and went to New Zealand to join the yacht "Lady K" in Auckland. She was just finishing her build when we arrived, and we became the owner's reps down there for the final stages of build. Following launch, we visited New Zealand's "Bay of Islands", then set off into the great blue yonder. We chartered in Tonga, Fiji, Bali and Thailand.
Now we are again in the market for a new job with a family who love their boat, and appreciate their crew.
