It started over 30 years ago with a 19’ Flying Scott on Hoover Reservoir and has led to being a captain on 50-75 ft sailing yachts chartering in the Caribbean and New England.

Growing up in a small town in Ohio I fell in love with the water and boats from the front seat of a 1966 Chrysler Newport Convertible. Parked along the road at the port in Huron, Ohio sitting on my dad’s lap I was thrilled at the sight of ships loading grain from the Pillsbury silos. Years later a friend started me as crew on Wednesday night one-design racing. While I made a career in the mechanical services field for large-bore engines in power plants, refineries, tug boats, trains and ships, I sailed on weekends and vacations for recreation and sanity. Now I look back and realize my first career was just 25 years worth of excellent training for operating a large yacht.

Understanding, operating, maintaining and repairing systems on very expensive yachts is job one. Handling the yachts safely and professionally is a joy. For the last 8 years I have been taking care of yachts and the people who enjoy them. It brings a smile to my face to share this experience with owners and charter guests. The laughter of families on board is sweet music. The look of new varnish where old varnish was fading gives me a feeling of accomplishment. Any mechanical task that you can only accomplish "with just one hand while hanging upside down" makes me proud. The sound of the wake under full sail and clear sky is beyond words.

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Read the article "Briny Flight to Summer" by Martha Sherrill about her charter with me on Blue Whale.
Conde Nast Traveler, August 2010.