Yachting Like It Is

There are few who would say that the yachting industry is like any other.  It is unique in so many ways which for some allows certain tolerances that are not acceptable anywhere else.  For others, this,often grey area, that many in yachting enjoy, is frustrating as the industry does appear to be at times, a [...]

I have read with interest the views about anonymous posting and I see the dilemma.  On the one hand the forums are great for promoting open debate and the mask of anonymity quite likely encourages the shy or fearful.  However it also encourages the shysters and apparently champions the cause of the poor speller and [...]

We have  seen, of late, a number of “Green” yachts.  Perhaps the most notable is the recently launched Huisman sailing yacht  “Ethereal”.  Built for an owner who has much experience in the environmental sector, Ethereal juxtaposes technological innovation with common sense strategies in order to reduce its impact on the environment.  Several other companies are [...]

I, as I’m sure many others do, spend much time these days trying to calculate what crew are going to do.  Either with their time or their money or both.  These days crew are my customers you see.

Despite research, it is proving very difficult to find any answers because very few people have seen anything [...]

I am actively involved in the training of yacht crew, for the very simple reason that I know a bit about the yacht training business. I received my yachtmaster instructors ticket more than twenty years ago and for years battled with the elements up and down the Solent and the English channel in the sort [...]

It is now official: salaries are going down.  At least for the entry level crew.  It seems as though the market is starting to favour the employers rather than the employees.  It is a very interesting change and whilst many will fear this means an ‘across the board’ reduction in salaries, a great number will [...]

“The economy is back to normal!” Is the mantra I have been hearing recently.  The Med’ is fine and normal and salaries are soon to be back to telephone numbers.  But is this reality?  I can appreciate that confidence is a big part of the problem these days when it comes to economic activity and [...]

Jack Sparrow or Captain Jack Sparrow to be precise, of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” fame, is arguably what many captains may aspire to be like:  Characterful, a little rogue’ish perhaps and although doubted by some ultimately respected for that unique ability to master a boat.   That and movie star looks of course.

 Perhaps some [...]

Relative to all other blogs, my rant about drugs received far more attention and the most responses.  This gives me some hope that the drug issue is still considered serious by others in the industry.  But, there is still little concensus on what we can do about drug use.  It seems to me that the [...]

A while ago I was lambasted by the editor of “The Yacht Report” for speculating in an article that drug use was “rife” in the yachting industry.  I didn’t just wake up and come to that conclusion it was he result of listening to many tell of their use of drugs and receiving constant offers [...]