Conference unifix::sailing

    	Yes there is chartering in the area.  In three or fours days you
    could do a nice tour of the some of the area.  Just tour around and
    drop in at various places for the night.  You can try Ed Hamilton
    800-621-7855 he might be able to help you find a source.  If not try
    the back of some of the sailing rags etc.


    Forrest
    Ps.		Are you sure you can stand the heat their cold days are
    		warm compared to your usual sailing grounds.

    re. the temp .... we were there last year and it got pretty cold, not
    as bad as here but then I don't wear a ski-do suit on the beach.
    
    re. the cost .... I should have mentioned I was not trying to convince
    you of the cost saving but rather "She Who Must Be Obeyed" {and it
    seems to be working!}

    	I forgot the happy face on the weather comment.  I was down in
    December for the Florida Cirtus cup. I sailed in shorts and a T shirt
    the local sailors were wearing wet suits.  One mans freezing cold water
    is anothers warm.  Good luck finding a boat and have a good time. I am
    back to Florida in February for the Miami Boat show....


    Forrest

    I saw the happy face anyway
    

    You might look at note 73.

    Try St Petersberg (sp?) Charters.

    Also St Pete Yacht Club.

    There is a cruising guide for the FL west coast - invaluable and
    smartly written.

    paul

    If you are at all interested in the East Coast of FL I'd reccomend
    Coleman Charters Inc.  A group of us (Sail 93) just completed a week of
    chartering out of Ft Laderdale area to the Bahamas and Bimini.  I for
    one was very impressed with the professionalism of Brooks Coleman, the
    Director and Judy Hildebrand (Captain of the boat I was on.)  Both
    seemed to have their priorities straight.. Safety of passengers, Care
    of the craft, and FUN!  They were flexible in their approach.. Do you
    want to dive and snorkle... we'll show you the spots.  Do you want to
    learn about sailing... we'll help you out.  Do you want to visit
    resorts.. we can do it.  Do you  want remote anchorages?.. sure thing.
    
    I was on the boat with Judy who enchanted us with sea yarns, and taught
    me how to make beer,apple-cinnamon pancakes... Yum!  Also, it was a
    real joy to sail with a professional and pick up some of the tricks of
    the trade.
    
    Contact Coleman Charters Inc.
            P.O. Box 395
    	    Dania FL 33004     (305) 760-9487
    
    	Judy Hildebrand        (305) 524-0783

    
    
    and if you can't get in touch with Judy or Brooks try
    Tropical Diversions... Brooks and Judy work through the
    agency often....
    
    						Georgia
    
    Tropical Diversion Yacht services
    Hollywood FL

    re .6

    Just out of curiosity, how was Bimini?

    I heard it got hit pretty bad by Andrew.

    paul

    re. .6  
    
    Thanks for the suggestion, but we will be on the West coast and the
    logistics planned by (I'm stuck trying to find a non-gender-specific
    term for my wife (for fear that I will be accused of being a wooden
    boat lover)) ....... one of the children of my in-laws, the logistics
    are such that we have only a short time to sail so I would just as soon
    go to the West Coast.
    
    I spoke to someone who has a charter company in St. Pete's the other
    day and he was telling me about parks and Islands and uninhabited
    beaches that sounded most inviting.  In 3 days, it will be tough to get
    much sailing in but we'll try.

    
    
    
    		what the rrican didn't get SAIL93 did!  (SMIRK)
    
    		no, bimini is fine... The COmpleat angler is alive and
    		well.. weeches has a brand new dock. The Sandbar is still
    		the last bar to close and the conch still tastes great!
    
    				If you drop in say hi to Jerry for me!
    
    							Georgia

    
    
    
    Some of the lower Cays have been nuked (South of Bimini)
    and the Exuma's got nailed...
    
    						Georgia
    

    
    
    BTW...
    
    	I'm considering taking a full time job as captain and manager of
    a 75' ketch to be home ported in Lauderdale in the winter and located
    in the chesepeak in the summer... The boat is privatly owned and the
    owner does not mind spending money to keep the boat up. 
    
    Does any one have any insite as to what I should and should not do?
    AND, Any insite into gotchya's in the business. 
    
    I have moved boats and captained as a hire on but I never actually
    managed anyones boat full time beofre...
    
    							Georgia

Re: paid captain.

I think a key question is: how often does the owner use the boat? If the
owner is retired and spends most of his/her time on the boat, this is a much
different proposition than, say, every 2nd weekend. Also family with kids is
much different that businessman wining/dining business guests.

Think about how your day-to-day life will be organized. Will you be able to
have a social life without unpredictable cancelllations, for example?
If you can talk to the previous skipper, it would help a lot to understand
what it's like to work for this particular owner.

There was an article in a recent Offshore by a captain recounting his
experiences trying to meet owner's expectations. "...Meet up with our party
of 8 tomorrow morning at..." I don't remember what month, unfortunately.
I can try to find it, if you wish.

--RS

re .12:

How little job security do you feel comfortable with? The paid captain
job market is undoubtedly small, and as a paid captain your continued
employment is (I'm sure) very much at the whim of the owner, regardless
of how (un)reasonable the owner is. I would suppose that the owner
expects the boat to be where he wants it when he wants it there, in
bristol condition and with everything working. Excuses ("there was a
gale blowing" or "the engine parts are on back order") probably won't be
acceptable. Beyond this, I would assume that you are at the beck and
(possibly unexpected) call of the owner. Most likely lots of work for
relatively little pay. Personnally, I wouldn't voluntarily leave DEC to
be a paid captain. If DEC gave me the heave ho, then I'd consider it. 

One other thought. I don't know what your experience with very wealthy
people has been. The little experience I've had has not always been 
particularly delightful. Some have been pleasant, considerate people, 
some have been arrogant SOBs. Working for the latter wouldn't be much 
fun. 

    We met a husband wife team of captain/cook on a privately owned, not
    for charter 60' aluminum sloop in the BVI's.  In 1987 the captain was
    getting about 40K/yr and his wife was getting something less as cook. 
    They had very few expenses, got to see THE WORLD, had time in every
    port for their own and had three months +/- during where they
    maintained a home in New Jersey.  Their expenses were minimal but the
    hours could be long.  They also had a small child.  I suspect their pay
    was arranged to be deposited in an offshore bank as well but never
    confirmed that.  
    
    Expect to have to manage the yacht as well as cater to the owner and
    guests.  Arranging for repairs, effecting repairs, delivery to
    wherever, overseeing routine maintenance etc. would all be minimum
    duties.  There is probably a budget allotted for running the ship which
    I would also expect you to have to manage and report on.  
    
    Could be fun!
    
    Brian

    re. .14 EXCELLENT explanation of what employment in the role could very
    well be like!
    
    Jeff

    
    This sititation in a bit more detail is:
    
    75' Ketch for Charter w/ captain. basically....
    
    The owner wants it in the Florida area in the winter and
    further north during the summer.
    
    I created a business plan based on this including a couple of
    2 week periods annually for the boat to be available to the
    owner. It appears I can Lease the boat for a nominal fee ($1.00/mo)
    and then pay either a percentage of the gross or net receits
    of the charter business. He'd pay the overhead and maintenance.
    
    I get to use the boat and live aboard full time. IE: if the boat
    is kept available or available on VERY short notice for a paid
    charater I can do 'SOME' sailing in the basic charter area of my
    own choosing. Occasionally the owner wants to set up specific
    charter agreements (overseas etc etc) at which time I would sail
    the boat with mnimum crew to the starting destination. and then
    back after the charter. 
    
    I figured I'd get a 50% usage rate off the boat (paid time) so that
    I could possiblly earn the boat between $60,000 and $80,000 annual.
    Of this I would take a 50% cut, the boat would get a 20% cut
    (maint and repair, op costs etc) and the owner would pocket 30%
    (more or less)
    
    I still am undecided since I have just received a formal offer within
    DEC to stay on....    
    
    				THANKS FOR ALL THE INPUT GUYS!!!
    				every bit helps in the decision process
    				
    						georgia

Hi Georgia,

I think it all depends on whether you are prepared to accept the risk of a 
one-way trip away from the technology (and the salary that goes with it). 

Knowing only a little bit about your position and aspirations , if the Digital 
offer is any good I'd take it. You can still play_sail. Working keeps your DEC 
skills sharp and you can happily ride out the recession in comfort. 

If you go the other way and things don't work out, you *may* find there is 
no way back because your Digital skills will get out-of-date quick and the 
no-hire policy might still be around in a year's time. Are your skills 
easily marketable outside of DEC ? 

Before the job offer you had less to loose, now I figure its swung the 
other way. I guess it all comes down to what you want the Big_Picture to 
look like and how comfy you are with risk.

This advice comes from someone who jacked in his job and went sailing for 6 
months, so I know about the risks   (yes they all said I was mad too) 
But I had a workable plan and had calculated the risks as best I could.

I certainly wish you a lot of luck if you go for it. Keep in touch.


On the maths side, ($60K x 20% =)  $12000 for the running costs/
/maintainance/slip_fees/insurance etc sounds like a low-ball for a 
75 foot boat which is chartering 50% of its life and having a live-aboard 
for the other 50%. I'd take a look at the bills for the previous year.  


Steve 
 

    
    
    good point.. (the looking at previous maint and running costs)
    
    
    Another point just to muddy the waters is that I have a couple
    existing clients that want to put me on retainer while I go
    sailing... (it might add about $30,000 annual to the picture
    of income with a minimum of 'formal' time requirements)
    
    
    god.. it gets tougher and tougher... to decide...
    
    (espically since I love my work here at DEC too)
    
    				Georgia
    
    PS: How about If i just talk the owner of the boat into letting
    me manage as a part time job and say at dec... (oh well only dreaming)
    
    
    					Georgia
    		who will probably just take the easy way and stay at DEC

>>>>>>>		1986.19			Georgia
>>>>>>>		who will probably just take the easy way and stay at DEC


Brill,  that way you will still be able to afford to come sailing in the Med
this year. 

Hey, I'm gonna need all the captains I can get!  Apart from which you know 
how to party
               ;^)
Steve 

    
    
    Captain PArty Animal!!!
    
    				georgia
    
    

    0600 Sun morning, big silver bird Halifax, Boston (I'll wave to you
    all), San Juan, Beef Island.
    
    2 weeks with North South on a C&C 37 - it'll be hot but it'll be fun.
    
    I'm going to try to get to Anegada if NS will let me and I want to do
    the romp down the back of Tortola from Trellis Bay to Cane Garden Bay
    ... I should take my Gennaker with me plus lets see ..Virgin Gorda,
    Baths, Jost Van Dyke ......

    been there
    
    did it
    
    got the T shirt
    
    
    ..... BVI's are a still a fine fine place  ... best deal of the bunch
    get a mooring a Pussers at Leverick Bay for $ 13 and get a free bottle
    of Pussers Rum !