I grew up in Houston, Texas. After completing high school at Bellaire High in 1982, I found myself out in Santa Barbara, California, where I went to college for commercial diving. Because I had worked for a few years as a roughneck in the oil fields in Texas, I really thought this would be a great step up for me. During this time, I started to work for the city and eventually, after being a diver for the City, I became a Water Safety Law Enforcement Officer. It was during this time of my life that I was formally and well trained in driving boats, saving lives at sea, emergency medical technician, fireman, Peace Officer / water cop, administrator, and public relations person while working at the marina there. This is where I fell in love with driving boats and from that experience, I have never looked back.
The motor yacht Antipodean, which was a 123-foot jet boat, came to the marina and after meeting the crew and captain, I knew the yachting industry was for me. Six months later, I was hired as a deck hand on the new 47-meter CRN built Azzurra. The timing was perfect in that I graduated with my certification in commercial diving, and with the job in hand, I quit the Harbor Patrol, flew to Italy to join the yacht in Capri. I have never looked back. I did my first med season and crossed on Azzurra. It was then that I knew I had to go back to school to prepare myself for working on larger yachts. After working there for a year, I left and went to Texas A&M Maritime College in Galveston Texas where I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation, Third Mates Unlimited License and my 500 Ton Captain’s License.
Once I graduated in 1994, I was off and working in the yachting industry, only to jump out once to work in the Harbor Tugs industry. I honestly never fit in with that group since my yacht training was so much better in all aspects, it was clear that Tugs were not for me, so I returned to the yachts just after one year of intense boat maneuvering training,g which I grew so much from. I often say that tugs prepare me for large yacht driving.
Since 1994 I have managed to travel all over. I can now say I have:
Crossed the Atlantic Ocean 48 times on various yachts and merchant ships
Crossed the Pacific Ocean 4 times while doing my internship on a containership
Crossed the Indian Ocean 1 time
I have traveled extensively for more than 20 years as a charter captain in the Med: West and east: from Spain to Turkey. I love the Med and believe with all the history there and great people, it is a fantastic place to cruise.
I have traveled all along the USA east and west coast as well as the Caribbean and as far down to Montevideo Uruguay.
Traveled across the International Date Line and Greenwich
The Arctic Circle and the Equator so I am a Shell Back. Have a great story for crossing the equator, another time perhaps.
I have worked on yachts from 13 feet with me as its captain up to 243 feet with 33 crew.
In truth, driving a yacht really is a big deal, but it is also a very small part of what I do. Over the years, my people skills, my tour guide skills, and local knowledge, along with the local geography, office management, technical training, and accounting, all take up more of my time than anything else.
Working in the yachting industry has been my bread and butter. I cannot say enough about how great this industry is, has become, and still has so much more to grow.
