At the beginning of this grand adventure, I had more hair on the top of my head than on the bottom of it and none of it was grey. I cannot decide though if it is as a result of long days at a job that demands high standards, long nights on shore leave with my shipmates creating memories that will last a lifetime like the friendships made, or the various engineers under my wing I have found myself convincing captains to give another go following a night of revelry. To be sure, it is a sweet mixture of all the above.
Child to hardworking parents who managed mines and clinics in small towns and remote locations across the Southern African continent, the seeds of commitment to hard work, to the comradery of small communities and a life of travel were planted early. An aptitude towards engineering was evident already at a young age and I was able to develop this skill during my school holidays learning and operating the various mechanisms of a small mine with fabrication and maintenance skills taught at the mine workshop. It was thus a natural progression for me to work for a large mining company in their exploration division managing prospecting projects in the field from concept to decommissioning. Here my engineering education was further developed across a broad spectrum of disciples.
Having grown up far from the sea, but with a lust for adventure and passion for all the natural world, I decided to learn to sail. Here I learnt of this industry I now find myself in more than 20 years on. The rest is history as they say.
Over my career I have held an attitude of continual learning, acquired the necessary training and qualifications, and more. Chased the expedition boats. Chased the big boats, the motorboats, the sailboats, the new boats and done the old boats, the charter boats and live aboard owner boats, and boats with submarines. I have seen how the industry has evolved. The good and the bad. It remains an exciting and dynamic industry with a lot to offer if you are willing to make something of it.
At this stage in my career, I try to help the willing and motivated make something of themselves in this arena. To cultivate good practices and attitude to their work. To help imprint upon them our duty as engineers to be responsible in consideration of the environment and play our part in preserving it. To have a Rum with friends, share a rosé lunch, swim in the blue oceans, basically have a bloody good time while doing it.
