Yachts International — July-August 2017

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there and tells people what to do. I grew up in yacht-

ing working as a crewmember and my captain never

helped me, ever. He never allowed me on the bridge.

He was very boss-like.

I was never like that. I was going to help the last

crewmember make the last bed. I am not going to bed

until they go to bed. If I expect them to perform at all

levels at all hours, always with a smile, then I have to

do the same thing. In my opinion, that’s the difference

between a boss and a leader.

KW: How does that approach translate to the show?

You’re going to see me really getting into the mud

with them. You can see me getting dirty, not giving

up. When we’re faced with challenges, I’m going to be

right in the middle of it.

KW: Talk about the transition from being a yacht cap-

tain to a TV yacht captain.

That was a transition. I think a big part of it was having

the cameras on you 24-7. They talk about the “fourth

wall.” The cameraperson is not allowed to talk to us

and we’re not allowed to converse with them so you

don’t create a relationship. It’s almost like they’re not

there, which feels pretty bad. You want to acknowledge

them and say “how are you” and get to know them.

It’s interesting, the fact that you have all these

cameras in your face, you have people who are ear-

miked, so when you go to the bathroom, that can be

a little odd.

KW: Tell me more about this fourth wall.

That creates a non-personal relationship. Essentially,

it’s like they disappear into the wall. You start doing

your job and it starts to click. And you realize, wow,

this is a real charter. This is really happening. I’m actu-

ally going to be on camera so I’d better look good.

It’s really fun. You watch the production side, and

logistically, their lives are parallel to our lives. The

planning, the scheduling, the location, the weather,

the scenery—for the clients and also for the filming.

They have a lot of challenges and the boat has its

challenges. When something doesn’t work well, it’s

great footage for the camera crew.

KW: How did they find you?

Actually, through a friend who encouraged me to apply.

KW: People wonder if the crew comprises professionals

or actors.

They’re definitely not actors.

KW: What made you want to get into the yachting

business?

I fell into it, just like every other person who’s done it.

I was washing boats for a living. I grew up in Florida. I

used to maintain boats in my Jeep with my boat brush.

A yacht owner asked me if I wanted a job main-

taining his 67 Hatteras. That was the beginning of my

career. [That owner] believed in me and saw I was a

hard worker. He taught me how to drive a boat. He

sent me to school and I ended up working for that

family for nine years.

KW: More than two million people watched the season

one finale last year. is it reasonable to assume you’ll end

up a celebrity? Are you going to end up being a TV star,

or will you go back to yachting when it’s all over?

Yachting grounds me. People in this industry ground

me. I love every boat show I get to see. I’m hoping

it goes over well and I get to come back for the third

season.

KW: What if they don’t bring you back?

If it doesn’t work out, I could be very happy going back

to sea. This is my passion. If I do become a celebrity,

Yawn addresses the

crew of Sirocco.