PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES; SHUTTERSTOCK; ALAMY
WWW.BOATINTERNATIONAL.COM FEBRUARY 2018OWNERS’ CLUBBrian O’Sullivan
From barefoot business deals
and run-ins with cannibals, Brian
O’Sullivan tellsGrace Trofahow
he is savoring every moment
on board 135ftKomokwaMy first boat was my father’s 51ft
former Canadian government fishery
control boat, perfect for learning
because it was almost indestructible.
I learned to navigate by my wits, which
has served me well. In 40 years of
boating, I have never had an insurance
claim. I’ve had a 23ft Tiara, a 45ft
Bayliner, 58ft Hatteras and then a 74ft
Hatteras. Chilling on a boat is not for
me. I like to drive and I always take the
helm for my shift. It’s almost Zen-like
when you are at sea. On a clear night on
the flybridge you can stare up at the
stars, it’s beautiful. I sold the American
assets to my wind farm business,
though I still have the business in
Mexico. The sale allowed me to buy my
135ft Horizon, Komokwa, for the sole
purpose of doing a round the world
trip. She was the smallest boat that
could hold enough fuel, plus kids and
friends. When I called my insurance
company they said, “Nice boat Brian,
who’s the captain?” I said, “Me,” and
they wanted to see a captain’s license.
So off I went to school in Ft Lauderdale.
Komokwa is the name in the Kwakiutl
Indian culture of Vancouver for the
god of all sea creatures, tides and
currents and there were moments
during the trip when I needed
protection. I remember a native dance
performance in Tonga that was soMY LIFE IN BOATSviolent we were all scared for our
safety; and hearing from our guide in
the Marquesas that yes, cannibalism
disappeared 100 years ago, but last
year a guy did eat his neighbor; and
having a shark get so close while we
were scuba diving that we set off our
Shark Shields. But the number one
thing we discovered going around the
world was the people who had the least
were far and away the nicest and the
happiest. I do have a wanderlust. I
always look forward to coming home to
Vancouver, but after a week I always
think, where else can I go? I have a
place in Puerto Vallarta and Barbados,
but maybe I will go to Hawaii and I really
want to do the Northwest Passage and
the Coral Triangle, where apparently
there is 20 times more sea life per
square ocean foot than anywhere else.
A girlfriend once remarked that I was
the only businessman she knew who
closed large financing deals in flip
flops in the Pacific Ocean on a satellite
phone, but that’s what I do. I am 66;
if not now, when?AT THE HELM
Skippering his own
boat, Brian has
cruised extensively
in the South PacificPOWER MOVE
Brian’s wind farm
business allowed
him to purchase
Komokwa (left)NEXT STOP
The Northwest
Passage and
Coral Triangle are
on the wish listCLOSE CALL
Swimming with
sharks is part of
the adventure67