http://www.boatinternational.com | January 2018Iboughtmyfirstboatwhile still in
college. It was a 9.5m double-planked
cypresslugger,andshewasinsuch
badshapethemarinarefusedto
letuskeepheratthedock.It was
through sailingthat I met my wife
Joyce,anditwasloveatfirstsight.
Afterthechildrenwereborn,my
wife’s confidence in sailing
boats dissipated.
Her argument
was “whenever we
goout,weendupturningonthe
engine anyway”.We’vehadfiveboats,
rangingfrom7.5mtothepresent28m
Broward. We named the Broward
Picasso,aftermyfavouriteartistand
also because in my business
Iconsidermyselfanartist.
Iliketobuyboatsandbring
them back to their glory
–wecallit“Sackettising”.
We g utted the boat and
restored her classic design,
adding Lalique bathroom fixtures,
inlaid marquetry, book matched
marble and wood.Amonthafter
buying her, Hurricane Katrina hit
NewOrleans,myhometown.Ittook
fiveyearstorebuildourhouse.That
prompted us to move the business and
buyahomeinFlorida,wherewekeep
Picasso.I’vehadmanymemorable
tripsduringmy60yearsonthewater,
butwhatIlovethemostis watching
my children heading out in the tender
to go fishing and their happiness when
theyreturnwithaloadoffish.
This month
Richard Sackett
Owner ofPicasso(28m)My life in boats
Interview–GraceTrofa
PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES; JEANNINE MASSET AND RUDI SCHAMHART; QUIN BISSET; COURTESY OF OWNERSOwner ofDream
Length: 60m
Year: 2001/2013
Location: South FloridaTell us about your 2017 cruising...
Weusedtheboatforfiveweeksin
Montenegro, Croatia and Venice. It was
atotalblastasthesecountrieshave
many deserted islands where we enjoyed
paddleboarding, kayaking, jet skiing,
wakeboarding – basically all our toys, and
not forgetting our giant slide! The water in
theMedcanbesocleanwhenyougetaway
from the coast. We also had very successful
charters in Italy and the South of France in
August and September. She’s now back in
Florida, ready for my family winter adventures
andchartersinthe
Bahamas and Caribbean
What are you most
looking forward to this
winter season?
Spending long weekends
in the Caribbean. We’ll
then head to Panama and
maybeCostaRicainApril-
May and go to French
Polynesia for summer- I love diving
and we have a great set-up onDreamwith air
and nitrox compressors, which will be handy
in the Pacific
What’s your favourite water toy?
Iloveourlarge10mIntrepidtender.Its
hard bottom is super stable and enables us
to explore the coasts and islands in total
comfort – even when the sea is rough. I also
like the SeaBobs, which make you feel like
you’re a dolphin
Anypost-IrmaconcernsfortheCaribbean?
I am saddened by the destruction in St Martin
andStThomas,wherewehavegoodfriends.
But the Caribbean has many other wonderful
spotssuchasStLucia,Grenada,Belize,
St Vincent and the Grenadines that did not
get hit. And there is Panama, which has great
beaches that few people know about
What’s your tipple of choice at the moment?
We have a large wine cooler and I enjoy some
of our fine Bordeaux
What’stheonethingaguestonboardcando
to win your heart?
Ijustlikemygueststoenjoythemselvesand
not feel obliged to wake up as early as me