Category: People

Browse through interviews that peek into the lives and careers of those in the boating industry. Interviews with marina owners, boat builders, and event coordinators can be found here.

Southern Exposure’s Q&A: Mark Davis, President of Sailors for the Sea

SB: Please tell our readers about Sailors for the Sea and how it came into fruition.
MD: Sailors for the Sea was founded in 2004 with the idea that the boating community has a profound passion for the sea and awareness of the importance of ocean health. Our programs were created to unite the community and give a voice to this collective rallying cry that enables cruisers to help heal the ocean.

SB: How and in what ways has Sailors for the Sea most noticeably impacted not only the marine environment but also the boating industry?
MD: In the last ten years, I believe there has been a noticeable shift in the boating industry and community. The media within the marine industry and beyond has helped share our story of ocean conservation. We have now grown to 2 million media impressions a month, thanks to this impressive industry and our dedicated social media following. Additionally, we have had over 600 events participate in the Clean Regattas program, which greatly changes the norm for running water-based events.

We are also working to protect the marine environment by educating future generations of cruisers with KELP (Kids Environmental Lesson Plans). Whether it’s a 7-year-old in an Opti [sailing race] or a 12-year-old at summer camp, KELP has already connected 45,000 students physically and academically to the marine environment.

SB: In what ways have you seen Sailors for the Sea grow since you started working at the organization? What are you most proud of accomplishing as President?
MD: We have grown tremendously through a rigorous 10-month strategic planning process. In this exercise we have charted a path for scaling up the impact of our programs and created a multi-platform communications plan that will decipher complex ocean health issues for the boating community and enable them to take personal action to improve ocean health.

SB: What is your favorite story or fond memory while working with Sailor for the Sea?
MD: With my one-year anniversary on October 1st, I can say it has been an absolute joy to be able to combine my passion for boating with my work on environmental matters. Our board is exceptional and the management team is extremely talented.

SB: How can boat owners become involved with your organization?
MD: Boat owners and marine lovers alike can start by educating themselves on the issues that our ocean currently faces. Our online periodical Ocean Watch translates the language of marine science into timely and fascinating articles that make ocean health personal and relevant. Each essay has opportunities for individuals to take action that are connected to the ocean health issue they just learned about. Additionally, cruisers can work with their sailing clubs to implement the Clean Regattas program—the world’s only sustainability certification for water-based events. And of course without the generous financial support of donors, we would not be able to have the reach and impact that we do.

SB: What’s new with Sailors for the Sea in 2014-2015?
MD: Just this month we published a new logo on our website and as the year ahead starts to unfold, we will be publishing a pledge to educate cruisers on how to reduce their carbon footprint. I can’t give too much away, but one exciting statistic we recently learned was that if 10 percent of U.S. mariners stopped using single-use plastic bottles for one year, that would reduce our carbon footprint as much as planting 500,000 trees!

SB: Has Sailors for the Sea received any awards?
MD: Yes, just this past February our co-founder and chairman, David Rockefeller, Jr., was named the 2013 YachtWorld Hero.

SB: What are some of the most challenging hurdles you have to face with your organization in this industry?
MD: Within the industry we have not faced many hurdles—people are very excited to protect and heal the ocean. The most important hurdle for us to jump over is connecting cruisers with ocean health issues. When you are on top of the water, it often looks the same whether or not there is a healthy and functioning ecosystem underneath. The most important aspect of ocean conservation is education and helping people understand how their daily actions, purchases and even investments may connect to ocean health—which affects the health of their children and grandchildren!

SB: How often do you frequent the water? Do you own a boat? Tell us more about yourself?
MD: I get out on the water almost every day in my kayak either before or after work to enjoy our beautiful harbor in Newport. During these excursions I pick up any trash I come across, and these trips are a great reminder of why I come into the office and do the work that I do everyday. I am also a proud co-owner of Blue Moon, a 21-foot Ensign, with my sister. I am a native of Mills River, North Carolina, and lived in Wilmington for five years while attending college. During that time I had the opportunity to live on a 47 Grand Banks and a 37 Tartan sailboat. There was nothing finer than living on the ICW and being to get off shore in short order. I spent so much time on the water in my 20s that I earned a USCG 100 Ton Masters License.

SB: Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
MD: At Sailors for the Sea, we define sailors as “a traveler by water” and we want to invite all of your readers to engage in our ocean conservation mission! Visit sailorsforthesea.org to learn more today or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

By Christine Carpenter, Southern Exposure

Karrie Webb

This LPGA hall-of-famer trades her golf clubs for fishing poles in the off-season to play on a different kind of course…one that leads to monster fish aboard her 32-foot Intrepid.

Karrie Webb is recognized as one of the greatest female golfers of all time. The world’s fifth-ranked female player holds the record for most Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour victories with an impressive 41 major titles. When Webb won the Women’s British Open in 2002, she became the first player in LPGA history to achieve the “Super Career Grand Slam” by winning all five majors, including the du Maurier, which is no longer held. In just the last six months, Webb kicked off the season by winning the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open in February and the JTBC Founder’s Cup in March.

Webb’s grandparents introduced her to golf, and she was inspired to pursue it as a career after she watched Greg Norman play the Queensland Open in 1986. “I would go out with my grandparents every Saturday morning with plastic clubs, but by the time I was seven years old I was too strong and kept breaking them. My grandparents promised they would get me a set of golf clubs for my eighth birthday so that was my official start in golf,” says Webb. That was in the early 1980s, the same time Greg Norman was becoming known as the best player in the world. “When I was 11 years old I told my parents I was going to be a professional golfer when I grew up, and I never wanted to do anything else.”

Webb’s parents and grandparents also inspired her love for boating and most of all, fishing. “I grew up along the coastline of Australia near the Great Barrier Reef. I did some deep-sea fishing with my family, but we mainly stuck to backwater creek fishing. My parents and grandparents had a ‘creek hut’ on a sandy out-crop at the mouth of a large creek with the Pacific Ocean on the other side. We could only get there by boat and we spent all our free time there,” reminisces Webb, the eldest of three girls. “Until I was 12 or 13 years old, I was kind of like my dad’s little boy. Wherever he wanted to go, I wanted to go—and he really loved fishing—so all my memories of hanging out with him on the water are my favorite fishing stories. He instilled a true passion for boating in me.”

Years later Webb moved to Orlando, Florida, but soon realized she couldn’t be away from the coast so she moved to Boynton Beach, where Ayr Waves II found its home on her boatlift. “In ’06, I had a really good year on the tour, so my Intrepid 32 was my reward, and I still love it. If I ever get another boat, I’ll get another Intrepid. Being on my boat is definitely my main hobby when I’m not on the course. I’m pretty fair-weather when it comes to fishing, but even if it’s really windy I don’t mind cruising along the Intracoastal—and I don’t think about golf at all while I’m out there,” says Webb, who taught herself the prep work required for fishing. “Since my dad would always help me, I could bait my hook but that was about it. I wanted to learn all the techniques and be able to do everything, so now I feel like a true angler.”

Like most fishermen and women, Webb says her dream day fishing is a day filled with catching with a fish fry at the end of it. “There is a lot of work that goes into deep-sea fishing, so it’s definitely more enjoyable when I can stand on the dock and filet a big catch. Since my hands are a pretty important part of my career I filet my fish a little slower than others, but I still filet them alongside everyone else.”

Webb primarily fishes off the coast of South Florida but has taken Ayr Waves II to the Florida Keys a few times. “I’ve gone down to the Keys for lobster miniseason a few times and since I’m competitive, chasing a lobster to get it in my bag becomes a mission. I don’t dive as much as I fish, but it is another activity on my list of things to do more often once my schedule slows down. The last 10 years, the British Open has been scheduled for the same week as mini season.”

As a professional athlete, Webb enjoys the thrill of the game…big game fish, that is. “I’ve never caught a tarpon, so that’s definitely on my list of dream catches, along with all the great game fish. I’ve caught a big dolphin and a white marlin off of Boynton inlet, but I’ve never caught a sailfish. I also want to make it to The Bahamas when the tuna are running.” Webb says many other choice catches are where she grew up near the Great Barrier Reef and insists they are some of the best-tasting fish in the world—coral trout is her favorite and she also enjoys barramundi, a relative to snook that is just as tasty and highly regulated.

As much as Webb would like to make more time for boating and fishing, her sights are set on June 2016—the qualifier for the Summer Olympics. “I’ve accomplished so much in golf, so goal setting has been really hard in the last few years except for trying to win golf tournaments. So when it was announced that golf could be in the 2016 Summer Olympics for the first time since 1904, that became my goal.”

Webb turns 40 this year to round out a remarkable 18-year professional career. Once the 2016 Olympics are over she will consider taking more time off the course. “I’ve only made one trip across to The Bahamas, but I want to do a lot more of that. It’s hard to find the time right now because the best time of year to go is the summer, which is my busiest season with golf, but The Bahamas is my biggest bucket list item,” says Webb, who adds that she also wants to charter a crewed catamaran and cruise the Virgin Islands. “When I start to wind down my professional career and have more time, I will fill it with anything that has to do with being on a boat.”

By Christine Carpenter, Southern Boating July 2014

Giuseppina Arena

Guiseppina Arena, naval architect and interior designer for the Ferretti Group, shares about her history in naval architecture and her passion to create the perfect boat for each client.

 

SB: How did you become an interior designer and become interested in yachts?

GA: I studied architecture at the University of Florence, where I received my license in architecture. After completing my thesis on the main theatre of the Grand Princess, I received my Masters degree in Italy for Yacht Design, where I studied yacht architecture. Giacomo Mortola of GEM Studio in Genova is the naval architect of Princess Cruises, and he offered me a job with his company. I worked five years designing the interiors of beautiful cruise ships, in addition to working for several shipyards in the world.

SB: I have seen the custom design and style you produce for customers of Ferretti, specifically on Bertram. What is the process of taking a design idea and turning it into a yacht?

SB: If a client owns a boat or is ordering a new one I work directly with him. The first step is to understand his needs, which starts with his preferred layout. The second step is to work on the hard décor: choosing the wood for the furniture, defining the typical detail—the lighting, the floor, the wall covering—all the materials. Then I move on to choices for soft décor. Both hard and soft décor have a very important role in obtaining the right atmosphere for each specific area on a client’s boat.

SB: What is your favorite part of the interior design process, and your design project to date?

GA: My favorite step is choosing the materials. I am always trying to find new products and materials never before used in the marine world to create a unique boat for each specific client. My favorite boat I have designed is the Pershing 115.

SB: What are some of your signature styles and features that set you apart from other interior designers and decorators in the marine world?

GA: I like clean spaces that are very elegant yet comfortable, and I pay careful attention when I choose the primary materials. I like to use very high quality, and I am extremely picky with the little details because I want my clients to have the highest quality in our boats. I also don’t use many colors. I like colors only for accents that give personality and feature the neutral, chic spaces.

SB: How has your design for Ferretti progressed most significantly in the last 10 years? What are some of the most noted changes?

GA: In the last 10 years the quality and the technology have improved a lot in the way we build our yachts. The most significant research was to create a better connection between the interiors and the exteriors of the boat with balconies, bigger windows, improved space of the interiors, and the overall livability in our Ferretti line. Our Pershing designs specifically improved the performance, sport and aggressive style using innovative materials.

SB: How do you see interior design in yachts evolving over the next few years?

GA: I think the design of boat and yacht interiors is [and will continue to be] more and more customer-oriented. Also, the customization of interiors starts at a lower range—like 50 to 60 feet—, which offers more affordable luxury. Years ago this was not common, but now shipyards and manufacturers realize it is important for customers to have custom or semi-custom boats. Even if they start with a smaller boat, it is not unusual for them to upgrade over the years, which creates loyal customers.

SB: Have you seen technology play a role in the advancement of design in your field? If so, in which ways?

GA: Of course! Nowadays, high technology becomes one of the first requests of the clients when deciding to buy a new boat, especially if it is customized. They require everything controlled by iPod or iPhone among other mobile, hands-free devices. I actually designed a boat where all the cabinet doors were controlled by a re-programmable bracelet.

SB: Have your designs received any specific recognitions or awards?

GA: I was given an award for my design of a fast patrol boat for the law enforcement agency Guardia di Finanza in Italy. I was working for a shipyard that produced military boats and speedboats, which was very interesting!

SB: Where and what type of boating/fishing do you enjoy personally? Do you own a boat?

GA: I prefer speed when I’m boating—it gives me adrenaline. I would like to one day buy a fast boat—I’m not sure which make yet—to name it Ginger after the first Catamaran I designed. Designing boats is my passion and I am so happy that my job permits me to create a new experience for clients on the water each time. If they are happy and love their experience on the water, I reached my goal.

By Christine Carpenter, Southern Exposure May 2014

Andy Sturner

Andy Sturner, CEO of BoatSetter, shares why he loves his job and how he believes BoatSetter is making positive waves in the marine industry.


SB: What sets BoatSetter apart from other competitors in the field? How has it accomplished this and how will it continue to do so?

AS: First and foremost, our management team is comprised of seasoned veterans with decades of marine industry, tech and rental car experience. We recognize that trust dynamics are very different with boats than with houses and cars. We are the first peer-to-peer marketplace that makes boat rentals accessible to consumers regardless of their boating experience. Our captain-centric approach helps foster trust and provides the broadest boating access possible by allowing anyone to enjoy a great experience on the water even if they have no prior experience.

SB: How has the company developed and changed over the years?

AS: We are a new company (founded in March 2013) and just launched our service this year. Since March 2013, we have established a national network of marina owners and operators with some of the most well-respected names in the industry including Loggerhead Marinas, Marinas International, Flagship Marinas, Morningstar Marinas, Suntex Marinas, Almar Marinas, and Aquamarina facilities.

SB: What attracted you to work for BoatSetter? Can you tell me a few things that specifically ignite passion and excitement about your job?

AS: Our industry is at a crossroads—powerboat sales peaked in 1988 and have been on a downward trend ever since. In the same time, despite sales volume dropping, nearly 80 percent of dollar volumes are up, indicating over four-fold increase in price. Compound the aging of boat fleets with an aging boat ownership population (two times as many owners over 65 than there are under 40), and a drop in utilization to 20 days per year on average, and you can see that our industry needs to address access and affordability. At BoatSetter, we are creating a business that helps address these challenges and creates virtuous circles for our marine industry partners.

SB: What are you most proud of accomplishing as CEO of BoatSetter?

AS: The team that I have built. We have assembled a team of incredibly passionate and talented people that extends beyond our management team to our investors, advisers and marine industry partners.

SB: What do you love most about what you do?

AS: Providing great experiences on the water. The joy that our customers experience is the most rewarding part of my job!

SB: How has BoatSetter made a difference in the marine industry? I would love to hear specific examples of how you believe it has enriched mariners’ experience on the water.

AS: We help boat owners subsidize their cost of ownership. By providing a way to make boating more affordable and creating the right incentives for them to properly maintain their vessels, we are improving the quality of their boating lifestyle, which positively impacts the marine industry.

SB: What should we expect to see from your company in this upcoming year?

AS: We will be rolling out our service around the country and entering into more marine industry partnerships that will help accelerate our business plan.

SB: What is a product or two you would recommend for cruisers? Why?

AS: I would recommend the TidalWavez app from the Apple App Store. It is the first social media application for boaters and boating participants. It’s a lot of fun!

SB: Has BoatSetter won any awards? If so, please tell me about them.

AS: Yes, “Best Startup” at the Super Conference in Miami.

SB: Are you involved in any outside marine organizations?

AS: I am on the legislative board of the Association of Marine Industries.

SB: How involved in the boating and marine community are you? Do you own a boat yourself? If so, what is the name and what do you love the most about being a mariner?

AS: I am extremely involved in the boating and marine communities. Through Aqua Marine Partners, I own a portfolio of marinas on the East Coast of the United States and am actively involved in all aspects of our community. I have been a mariner for 30-plus years boating on the Long Island Sound and the lakes of Pennsylvania. I have owned a number of boats in my life—my first, the Net Escape was a SeaRay 27 Sundancer that paid homage to my early Internet startup days using the Netscape logo as the design. I owned Options, my 38 Sundancer and several Formula boats including Hull #1 of the 47 Motor Yacht. I am now an avid BoatSetter user and will live rest of my boating life in high style.

By Christine Carpenter, Southern Exposure April 2014

Brett Fitzgerald

Executive Director of the Snook & Gamefish Foundation, Brett Fitzgerald, explains the concept of Ales for Anglers and shares easy ways to contribute to waterway conservation while keeping track of your good days on the water.


SB: Please tell me about the Snook & Gamefish Foundation and describe how it aids the fishing and boating community.

BF: The Snook & Gamefish Foundation began as a fundraiser for MOTE marine laboratory in Sarasota, Florida, but shifted its focus to raising awareness for anglers rather than strictly raising funds for NOAA. Today it partners with mariners and anglers by laterally transmitting info from them straight to NOAA via the Angler Action Program. The personal logs of boaters and fishermen directly aids the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) in its pursuit to better maintain the waterways each mariner uses. The Snook & Gamefish Foundation acts as a liaison between waterway conservation and human use to leave our waters in a better state than they are now for our future generations.

SB: In what ways do the personal logs of mariners and anglers directly partner with NOAA?

BF: The Snook & Gamefish Foundation has created the Angler Action Program, which is a data collection database where users log their trip information, which is used for state-level stock assessments. It allows mariners and anglers to be personally involved, and creates ownership in waterway management. The information logged by the anglers is used by the government to set laws, and the immediate, accurate reports helps avoid overfishing, but also doesn’t punish anglers with unnecessary closures or restrictions. It also helps us identify where habitats are damaged or water quality is poor, in which cases our foundation and NOAA can intervene to positively impact the boating experience across the board—whether you are fishing, diving, snorkeling, etc.

SB: Tell me more about the upcoming Ales for Anglers event March 29th in Boca Raton, Florida. How did the Snook & Gamefish Foundation become involved and what was the process of turning this concept into reality?

BF: Well it all started with a conversation I had with Sally, owner of BX Beer Depot in Lake Worth, Florida, last December. I love good beer as much as I love being on the water and Sally shared my sentiments. We were discussing how “beer fests” are kind of stressful now—packed with crowds rushing from vendor to vendor to get their money’s worth—and to me, a craft beer festival isn’t about rushing; it’s about enjoying. I basically said, ‘Someone should have an event like this …’ and I described a Florida-brew-only festival with live music and minimal crowds, and Sally added that she had the beer connections but she just needed a charitable organization to benefit. ‘I have a charitable organization!’ I piped in, and thus Ales for Anglers was born.

By the end of that night, we had a plan to combine local home-brews and talented Florida musicians to raise awareness and funds for the Snook & Gamefish Foundation, along with a handful of other noteworthy marine groups. Today, with the festival only a few weeks away, we have 10 environmental non-profit organizations with booths at the event, over 100 volunteers, and no promoters—making this a real grassroots community event. Although, I did have a woman from Germany call because she couldn’t buy a ticket online; I told her I would reserve one for her at the door … who would’ve expected that!

SB: How did you and your team choose the musicians and craft brews that will headline?

BF: We are featuring breweries from all over Florida’s coast—Pensacola, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, and Due South in Boynton Beach has been overwhelmingly helpful, as many others have. They are all very excited to participate, as many live near the water. JJ Grey is a performer from Jacksonville who has a huge following, and he is on the board of our foundation. He was thrilled to help our cause and pair his musical influence with a great marine charity. Rock Brothers Brewery is a company that brings brewers together with musicians to create a “celebrity beer” and is featuring a “JJ beer” at the event, which will be really unique. We are going to have a lot of exclusive offerings like that, which should attract a decent crowd to relax and also learn more about what goes on underneath the water we all love.

SB: What are your personal hopes or expectations for the event’s inaugural year?

BF: First, I hope it becomes an annual event. Second, I want people to leave with a smile on their faces. Third, I want people who come for one thing to leave loving another thing. For example, if someone comes because they love craft brews, I want them to leave loving the musicians they saw and recognizing the importance of waterway conservation. I’m also really hoping not to lose money and to provide a comfortable, enjoyable environment. I’m very passionate about promoting today’s angler as the “conservation-oriented angler” and I hope our foundation and the 10 other non-profits at the event will encourage people to become passionate, also.

SB: What do you think participants of the Ales for Anglers event can expect? Are you excited for anything in particular?

BF: On the beer side of things, I think people should expect some incredibly unique and tasty choices. I really encourage everyone to come at the beginning for the free home-brew sampling at 2:30, because these aren’t amateurs brewing in their garage; these are brewers on the verge of breaking into the business, and they have well-crafted offerings made uniquely for this event and the cause it serves. I also think everyone should expect to be blown away by the musicians. They each have something really diverse to offer and JJ is one of the best, most engaged performers I’ve ever seen. I am excited for people to learn about the benefits of waterway and ecosystem conservation, and the balance between activity (whether boating or fishing or watersports, etc.) and conservation efforts. Most people think you either have to be a tree-hugger or an active mariner, but they really go hand-in-hand.

SB: How can boat owners become involved with the Snook & Gamefish Foundation and/or Ales for Anglers? Also, is there a way for individuals who are passionate about the water but do not own a boat to get involved?

BF: Boat owners who also like to fish (which is a large majority in the South)—no matter how frequently or infrequently—can immediately get involved by logging their boat trips on our Angler Action Program through the Snook & Gamefish Foundation’s website. A boater can input tides, weather, moon phases, sunsets, catches, and anything else about their trip to keep a personal log. It acts as a powerful tool that helps boaters (mainly fishermen) become more efficient, while also aiding in vital fishery information that the government and organizations use on a daily basis.

SB: How often do you frequent the water? Do you own a boat? If so, what is the name and make?

BF: I own a skiff boat and I try to fish and dive off it as much as I can with my wife and kids, but we boat more than anything else. We just enjoy days on the water together and try to make it out there as much as possible. We also love to charter boats or rent a pontoon on a lake, and we make it our family mission to visit as many places in and around Florida’s waters as possible. We are looking forward to lots of boating this summer!

SB: What is one of your fondest memories or favorite stories working for the Snook & Gamefish Foundation?

BF: I give a lot of talks and seminars about what we do and why we do it, and afterward people always share their personal fishing stories, which I enjoy. I think my favorite part is meeting the children who are positively impacted and see them connect with their parents through time on the water together. I also enjoy experiencing the paradigm of what a responsible fisherman and woman is, and I am proud of today’s anglers and boating community.

By Christine Carpenter, Southern Exposure March 2014

People Helping People

Marine industry people unite to help others in need.

In 2010, Andrew Cilla, owner of Luke Brown Yachts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, received the horrible news that an employee’s father had been in a serious accident aboard his 21-foot deck boat. The owner survived, made a full recovery, and the damaged boat was donated to Freedom Waters Foundation (freedomwatersfoundation.org)—a Florida nonprofit organization dedicated to providing boating opportunities for people with disabilities, life threatening illnesses, youth at risk, and others with special needs. Young Professionals in Yachting (YPY; youngprofessionalsinyachting.org) committed manpower to restore and “transform” the boat for its intended service under Freedom Waters Foundation. “We loved the idea from the beginning; to convert a damaged pontoon deck boat into a luxurious Intracoastal cruiser, equipped with a wheelchair-accessible ramp so guests could board the boat without problems,” said John Jarvie, president of the YPY South Florida Chapter and vice president of Oversea Yacht Insurance.

The boat was completely stripped, repaired and repainted with Awlgrip paint provided at cost by Port Supply. Peterson Fuel—a major benefactor of the project—earmarked $19,500 over three years to modify the boat and keep it in operation. Its facelift included new hatches, nav lights, soft goods, and all the essentials required, all provided by local yachting businesses.

Now in the final stages, the boat is docked behind Cilla’s Luke Brown office in Fort Lauderdale next to the popular Southport Raw Bar—prime visibility for what has evolved from a tragedy to a sense of great pride for the yachting community. The boat will begin service this fall.

By Andrew Parkinson, Southern Boating August 2013

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