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Careers in the Marine and Maritime Field 1
Charter Captait1 i'{obert
Jredeck
Robert Bredeck is a charter boat captain in the Caribbean, where he leads week-long cruises on a 44-foot sailboat, Catatonic. He's a long way from where he grew up in Michigan, but his story shows that anyone can pick up sailing and make a career out of it, whether you were born near the coast or whether you come from a big city, or some place far from the sea.
Ahoy!This nautical greeting stem s from the Dutch word for hello (" hoi") a nd was popularized by English sailors who often shouted "hoy" to passing ships. I'm a charte r cap tain working out of St. Tho m as in the US Virgin Islands. With the help of a firs t mate-who also serves as the chef-I take up to six guests out on Catatonic fo r a full week of sailing, snorkeling, and scuba diving throughout the US and British Virgin Islands. O n a typical day, I'm up at 7AM to m ake coffee fo r the guests and plan the day's activities. We might go snorkeling or tubing behind the dinghy before setting sail fo r the next island. Another round of water sports after lunch brings us to sunset, where we all slow down and sp end the evenin g at anchor. I usually help the chef serve dinn er, much like a bartender or food server in a res taurant. There is lots of conversation, and often a game or a m ovie to help entertain. By the time the gues ts head to bed, it is usually close to midnight-time to prep the coffee fo r the morning and hit my bunk, too! During the charter, I am constantly maintainin g the engineering sys tem s on the boat that keep everythin g running and com fo rtable-engines, generator, batteries, water pumps, and electrical breakers. In addition to operating the boat, it is my job to plan the itinerary, ready the gear for the day, pilot the boat under sail and engines, and navigate from island to island. To some, it sounds like my job is one big vacation. To others, it sounds like a lot of work. I guess, in a way, it is both .
How did I learn to do all this? While I didn't grow up near the ocean, I did grow up sailing on lakes in Michigan. I started sailing with my father when I was about eight years old . I fo und it hard to concentrate on all the steps to get the boar ready, and then there was all the work involved putting the boat away when yo u got back! just wanted to G O SAILI NG !!! I was more interes ted in the frogs and turtles underneath the sail shack than helping my dad rig the sails. I'm still that way today. I just want to GO , but, because it is my job and not my vacation, it fa lls on me to rake care of all the preparation fo r the week, which can be extensive. Like a lot of p rofessional sailors, I learned gradually, sailing and working in boars until I had enough sea time- 720 d ays working as a m ate-to sit for my USCG captain's license exams. Though not a requirement, a college degree in any sub ject is helpful in this business, especially It's not all pina coladas and pretty sunsets when you are the captain. In addition to sailing the boat, the captain has to maintain and fix all systems onboard. H ere, Robert is squeezed into the tight space in the bilge to work on the engine.
because yo ur customers are often highly educated people who want someone not just skilled to drive the boat, but knowledgeable and well rounded. I have a graduate degree in English and used to manage a little bookstore, so I can talk with my guests on just about any subject. In such a small space, the captain and his crew are not separated from the guests, so getting along and making interesting conversation are all part of the job roo. Living th rough cold Michigan winters m akes yo u dream of the tropics, and for m e it rem ained only a dream fo r m any yea rs. Finally, I rook a chance at age 38 and bought a plane ticke t to St. Thom as, a popular sailing and vacation destination. You have to pay yo ur dues and work in some less-than-glamorous jobs as you gain experience, but with patience, persistence, hard work, and making frie nds and contacts along the way, a charter captain is a job even a landlubber can learn to do in time. If a job like mine-sailing in the warm tropic winds across crystal-clear blue waters-is yo ur dream , just know that with diligence, h ard wo rk, patience-lots of patience-there's a good chance that some d ay I might be saying, "Ahoy, Captain" across the waves to you! :f,