7 minute read
Putting yachting to good use
Former cook/stew wins MIASF Golden Anchor award
By Lucy Chabot Reed nationwide. “My job is to manage our lobbyists and
Former yacht crew member Patience Cohn my passion has been yachting, so I’m acutely won the Golden Anchor Award for 2020, the aware what the impediments are when most prestigious award given by the 60-year- we’re coming up against legislation or rules old Fort Lauderdale-based Marine Industries that impact yachts,” she said. “Probably the Association of South Florida. The award biggest advantage I have is that I can argue recognizes a lifetime achievement for work in our point from a knowledgeable position.” the marine industry. For example, a recent marine advisory
“I am humbled and stunned by it,” Cohn from the U.S. Coast Guard clarified that said after receiving the award at the MIASF vessels over 500 tons must leave South annual meeting, held virtually on June Florida within 48 hours of a hurricane. Cohn 24. “I don’t see myself as doing anything made officers understand that yachts that size extraordinary. I love what I do.” have hurricane plans and are highly focused
Cohn is the industry liaison at MIASF, on safety, as well as the reality that they standing up for crewed yachts when industry would be unlikely to move in the face of a issues intersect with the government and its quickly approaching storm. rules. The role is a natural for her; she spent The USCG acknowledged her point and more than 20 years as a cook, chef and stew Cohn as cook/stew aboard the first of the Limitless line, circa 1987. now requires vessels over 500 tons hunkering on some of the most well-known yachts at the PHOTOS COURTESY OF PATIENE COHN down in South Florida facilities to let the time. Captain of the Port know they are there.
Cohn grew up in Nantucket and began M/Y Circus II, which became M/Y Big Eagle for a “I told them that if someone told us playing with boats as a child. She worked at few months while owner Bernie Little negotiated we had to leave, I would have said you’re going Nantucket Boat Basin throughout high school and another deal, and then M/Y Limitless, the first in a without me,” Cohn said. “No boat is going to college, and then, in the mid-1970s, she joined a line of ever-growing yachts owned by Les Wexner depart with a hurricane coming. Now, they just fill cousin moving a 42-foot Post to Fort Lauderdale. of the Limited and Victoria’s Secret clothing stores. out a form and tell us how they are going to stay
When they pulled into Pier 66, general manager Cohn stayed involved in the yacht through all the safe. Ronnie Stroud pulled up on a golf cart and ownership changes as stew and again back in the “If you can argue from a position of knowing, recognized her from Nantucket. He had recently galley. you have a much better chance of stopped there on his tour around the Northeast on a yacht carrying a banner saying “Follow me to Fort Lauderdale.” The next day, he She also worked on the 166-foot M/Y Coco (later M/Y Nadine) with Capt. Mark Elliott, and she captained a 70-foot ‘If you can argue from a position of knowing, you have a making your point,” she said. Cohn has also been involved in efforts to get the B1/B2 visa recognized in South Florida as offered her a job, and Cohn became the first female Striker for owner Ted Aronson for a time. “Four of the owners I worked much better chance of making your point.’ the appropriate visa for yacht crew, getting yacht crew of all levels recognized as essential dock attendant at for were in the top 10 of Forbes – Patience Cohn on how workers during the pandemic, Pier 66. wealthiest people at the time,” being crew helps her fight for and minimizing the impact of the “I had come down with just a Cohn noted. “It was a smaller pool of owners then, and I guess I the industry every day high-speed train bridge over the New River in Fort Lauderdale. duffle bag,” she was lucky.” Captains with issues arriving remembered. “It She came ashore in the mid-1990s and or staying in South Florida can contact Cohn for would be a year freelanced for a while before settling down and advice or help (patience@miasf.org). before I went back getting married. She found another marina “The association is here to help businesses do to Nantucket.” management job through Stroud in Hilton Head, business,” she said. “If boats can’t come here, She worked South Carolina, and then came back to Miami to businesses can’t do business.” her way into the manage the Jockey Club. Cohn joins an elite group of South Florida office and wound up managing the marina. But She began volunteering at MIASF on the marina marine industry professionals who have won the then she started dating Capt. Craig Tafoya, and she and boatyard committee and was soon elected Golden Anchor award. joined him on the 70-foot Trumpy M/Y Doubloon to the board. Eventually, she was called on more “It’s an amazing group,” she said. “I mean, as cook/stew. They would work on that yacht five and more to help then-President Frank Herhold Bob Roscioli [Roscioli Yachting Center] and Joe years, cruising all over the U.S. East Coast, the manage his schedule of meetings with politicians, Rubano [RPM Diesel Services] have won it. They Great Lakes, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. lobbyists and legislative staff working on issues built businesses. I’m just really grateful to be
“The pay was great and they treated us well, why related to the marine industry. She was officially recognized because I do put my heart into it.” would we leave?” she said. hired by the association in 2005.
Cohn would go on to work on several legendary Cohn is the behind-the-scenes muscle on yachts – and their legendary owners – of the most regulatory and legislative issues that touch Lucy Chabot Reed is editor/pubisher of The Triton. 1980s and ’90s, including the 139-foot Feadship large yachts in South Florida and, increasingly, Comments are welcome at lucy@the-triton.com.
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