Friendsgiving

Thanksgiving has been my favorite holiday for some time now, I love the tradition of giving thanks over an abundance of delicious food with your family and friends. I was sad to be leaving right before the holiday as our family traditions around that time are some of my favorites. I am not sure how the idea came about, but it was decided among the housemates that we should go all out for our own friendsgiving. I was so happy to be able to celebrate this day with my friends here as I knew I would be feeling a bit home sick being away from the family. Funny to share some of the traditions with them as the majority of the group was South African. One of the group is a professional chef so we definitely got spoiled! We had all the classics: Turkey with amazing cranberry chutney, mashed potatoes (which I made with rosemary and garlic), sweet potatoes with marshmallows (everyone got a real kick out of the dish), AMAZING stuffing with sausage and mozzarella, a beautiful veggie platter with brussel sprouts and beets and some yummy appetizers. It was a lovely afternoon spent with new and old friends. Here are some photos of the day!

Cheers! 

Weekend Vibes

Since arriving in Florida my time has been mostly focused on finishing my courses to obtain my STCW certification, which I am happy to say I have completed! With school being done I was excited to get out and experience the scene here in Ft. Lauderdale this past weekend. Cuan knows the area well so we hit some of the popular places around town. Highlights include a stroll through a nearby marina to check out some of the yachts docked up, lunch at a place called Riverside Market (Craft beer wall to wall and they use the honor system for payment), a couple beach visits, an amazing dinner at Sushi Rock which is Thai owned and a visit to a local haunt called Rhythm and Vine which has a patio space with an airstream trailer bar and a rotating food truck. I even managed to find a Bikram Yoga studio within walking distance to our house and have joined for the month. I had a lot of fun and met some lovely people along the way. It was a good time to relax so that I can get ready to focus on finding a job.

Just some highlights from the weekend...

Not bad for November

Tropical creatures out and about

Headed to the marina

Massive Yachts

Ft. Lauderdale Traffic

Craft cider from Riverside Market

Sushi Rock Creations

Catching some sun

 

Rhythm and Vine before the masses come out

View from my run

Two lovely yachties I met at the beach with lots of tips for me :)

Firefighting with Resolve Maritime Acadamy

Two days of the STCW are focused on learning about firefighting both with classroom sessions as well as hands on simulations through Resolve Maritime Academy. Great information about the chemistry involved in fires and all the different methods of extinguishing them. I really enjoyed the day in the field, we got to experience things I would never have thought I would be able to do, it was super fun and educational. They outfitted us with full firefighter gear including oxygen masks and helmets which add like 40 lbs of weight to carry and put us to work! There were many simulations we got to experience including:

• Going into a "burn box" to watch how smoke rises and creates thermal layering as well as watching the "rollover" effect of fire rolling through a space above your head
• Conducting a search and rescue mission with a partner and a solo evacuation mission in a dark and smoke filled room
• Using fire hoses and team efforts to put out a fire on the roof of the building -  whoa the hoses were heavy!
• Having the chance to employ multiple different extinguishers onto fires to see which methods you use for each different fire (combustable, liquid/gas, electric)

Here are some photos of the day, enjoy!

The Resolve simulation facility

Firefighting with teams on the roof

Half of our STCW Class

Geared up!

STCW Begins

Yesterday I had my first class in the week long STCW series (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers). This is like the general ed/pre-requisite for anyone looking to work on a seafaring vessel. All the students are fairly new to yachting with a few exceptions so it is nice to be on even ground with everyone. The teacher, Doug McDaniels, is an older gentlemen from the New England region who has been sailing his whole life. He has a very upbeat attitude and so far my favorite little saying of his is: "What is the difference between adventure and ordeal? Attitude!"

Day one was classroom based and focused on personal survival techniques. Some highlights include:

• Learning about the muster list, which is basically a document outlining emergency duties for each crew member and also which lifeboat you are assigned to. 
• What types of shipboard emergencies can potentially occur, including fire, collision, stranding (running aground), sinking, medical issues or injuries, falling overboard and heavy weather.
• What actions to take when the different emergencies arise, for example you should never abandon ship unless the captain gives the order verbally.
• The various safety and survival equipment that should always be on board - life jackets, buoys, rafts, etc.
• The incredibly important EPIRB (emergency position indicating radio beacon)  and SART (search and rescue transponder) which will aid your rescue greatly using modern technologies.
• How to abandon ship into a life raft and tools such as immersion suits and various distress signals.
• What should be in your "ditch bag" which is basically the essentials you would try to take with you on the life raft (flares, medications, raft patch kit, water, food, flashlight, knives, fishing line, paddles, bailers, whistle, etc.)
• Lastly, we learned the seven steps of survival: Recognize emergency, use signals (EPIRB/SART), seek shelter, drinking water, will to survive, inventory of your supplies/ditch bag and of course food!

Examples of EPIRBs

Examples of EPIRBs

Day two we applied some of the techniques we discussed with an experiential portion in the school's pool. We donned life jackets and proceeded to enter the pool from a platform, do a swim/float test to show our abilities in keeping afloat and huddle in the water with our respective teams to practice a good method for retaining heat and stability should we be adrift. Then we got to put on immersion suits and see what they felt like. They looked almost like space suits and it was amazing how warm they can keep you. 

After the swimming portions we practiced working with the life raft. We boarded them from the side of the pool, from inside the pool and discussed the items we ideally needed to have on board in case of emergency. Then we practiced flipping them on their side and then righting them in the pool again. I enjoyed this part of the class and it was a great way to bring the group together as a bonding exercise. Everyone is friends after freezing in a pool together and helping each other into some really attractive space suits!

I also managed to visit my first crew agency this morning before class, Luxury Yacht Group. After submitting my CV and creating a profile one of the recruiters emailed me asking me to stop by. I went in for a chat and we discussed what I was looking for, my background and courses I was taking. She offered a few pieces of advice and told me to come back in once my STCW course was over. She also referred me to a website listing day work, daywork123.com. Basically a great way to get your foot in the door is to "walk the dock" looking for daytime gigs on ships to start building some experience. Pay is usually around $150 per day and you can make a lot of connections within the industry that way. I have registered with nearly 10 agencies already (there are a lot) and have heard back from a few and started receiving job notifications. Once I complete my STCW I plan to visit more of the agencies in person and start seeking day work as well in hopes I can get a great gig!

Looking forward to the fire training segment starting tomorrow at the Resolve Fire Training Facility. 

Back to School

Yesterday I took my first course at Bluewater Yachting School here in Ft. Lauderdale. The course was called Proficiency in Designated Security Duties. It was a funny feeling being back in a classroom after many years, but I enjoyed it and found the information relevant and interesting. The teacher, Gus, was a charismatic gentleman from Puerto Rico originally who was about to retire from 26 years of military service and had many stories to tell. He had us go around the room and state where everyone was from and how long they had been in the industry. It was a mixed bag of experience and nationality and I was happy to be among other newbies who decided on a whim to give this industry a shot. There were a couple brothers from the Czech republic, some gals from the Southern US, many South Africans, a few Canadians. Some had been working on yachts for some years, others brand new like me. Most were in the age range of about early twenties to late thirties or so.

The class focused on practices related to ship security and what types of procedures should be in place on every ship. We learned about the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) Convention, that came about as a response to the sinking of the Titanic. Basically it states that all seafaring vessels must have the proper safety equipment and procedures in place in case of an emergency. We also learned about ISPS (International Ship and Port Security Code) which was enacted following 9/11 and designates a comprehensive set of measures to enhance port and ship security. 

The main objectives of the ISPS Code are:

·       To detect security threats and implement security measures

·       To establish roles and responsibilities concerning maritime security for governments, local administrations, ship and port industries at the national and international level

·       To collate and promulgate security-related information

·       To provide a methodology for security assessments so as to have in place plans and procedures to react to changing security levels

As part of the ISPS code we learned about the Ship Security Plan (SSP) and the Ship Security Officer (SSO) as well as the Company Security Officer (CSO). The SSP is a living document and it is specific to each vessel, it is kept under lock and key and constantly evaluated and updated by the CSO (who is not on board) and SSO (always someone on board) in order to remain current. The plan outlines different scenarios and what action should be taken, identifies restricted areas on the ship, and talks about each crew members responsibilities during a time where there may be a security threat. Drills should be conducted with the crew periodically in order to make sure the plan is understood and followed by all. Being a planner myself, it was reassuring to know that any ship I work on will have a security plan in place as well as a crew member/SSO who is making sure that the plan is communicated to everyone on board. 

Threats can come in many forms, many obvious, but others I had not really thought about including stowaways and refugees. Stowaways are looking for a free passage somewhere, where refugees are generally fleeing due to war or other threats on their person based on their nationality or religion. These people can pose a safety or health threat to the crew, however the instances of finding these types of people hiding away on luxury yachts is slim. Still good knowledge to have. 

We also discussed threats such as piracy and terrorism and the difference between them; piracy is focused on economic gain and terrorism is for political, religious or ideological gains. To better understand these threats we looked at a few different case studies including the MS Achille Lauro attack in Egypt in 1985, just showing that you need to be alert and aware to potential threats. Since the implementation of the ISPS code the number of attacks on ships has decreased greatly, and the amount of yacht related occurrences is minimal compared to other types of commercial ships on the water. 

PLEASE don't worry Parentals, while this class was incredibly informative the amount of yacht related occurrences is very low and focused in an area of the world I do not anticipate traveling to. More of a preventative course to help crew understand why the SSP is in place and the importance of the SSO to the boats functionality. 

Certified!

 Looking forward to the next week of courses...more to come!

New Beginnings

Welcome friends and family! I am excited to embark into the world of yachting, and look forward to keeping this online journal documenting and sharing my experiences. I have always believed that in life everything happens for a reason and I have to trust there is a grander plan at work. Whenever I face a challenge or major life change, I rely on that notion to keep me afloat. Recently one of those changes happened, and as the events unfolded this new opportunity presented itself in a way that made it clear to me that as one door was closing another was opening in its place. As I prepare to depart on this new adventure I will continue to believe in the universe's grand plan to guide me, or in this case the tides...


A bit of backstory:
In 2011-2012 I was fortunate to call the island of Phuket, Thailand my home. During my time there I discovered the world of yachting and made some incredible friendships with a group of people docked in the Phuket marina. I had no idea yachting was such a large industry full of  fascinating characters, a completely different way of life I knew little about. The idea of traveling around the globe on super yachts and getting paid to do it was intriguing and through my friendships I was able to come aboard and take a peek into their life on a boat. While it was always something that I was fascinated by, it was not a lifestyle I had seriously considered at the time as my path took me in other directions.

Fast forward to 2016...
It was just shy of a month ago when life threw me a twist and I decided to pack up my life in Half Moon Bay and head into the unknown. I leave for Florida tomorrow. In the scheme of things I admit it was a pretty tight turn around for such a major decision. However, once the situation presented itself it was clear to me timing was of the essence if I was going to do this right. My friends from Phuket would all be reconvening in Florida in November to renew their certifications together and look for a new yacht to call home. They have traveled all over the globe working in the industry and I could not ask for better people to guide me through this new territory. When I mentioned (jokingly) to my friend Cuan the seemingly crazy idea I had to join them he immediately encouraged me to get the wheels in motion. I could not ignore the fact that all signs seemed to be pointing me to Florida and beyond. My life was at a crossroads and I decided now was my chance to explore this lifestyle that had always been so fascinating to me.

The photos below show me with some of these friends at a birthday they planned for me and two of the yachtys I will be joining in FL are in stripes, Cuan and Jurgen. Also pictured in the yellow is my friend and husband of my bf since grade school, Richie. Not pictured here is the lovely couple that will also be in Florida, Jack and Sal, however Sal had some visa issues so she will be meeting us in FL a bit later then we had hoped.

While I have been busy making preparations for my trip I have been asked many questions that include the following:

• Where will you be going?
• How long will you be gone?
• How many days will you be out at sea at a time? 
• Have you been hired on a boat already? If not, how long will it take to get a job?
• How big is the yacht you will be working on?
• How many other staff will be on the boat with you?
• What type of work will you be doing?
• How much do you get paid?
• Will I see you on the reality show Below Deck? Is it just like that show? 
• Is there a chance you will end up like the girl from the movie "Taken" (This is my dad who has clearly become a victim of Hollywood's devices)
• Are you going to encounter pirates? (My other dad who clearly values preparedness for anything that should come my way)
• Can you bring a pistol with you to protect you from said Pirates? (Sorry, dads, but unfortunately not)

Most of these questions I do not have the answers to, but I can guarantee I will NOT be showing up on TV anytime soon, and while I have only seen a few snippets from that show I can pretty much assume that what you see on TV is not indicative of how my life will actually be on a yacht.

Here is what I do know:

• I need to take a week long course called the STCW (Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping) in order to be qualified to work on a yacht. I have signed up for this course and will be attending November 14th-18th. It costs around $1k for the course and will include first aid and other marine safety and fire training. It is offered through Bluewater training school.
• I have to take a seafarers medical exam, which requires a special appointment that I have scheduled for the day I arrive in Ft. Lauderdale. Mainly they make sure you are not color blind and you are in good health to physically work on the boat.
• I have not been hired yet, but it is "the season" right now and apparently many "yachtys" and yachts are in Ft. Lauderdale looking to team up so it is the right time to be looking for a gig. My friends have an Airbnb set up for 2 weeks and they have told me we should be able to get jobs pretty quickly, and if we need to find another place to stay we will find one when we are there. 
• The process of getting hired involves working through agencys where they will take my information and boats will contact them with their needs and the agents then try to match up the people to the yachts. Once I get hired I will know more about where I am going and how many days at a time I may potentially spend in the open ocean. It will also greatly shape my overall experience and affect how long I decide to continue this lifestyle.
• There is a slim chance I could end up with my friends on a boat together, but there are no guarantees and I have to go into this being open to the fact I may be put on a boat with a crew of complete strangers. So far everyone I have met in this industry has been pretty awesome so I am fine with that.
• The yachts really can go everywhere, from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean to the South Pacific - so I could end up in a number of different places.
• The amount of staff on the yacht depends on the size of the yacht, the larger the boat the more crew it has. I am hoping to get on a fairly large yacht, around 120'-150' so I can have a bigger crew to learn from. A yacht that size may have 10-14 crew members, where smaller yachts may only have 3-4.
• There are two types of yachts; charter yachts that people hire for vacations for a few days to a few weeks at a time and private yachts that have one owner/family who comes and goes during the holidays and other times throughout the year to enjoy their yacht. While you can make better tip money on a charter yacht, there tends to be more of a hustle and complex dynamic with all the different guests and for that reason I would prefer to have a gig on a privately owned yacht but again I need to go into this being open to whatever comes my way
• As far as the type of work I will be doing, I am looking for a job as an interior stewardess. Tasks would include cleaning, making beds, serving meals, and other hospitality geared roles. Not the most glamorous work but if I get paid to do them and also travel then it is well worth it in my opinion! Plus anyone who knows me well knows I am a bit of a neat freak and enjoy cleaning as it can be quite therapeutic for me :)
• I have been told an entry level stewardess makes anywhere between $2500-$3000 per month, but factor in that I will have very minimal living expenses (no rent, no car, no groceries, and plus no shopping when you are on a boat) and that will go a long way!
• As far as pistols and pirates, I am hoping to avoid encountering both!!!

Tomorrow is the big day and I look forward to seeing what is in store for me on this new path and having some answers revealed to me as I go. Ciao for now!