News & Views by Kim Davis
 When one door closes, another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we don't see the ones which open for us.
- Alexander Graham Bell
This week has seen a number of new subscribers joining our ranks. Welcome! I hope you'll enjoy the various "extraordinary jobs" we explore here. Please understand that as a former professional yacht chef, I tend to emphasize yachting, but don't let that stop you writing me about some other field that may be of interest to you. I'm always happy to research any job that sounds "extraordinary" to me!
While we're on the subject of new subscribers, I hope you'll all lend a hand over the next couple of weeks. The second anniversary of this newsletter's birth is coming up on September 29, and I'm about 40 subscribers short of my goal for this year. Can you help? If you know anyone who would find Extraordinary Jobs for Ordinary People interesting, please forward a copy to them, and ask them to subscribe. Thank you!
As promised, I've shifted the focus this week back to the sailors in the group. Typically I had no idea what I was going to publish until I sat down this morning, and an e-mail got me working. Bad Things Really DO Happen at Sea is the feature article.
And in the Q & A department this week, I had several inquiries from people who want specialty positions aboard cruise ships. So if that sounds like you - have a look at the information I found for these folks.
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I wish you joy as you create the best life you can imagine,
- Kim ;-)
Feature:
Bad Things Really DO Happen at Sea
© 2004, Kim Davis
For several years now, I’ve been writing about the magic and beauty of working aboard yachts for a living. I’ve told my readers how to get started, where to train, and where to look for work. I’ve explained all the different jobs in detail and shared inside info about pay scales. I’ve even gone so far as to explain some very private aspects one needs to know when living aboard a yacht. Up to now, however, I have not really said much about the scary stuff. I don’t want to frighten anyone away from this beautiful lifestyle, but I don’t want you to think that yachts never get into trouble either.
Why am I writing about this now? Because I received this e-mail this morning:
As a clearer picture and more reliable reports come in we are glad to report that Mirabella V has not gone under as one report that came in yesterday had reported.
The latest information is that the wind and sea state have dropped from the Force 6-7 which was blowing yesterday and Mirabella V is sitting upright again. Today Mirabella V sits amongst the rocks with known keel and rudder damage as well as some damage to the hull as they work on the plans and wait for the tugs to free her from the tight grasp of the rocks hopefully before the big blow.
Again hats off to the 206ft M/Y Big Roi and 282ft M/Y Ecstasea which stood by Mirabella V to assist in saving the vessel and in the evacuation of the crew. One report states that during one of the attempts by Big Roi to free Mirabella V a 40-tonne bollard was pulled out of her aft deck.
Dockwalk
954-522-2441, 954-828-1266 Fax
greg@dockwalk.com
www.dockwalk.com
Bad stuff happening on the yachts still has a powerful effect on me, and this report was no different. I called Greg Mullen for more information. This drama is all unfolding in the Mediterranean, at the entrance to the Beaulieu sur Mer Marina, at St. Jean Cap Ferrat, (very familiar territory to me.) There was a Mistral blowing through that region of the Med last night, and the crew of Mirabella V, lead by captain Johnno Johnson were on board. They were evacuated safely with the help of the two big motor yachts who came to their aid, and stayed with Mirabella trying to hold her off the rocks through the night. The French navy arrived around midnight last night. To the best of Greg’s knowledge, they’re still working on pulling her off the rocks while keeping here afloat. The good news is that the winds have dropped.
Several things came to mind for me as I talked with Greg. First, I feel strong “thank you” vibes going out to the crews of Big Roi and Ecstasea. That’s what we train for, and God bless them for getting out there and braving the storm to help another crew in trouble. They stayed out in moderate gale force winds straining the ships’ engines and parting their lines all night long as they tried to rescue Mirabella. For those who are not sailors, let me explain that when those big towing lines part, it is extremely dangerous. The crews who were on deck last night were literally putting their lives on the line. This strong camaraderie among yacht crews is a big part of the magic of the industry.
Along with that, as Greg Mullen pointed out, this is what all that safety training is about, and the reason we do safety drills. I’d be willing to bet that the Mirabella V crew were glad Big Roi and Ecstasea have been doing their rescue drills!
And finally, Greg and I discussed the issue of stability that keeps coming up with regard to the new super sailing yachts that are being built. Mirabella V is huge for a sloop. She was designed by Ron Holland, and she’s 246’ long with a retractable keel. The keel goes down to 32’ when it’s fully extended and up to 12’ when it’s retracted. I’m not sure how tall that single mast is, but very, very tall to be sure. That’s the problem with the big sloop designs. The mast is so tall and heavy, that a very deep keel is required to balance it. In optimal conditions, the sloop rig is very fast under sail, but that begs the question, what about when the conditions are not optimal? Are the uncertainties about the ship’s stability worth the risks?
Let me just close by saying to any prospective yacht crew members who may be reading this, DO YOUR SAFETY TRAINING. You never know when your life or someone else’s may depend on it.
Press Release: G.A.P sponsors Rip Curl Nova Scotia
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Thoughts of hot chocolate and steaming lava flows kept my focus away from the chilling 9°C ocean as I waited for the next set of waves. A curious sea lion poked his whiskered head out of the water 15-metres to my right, and the sun caught the face of an on-coming swell, indicating my approaching ride. As I paddled to catch the building wall of water, my chills melted away and for a few moments I felt free, not frozen.
This was by far the biggest event to hit the east coast since Hurricane Juan last year. The locals all came out, and the waves arrived right on time. After many elimination heats, it came down to the Open Final to determine the lucky winner, who will leave his wetsuit behind for the blue, warm waters of Costa Rica. With 6 solid waves, including two long right rides off the point, judges deemed Matt Healy, a local from Dartmouth the best rider of the day. Matt, who has never been to Costa Rica was simply stoked on his win, and by nightfall had already convinced his girlfriend and a group of friends to join him on his trip.