I was raised in Glen Arbor, Michigan on Sleeping Bear Bay fishing salmon and trout, salvaging and diving with my dad, brothers and uncles off the Manitou Islands, Pyramid Point and Glen Haven.  

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In 1985 I spent a winter on St. Thomas and in '86 bought a CJ 7 Jeep with no roof or doors and drove on to the Hyannisport ferry for Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. 

 

There I met Captain Shan Crook who was then running a 54 Little Harbor "Nina" for the youngest Fortune 500 CEO in American history.  I became crew for them and Shan became my dearest lifelong friend and mentor.  

 

Nina wintered on Lyford Cay in the Bahamas and summered on Nantucket with stops in Bermuda and Antigua on the fall delivery South, and various East Coast ports on the spring delivery North.

 

Eventually I became a replacement Captain for Shan who had a storied career working for Saudi Sheiks, Jimmy Buffet and Tommy Baker.  

 

The Bahamas (Spanish Wells) became my winter home where my wife and I homeschooled our five children in the winter and summered on the Crystal River in Glen Arbor.  

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I was a volunteer EMT and fire fighter in Glen Arbor for many years and a life long SCUBA diver and dive boat captain as well as having my STCW training along with a US Coast Guard master of 100 ton vessels including sailing and towing upon Great Lakes and near coastal waters. USCG  #2512159.

 

Here is a quick list of other experiences I have had:

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Sailed "restless" a 48 S and S yawl Trans-Atlantic from Nantucket to St. Tropez for the Moulage Boat Show. Later ran Nantucket Moorings Ltd and lived aboard in Nantucket Harbor

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Islamorada Florida. 1990, 91- Deep sea mate aboard Sea Horse, Whale Harbor.  

 

Eco Tour Captain at the Cheeca Lodge, Islamorada, Florida

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Dive boat captain for SCUBA North, Traverse City, MI

 

Delivery captain of "Four Brothers" from Singapore to Langkawi Island, Malaysia

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Captain/owner of "S/V Fishabelle" in Glen Arbor 92 through 2010

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Captain/owner of "S/V Fishabelle 2" on Guana Cay and Spanish Wells Bahamas 93 through 2010

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Captain of Breakaway 2, Red Hook St Thomas with 50 passenger tours into the BVI's

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Captained "selma" out of Phuket Thailand (won the Kings Cup) Restored "erne" in Krabi Thailand

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Captained " for Maritime Heritage Alliance in Traverse City

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Captained "Nauticat" in Traverse City

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sailing instructor (ASA), delivery and charter for Great Lakes Sailing Company in TC.

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Completed 2/3 of America's Great Loop on Samadhi, (43 Spindrift) ending up at my current winter port of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

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