Captain, 89-foot gulet Awol Again

Date interviewed: December 2011

Being the Irish captain of a Turkish-built gulet in the Caribbean must be an absolutely fascinating experience.

I was doing yacht deliveries in Ireland back in 2004, and a friend said I should go to Turkey to see this boat, Awol Again. So I flew to the Agantur shipyard in Bodrum, and I looked at her, and I said, “This is interesting.” I’ve been here ever since, including after we got a new owner in 2006.

A lot of captains where we cruise in the Caribbean look at her askew. It’s like they’re saying, ‘A gulet? In the Caribbean? Shouldn’t it be in Turkey with all the other gulets? Are you crazy?’ But I think she’s beautiful.

So Awol Again is the first charter yacht where you’ve worked?

Well, I’ve been around boats all my life. My dad was in the Irish Navy, and we lived on the West Coast of Ireland, so I cut my teeth in big seas and lots of wind. I’ve been sailing since I was knee-high.

First I tried being a chef, and I worked at a fusion restaurant in Dublin, but this is much more the life for me.

Is it the sailing you love, or the chartering, too?

I love charter. I’m Irish. I love people. I’m great for having a chat. We’re a really great boat for families who want to relax, do some sailing, and just plain have fun.

I notice that the master and VIP cabins are both similar in size and style, and that the other two cabins each have twin-size beds. Do you ever have two families charter at once and split the bill?

We’re great for that. And we’re ready for families with children, too. We have toys, kid-sized life jackets, everything along those lines.

What else should charter clients know about you and Awol Again?

We look like a wooden, Turkish gulet, but we’re actually a steel-hulled boat built to MCA standards. And a good bit of our guest space onboard is different from traditional gulets. Our salon is big, light, and bright. People really do love it.

Awol Again is part of the charter fleet at Ocean Independence. She takes eight guests with five crew at lowest weekly base rate of $42,500. Any reputable charter broker can tell you more or help you book a week onboard.