Captain, 161-foot Trinity motoryacht Glaze

Date interviewed: May 2011

You’re one of the only charter yacht captains we’ve ever interviewed who had a previous life as a financial analyst before going into boating.

I grew up on the Iowa Great Lakes about three hours from Omaha, Nebraska, in the middle of the United States. I was always out water skiing and using little sailboats. I went to college in California and taught scuba on small boats during the weekends until I graduated with a degree in finance.

I spent nine months as a financial analyst, but the weekends would come around and I always wanted to trade my tie for a wetsuit. My girlfriend’s family had a boat in Florida, so I moved down, did some day work on boats in Fort Lauderdale, and got a job as a scuba instructor and mate on a private yacht.

By 1994 I had my 100-ton captain’s license, and I’ve since earned a 1600/3000-ton All Oceans License. I’ve cruised and traveled in 31 countries and have done several transatlantic crossings.

When did you join your current command, the 161-foot Trinity motoryacht Glaze?

The yacht launched in 2007 as Lady Michelle, got a new owner in December 2009, and I arrived in November 2010. We didn’t do any charters this past winter, so summer 2011 in the Mediterranean will be our first full season on the market as Glaze.

I’m hoping to do two weeks of charter a month, or better. I have a real can-do attitude and can’t wait to get clients onboard.

What kinds of charter guests do you think are ideal for Glaze?

I’m a family man myself, so I love family charters. A lot of captains shy away from having smaller children onboard, but we’re ready for it.

I’d also say that we’re ready for guests who appreciate great food. Our chef, Nathan Clements, won second place in the most recent Antigua cooking contest, in the coffee division. Plus, being from Nebraska, I’m pretty picky about my cow. Our chef can really cook a steak.

I understand that the new owner invested in some recent upgrades with charter in mind.

From December 2009 through March 2011, there was a refit of all soft goods onboard, all throughout the interior. We also got new carpet, window treatments, and furniture. She’s essentially a brand-new boat for charter, even though the build is a few years old.

Glaze takes 10 or 12 guests with 10 crew at a lowest weekly base rate of €180,000. YPI Group is the management company. Any reputable charter broker can tell you more or help you book a week onboard.