SETTING THE COURSE
Captain Bill Hawes talks to Frances and Michael Howorth onboard Destination Fox Harb’r 2 before the COVID-19 pandemic struck
What was your first taste of the sea? My first memory of actively taking part in boating was at the age of 8; we had just moved from the desert of California to the western shore of the Saint Mary’s River in Southern Maryland with a dock and beach - but no boat. So like children do, we improvised. My older brother, sister and I built a very simple raft out of wood we found in the barn, only to find that it did not support any of us, so we put our younger brother (age 5) on it with a paddle and off he went with his feet awash. Mom come out of the house 15 mins later and freaked out, her baby was out 500 feet offshore by himself, no lifejacket with just a paddle.
Which Mediterranean ports and harbours do you most look forward to visiting? I love Bonifacio, in Corsica. The cliffs hide the entrance to the harbour, until you are almost right on it, then the harbour is a welcoming and great site to see.
What are your favourite onshore hangouts? My beautiful garden or tinkering with my 1965 Mustang GT fastback. In fact any place where there are good friends, old and new alike, having a drink and deep conversation.
What is your favourite cruising ground? How about two? My first, is the Canadian and US Northwest coast for its rare nature and secondly, the Baltic for its history and culture.
What are the biggest changes you’ve seen in the industry over the years? Young crew getting into yachting for just the money, without any real passion or experience of boating, not so long ago, that was just unheard of! I have to remind myself that the more important aspect is the desire to make others happy, including the owners, guests and including their fellow crew members.
What do you like most about your current yacht?
The owner is a great man to work for, as a whole crew we agree that we don’t see him enough on board. This yacht has such a welcoming atmosphere everybody that comes aboard just feels at home.
44 | WINTER 2021 | ONBOARD
What would your ideal yacht be? One that sits behind the owner’s house, it would be easy to clean with a small crew and we would all get a BIG salary! However, the reality is my current yacht. She is just as ideal; majestic, sure footed, pleasing to the eye, easy to maintain and ready to go anywhere in the world.
What would you change about the motor yachting industry?
I would love to see more cross training, like there is on sailing yachts, where the whole crew lend more of a hand, not when deck hands think because it is dark their day is over, and I would like to see the stewardesses getting to work on deck more often.
What’s the worst weather you have encountered on board?
My middle name is lucky, the worst seas in 25yrs of yachting I have ever encountered was a Mistral in May of 1997 that was forecasted as Force 6 but went to become Gale Force 8 with seas of over 10 metres. We were heading to Antibes and I chose to divert course to pass through the Straits of Bonifacio and once in the lee of Corsica it became a dead flat calm!
Who was the most troublesome crew member you’ve worked with? She was a power-hungry chief stewardess, go figure! There can only ever be one boss on the boat and that is the Captain. When a power play begins you have got to get them off the boat. Now she and her boyfriend run the old tub together, well in fact she runs the boat and he just says yes dear!
What’s the most stressful part of your job? Dealing with crew who whine. DON’T hire them or let them go FAST!
What’s the most curious request you have had from a guest?
Once, when visiting Salt Island in the BVI, a yacht from Green Peace was anchored off, while her crew went about cleaning debris from the island. A guest of ours named Leon wanted to visit the yacht which I arranged. At the same time my crew made a collection intending to give cash to the
crew of the Green Peace yacht towards the cost of a beach party they were planning to hold. On the way across to the yacht we told our charter party what we were doing, and they asked that their names be included as donors as well. We suggested that they too might like to donate some cash, but they refused! Guess what sort of tip we got at the end of that charter!
Any advice for an aspiring captain? First thought, best thought, trust your gut! It is your boat; run it and learn, question yourself or better still reflect on the days events, have briefing and debriefing with your crew, not just after hard dockings or charters but also after the good ones as well. Learn and teach one another.
QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS
Are you a morning or night time person? Night time
How do you like your steak? Medium
What was the last film you saw in a cinema? Guardians of the Galaxy
What did you eat for breakfast this morning? Nothing
What is your favourite style of cuisine? Haute Cuisine
What foods do you dislike most? Crustaceans
What would your last supper be? A full on 10 course tasting menu
Your 3 dream dinner party guests? Barrack Obama, Sting, and Queen Nora of Jordan
What are your favourite clothes? T K Maxx
Where do you most like to visit? Canada
What sport do you most like to watch? F1, Baseball
Pet peeves? Judging people before you know them
Most treasured possession? Henry, my son
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212
