Captain Lee's First Impressions

I was honored to be asked to submit my thoughts here this season and look forward to sharing them with you. I am very glad that we did this season in the Virgin Islands. I just love it there. So many great places to see and anchorages to hang out in, it never gets old. That is why it's one of the best cruising grounds in the world. 

I wasn't sure what to expect. I was really glad that Ben, Eddie, and Kat were going to be there with me. Ben has been a rock, he is the one part of the whole charter equation I could count on to handle his end. Eddie was just coming off a season on tugs and anxious to get back on white boats. I was glad to have him back as he was going to be the anchor of my deck crew. Kat, she was my question mark to a degree, but really if I had any doubts about Kat they were minimal. I think that she is a good, down to earth person, albeit with a bit of a wild streak that, when kept in check, makes her who she; she's someone that people want to be around. And let's face it, that is what we sell, a great time.

Now for the rest of my crew. Kate, when she strutted down the dock, I totally missed her completely. Seriously…missed her. I was looking for a chief stew and what came down the dock was an attractive, well-coiffed, confident lady that no one would mistake for a chief stew. After chatting her up a bit, she does have experience, and as you have seen, it has been put to the test right from jump street. I must say that she has stepped up and so far I am pleased with her abilities. Time will tell, it's much too early to see how the chemistry is going to work out between Kate and the rest of the crew.

Amy was hard for me to read. Everything on the surface seems just great, but now I find out that she and Kat have a history, and I don't know what all that entails. It doesn't seem that they are on the same page, so that is a situation that will bear watching. I do like her eagerness to please, that's why we are here.Kelley seems to be hard working, pleasant enough, and easy to get along with. It's early, way too early and no one has gone through the 18 hour days, 4 days in a row, and then a 24 hour turn to the next charter. We will see how well he hangs in there. My hopes are high for him. He served our country and that gets him an early "atta boy, and thank you" from me any day.

Jennice is so far great. She has taken on a huge role, and doesn't seem to have any "back up" in her. I love her attitude and will do what I can to help her out, though I think she would decline it. She seems to be very focused on her goals, and I intend to give her as much of an assist as I can as long as she maintains this work ethic and attitude.

Andrew... Where do I start? Pretty boy with an attitude. I didn't see that coming, but watching his interaction with the rest of the crew, I'm surprised that they didn't keel haul him (look it up, it's not pleasant). I'm not sure what type of yachts he worked on in the past, but if things continue the way they are presently, the only thing that this season is going to be on him is long and hard. I'm not sure if I have seen anyone so full of himself since CJ last year. At least not at this young of an age. If he is not careful, this crew will chew him up and make his life miserable, and that is the one thing I can't let happen. We need total harmony to get through the season intact and make it successful. I'm already spending more time on a junior deckhand than I should be. Its Eddie's responsibility, but again, this is his first year so we are going to have a maturation process to deal with there as well. We'll see how it goes, I have faith in Eddie.

[video_clip_url:http://player.theplatform.com/p/PHSl-B/yT7k3t_YLXoZ/embed/select/jDrtNG8f4RNj?form=html]Last but not least are the guests, and they couldn't be better. I am looking forward to making sure they really enjoy themselves, and I'm sure that the crew will adapt on the fly to anything that comes up. Georgia is a hoot. Although dinner was a bit awkward for me, it was all in good fun, and I hope I helped contribute to their good time. They are the best. She and her guests are a charter crew's dream. Couldn't possibly be better. I'll take a boat full of these people any day. Love it.

OK, now you have my thoughts, such as they are. Really looking forward to the next episode as I hope you are. Thanks and Good Night.

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