Waypoints - Kadey-Krogen Yachts

The Newsletter of Kadey-Krogen Yachts | Summer 2009WaypointsON DECK: Krogen 55' Expedition Is People’s Choice :: "Plan B" Investments :: Enter Our Photo ContestProfessional Captain and “First Mate” Choose Kadey-KrogenLife After a 209' Expedition Yacht by Natalie FritonWith his 3000-ton captain’s license Philip Walsh could pilot any number of vessels, and wife BeverleyWalsh also has 25-plus years as a professional crewmember including project managing the constructionof several yachts. In preparing for retirement they have purchased Krogen 48' North Sea, Zuben’Ubi,and now are cruising a course of their own. You do not need to be a professional to run a Kadey-Krogen,but it’s good to know that they are the trawlers of choice.You might think that a couple who has spent the past25-plus years as professional captain and crew, plus alifetime sailing and cruising, would consider a land-basedlife for retirement. Not so for Philip and Beverley Walsh.Philip grew up sailing on wooden boats built by hisfather and quickly graduated to serving as crew on arange of racing keelboats and yachts as well asparticipating in the World Racing Circuit on 50- and 70-foot Maxi yachts. He spent several years racing in Europewith his wife, Beverley, and together they noticed thetrend of boats migrating from Europe to serve as charterboats in the Caribbean. With a love of the boating life,they asked themselves the same question any crew startswith, “Can we make money being on boats?”After three years working on commercial charter boatsin the Caribbean, they met a guest interested in buildinga 70-footer, which they project-managed as she was builtin Europe. When she was complete in 1986 they deliveredher to Newport, Rhode Island. During their time asher to Newport, Rhode Island. During their time asproject managers, the Walshes met another owner whoseboat was named Tabasco V and this vessel became theirhome for the next 11 years. The owner was an avidfisherman and diver focused on doing both in the mostremote places possible. During the next decade, theWalshes circumnavigated three times and spentsignificant time in the South Pacific, the Maldives, theCaribbean and other warm latitudes.

that she be of just enough size for themselvesand occasional guests. Having spent many sailingyears heading futilely into the wind, they ruledout sailboats and settled on a trawler that wouldgive them the same speed as a sailboat but withmore guaranteed windward capability. They alsodetermined something in the 45- to 50-foot rangewould be the right size.Philip and Beverley knew the value of testing ayacht before making a purchase decision. Inaddition to their extensive research on trawlers,they took the time to charter one. During theirprofessional years, they spent 10 seasons inAlaska and it had always been on their list offavorite places, so this is where they chartered.Though the boat they chartered was capable of20 knots, they found most of the time they werecruising slowly at 7-8 knots to check things outrather than whiz past and miss all the sights theyhad not had the chance to see when they were onsomeone else’s schedule.The charter experienceconvinced them to buy afull displacement cruiser,and confirmed theirdesire to return to Alaskaand the Pacific Northweston their own boat.During their time offfrom the professionalcrew life, Philip andTurmoil explored Arctic and Greenlandice fieldsBeverley watched from their Florida home astrawlers paraded up and down the ICW.Several models caught their eye and afterattending boat shows and doing moreresearch, Kadey-Krogen trawlers became theiryacht of choice. Philip liked the sheerline andtumblehome shape in the hull which heprefers over a boxier look. The engineering ofthe boat and engine space was reminiscent ofthe yachts of his professional career, thoughon a much smaller scale. He also hadconfidence in the company’s 30-plus years ofbuilding boats. Cabin layout was important toPhilip and Beverley. After all their professionalyears, nothing could be more valuable thanwell constructed, separate living spaces forthemselves and any guests they might haveon board.In January 2008 they took delivery of aKrogen 48' North Sea. She is a widebodymodel providing extrainterior room in thesaloon. She is a singlescrewboat–Philip’spreference. Heappreciates that theKrogen spins directlyon her axis and thather longitudinal centerof gravity is right atthe center.“ The engineering ofthe boat and enginespace, though on amuch smaller scale,was reminiscent ofthe yachts of hisprofessional career.”3

“ As in theirprofessional years,they began theirnew recreationalcruising lifewith planning...”Isla San FranciscoSea of Cortez14Jamaican fruit standPreparation is the most importantcomponent of cruising for Philip. He recalledseeing steadying sails on fishing trawlerswhile exploring the northern latitudes and,for a worse-case scenario, equipped theirtrawler with a steadying sail on the mast andan asymmetrical jib. “If all on the water goesto poo, we can sail downwind while whateverproblem that exists is resolved.”A Good InfluenceThere is no question that over 25 years ofprofessional yacht handling will influenceone’s routines, techniques, and even cruiseroutes. Probably the biggest change for Philipis being captain of his own boat and being incharge of his own schedule. He has a 3,000-ton license and at one point on Turmoilmanaged 15 crewmembers. He is a manof planning, communication, and routine.Whether piloting a 209-foot customexpedition yacht or his personal 48-footKadey-Krogen trawler, the seamanshipskills that Philip acquired over the yearsare ingrained. His experience in projectmanaging yacht construction taught himhow to work with shipyards, how to plan formaintenance, and the importance of beingfamiliar with all the components of a vessel.He developed acute situational awarenessthat is critical for any boat operator. Philipcredits his time on larger yachts for his abilityto properly scan the horizon, evaluate theroute of other vessels, and always beprepared to act. He acknowledges that you4will never know the training or skills of otherboaters and must always watch the moves ofother vessels closely. Communication with portsis another professional skill that translates wellinto recreational cruising, because proper radiocommunication indicates your level ofexperience to port authorities. Philip andBeverley’s years cruising as professionals alsogave them insight into where they would andwould not be able to go on their own boat.With a recreational boat, particularly one withan LOA of 53 feet and a draft of just five feet,the Walshes knew they would have much moreflexibility getting into ports. As professionals,some of their favorite places have been theSouth Pacific including Tahiti and Papua NewGuinea and northern locations like Greenlandand Alaska. With their own boat, they knewtheir main cruising grounds would include theCaribbean and Alaska, and like their previousemployers they have every intention of exploringoff the beaten path.As in their professional years, Philip andBeverley began their new recreational cruisinglife with planning and worked backward fromtheir ultimate destination of Alaska. They tookdelivery of their Kadey-Krogen in Florida,knowing they wanted to spend more time inSouth America. After brief consideration ofshipping the boat down, they realized howmuch more rewarding it would be to cruisethere on their own. So they headed south andtook their time. They extensively explored theBahamas, more of Jamaica, transited the PanamaCanal in June, and cruised around the

Panamanian Islands of Las Perlas, all on theirown schedule. With their sights set on the Seaof Cortez, the Walshes spent the winter in CostaRica and have made their way up the coast withstops in Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemalaen route to Alaska.The Recreational LifePhilip and Beverley enjoyed everything abouttheir professional crew life on board theirprevious yachts, and after more than 300,000nmof cruising, what is it they miss most? “Nothing.”Most professional crew work very hard on yachtsand more often than not, that work is not seenby the owners. A professional crew career cancertainly seem like a lavish lifestyle and thoughthe Walshes feel fortunate to have had theexperience, the job does involve living andworking in cramped quarters and rarely havingtime to experience the unique places visited. ForPhilip and Beverley, their Kadey-Krogen trawleris now providing them with all they ever imaginedfor their ownadventures, on theirown schedule.Many years ago,Philip was teachingyoung crewmembersthe techniques ofcelestial navigationduring a Pacificcrossing. The LibraRelaxin’ at Warderick Wellsconstellation wasoften used as a navigational aid and Philip recallsone star always being easiest to find, right off theend of Scorpio. It is appropriate that his ownboat is called Zuben’Ubi, named after that star.Building on the experience of their professionalcruising career, Philip and Beverley have taken tosea all they learned and enjoyed and are makinga cruising life of their own. They’re most likely tobe found somewhere off the beaten path at thesweet spot of 8 knots.5