This week I I deviate away from cruising sailing to delve into the world of commercial shipping with a discussion with Valeriia Sulima

Before the interview Valeriia a shared this information with me:

"Bullet points as promised about myself:

- I was born in the industrial city of eastern part of Ukraine called Dnepropetrovsk. No one from my family had any connection to the sea or the shipping industry.
- I studied in Kiev, then I moved to Moscow where I pursued a law degree and simultaneously studied another legal program in Ukraine (distanced education). I did my masters in London and Moscow. In total I have 4 diplomas (2 bachelor degrees and 2 master degrees). As you can see I didn't follow the career path of a lawyer.
- My first acquaintance with the shipping started with the favourite book of my father called "Two Captains" written by Veniamin Kaverin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Two_Captains) and continued with numerous internships in London.
- I came to Hamburg in 2014 for the internship at the Tribunal of the Law of the Sea.
- 2015 started to work for the exclusive agent of the Portuguese Registry (Madeira) called European Mar GmbH. Last position Sales Representative.
- Aug 2019 joined a startup called Closelink (platform for purchasing marine lubricants, matching suppliers with shipowners) as Business Development Manager for Mediterranean and Russian speaking countries.
- In 2019 became a president of Youngship Hamburg, an NGO dedicated to building networks and sharing knowledge among young maritime professionals (https://www.linkedin.com/company/youngship-hamburg).

- Aug 2020 working in a business development team of a German marine insurance broker - Döhle Assekuranzkontor. My responsibilities involve expansion of the customer portfolio and creation of social media marketing strategy.

- About me: Ballroom dancer (winner of the World Championship in Beijing in 2010), marathon runner (Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris in 2017, 42.195 km), fine art auction’s alumnus (Christie’s Art Business School in 2019), street art hunter and podcasts lover."

 

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Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Costal Cruising Certification Lessons for the ASA 103 Exam over 9 hours of Audio Instruction to help you get ready to go sailing and also to prepare you for the written portion of the ASA 103 written exam.
https://gumroad.com/l/PvOYK
If you're interested in my sailing instructional audio series here are the links:
Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Keelboat Certification Lessons for the ASA 101 Exam
<a href="https://gumroad.

Valeriia Sulima

Sailing Stories, Interviews and Tips with and emphasis for the Mediterranean but we do venture Beyond

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Sailing in the Mediterranean Episode 284 Kieran Brown Caribbean Catamaran and Revive water Systems
My name is Kieran Bown, and I've spent the last 15 years immersed in the marine industry. My journey began as a dive instructor, traveling the world and cultivating a deep appreciation for the ocean. Subsequently, I transitioned into becoming a yacht captain and marine engineer, a path that has been incredibly fulfilling and enriching.



Currently, I serve as the Captain of Twin Flame, a Lagoon 77 catamaran based in the Caribbean. Our charter experiences focus on luxury adventure, blending elements of foiling, SCUBA diving, and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle. Through innovative partnerships and a shared vision with the owners, we've redefined the Caribbean Charter Yacht experience, prioritizing environmental connection and sustainable practices.

In addition to my role as a yacht captain, I'm also the founder of Revive Water Systems, where we specialize in post-RO watermaker treatment. Our system transforms stripped product water into mineral-rich, alkaline water, promoting maximum hydration and eliminating the need for plastic water bottles onboard. This endeavor stems from my firsthand experience recognizing the necessity for remineralization in combating the detrimental effects of consuming desalinated water over the long term.

I believe that the intersection of my experiences as a yacht captain and marine engineer, coupled with my entrepreneurial journey with Revive Water Systems, offers a unique perspective that would resonate with your audience. I'm eager to discuss topics such as:

 	* The development of innovative marine systems and scaling a business within the industry.
 	* The health benefits of incorporating a Revive Water System onboard and its synergy with RO Desalinators/Watermakers.
 	* Insights into running a large catamaran in the Caribbean and crafting a distinctive charter experience.
 	* Exploring the breathtaking adventures and favorite cruising grounds of the Caribbean.
 	* Sharing insights on navigating a career path in the Yachting Industry and crafting a fulfilling life on the water.

To assist with your research, I've included links to S/V Twin Flame's captivating website/promo video (www.sailtwinflame.com)  and to Revive Water Systems (www.revivewatersystems.com).

 

 



Want me to go sailing with you? Then contact me!

If you have ideas for future podcasts or comments please drop me a note! and PLEASE rate my podcast in iTunes and perhaps write a note.

link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sailing-in-the-mediterranean/id566678892?mt=2





Sailing! Learn To Sail: Basic Keelboat Certification Lessons for the ASA 101 Exam Exam over 7 hours of Audio Instruction to help you get ready to take the written exam.
If you're interested in my sailing instructional audio series here are the links:
Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Keelboat Certification Lessons for the ASA 101 Exam
https://gumroad.com/l/Eiig
Sailing!

Sailing in the Mediterranean Episode 284 Kieran Brown corrected

Sailing in the Mediterranean Episode 284 Kieran Brown

Sailing with Norman Jewison: A Memorable Adventure




I want to share some memories I have about my time sailing with Norman Jewison.



Norman Jewison was a remarkable man whose life and achievements left an indelible mark on me and those around him. Though my interactions with Norman Jewison, and his at the time girlfriend, Lynn St David were primarily through our shared pleasures of skiing and sailing, I always held great admiration for Norman's illustrious career. His contributions to the film industry were unparalleled, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.

The news of his passing on January 22, 2024 at the age of 97 has caused me to reflect and reminisce about the time we spent together.

The first time, in the year 2000, after he received the DeBeers Diamond award at the Taormina Film Festival for his Film Jesus Christ Superstar.

When Lynn and he arrived at the boat In Puerto Rosa in Northern Sicily, I can only imagine what Lynn thought she  saw my boat. I don't think it is what Lynn was expecting. However, Lynn was a trooper and made the best of what I'm sure she thought was a terrible situation. We proceeded to have the worst weather of any one week that I've spent in the Mediterranean with guests. It could not have been worse.



That first night on the island of Volcano, it was flat calm when we anchored then after the sun went down the wind came up, and up, and up, and that quiet safe anchorage became a dangerous lee shore. I decided it would be more dangerous to try and move the boat in the night, so I decided I had better keep an anchor watch. The boat was rocking and bucking all night long, I couldn't imagine that Lynn and Norman Jewison were able to sleep up in the forward berth. The boat next to us dragged its anchor, and I watched it slowly move downwind and ended up on shore. The next morning the wind died to nothing again, and then we went and enjoyed the mud baths. My skin stank for weeks, smelling of the sulfur mud after that no matter how much I went swimming.

Then we sailed around the island of Lipari and tied up on the uncomfortable, surging concrete quay in the city of Lipari that next night. Then the weather started to deteriorate again, and we were stuck there for several days.



We were bored just sitting around the harbor, so on July 12th, 2000, we rented scooters to drive around the island, that was my birthday and we stopped at that little restaurant in the middle of the island. Lynn and Norman bought me lunch as a celebration, and then we decided to turn around and go see some caves. In turning around the scooter, the clutch grabbed and accelerated into the rock wall lining the road. I was so worried about Lynn two, but Norman Jewison was just sitting there on the pavement with a bloody arm laughing. What a great sense of humor!



To top off the evening after supper, Lynn fell into the water when it was dark while trying to get on the boat in that surging harbor. Lynn could have easily been seriously hurt, but fortunately, Lynn just got wet, and a bit pissed off.



Finally, the weather broke, and I thought I had a weather window to go enjoy some of the other islands, so we sailed on up to the island of Panarea. Again, in the middle of the night, the weather came up, and we were in a dangerous lee shore situation, again... Norman took the helm well I brought up the anchor, in the process we were swinging back and forth coming very close to bumping into another boat at anchor who was also dealing with the same wind and trying to get out of there. So back to Lipari we go. This time it was very difficult to find an anchorage because it was so deep and so many other boats had run for shelter, we finally tucked back into a corner with a lot ...

Sailing With Norman Jewison

Sailing in the Mediterranean Episode 282 Andrew Vic 2023 pt 3 and crew positions for the Spring sailing season in the Caribbean




In this episode, I disclose that all my upcoming spring sailing season in the Caribbean available crew positions have been filled.  Fut if you are interested in getting on the list of futer sailing adventures just write ma and include your phone number to franz1 at this website domain (I can't provide the full email address in text to avoid spam bots).




This is an interview with Andrew Vic where we talk about his 2023 summer sail from Sicily to Tunisia and back

Links to Vic's Google Earth kmz files are below

http://www.sailgeja.com/geja2023.kmz

Vic's Photos are here:

http://www.sailgeja.com/lat38-2023/

 

 

Folks are also welcome to have the entire library:

 

Lots of information here!

Andrews Website
http://www.sailgeja.com

Andrew Vic: A Journey on the High Seas

Andrew, a San Francisco native of Scandinavian descent, has always had a deep connection to the water. Born and raised in a city surrounded by the stunning expanse of the Pacific Ocean, it was only natural that he would find himself drawn to a life at sea. His maritime adventures began in the early 2000s, when he embarked on a sailing journey that would shape the course of his life.

In the year 2000, Andrew took his first steps into the world of sailing on the iconic San Francisco Bay. With its gusty winds and challenging currents, the bay provided the perfect training ground for a budding sailor. Andrew quickly became adept at navigating the often turbulent waters of this picturesque location, honing his skills and fostering a love for the open sea.

As the years passed, Andrew's passion for sailing grew, and he sought to explore new horizons. During recent summers, he took command of the Geja, a vessel that would become his trusted companion on a remarkable journey. Setting sail from the Bay Area, he embarked on a maritime odyssey that covered over 12,000 nautical miles of Mediterranean waters.

His voyage took him along the coasts of some of Europe's most enchanting countries, including Italy, France, Montenegro, Slovenia, Croatia, Albania, and Greece. Each destination offered its own unique blend of culture, history, and breathtaking landscapes, making the journey an unforgettable experience.

While the Mediterranean served as Andrew's primary playground, he didn't limit his adventures to this region alone. He expanded his horizons and explored the waters of Mexico, Scandinavia, the Caribbean, the U.S. East Coast, the U.S. Pacific Northwest, and even ventured to the exotic paradise of French Polynesia. His thirst for adventure knew no bounds.

In late 2018, Andrew achieved a significant milestone in his sailing career. He joined the crew of an Amel 54 and set sail from the Canary Islands, embarking on a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean. This transatlantic journey marked a pivotal moment in his maritime endeavors, proving that he had the skill and courage to navigate the ocean.

Andrew's dedication to sailing and his commitment to safety are evident in his achievement of a United States Coast Guard Mariners License. This certification is a testament to his expertise and his ability to operate vessels with the utmost responsibility.

Andrew's journey from a San Francisco native with Scandinavian roots to an experi...

Valeriia Sulima

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