Lauren Beck is the former editor of Dockwalk and was with the publication from 2006 to 2023. At 13, she left South Africa aboard a 34-foot sailing boat with her family and ended up in St. Maarten for six years. Before college, she worked as crew for a year, and then cut her journalistic teeth at Better Homes and Gardens and Ladies’ Home Journal online. She loves traveling, reading, tennis, and rooting for the Boston Red Sox.
The BOAT International Captains’ Club welcomes more than 100 superyacht captains in its ranks. The idea behind the club is to help facilitate contact and the exchange of information and experiences for superyacht captains. This issue’s Q&A features Capt. William “Beez” Evans on a 153-foot North American as he shares his yachting journey, his love for the Virgin Islands, plus his top crew issue and tip for captains.
How did you end up becoming a captain?
I was born in a tropical tax haven, where you either become a re-insurance executive or a boat captain. Of course, my parents had their hearts set on the former, but there was little hope after I started working on the water during my teenage years.
What would you be doing if you weren’t a captain?
I suppose I would have to trade in the epaulettes for a business suit and blow the dust off the old MBA. Hopefully that never happens, as I would hate to endure the “I told you so” from my parents.
Where is your top spot for snorkeling/diving?
I may be biased, but Bermuda is my top spot. I owned a day-charter operation there for over a decade. You can’t do much better than playing around the shipwreck capital of the Atlantic with all its shallow water dives and crystal-clear waters. The best part was that our non-certified guests could still join the excursions, as most of the sites are shallow enough to enjoy from the surface.
Favorite cruising destination?
I’m a creature of habit. I spent seven years hosting guests in and around the Virgin Islands. I was in awe of their beauty the first time I laid eyes on them. They have something for everybody: white sand beaches, lush landscapes, beautiful resorts, drift-wood beach bars, sailing, fishing, and great anchorages to sit and enjoy it all.
What has been your most memorable moment on board?
NDAs prevent the best stories. My favorite moment on FOCUS was taking her home to Bermuda back in 2018. I took the yacht on a coastal cruise where no foreign captain would typically venture. My first employer lives on the harbor and always has his eye on the water. I sounded the horn as we passed. I’m sure he was wondering who had the audacity to make all that racket. He came out and waved, probably waiting for the yachtie tourist to go hard aground. He is a family friend who way back in 1994 took me on as a greenie to work the deck on his 115-foot charter boat. I’m sure I wouldn’t be where I am today if he hadn’t given me that opportunity.
If you were marooned on a desert island, which crewmember would you want with you?
I hope my girlfriend isn’t reading this…because it would be the chef. We’ve been great friends since we worked together doing charters in the USVI and BVI. He loves to hunt, fish, and cook. That would leave me to enjoy the captain’s primary role: supervising.
What destination is still on your bucket list?
As much as I would love to see the Antarctic, I suspect my thin island blood would cause me to throw a 180 as soon as we saw ice. The top of my list is the Galapagos.
What is your best trick for keeping guests entertained when the weather is poor?
I wish I had the answer to this, but my interior team are so fun and creative that I defer to them for the rainy-day festivities. I spend my time searching for a way to move the yacht away from it.
Biggest crew challenge you deal with as captain?
I run the yacht and manage the owner’s two large sportfish vessels. I find my biggest challenge is bringing those two worlds together to meet the owner’s expectations.
What is your one top tip for other captains?
Keep current. Don’t stop learning. Take the time to study and find challenges to keep you relevant in this ever-evolving industry.
The BOAT International Captains’ Club membership is currently open to active captains of sailing yachts longer than 30 meters LOA and motor yachts longer than 40 meters LOA. For more information about the Club and how to apply, email captainsclub@boatinternationalmedia.com.
This article originally ran in the February 2022 issue of Dockwalk.