Virginia Wagner
Captain, catamaran True North

Date interviewed: June 2008

How did you realize you wanted to become a captain?
I was in the hospitality industry in Florida, in hotel management, and it was a seasonal job. Going into the off-season in 1984, I got a call from a boat owner who wanted me to live aboard his boat and do maintenance, with part of the pay being room and board. I turned him down. I wanted to live on the beach.
     But two weeks went by, and I couldn’t find any place to live, so I changed my answer to yes. It was a 74-foot trawler, and I loved it. I would sit on the bow drinking champagne and eating peel-and-eat shrimp.
     I haven’t done anything other than boating since.
 
What training did you undergo to become a captain?
I started out doing any day work I could find, from varnishing to cleaning boats. I eventually started to help deliver boats from one place to another, and I worked on powerboats as well as sailboats—with the sailboat captains really teaching me seamanship.
     My first proper job was as a cook on a 160-foot sailing yacht that took 150 guests, a day boat in Puerto Rico. I cooked for the 18 crew onboard. Eventually, I became mate on that boat. By 1989, I had earned my first captain’s license. Today, I hold a 1,600-ton ocean captain’s license.

What yachts did you work on before joining the sailng catamaran True North?
I’ve run private and charter yachts in the past, including the 87-foot sailing yacht Aria. I’ve also run oceanographic research boats and sailing training vessels.
     I just came aboard True North a few weeks ago, on May 12. We haven’t even done our first charter yet.

What do you think makes True North unique or special?
What makes us different is our crew. We have four, whereas other sailing catamarans our size typically have two.
    We are a fun crew, but I’m a formal charter captain. I believe in providing our guests with full service, just as I did on the larger sailing yacht I ran for charter.

How do you determine what itinerary you will set for a given charter?
It’s up to our guests. I always call them in advance so they feel that they can call me anytime with questions, and if they want to talk itineraries, we can. If not, then we don’t. Either way, we’re flexible once they arrive here on the boat.
     We’re not here to do what I want to do. We’re here to do what you want to do. Our job is to give you the vacation of a lifetime.

What are some of your favorite cruising destinations?
If clients are interested, I like to show them things that are off the beaten path, something special or unique to an area. The nutmeg factory on Grenada would be an example. You need to know the area to appreciate it, and it can be really fun for the right guests.

What features onboard True North do you think guests will enjoy most?
We have lots of natural light and light-toned wood, so the boat feels open and airy. Our guest cabins, except for the master, are equal in size, which makes us a great family boat.
     One thing I’ve noticed that’s different from other yachts is that in our main saloon, you can see the TV from every seat. That’s unusual.

Describe a typical guest’s day onboard True North.
We don’t have a typical day. We do whatever you think is fun. It’s your boat for the week. We would love to show you what’s out there.

What kind of charter guests are your favorites?
I like guests who can go with the flow. That’s what boats are all about.

What, if any, awards have you won?
I haven’t won any awards, but I was on the advisory board for Ocean Navigator magazine, and I ran their training vessel 120,000 miles by celestial navigation, with no equipment other than a radar. So that’s kind of special.
     And yes, if our charter guests want to learn celestial navigation, I’d be thrilled to teach them.

What else should CharterWave readers know about you and True North?
I’m really pro-crew training. I want to teach my crew well so that they can move up to bigger jobs on other boats. I want to make sure we as a charter community have enough well-trained professionals in the field. I’m not a suppressor. I’m a promoter.

True North is part of the fleet at Nicholson Yachts. She takes eight guests with four crew at inclusive weekly rates that vary depending on how many people you have aboard. Contact any reputable charter broker for more information.