pier to peer
A first-time yacht owner figures out how to enjoy her yacht and make it a business.
A first-time yacht owner mixes business with pleasure
The formal ambience exudes nononsense business in the Emigrant bank offices on 42nd Street just off Fifth Avenue in New York City. The dimly lit reception area is an imposing fortress of raised-and-fielded mahogany walls. We are not in easy, breezy Fort Lauderdale.
Through the solid oak doors is the inner sanctum of Janet Martin, who owns 124-foot (37.3-meter) Lloydship Sunshine. The librarystyle bookshelves are replete with an eclectic array of mementos from world travels, including a first-edition Number 1 Barbie doll in pristine condition. The focal point of the room is a built-in aquarium along the far wall featuring exotic fish, assorted eels and a lethal lionfish. A quick perusal of the framed photographs on the bookshelf yields shots of Martin with Harrison Ford, Bill O’Reilly and Eli Manning, to name a few.
Martin is a handsome woman of indeterminate age. Her blonde hair is tightly pulled back in a chignon; her makeup is perfect and she is carefully attired in a designer business suit and a string of pearls. There is nothing haphazard about her demeanor. She is purposeful, directed and directive. As chief administrative officer of Emigrant Savings Bank and Milstein Properties, she has to be on top of things, and she is. In addition to administrative duties for both the privately owned bank, where she runs three online savings banks (EmigrantDirect, DollarSavingsDirect and MySavingsDirect), and the real estate business, she oversees all of the renovation projects for the Milstein buildings— which are rather vast. Martin has been with the Milstein family for more than 24 years. She credits her boss, Howard Milstein, for pushing her to expand her capabilities beyond her comfort zone. She half-jokingly says, “I am not allowed to retire … ever.”
Not only is she a driven career woman, she is also a single mom who raised four children. She had two children of her own and, when her brother died many years ago, she took on the responsibility of raising his two kids along with hers. Juggling work and single parenthood was a struggle, but as with everything she sets her mind to, she succeeded. Now her kids are grown and Martin has seven grandchildren. With everyone so busy, she knew a boat would be the ideal vehicle to bring her family together for quality time.
Martin went in search of her perfect yacht. She figured she could enjoy the yachting life and at the same time use her business skills to create the best possible charter yacht. Sunshine is her first boat, but Martin is a quick learner, and her vision for Sunshine to succeed as a charter vessel is in keeping with her day-to-day business acumen. But she is not all business; she likes to have fun. She is not afraid to use the waterslide, the Seabobs or the dive gear aboard Sunshine.
JB: Did you use a broker?
JM: I worked with Curtis Stokes, and he was very patient with me. I had a budget and very particular parameters, such as a need for five staterooms to accommodate my family. I also wanted walkaround decks with high bulwarks as a security measure for my grandchildren. I sought plenty of social space. I also wanted two lounges so adults could occupy one and the children another. And I needed a good-size lazarette for dive compressors and tanks, Seabobs, paddleboards, kayaks, fishing gear and a vast array of water toys.
JB: Did you find exactly what you wanted?
JM: I found enough of what I wanted. I then did a major $2.5 million refit, lots of gutting and rebuilding. I even moved the central staircase so it would not interfere with the main salon living space. We did the work at Rolly Marine Service in Fort Lauderdale, and they were terrific.
JB: What has been your favorite cruise so far?
JM: I went to the Bahamas with my family to do some fun activities in the Exumas, to the great delight of my grandchildren. Then I had a private week to myself. We went a bit off the beaten track to San Salvador. I went on a dive with the local divemaster, Capt. Bruce. Despite all the diving around the world that I have experienced, I had a truly unique experience with Capt. Bruce. He is a like a grouper whisperer. He has these fish trained to come into your arms to be cuddled and petted. Then he gives them a hand signal and sends them searching for lionfish. They practically wag their tails as they disappear among the coral. As you know, lionfish are now the scourge of the Bahamas and Caribbean. They have no predators here and are devouring the tiny reef species. The groupers then point out the lionfish to Capt. Bruce. He has a way of killing them and feeding them to the grouper so the grouper do not get poisoned.
JB: What other cruising grounds are on your itinerary?
JM: In 2015, we’ll charter out of the Caribbean and the Bahamas. In 2016, we hope to go to the Med. I am especially interested in Montenegro, Croatia and Greece. Sunshine will be available for charter there in the summer.
JB: It sounds like you really are pushing charter and want to run your boat as a business.
JM: I am so excited about Sunshine, I want to share her. I think she is the perfect family boat and really great for three generations or three couples and their children. Sunshine is not stuffy; she is an elegant and comfortable home on the water. Her charters start at $75,000, which is a great value for five cabins that sleep 12 guests.
JB: What else drives you in life?
JM: I am the director of a foundation called Angels in Africa, and I am quite passionate about it. I was in Kenya maybe 25 years ago (in another life). I was with my driver on the Maasai Mara Natural Reserve and wanted to step out of the truck and go for a walk. My driver said it wasn’t safe. I saw a woman walking in the distance and pointed to her. He explained she was banished from her village for some reason—death of husband, rape—and was cast out, probably to die. I wanted to pick her up and take her to the camp. When my driver asked me what would happen to her when we left, I determined then and there that something had to be done. Long story short, I set up a village for women outcasts—now numbering 75—and established a foundation called Angels in Africa.
JB: How does THE FOUNDATION
work?
JM: Angels in Africa bought cows and goats for the women and taught them the basic principles of farming. We bought them chickens. Poultry farming had never been tried in the Maasai Mara. I also set up a school. The reputation of the school has spread, and it now has more than 400 students. I hold a huge fundraiser in New York every year as well as a clothing drive. Last year we collected 11 tons of clothes and shoes. We also have a website, AngelsInAfrica.org, where people can make donations. I cover all of the administrative costs myself, so 100 percent of the money raised goes to the projects, not to bookkeeping, travel or office expenses. I also get donations from unlikely places. For instance, the shoe company Crocs donates 1,000 pairs of shoes every time we go on our yearly mission.
Great idea. I’ll do it.