BRIAN CHICK
MASTER OF THE MOSAIQUE
"Mosaique", a wonderful M/Y, 50 metres in length, has a Master
with a very adventurous life: Brian Chick. I knew him while he was
sitting next table to me at a certain dinner and we soon begun
talking about his working experiences and . interviewing came soon afterwards.
Captain Chick, you are British, speaks Italian with Spanish
accent. Where were you born and how did you first approach the sea?
I was born In London where I spent my childhood. An uncle of mine
had a small centreboard, a 5 - metre dinghy; so I already at an
early age learnt to sail, navigating with him in a South district
of England called Solent.
Other experiences?
I obtained the Diver's patent for working on offshore rigs, aged
20: North Sea, Red Sea, Tasmanian Sea, and Indian Ocean.
Is it a dangerous job?
A bit. At the age of 26 I changed my life and married a German
woman working in hotellerie but as great loving sea and sailing as
I. From then on we always do all together and she works still now
with me on board "Mosaique" and helps me manage the boat that
means a great business indeed. In those days we were young and
bought a 13 - metre catamaran, by which we crossed far and wide
the Mediterranean Sea. Then, not enough satisfied of, we crossed
the Atlantic till Caribbean Islands too, meeting also very rough
seas. For a year and a half we sailed around these Islands living
by working as day - work skippers. In 1984 we came back to Europe
and I entered the yachting world thanks to contacts made in South
Spain.
Which was your first boat?
An "Atlantic Tess", 25 metres in length. Then I moved and worked
by an owner, who had two yachts and two masters on board: so the
other master and I alternated our working between a Baglietto, 32
metres in length, and a Sportfish boat, 18 metres in length by the
Viking Yard. We chartered in Italy and Spain in those days. Ten
years ago I drove with my wife the Sportfish to Caribbean Islands
and then to Fort Lauderdale where we sold her. I had meanwhile
made contacts with a lot of people and so I could stop there and
worked in delivery - refit - charter fields as free - lance master
operating when an owner wanted to make a trip but he couldn't make
it alone.
When did you qualify as Yacht Offshore Master?
In 1982 I first qualified as Yacht Offshore Master at a British
school and then I obtained the 4 - 3000 tons patent under the
British Law.
Indeed, on human and professional point of view you seem very
flexible to me. What have you yet done?
Yes, I feel so. I also built with my wife a 15 - metre motorboat
waiting in Florida for our retiring. Five years ago the
International Yacht Charter called on me for working as corporate
captain: I bought new boats in Italy and sold them in the U.S.A. I
must come in Italy and look at them, supervise whichever working
at; after then I must drive them overseas and sale them. As the
patent class 4 finished I commanded for the first time a yacht, 33
metres in length, from The Pisa Yard. Now I work on board
"Mosaique", a 50 - metre motoryacht owned by a British.
Which cruising have you yet made?
The Greek Island, Caribbean Islands; moreover we had many a time
crossed the ocean. Last year we were in Thailand.
How does the yacht behave in rough seas?
Well, she is a very sea keeping boat. She was built in Turkey at
the Proteksan Yard by the Architect Dubois.
What about your future projects?
Caribbean Islands and then we will come back to the Mediterranean
Sea and start cruising around the world, sometimes navigating with
the owner sometimes chartering.
What would you say to a young man/woman wishing to make your
job?
Well, there is a hard world because the youth are not so familiar
with working from 7.00 am to 2.00 am of the next day.
And. something beautiful about?
Living in nature among nice people, a very luxurious world, I say.
Which are Masters' responsibilities?
Safety of boat and people on board. This yacht means a high
responsibility; if I quantify, she means a business worth 25
millions dollars.
INFORMATION ON THE CAPTAIN
Name: Brian
Surname: Chick
Age: 50
Nationality: British
Education: Bromley Grammar School, Erith Tech College
Last experiences: Yacht Captain since 1985
The present shipping: M/Y Mosaique
Flag: Great Britain
Main boat's features: built in Turkey in 2001 at the
Proteksan Yard; metal hull and aluminium deck structure. Length:
50 metres; Beam: 9.5 metres; Draft: 2.7 metres. Main engine:
Caterpillar 3508; Cruising speed: 13.5 knots; Cruising range: 50A
communication system features a complete package including
internet access wifi 24/7.
Interior design (colours, materials, décors, lighting.):
On board Mosaique there is accommodation for 12 passengers
comprising Master and Vip staterooms on the main deck while the
guest ones are on the lower deck. Bathrooms are in marble and onyx
from Italy and Turkey. The furniture is coated with mahogany;
tapestry and bedspreads are of silk. A computer controls the
lighting intensity.
Favourite Marinas: all harbours offering free mooring.
Favourite Routes: all seas around the world.
What kind of yachting innovations does impress you greatly and
why? Mobil technology, because it let me organize everything,
even being ashore.
What about your worst adventure as Captain? The Tsunami in
Thailand last winter.
And your more beautiful memory of? Well, I was alone on
guard crossing the ocean in flat seas. while dolphins were playing
with spray lifted by the bow.
What do you think about your role as Captain and the yachting
world in which you operate? Indeed, it is difficult and
stressful to work in it, above all when chartering on board a so
as always full yacht as Mosaique is; satisfactions are even so
great either on moral or material point of view that they fully
repay me for all.
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