
SUPERYACHT #10 Autumn 2006
Article selected from our quarterly magazine dedicated to the largest
and most luxurious boats with information, interviews, technical
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Interview by Franca Urbani
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HEINZ KRODEL ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM
We met Capt. Heinz Krodel during the last IYCM in Genoa on board
the beautiful motor yacht "Zoom Zoom Zoom" comfortably seated
in the marvellous main saloon where we chatted.
Where were you born Captain, which part of the world are you from?
I was born in Germany, later emigrated to Canada and I now live
in Italy, a country that I much love even though my roots are in
Canada where I own a house in Vancouver.
When did you have your first contact with the sea? Did
someone in your family work at sea?
I have loved water since I was a child and I've always played
with boats. Later on I began getting involved in "white water
Kajaking" along the streams and to sail catamarans, before
moving up to larger boats of course. No, nobody from my family
has ever worked at sea.
Where did you do your studies? How did you develop your
professional qualifications?
I studied Electronic Engineering in Germany and I later joined
the Merchant Navy as an Officer Cadet. I soon discovered though,
that electronic engineering was, from my way of seeing things,
rather boring so I decided to continue my career as a naval
officer. After this I became a professional pilot and I spent a
considerable time as a "bush pilot" flying over the seas and
mountains of British Columbia (Canada). Even during my time as a
pilot, I made myself available as skipper whenever there was an
opportunity.
Which boats did you sail on before and after becoming a
Captain?
Before becoming a professional Captain, I owned a yawl of 14
metres which was built to regatta in 1945 in Gotland, Sweden.
After that I had a 20 metre ketch with which I sailed
extensively all over the world.
Could you briefly tell us what "Zoom Zoom Zoom" is to you?
What or where is the true "soul" of this yacht?
"Zoom Zoom Zoom" is my "baby". In fact I have been on the yacht
since the hull was being built and watched it grow since. As a
professional Captain, with many years experience on yachts and
boats of all kinds, you can immediately perceive if a boat has a
'soul' about her, from the moment you set foot on board. I can
therefore confirm that "Zoom Zoom Zoom" is certainly a lovely
boat with a great soul. As you may know, the yacht was hit by
two hurricanes and all in all came out of it with little damage
to the hull. You need a great soul to get through something like
that!
What can you tell us about being a professional Captain? What
is the secret to face the difficulties of navigation and those
of organising everything on board in such a perfect manner?
The secret to best face the sea is the same as to how to face
life in general: experience, experience, experience. The
profession of skippering a super yacht certainly offers
different opportunities to those offered as a captain in the
merchant navy. Everything on board a luxury yacht, must always
be at "five star" standard so to speak and I don't think one can
learn everything about doing just that. Quite simply you either
have the "feel" for such a thing or you don't. Naturally you
must always add a lot of common sense and a good measure of
psychology.
What is your favourite job?
I like being under way, it comes entirely natural.
Is there something that, looking back, you would rather have
done?
I would have liked to study marine biology had I had time.
Which has been your worst experience on board?
I was sailing my yacht as one of the first to go through the
Suez Canal just after the end of the war between Israel and
Egypt. I didn't have a radar nor any other form of sophisticated
navigational equipment on board, just a good old compass and
sextant. We encountered a mine field not shown on the charts in
the Gulf of Gubal,. Another time we had to face pirates in the
Red Sea and the Indian Ocean during a six month charter for
deep-sea snorkling well off the coast of Djibouti. To think of
it now, it was a very stupid thing to do, more of a youth's
prank really , we had a lot of guts and didn't think much about
danger in those days. Another more recent challenge in my life
was escaping the hurricanes "Katrina" in New Orleans and
"Wilma" in Fort Lauderdale in 2005. I chose to evacuate the
crew out of New Orleans a few hours before the hurricane hit the
city, ( after securing the yacht in the best way possible). I
can assure you it was no joke. A few months later we rode the
eye of Hurricane Wilma. He who has ever had anything to do with
a hurricane will know that it's not an experience you would wish
on anybody.
How would you briefly describe the life of a Superyacht
Skipper? From both a professional and personal points of view?
Is it difficult to keep family ties and friendships going in
this job?
A superyacht's Captain's life is easy to summarize: work, work,
work and not much fun for several months of the year. It is a
very stressful job on a boat that does a lot of charters like
ours. My wife has been on board with me as resident chef and
stewardess for some years now, but it is difficult to keep in
touch with friends and the rest of the family. Considering,
above all, that we are away all year round.
Your fondest memory?
When I met my wife Marinella.
How is your relationship with the owner?
Just a word will suffice: Excellent.
THE CAPTAIN OF "ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM"
Name: Heinz Werner
Surname: Krodel
Age: 55
Nationality: Canadian
Education: University, Naval College
Previous work experience as Captain: "Relentless (44 m)",
"Santa Cruz 3" (40 m), "Nova Spirit" (45 m) in Canada.
Current Assignment: m/y Zoom Zoom Zoom (49,50 m)
Ensign: Cayman Islands.
General characteristics of the yacht (design, lay-out,
structural and technological design, materials used): fitted
with 2 engines of 3500 HP each (7000 HP in total), cruising
speed 20 knots, maximum speed 26 knots, "integrated bridge
system" (complete computerized system).
Interior design (colours, materials, decor, lights):
designer: Evan Marshall, style: classic colonial revisited.
Favourite Marina: San Remo, Portosole, Italy..
Preferred Waters: Mediterranean , the Coast of British
Columbia (10000 nautical miles of coast line between Canada and Alaska ).
Which innovation pertinent to the yachting world has struck
you most and why? AIS (automatic identification system). To
avoid collisions, it transmits all the technical data ( route,
speed, CPA, boat length, number of passengers etc.) to all
vessels at visual distance.
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