February Knight & Carver YachtCenter Newsletter

FEBRUARY 2009

TTHEHE K KNIGHTNIGHT & C & CARVERARVER W WAYAY KNIGHT & CARVER YACHTCENTER · KNIGHT & CARVER WIND GROUP SAN DIEGO BAY

A Haven for Nordhavns

I f you own a Nordhavn, Knight & Carver is the place to go for complete

service, repair and mainte-nance.

Nearly 20 Nordhavn yachts

have made stops at Knight & Carver during the past year, as part of our agreement with Pacific Asian Enterprises (PAE).

PAE is the creator of the Nordhavn line of yachts and one of the world’s leading yacht builders.

“We’re pleased to provide our specialty services to Nordhavn owners,” said Knight & Carver’s Terry Ruppert. “We welcomed lots of Nordhavns last year and we expect more.”

Dear Mr. President: Now is the time for action! K night & Carver joins the nation in wel-

coming President Barack Obama. His tasks are many and challenging. High on his priority list, to be sure, must be leading the na-tion’s seismic shift to renew-able resources, especially wind energy. We look forward to Mr. Obama converting his

keen, enlightened vision for America’s energy future into immediate action — by creating thousands of jobs,

generating real investments and making good on his commitment to achieve energy independ-ence. The time has come for action.

Along with you, we view the weeks, months and years ahead with equal parts hope, excitement and impatience.

Agreement Provides Service for Nordhavn Yacht Owners

JOHN HALLIDAY (FAR RIGHT), CAPTAIN/OWNER OF L’ADAGIO, WITH HIS WIFE HAZEL (AT HIS RIGHT)

AND THEIR FRIENDS, PAT LAGRANDEUR (FAR LEFT) AND CATHY TAIT, DURING A RECENT STOP TO

KNIGHT & CARVER.

Over the past three decades, Nordhavn has become known world wide for craftsmanship, engineering and style.

“Our crews are trained Nordhavn experts,” he added. “And there’s no more devoted yacht owner than a Nordhavn owner.”

The agreement with Nord-havn expands Knight & Carver’s ties with the world’s leading boat com-panies.

Knight & Carver also serves as the exclusive West Coast repair warranty center for Benetti/Azimut Yachts, the world’s largest yacht builder.

Over the past three dec-ades, Nordhavn has be-come known world-wide for craftsmanship, engi-neering and style.

More than 50 Nordhavns are built yearly, with many cruising the West Coast.

Taking the Long Way to Malta

F or John Halliday, cruising the West Coast aboard l’Adagio, a 76 ft. Nordhavn, with his wife and

another couple is “as good as it gets.”

Originally from Great Britain, Halliday is taking much of this year en route to Malta, where he resides. “We may never pass this way again,” he says, “but it’s a great adventure for all of us. We love our boat.”

PRESIDENT OBAMA

TTHEHE K KNIGHTNIGHT & C & CARVERARVER W WAYAY 2 2

EMPLOYEE PROFILE: MARINO ALONZO, ELECTRICAL SUPERVISOR

“Believe me, Billy Joel brings a contagious energy to whatever he does. And he’s always been an advocate for getting ‘his people’ involved in his life. We

never feel like we’re working for him -- it’s more like we work with him.”

— Captain Gene Pelland, “Audacious” (profile, page 5)

I t makes sense that Marino Alonzo has spent much of his adult life working aboard ships.

As Knight & Carver’s Electrical Department Supervisor since 2000, he made an easy transi-tion from Naval amphibious vessels and cruis-ers to luxury yachts.

“When you’re out at sea, you learn to be re-sourceful,” says Moreno. “You’re it. You have to come up with the answers. That’s how I learned my trade.”

A native of the Philipines, Moreno joined the U.S. Navy at age 18. He went on to spend 26 years in the Navy, becoming an expert in elec-tronics and engine mechanics.

At Knight & Carver, he heads a four-person staff, including two of his broth-ers and a cousin.

“I always tell my guys that when you work on a boat, it might not be yours, but you should be able to identify yourself with that boat and say to yourself, ‘That’s my boat,’ ” he says. “You take ownership of the vessel because of your attention to detail and your pride of workman-ship.”

Moreno takes pride in his ability to make things work, especially when the problem seems to have no solution.

“When you’re trouble-shooting, you need to concentrate on the root cause of the problem,” he says. “First, we talk to the owner/operator to ask him, What’s it doing? What’s the sound? When does it happen? Finding out why is up to us.

“It makes me happy when I can tell myself that we found the problem and we fixed it correctly,” he says. “That’s a great feeling.”

‘First, we talk to the owner/operator to ask him, What’s it doing? What’s the sound? When does

it happen? Finding out why is up to us.’

MORENO ALONZO: HE TAKES PRIDE IN HIS WORK.

Senses’ Major Refit Wrapping Up

K night &Carver’s extensive refit on Senses, the 197 ft

luxury megayacht that doubles as an Arctic research vessel, is sched-uled for completion by mid-February.

The vessel has spent some six months at K&C’s docks undergoing exterior and interior upgrades. Its many “toys” include a 42-ft motor launch carried on-board, plus numerous powerboats, sailboats and dinghies.

SENSES: ADVENTURES AWAIT.


K&C Launches‘Delivered’

K night & Carver YachtCenter has announced the formation of Knight & Carver Delivered,.

The new service extends Knight & Carver’s high quality of service to vessels at marinas throughout San Diego and as far north as Marina del Rey.

Knight & Carver Delivered provides a

full line of boat maintenance and repair services that are exclusively provided on the docks.

“This innovative specialty service gives boat owners the comfort of knowing our top marine craftsmen will report directly to their slips,” said Kate Pearson, Vice President/Business Development for Knight & Carver.

“The concept is simple and convenient: Instead of our customers coming to see us, we go directly to them.”

Knight & Carver has purchased two

fully equipped vans for the new busi-ness unit, which will utilize its most experienced marine tradesmen includ-ing carpenters, electricians and me-chanics.

All work performed will meet the company’s highest standards of excel-lence, be fully insured and strictly

Repair Services Provided Dockside in Southern California

‘This innovative specialty service gives boat owners the comfort of knowing our top marine craftsmen will report directly to their slips.’

ONE OF THE KNIGHT & CARVER DELIVERED VANS, PARKED ALONG-

SIDE PIER 32 IN NATIONAL CITY. THE NEWLY OPENED MARINA IS LO-

CATED A SHORT DISTANCE FROM KNIGHT & CARVER.

comply with strict environ-mental standards.

As part of its regular Deliv-ered services, Knight & Carver also offers a planned maintenance package which provides on-site monitoring of all vessel operations.

Godbeer, Hodges Join K&C’s Sales Team T wo popular additions have been

made to Knight & Carver’s sales team — Ryan Godbeer and Renette Hodges.

A native of South Africa, Godbeer is a former bank executive turned megayacht first officer who’s trav-eled extensively around the world.

As for Hodges, she joins K&C after a stint in crew placement with Fraser Yachts in San Diego.

She brings enthusiasm and an ever-present smile to her new role at Knight & Carver. She also brings bagels by the dozen to customers and new prospects.

RYAN GODBEER RENETTE HODGES


Krisujen: ‘She’s comfortable, safe and secure’

Owned by a Connecticut-based auto executive/entrepreneur, Krisu-jen rarely stays in one place for long.

Over the first 10 months of 2008, the yacht logged more than 10,000 nautical miles, including stops in Alaska, Costa Rica, the San Blas Islands off Panama and Bermuda.

A New Zealand native who resides in Newport, R.I. with his wife and three children, Capt. Davidson

T here’s a logical explanation for M/Y Krisujen’s unusual name: It’s an amalgam of

the first letters of the names of the owner’s wife (Kristine) and his two daughters (Susan and Jennifer).

It’s pronounced “Kris-Su-Jen.”

See?

A 123 ft Feadship, Krisujen has “good, strong bones,” according to Cap-tain Simon Davidson, who has

skippered the 25-year-old motor-yacht the past three years.

“She’s comfortable, safe and se-cure,” he said. “These Feadships are built to last. Given the right ownership, which we have, they’ll last forever.”

As for the best part of being a cap-tain, Davidson says: “You’re in charge of a small business. You’re accountable to your crew and they’re accountable to you.”

The biggest disadvantage? “You’re away from your family too long.”

has worked for the same owner for 17 years, mostly on sailing yachts.

Krisujen marks his owner’s first venture into large-yacht power-boating.

“Now his feeling is: What’s the point of having a boat if it stays in one place all the time? So we go everywhere,” said Davidson, who was very impressed with Alaska. “It’s like Maine on steroids.”

CAPTAIN SIMON DAVIDSON PRAISES HIS YACHT’S “GOOD, STRONG BONES.”

‘You’re in charge of a small business. You’re accountable to your crew and they’re accountable to you.’

Spirit of Nyami: ‘Just look at her...she talks to me’

A dventure is what Don Walker lives for. Now, he sails for it, as well.

Named for the spirit of Africa’s Zambeze River that courses its way 300 miles through Af-rica, the 53 ft ketch is his new home.

A few decades ago, he called Zimbabwe home. Except he still refers to his native land by its original name, Rhodesia.

“My country is ruined,” Walker said during a recent stop at Knight & Carver. “I can’t go back. I wouldn’t, not the way things are.”

He bought Spirit on a whim. “She speaks to me,” he said. “Just look at her – all wood, no plastic, except for the hull. This is what I wanted.”

He was a proud soldier in the Rhodesian army

calvary in the ’60s, a tobacco farmer who later raised roses in Harare, the now-destitute capital of Zimbabwe.

His goal now?

“Round up a few research scientists and go to Tonga.”

DON WALKER: HE’S SPIRITED

REPAIR & REFIT PROFIREPAIR & REFIT PROFILELE



Audacious: ‘He’s a great guy’ C aptain Gene Pelland

has been piloting Billy Joel’s ever-changing yacht fleet

for 11 years.

He’s now aboard Audacious, an 85-ft Inace expedition vessel that the famed singer/songwriter bought late last year.

While it’s more of a working boat than the luxury craft its new name might suggest, Pelland says he’s couldn’t be

happier.

Not only did he get married late last summer, but he’s charge of Joel’s six vessels, all of which are less than 85 ft.

While that may be modest by to-day’s standards, especially given the celebrity stature of his boss, it’s the prolific “Piano Man” who

wins raves.

“In yachting, it’s not only about the size of the boat,” says Pelland, “it’s about your owner. He’s such a great guy, I’d drive a canoe for him if he wanted me to.”

Right after Joel purchased Auda-cious (formerly Zembra III), Pel-land brought Audacious to Knight & Carver for an extensive refit.

“Every part of this boat was re-painted, top to bottom,” says Pel-land. Plus, a working cargo hatch was installed to store up to five of Joel’s 22 prized motorbikes.

CAPTAIN GENE PELLAND (RIGHT) WITH CREW MEMBERS MATE BRIAN MCDORMOTT (LEFT) AND ENGINEER BRYAN OTIS.

“Those are his version of jet skies,” says Pelland. “Every trip we take has a certain purpose. He’s into function, not just being ‘beautiful’ for the sake of show-ing off.

“He’s always into the working functions of his boats – whether it’s his commuter boats, landing craft, fishing or expedition.”

By early spring, Audacious will join Joel’s other vessels in his home port of Sag Harbor, NY, where he’s a regular cruising fix-ture during breaks in his extensive tour schedule.

Pelland and his two-man crew – mate Brian McDermott and engi-neer Bryan Otis – often join up with Joel’s world-wide tour, which also includes Elton John.

“Billy’s always been an advocate for getting ‘his people’ involved in his life,” said Pelland. “We never feel like we’re working for him — it’s more like we work with him.”

Pelland clearly values his close

working relationship with Joel, who attended his wedding (to Michelle, who often joins the yacht’s crew) in Sag Harbor.

“The thing with Billy is, he listens,” says Pelland, a Rhode Island native who’s been a yacht captain for nearly 25 years.

“It’s not his way or the highway. That’s never been the case with Billy.

“Believe me, life never gets stale when you’re around Billy Joel.”

‘The thing with Billy is, he listens. It’s not his way or the highway...That’s never the case with Billy.’


C aptain Keith Jacob describes Chimera as being “a proper, well-mannered sailboat.”

With that understated praise, he means that Chimera, a 102

ft Alloy built in New Zealand, is his kind of boat.

“We can go pretty much any-where with her, anywhere that’s sensible,” he adds. Captain Jacob, who hails from the southeast region of Austra-lia, has skippered Chimera for six years.

During that time, he’s sailed virtually all over the world.

With a relaxed cruising speed of 9 knots (under both sail and power), the sleek, blue-hulled Chi-mera isn’t in any hurry.

Its leisurely pace is in contrast to one of its dictionary definitions: “A wildly unrealis-tic idea or hope or a completely impracti-cal plan.”

Late last year, Chimera spent several months at Knight & Carver under-going an interior refit and extensive paintwork.

Jacob is grateful his sea-faring career has worked out.

Before turning to yachts some 15 years ago, Jacob worked in an Australian pet-food factory. His job description was “industrial process control,” which doesn’t sound nearly as odious as what the job

CAPTAIN KEITH JACOB: HE’S SAILED ALL OVER THE WORLD

Chimera: ‘We can go pretty much anywhere’


‘A wildly unrealistic idea or hope or a completely impractical plan.’


CHIMERA’S MAIN MAST MAKES FOR AN IMPRESSIVE SIGHT.

actually entailed. Such as entrails.

“Believe me, nothing is as bad as making pet food for a living,” he says. “ I’m grateful for every day we spend at sea.”

NEWS & NOTES


KANABY PROMOTED TO VP SALES & MARKETING

GARY KANABY

Blade Inspection Process Enhanced

K night & Carver has en-hanced its blade inspec-tion services, part of its

continuing upgrade of products and field services.

Starting immediately, full inspec-

tion reports will be provided with these components:

Inspection Services: • End of Warranty Inspection: Performed prior to warranty expi-ration to determine manufac-turer’s repairs.

• Warranty Inspection: Performed while blade is under manufac-turer’s warranty to determine cause and validate fault owner-ship.

• Preventative Maintenance In-spection: Used to locate and rem-edy problems before they become more serious, followed by esti-mate of repairs, as needed.

• Root Cause Analysis Inspection: Blades and circumstances around the event are analyzed to determine the cause of dam-age or failure.

• Insurance Inspection: When an insur-ance claim is filed, the insurance inspec-tor provides an expert opinion on whether the blade is able to be repaired.

Inspection Techniques: • Visual: Cracks, splits, erosion, de-lamination.

• Lightning system check: Measuring the resistance in the system.

• Thermograph: Locating voids and other problems that are not readily visible under the finished surface.

Infrared Imaging: A camera or video camera is equipped with an infrared light source to illuminate the interior of the blade, to locate problem areas.

• Probing: A chisel or knife is used to remove layers and determine extent of damage.

Deliverables: • Blade database compilation

• Blade cataloging

• Repair estimates.

K night & Carver has promoted execu-tive Gary Kanaby to Vice Presi-

dent/Sales, in charge of the wind energy company’s Sales, Mar-keting and Develop-ment.

Mr. Kanaby, who has been closely involved with composites for more than 35 years, leads the company’s sales effort for blade

repair and production projects.

“Gary has long been an integral part of our pattern of success,” said President/CEO Sam Brown. “Through the years, he has achieved a solid reputation in our indus-try based on his technical knowledge, insights and communication skills.”

RAMON HERRERA NAMED TOP EMPLOYEE

F ield technician Ramon Herrera has been honored as the Wind

Group’s top em-ployee for 2008.

The award was given to Herrera at the company’s first annual Holiday Party in late De-cember.

Herrera has been with the Wind Group for four years.

He spent much of last year working in upper New York State on a major repair project.

WIND GROUP SET TO ATTEND LOBBY DAY

K night &Carver will be repre-sented at the American Wind

Energy Association’s annual “Lobby Day” by Vice Presi-dent/Sales Gary Kanaby and Com-munications Director John Free-man.

The two will travel to Washington DC in mid-February to meet with elected officials and staff members from California and South Dakota.

Organized by AWEA, Lobby Day provides members with the oppor-tunity to meet personally with their representatives and staff.

Numerous industry seminars and presentations are also scheduled by AWEA.

THE VIEW FROM THE EDGE.

TTHEHE K KNIGHTNIGHT & C & CARVERARVER W WAYAY

KNIGHT & CARVER YACHTCENTER 1313 BAY MARINA DRIVE · NATIONAL CITY, CA 91950 USA

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS: (619) 336-4141 WWW.KNIGHTANDCARVER.COM YACHT REPAIR: KATE PEARSON

(619) 336-4141, EXT. 138

[email protected]

KNIGHT & CARVER WIND GROUP 2423 HOOVER AVENUE · NATIONAL CITY, CA 91950

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS: (619) 791-1050 WWW.KCWIND.COM

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: GARY KANABY (619) 791-1050. EXT. 111 [email protected]

THE KNIGHT & CARVER WAY EDITOR/DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS: JOHN FREEMAN

(619) 336-4141, EXT. 141 · [email protected]

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR ADDRESS CHANGES AND/OR CORRECTIONS.

Holiday Party Brings Cheer to Employees

K night & Carver YachtCenter held its annual Holiday Party at Swiss Park in Chula Vista.

Several hundred company employees and their families attended. As in past years, every child received a gift. And of course, Santa Claus (below) was on hand to provide his Christmas cheer.

CCALIFORNIAALIFORNIA SSOUTHOUTH DAKOTADAKOTA

K&C Gives Donation to Child-Care Center

in Howard, S.D.

Group has made a generous donation to Children’s Care Corner.

At left, Presi-dent/CEO Sam Brown shares a laugh with a few of the youngsters.

A s part of its commitment to the community of Howard, S.D., Knight & Carver Wind

Documents

February Knight & Carver YachtCenter Newsletter