The million-dollar question is: How did a guy from St. Louis become a yacht captain? I was working for the sheriff's department in St. Charles, Missouri, when a friend got a job as a deckhand on a cruise ship. My friend told me to apply. There was no experience necessary, so I did.

I had never worked on a boat. Not even knowing the difference between a rope and a line, they hired me. I flew to Costa Rica on Christmas Eve 1994 and began my boating career.

I spent seven months as a deckhand, and eventually got bored. So they promoted me to bosun in charge of seven deckhands. That was fun for a year and a half, then I got bored again. So they promoted me to assistant engineer. I had no engineering experience; I learned everything on the job. That lasted another year and a half, before I found out about the world of private yachting.

My girlfriend and I were hired on the 140-foot M/Y Magnifico. I started over again as a deckhand, but with experience this time.

After nine months, the boat sold and we went our separate ways. I then was hired as first mate/engineer on the 98-foot M/Y Mardi Gras. After six months, I was offered the first mate position on the 154-foot Roxana where I was taught the ins and outs of a megayacht by Capt. Walter Rowan.

Then came the dilemma. I got a call from the owner of Mardi Gras to become his captain. I had only been in yachting a short while, and was on Roxana only nine months. I asked Capt. Walter if he thought I was ready to be a captain. He told me if I did not take the job, he would fire me. Tough love.

So I became captain of Mardi Gras. After a year of craziness aboard, I gave my notice. On the day I quit, I checked my e-mail and a good friend was trying to track me down. His owner just sold his 74-foot Hatteras and bought a 112-foot Westport named Wanderin Star. He needed a captain.

Since I had been unemployed for six hours, I took the job. I have been the captain of Wanderin Star for the past three and a half years.

Have a story to tell about how you ended up in the yachting industry? Write to us at editorial@the-triton.com.