FLIBS17: Checking the Tide: Do you have a tattoo?

Nov 1, 2017 by Dorie Cox

By Dorie Cox

Tattoos seem popular these days, but does that hold true for the yacht industry? Since most crew list if they have visible tattoos on a CV, we asked crew at this year’s show if they have one. It turns out that the majority have more than one. And each tattoo has a story.

 

Deckhand Kevin Simpson

Deckhand Kevin Simpson
M/Y Boxer
112′ Westport

No tattoos. My dad would sand it off or chainsaw my arm off. And I don’t think I could pull it off, anyway.

 

 

 

 

1st officer Corey Thompson

1st officer Corey Thompson
Daywork on M/Y Octopussy
143′ Heesen

I have tattoos I got before yachting. Some boats care, but I think it takes you out of 30-50 percent of the job pool. It’s not like I do them anymore. On smaller boats you work more with the owner and most want no tattoos. I work on the bigger boats. One is for a friend that passed away and another for artwork I like.

 

 

Deckhand Cameron King

Deckhand Cameron King
Daywork on M/Y Octopussy
143′ Heesen

Yes, I got them in college, it was so painful. One says, “Fear none but God”. It means you shouldn’t be scared of anything; you want something? Go do it. And I have clouds and sunsets. They are across my sleeves and chest.

 

 

 

Mate John Richard

Mate John Richard
M/Y Alessandra III
112′ Westport

I never had anything I felt that strongly about to have permanently on my body. I think if it’s a private boat and the owner doesn’t care, but it can affect your job

 

 

 

Name withheld

Name withheld

 

I have three. They are my propulsion forward in life. In my history I was obese, this was my change. I have two propellers. My parents still don’t know, I have hidden them out of respect to them. Tattoos should not affect careers, professionalism comes with what people offer, not what they look like. It’s unfair.

 

Deckhand Paulyn “Pop” Salazar

Deckhand Paulyn “Pop” Salazar
Works with Ocean Alexander

No tattoos, I have piercings. They are private, they are my thing for people who are close to me. Plus, I have not found anything that I would tattoo. I think a blank canvas is as beautiful as a painting. If and when I get one, it will be hidden.

 

 

 

 

Deckhand Jessie Sahaydak

Deckhand Jessie Sahaydak

Pirate tattoos

Daywork on M/Y Long Aweighted
116′ Lazzara

I have six, on my feet, arms and wrists. All are pirate tattoos; my ancestors were pirates on my mom’s side. Like this one my feet is Rum Runners because that’s what many were.

 

 

 

Chief Eng. Ben Beering

Siren of the sea tattoo

Chief Eng. Ben Beering
M/Y Long Aweighted
116′ Lazzara

I have 12, they range from this siren of the sea, because women sink ships. And my last name, a wolf and a ship. My first one was when I was 16. Before, I did commercial fishing in the Bering Sea.

 

First mate Jean DuPlessis

First mate Jean DuPlessis
M/Y Muchos Mas
145′ Crescent

Me? None. I don’t like them. Lucky for me I don’t have to hide them. Crew put on makeup with hair spray over top so that it doesn’t sweat off. On deck, it’s hard to have tattoos because we show more skin.

 

 

 

Deckhand T.J. Miskella

Deckhand T.J. Miskella
M/Y Zoom Zoom Zoom
161′ Trinity

None. I think if you have too many it can be a problem in this industry.

 

 

 

Mate Drew Hunt

Mate Drew Hunt
Daywork on M/Y Victoria
113′ Hatteras

Not me, I’m clean. My parents would kill me plus I’m not sure how my future will turn out. I don’t have any other reason to get them,I don’t have anything that I love that much to be permanent.

 

 

 

First Mate Lindsey Jessop

First Mate Lindsey Jessop
M/Y B/W
120′ Palmer Johnson

Just one tribal, it was designed by my friend and is at the small of my back. I will never get another. I forget it’s there most days, I remember when it’s bikini time. People with them on their arms and legs often struggle in this industry.

 

 

 

Mate Laura Ransing

Mate Laura Ransing
M/Y Cheers 46
140′ Benetti

One tattoo, a couple of stars. I hate it, I want it removed. I got it when I was younger, it was probably cool then. But it is hidden. Out of all the questions you could ask, that is my worst thing.

 

 

 

Deckhand Sebastian Robinson

Deckhand Sebastian Robinson
M/Y Cheers 46
140′ Benetti

Both are hidden. One is calligraphy, a quote for a lover. When I got it, it was at a time of my life when I was very happy. It says, “you are mine” in Arabic. It’s written left to right, I’m an American, but it is very beautiful. And the other is my name, Robinson.

 

 

 

Capt. Tom Jackson

Capt. Tom Jackson
M/Y F5
75′ Sunseeker

I had one my first one when I was young and dumb. And I have one on top of that. The first was just the rebellious nature of a tattoo. Then it became a lion for my ancestry. I think of getting more but I have no reason yet.

 

 

 

Stew/mate Valentina Bazan

Bazan tattoos

Stew/mate Valentina Bazan
M/Y F5
75′ Sunseeker

I have two horses, so I have a horseshoe; my daughter’s initials and a tiger shark. I like to teach the kids that sharks are not so scary. My daughter has a group of friends that love tiger sharks now. Every tattoo stands for something. My next one would be a tropical flower.

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About Dorie Cox

Dorie Cox is a writer with Triton News.

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