Yacht captains and yacht owners don't always agree on what is right and wrong. The events surrounding the death of actress Natalie Wood are an example. In media reports, the captain of M/Y Splendour and yacht owner Robert Wagner disagreed on whether to search and call the U.S. Coast Guard when Wood was missing.

At this month's From the Bridge luncheon, captains discussed how to handle instructions from the boss that are contrary to their training and instincts.

"This type of thing happens often, boats that had had crew injured, charter guests gone missing and not found, and heart attacks," a captain said. "This made news because of her fame."

"But accidents are different from crimes," another captain said. "There is a big difference."

As always, individual comments are not attributed to any one person in particular so as to encourage frank and open discussion. The attending captains are identified in the photograph above.

The investigation into the 1981 drowning of Wood, star of films such as "Miracle on 34th Street", "Rebel Without a Cause" and "West Side Story", was reopened in November when several witnesses, including Splendour Capt. Dennis Davern, presented new information.

At the Triton lunch, we did not speculate on the details of Woods’ case but instead used it to explore how captains handle orders from the owner in cases of drugs, illegal actions or other questionable behavior.

"Not one of us here will kiss a** for the owner and jeopardize our careers," a captain said.

"I don't want to work for someone who compromises my principles," another captain said.

One captain said his line is clear: never compromise, no matter what.

Another explained his litmus test is the level the decision affects him personally. It boils down to whether the infraction will affect the owner or the captain.

"If the owner wants to get around something, it should be his penalty," this captain said.

The group's conversation took a serious tone when it came to captains quitting instead of complying. Several said they would quit their position before doing something they disagree with, but clearly, the group hoped never to be tested.

"If he still says do the wrong thing, you have a dilemma, especially if you need a paycheck," a captain said.

One captain said no matter what, he would not work for such an owner, and said there are plenty of other jobs out there.

"Well, not really so many jobs," another said.

But, a captain's job description is what the owner hires him to do, and that can cover anything, a captain said.

"Your job is 100 percent to make these people happy," he said. "Your job is to say yes as much as possible."

"To a point," another captain said.

Sometimes situations are not clear, another captain said. He told of a trip where the owner said to tie-up in a restricted area. He said the owner was willing to risk a fine if caught. 

"You explain to the owner the worst thing that could happen," the captain said. "If there is a $5,000 fine and it's still 'go ahead', you do it."

"If it's only a fine, and no one will impound boat," another captain said.

"Or if it's my license at risk, obviously not," the first captain said.

Sometimes you have to pull the book out to gently tell them the laws, a captain said. You have to educate them.

"They may skirt laws," a third captain said of yacht owners, "but captains can't."

Sometimes owners or guests use drugs, but the unspoken rule is to not talk about it. They may think it's acceptable if the captain doesn't know about it, a captain said.

"But things are going on," another captain said. "Ever walk around Atlantis docks at night and smell? It's going on, but I've never heard of anyone losing his license because of drugs."

"It can be very sticky with drugs," a third captain said. “If it's the owner's party and the authorities come, then it comes back to you.”

Owners take different approaches when dealing with their captain, one of the group said. Some may take the attitude of "what they don't know won't hurt them," a captain said.

Other owners figure "if they [the captain] can't see it, then it's not a concern," another said.

"With some owners you tell them, 'don't tell me anything you don't want me to know'," a third captain said.

The group discussed whether saying no to instructions to allow contrary legal or moral situations is an issue because of the boat's rules or society's rules.

"Are we doing it because it's legislated or because it's the right thing?," a captain said. "Seems like we're legislating the right thing to do."

"The rules on a yacht are not that different than the rules of life," another captain said. "But it is different when it comes to culpability."

"That stuff may go on in a hotel, but the management is not going to get arrested," a captain said. "They may ask you to leave but the hotel won't get confiscated."

Maybe disputes come from owners not understanding captains' liability for everything and everyone onboard, the group discussed.

"People do not understand what we do and what we're responsible for," a captain said. "I think they see the fun stuff."

"I think people in our industry know what we do, but not outside," another captain said.

Several in the group said most yacht owners are very familiar with laws and may know how to by-pass or get away with things others may not. Most have legal expertise or access to it, a captain said.

"We are dealing with people that are used to doing what they want," a captain said.

"This group knows what they're doing, they know how to cover themselves," another captain said.

"For some of the owners, legal issues are a pasttime," a third captain said.

The type of relationship the captain has with the owner has a lot to do with how decisions are handled, a captain said.

"They treat you like family, the owner and I are best friends, we're tight," a captain said. "He respects what I say."

"They invite you out for drinks but how friendly you get is up to you," another captain said. "It can be tricky."

"Sometimes you bend a little, sometimes look away, but because he respects you and your job," a third captain said.

"I worked with one family and we became very tight," a fourth captain said. “If I said no, they said fine.”

If involved in a scenario such as the night Natalie Wood died, all the captains at the table said they would abide by the law, even at the expense of their job. A captain’s first responsibility is to the safety of passengers and the yacht.

Ultimately, captains can't control what yacht owners do, but they can control what they do. 

"The owner is just the owner," a captain said. "You are responsible, nobody else."

If you make your living working as a yacht captain, e-mail us for an invitation to our monthly Bridge luncheon.

About the Author

Dorie Cox

Associate Editor