Superyacht Capt. Sandra Yawn Wins Top Crew Award

by IBI News on 22 Mar 2006 During the Miami International Boat Show, Capt. Sandra Yawn was awarded the International Superyacht Society's Distinguished Crew Award for what the organisers called in a statement 'exceptional professionalism and efficiency under extraordinary circumstances.'

'This award adds a human interest touch to the Society's annual programme,' said Gary Groenewold, vice president of Westrec Marinas Southern Region, sponsor of the award. Groenewold went on to tell the audience that Yawn had been on a delivery in the Red Sea of the 131ft yacht White Star to Dubai, when one of the engines failed.

'They pulled into an island off the coast of Yemen so the engineer could work on the engine so they might complete their journey,' said Groenewold. 'They immediately found themselves in the middle of a military zone surrounded by gunboats. Needless to say — on a multimillion-dollar yacht — they kind of stood out!'

But Yawn's problems aboard White Star continued. After five days of repairs, they left the shelter of the island, and within an hour the electronics went out. 'The second engineer noticed flames coming from the exhaust when a fireball suddenly ripped through the engine room,' said Groenewold. 'Through the experienced teamwork of the crew the fire was extinguished in minutes and all were accounted for. However, now they were drifting with a destroyed engine room.' Yawn contacted a US Navy ship which came to White Star's rescue.

But Groenewold praised Yawn's professionalism. 'The leadership exuded by the captain reverberated through the crew and provided quiet confidence in their professionalism as a team and courage under fire during their hellacious series of events,'he said. 'The captain and crew put their knowledge and skills to work in a situation that could have had a very different ending.' Groenewold noted that the captain and crew were among the finest that the megayacht world had to offer, and that their 'cumulative experience preserved both life and property.'