Meet the Team – Stuart
The Original Super Skipper!
We’ve been through the office, we’ve surveyed all the guides, all we have left are the skippers! Today we’re starting with Stuart, one of our longest running skippers. The only full-time skipper, working all through winter too, Stuart is a dab hand when it comes to caring for the Dolphin Spirit. Over the past three years, Stuart has got to know the boat inside and out numerous times, through engine replacements and wheelhouse refits. Whenever something needs fixing, you can be sure Stuart will have the solution! He’s not just a fancy mechanical mind, but a man of humour too; his wit is so dry it would make the Sahara Desert jealous! Stuart also relief skippers Dolphin Mischief on occasion, and is beginning to build up some dolphin ID skills to rival those of our guides!
Man of Many Talents
Stuart has done many things in his time, from army service to care work, and this experience comes to the fore at Dolphin Spirit too. He has a timely manner, so much so that his safety brief is among the most streamlined of them all without missing any information to ensure we depart on time! He even manages to throw in a joke or two to lighten the mood. When it comes to visitors to his wheelhouse, Stuart is welcoming and jokey, but informative when people ask; young or old. If there’s one thing that gets Stuart talking, it’s questions about boats! A keen sailor himself, with his own boat, Stuart’s knowledge of the route, the firth in general, and boats is pretty impressive. His word is very much trusted on the Dolphin Spirit team! One of Stuart’s foibles is his borderline obsession with a clean wheelhouse; there’s a place for everything and everything must be in its place! This extends to the cabin below too, where our storage is located, which is always organised as well! Whether it’s a foible or boon is a matter of perspective in that respect! Stuart is a keen eye out on the cruiser and the RIB, and readily calls out sightings over the radio or to passengers directly. One of his proud moments so far this year came on one of his first RIB trips, when he returned with a big grin that he was able to identify our local dolphins away out at Chanonry Point without a guide (eek, he’ll be vying for our job next!).
You can guarantee that a trip with Stuart at the helm will not only be safe and comfortable, but fun from start to finish. Why not book aboard and come say hello?