WHAT THE OWNER OF CONSTELLATION II HAS TO SAY ABOUT CAPTAIN RU

Ruth has sailed Constellation II over 25,000 nautical miles from Fort Lauderdale to Cuba, Grand Cayman, through the Panama Canal, Mexico, Hawaii, across the Federated States of Micronesia, Truk Lagoon, Palau, through the Philippine archipelago, Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia, and Thailand.  She has excellent rigging, sailing, and sail trimming skills along with a whole host of sail repair skills that have been used on many occasions and have saved the day on others.  She has been up to the top of her 90ft on numerous occasions, not withstanding and incredibly, in heavy weather at sea. She is highly skilled and accurate in her electronic and manual navigation and route planning and the use of hand held GPS’s and autopilot locked GPS systems, and her ability to interpret charts and her amazing knowledge, and the application of this her knowledge, of the international rules and regulations of the high seas is exemplary and made her the best choice for night watches. She is very competent and organized when handling all parts of a yachts administration, including Port Authorities, Customs, and visas requirements.  She is very capable and comfortable using all the communication systems, including radar, weather data, SSB and VHF.

Ruth has sailed Constellation II, by herself, with two non-sailing passengers onboard.  She is very adept laying anchors, coming in and out of port, and setting her sails and sailing her in all types of weather.  Her safety knowledge and the application of it, and its use, are first rate.  She gives a lot of herself and takes the time to get to know and help everyone out.  She is a great cook often making great meals even when provisions seem sparse.  Her openness, friendliness, and joie de vie make her a joy to know and work alongside. Ruth’s honesty and integrity are unquestionable and I would highly recommend her as Captain or crew on any yacht going anywhere at any time and she is most certainly my charter captain of choice.

WHAT THE OWNER OF OZSAIL AND WRITER FOR MULTIHULL MAGAZINE HAD TO SAY ABOUT RU BEFORE SHE BECAME A 200T CAPTAIN

Ruth has been involved in all aspects of the charter industry at Airlie Beach.  She has been actively involved in the local yachting scene from chartering, racing, crewing, and has happily participated in all types of boat maintenance.  She has skippered OzSail boats when necessary, and was instrumental in skippering a relief skipper to Spank Me, when its skipper suffered a possibly fatal irakundji jellyfish sting.  She works well with others, delegates well, is very well organized, and is always willing, with a big smile on her face, to assist anyone.  

I have recommended her to Alex Sinclair. I am most certain that she will be a valuable asset and crew member.  She has my highest recommendation.  Having been involved extensively in the yachting community as a boat builder and owner, skipper, educator, and as the owner of OzSail, I know from experience, a person like Ruth is a rarity.  Ruth knows she is learning and is willing to learn and wants to learn.  What she lacks in yachting experience, she makes up ten-fold in her energy and passion for ideas and continued learning.  She is taking the time to gain experience and knowledge from others who have been in the maritime industry.  Her sound judgment will always make her safe as she is willing to accept her own limitations, and let others teach her what she needs to know.  Ruth has a wonderful sense of life and naturally makes others smile.  I would highly recommend that she continue pursuing training in the maritime industry.  I have been involved in the marine industry for over 30 years, and it is obvious that Ruth has the potential to be a real leader in the maritime industry.

Adrian Platt

As seen in Whitsundays Times' article "Larger Than Life"

(tragically gone but certainly not forgotten)