10th & 13th largest yachts - the Russians are here!

This is the weirdest thread ever on this site. It just amazes me that we can be thinking in this way. I think capitalists from around the world have more in common than admitted.

As an American crew member aboard many of well known yachts, I personally have never dealt with Russian charter guest / yacht owners.

However, I have heard countless stories from Captain/crews of there experiences with Russians aboard yachts ALL in a negative light. Nightmare stories of not tipping properly after long charters, mistreating people on board, rude to others, so fourth. This goes for all different nationalities telling me these tales. I have also personally seen a Captain turn down high paying jobs on well known yachts once they learned that Russians owned the vessel, even though they knew nothing about the people but only the past experiences that they have had with Russians. I have even heard great stories about Pelorous from X crew members that would probably get my thread deleted if I posted them here.

Where I am trying to get at is I can understand the emotional levels that are being discussed and conveyed here that others may have experienced that others may not understand why. Me personally..I would like to hear some positive stories of Russians in the yachting industry as opposed to everything I have heard in the past (from what I believe to be reliable sources). Are they out there?

While working in the Port of Amsterdam I meet a lot off Russians who
are working on board of cargoships. Mostly nice people to work & talk with.
Russian Captains that's another story....

Redman,
I forwarded your post to C.S.I.S for "Decryption", they said it may take a while with all the scary drawings and stuff.

Yes... I had met some nice Russians crew members on the DYT in the past..
Same thing about the Captain as well..

"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro".
--Hunter Thompson

Generalizations about any nationality are not to be relied on, though they may be useful on occasion. Saints and sinners in any group.
As to tipping after a charter, this may be due to a lack of information supplied by the charter agent. I do know of one instance where it was brought up after the guests had left and finished up. When the person that had chartered the boat realised that the amount left as tips indicated less than a pleasurable experience the only question asked was: If cheque, they pay government? A healthy bag of cash was sent back to the captain with a note of appreciation, and my pen which had been borrowed to write the note. Tipping is a problem for many, since the percentage varies so much around this planet. In some places tipping is regarded as insulting, in others the staff make the majority of their income from tips.


Don't send a southpaw engineer to Riyadh without having him briefed properly first.

Hi,

I agree with Codgers opening lines.

I have encountered good and bad from nearly every nationality I have had the pleasure of welcoming onboard as guests.

One of the things about chartering- Good or bad you always have a date when it ends. One of the more certain things in yachting!!!

Hi,

I am just back from a 2 weeks stay in Porto Cervo and I was very suprised to discover the extraordinary "A" yacht who stayed approx. 10 days in the neigbourhood. The boat looks weird at first, but after having the opportunity to see it almost every day, I must say it is a beautiful boat (my opinion of course). Here is a picture I have taken:



The boat did not enter the Porto Cervo Marina, but they sent a 11m Vaudrey Miller limousine to the marina. A picture can be seen on:

http://www.vaudreymiller.com/tenders.htm

All designed by Ph. Stark.

rgrds

Very much like the lifting bow on the Nautilus, along with the hi set bridge.

In NY I've dealt with quite a few Russians in and out of boating. They come from a society where a sign of weakness or a slip of the lip could make you disappear. They also experienced extreme hardship and poverty. So they tend to be a little cold and serious. For those who have serious money they've had to work and fight hard for it. That background affects people. As a pet owner let me make this analogy (With absolutely no insult intended). When a dog approaches a stranger they appoach cautiously because they know people abuse them, but once they understand your (good) intentions they have an incredible amount of love and loyalty to offer.
Personally I have a little trouble getting a read on Russians, but I've never had a bad experience with them. Like someone said earlier there are good and bad in every nationality. I sure wouldn't pass up a good job because of a nationality, but if a particular owner had a reputation that's another story.