From the General Botha Old Boys Association Muster List

Started as a Cadet with B & C, King, and Bullard King (serving on the old ‘King Robert’ tramp ship), then progressed to Springbok and subsequently Safmarine.

After serving as 2nd Mate on various South African vessels—including reefers and as 2nd/3rd Officer on the RSA route to the Antarctic ice—I obtained my Mate’s certificate. I then worked on assorted vessels, including South African ships (notably the S.A. Huguenot, built in Japan and on its maiden voyage), Portuguese vessels (as Chief Officer on the Capitao Abreu), and Norwegian ships (including Able Seaman on the tanker Widan and 3rd Officer with Karlanders in the South Pacific islands). Also served on Australian vessels (with Colonial Sugar) and Hong Kong ships (Chief Officer on the tramp San Roberto with Manners Navigation).

In 1970, I earned my Master’s Foreign Going certificate, leading to a contract as Mate on the LM Gemsbok of Land and Marine. In 1971, I participated in the inaugural Cape to Rio yacht race on Howard Davis, alongside several old boys, and sailed in two subsequent South Atlantic yacht races.

The following eight years were with the Leo Raphaely Group, initially as Master of the reefer Judith R, then progressing to Marine Superintendent, Supercargo, Surveyor, and Agent, managing and sailing on both owned and chartered vessels worldwide.

In the late 1970s, while hitchhiking in Rhodesia during the Bush War, I signed up with the regular army’s Engineer’s Boat Squadron on Kariba and the Zambezi, participating in operations in the bush and external missions until returning after Independence in 1980.

Returned to sea on the Perla Frio, then spent two years as Master of the Atlantic Isle (a passenger/cargo ship servicing South Atlantic islands, West Africa, and Cape Town). Between 1983 and 1989, I served as Marine Superintendent and Master for the Kuttel Group, including delivering the Brazilia to China and other assignments.

For the next fifteen years, I undertook contract work, mostly as Master on assorted vessels worldwide—including general cargo ships, tugs, supply vessels, hydrographic survey ships, and reefers—with many deliveries, particularly of fishing vessels. This included 1993-1994 with Spanfreight in Mombasa as Master of the Aventure and Acor, running mostly World Food Programme cargoes to Somalia, where we came under mortar attack in Mogadishu once. I also commanded the tug Argo Cape on an unusual, though unsuccessful, treasure hunting trip to the Seychelles.

From 2004 to 2006, I worked with Smit Salvage, and in 2007 completed a contract as Master of the SvitzerWijsmuller tug Battleaxe in Angola.

I continue sea-going contract work when not mountain climbing and officially retired in 2011.