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CHANGING THE WORLD ONE CRUISE AT A TIME

by

 Michael Webster

And

Sally Elena Lewis

 

Do you own a yacht?  If you’re lucky enough (and smart and rich enough) to own a yacht, but it’s docked somewhere halfway around the world, and if you’re craving some time out on the beautiful Pacific, you might want to read this article.  If you don’t own a yacht (not that you’re not lucky, smart or rich), but would love to go whale watching or have a sunset gourmet dinner cruise or cocktail party, you also might want to read this article.  Also, as the title of this article conveys, there is an aspect of “changing the world” involved with “cruising” on this particular  yacht, and this very interesting intertwining of pleasure and benevolence may also entice you into exploring further. 

You know, there’s a lot to do in SoCal in the way of fun and relaxation, everything from incredible shopping to lying on the beach soaking up some sun.   You could attend the taping of a TV show, go cruising on the massive freeway system and get your “time out” sitting there waiting to move.  There’s Disneyland and Universal Studios, and these are great attractions and lots of fun for the whole family, especially if you like standing in line.  

But there’s nothing like a day out on the Big Blue relaxing in a deck chair, sipping your favorite  cocktail, sunbathing, having lunch on the back of the yacht, maybe taking an afternoon nap in your private stateroom to the gentle rocking of the motion of the ocean, not having to do one doggone thing..   You can hang a “Gone Fishin” sign on your computer and cell phone, and really get away from it all for a while.   If that sounds good, then we’ve got just the ticket for you.  

Now if you’re the type who thinks of a day off as an all-day and into-the-night bash with people who know how to party, we’ve also got that ticket for you.  As a matter of fact, this boat, this yacht, is the E-ticket ride of boating, and you don’t have to stand in line to take the ride.  (Does Disney still do E-ticket rides?)  Let me elaborate.

The name of this beauty is “Mer Sea” (Mer being ‘sea’ in French, also  phonetically ‘Merci’, or ‘thank you’ in French).  I don’t know if the boat, she is French or not, but she is very stylish and very, how do you say, “Ooh la la” without being snobbish about the whole thing.   She’s a class act from stem to stern, with every amenity you could want from a fine lady.  That doesn’t mean she’s a prude, oh no, this babe is a party boat extraordinaire.  She’s also a fishing enthusiast, she loves cocktail parties, is proud to host business meetings as well as birthday parties and scuba expeditions. The Mer Sea is ideal for both film and TV shooting (she loves the camera). 

She can also be a wine-tasting, cheese nibbling, take-me-to-Catalina, cruise-me-to-Cabo babe with a long range and a sexy roll.   (Not too much of a roll, she’s equipped with Naiad stabilizers for a very smooth ride.)   You only wish you could find a woman (or man) with all the various top-of-the-line qualities this babe has. 

Down to specifics, here’s the answer I got from the Owner, Captain, Host and Cruise Director of the Mer Sea, Monte Cook III, when asked about how “far out” the Mer Sea could or would go from its dock in Marina del Rey. 

“She holds 2600 gallons of fuel - we can go to Mexico, Catalina a couple of hundred times, 3/4 of the way to Hawaii.  She’s been through the Panama Canal twice, has cruised the eastern seaboard, the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico all the way to Cabo San Lucas. If they want to go around the world, we can take them.” 

The first concern of almost anyone who ventures out amongst the waves has to be the safety of the floating island we call a ‘boat’ or ‘yacht’, depending upon its size and degree of magnificence.  Captain Monte assured me of the following safety features of the magnificent Mer Sea:
"The previous owner was a safety NUT.  There are backups for everything on board - TWO radars, THREE world-band radios, THREE GPS Systems, extra props in the engine room, extra everything, dual head pumps, storm parachute, hand-held water makers, emersion suits, 8-man life raft, epirbs (what's that?), life jackets galore, man overboard poles, life preservers, emergency kits.  She’s powered by two 3208 diesel Caterpillar engines, which are well-maintained on a regularly-scheduled basis.  We pretty much couldn’t get lost if we wanted to.  The MerSea may be one of the safest yachts in the world.

That question put to rest, the next has to be what kind of toys are available to play with?  The Mer Sea seems to have them all:  a 42-inch plasma screen that comes out of the bar, in-motion DirecTV should you and your cruise-mates want to watch your favorite game while at sea.   As for private accommodations, there are three staterooms with three full baths - the Master Stateroom is 18 feet wide, wider than most people’s bedrooms.

Out-to-sea activities include skeet shooting, a compressor for filling scuba tanks, a two-man-paddle kayak and a dinghy, along with top-of-the-line fishing gear should you be a seafood lover (although Captain Monte has other boats that are more appropriate for big-game fishing and parties larger than 30 people).   If you’ve never really tasted fish brought directly from the depths to the pan, you’re in store for a real treat.  It’s one of the most scrumptious meals you can have.  Should you make a good catch and can’t eat it all there are three freezers to keep your catch o’ the day in good shape for further enjoyment.  

For those of you who enjoy a great cocktail or two, the two icemakers keep it all “on the rocks” which, if you’re boating, is certainly the only rocks you’d want to encounter.  Yes, this is roughing it on the high seas, folks, California style. 

The ultimate laundromat, there’s a washer and dryer, kitchen cleanup provides a dishwasher and a trash compactor.  But, ladies and gents, if you don’t want to cook or clean up, every cruise comes with a server who will wait on you hand and foot, should you so desire.  Food prep is accomplished by two microwave ovens, a regular oven, a convection oven and a great BBQ grill.  You may have a favorite culinary artist to come along with you or arrangements can be made for your sustenance needs to be provided. 

I asked Captain Monte about his attitude toward service aboard the Mer Sea, and this was his response: 

“I don’t man the helm myself, I have a licensed skipper to do that.  My preference is act as host and whatever other role I can fill, should people want or need services of that nature.   My crew is also excellent.  Safety, comfort and seeing the people have a great experience are what’s important.  We have a full bar available, or they can provide their own food and refreshments.  We’re very flexible and try to accommodate whatever they want and how they want to do it.  I don’t believe in wrangling with people over details.  People want what they want, how they want it. It’s that simple, so I try to do everything to see they get it.  If they don’t really know what kind of charter they want, I can certainly suggest some things.”

Captain Cook (where have I heard that name before?), says the best cruise and the best deal is a weekend charter to Catalina for three couples.  Although they’re getting approximately 60 hours of onboard time, Monte only charges for and 8-hour day in a 24-hour period.  “If they were to leave on a Friday morning and return on Sunday afternoon it would run about $10,000 plus food and drink.  It’s a great time for everyone, even memorable,” Captain Monte claimed.

Considering what many high-end hotels charge for a suite for one night, the availability of three hotel rooms, the price of getting to Catalina, and all the amenities and playthings provided on the Mer Sea, this does look like a pretty good deal.  You add the bonus of being able to invite people down to your yacht for dinner and/or cocktails, and you’ve got an impressive party in the making.  For those of you who prefer a more quiet adventure, there’s no more peaceful sleep than the gentle rocking of the ocean and the sound of the waves upon the beach as you’re tucked into dock for the night

Cruising to Catalina is only one possibility.  Charters can be for personal pleasure, corporate events and perks, even spreading a loved one’s ashes at sea.  To quote Monte:   “Many people wish to have their ashes scattered at sea, and it’s a beautiful thing for the family and friends to be able to do that for them.  It’s a very peaceful and almost poetic way to close the last chapter in a life. 

Should you be one of those susceptible to seasickness or are just a little leery about venturing forth into the ocean, a harbor cruise is the answer.  Motoring slowly around Marina del Rey, waving and nodding to the other boat people may be just your speed. 

You might have lunch or dinner, sunbathing or just enjoying the sights, smells and ambiance of this world-famous Marina, which is located four miles from the Los Angeles International Airport and is the largest man-made small boat harbor in the world, with about 7000 pleasure boats and yachts. 

As for restrictions, children under 12 must wear a life jacket at all times and people can bring their pets, within reason.  Cats in general do not like boating, nor would a snake that might get into the engines be welcome.  Other than that, it’s a very freedom-oriented experience. 

“A person can literally get the same relaxation effects in one or two days it would take a week to accomplish on land.  The sea just has that capacity, as long as the people can mentally take a break from their everyday lives.” Captain Monte alleged.

Being a music lover and having almost all my best memories related to songs of the day, I had to inquire about the Mer Sea’s tunage provisions.  “We have I-pod docking stations, if they bring their I-pods,” Monte stated.   “It’s whatever they want.  Live music, no music, if they want celestial music, we’ll try to tune it in.” 

Should you choose to document your yachting experience, it’s available also.  Captain Monte, among his various other occupations, is a professional videographer with a Canon XL2 professional camera on board.  Or, as usual, people can do it their way.  “They can bring still photographers and do often.  Or we can make other arrangements, as well.”

Although Captain Monte maintains strict confidentiality with regard to his clients, this reporter found out that Britney Spears cruised on the Mer Sea a couple months ago.  When Britney was asked about her experience, Us Magazine quoted her saying “It was awesome.” 

This photo, found on the internet, is of Britney and entourage departing the Mer Sea                                

 
Knowing how people love celebrity stories, Monte was at liberty to share a story with us about one of the members of the Sex Pistols who chartered the Mer Sea.

“Johnny Rotten did an interview for Swedish TV and was being interviewed by Kenny Brach (an Indy 500 winner), and during the interview Johnny was standing on the deck when a small sailboat passed by, he called out to them ‘ Hello, poor people.’  A few moments later a slightly larger sailboat passed and he called out again, 'Hello, slightly less poor people.’  It was very funny.”

 

Captain Monte says he has a treasure trove of other celebrity stories, but discretion and confidentiality come first and foremost.  “They’ve got to get some private moments, and I completely respect that.”

I did get to speak with George Joban, who had this to say about his Mer Sea experience:

  “I was talking to some friends on the bow, and I didn’t even know we’d left the dock.  That boat is so smooth, even further out on the ocean, you’re not in danger of spilling your champagne.  The skipper is great and Monte is a great host and a wonderful personality.  He makes you feel comfortable.  We cruised to Santa Monica, stopped at a buoy where the seals were lounging, and it couldn’t have been better.”

And Nicki Hines gave this account:

  “We had a surprise birthday party for one of my friends, and it was a great success.  The boat is kept up perfectly, the captain and crew couldn’t have been more accommodating.   We even had some dolphins swimming along with us under the bow.  It was so great, we’re chartering the Mer Sea again for the Catalina weekend, which I’m really looking forward to.  I’d recommend it to anyone.”

So, as we close our look at the yacht Mer Sea and Captain Monte Cook III, we get to the real meat of the matter (sorry for making you wait so long). 

“Alright, Monte, I’m sold on the Mer Sea, I want to live on board.  Is she for sale?” I asked.

“No,” Monte laughed.  “Neither am I, but we can both be rented.  The charter fee is normally in the $600 to $750 range per hour, depending on what’s included, but because you’re writing this great story, I’m going to reduce that rate to $500 per hour for your readers.  All they have to do when they call to book their trip is mention the code letters “MVWSR”, book for at least two hours, and we’re on our way, availability allowing.”

“There’s plenty of pictures and information on my website, www.themersea.com or  www.marinadelreyyachting.com”

“I can be reached by email at cruisemersea@yahoo.com or, alternatively, montecook3@cs.com    They can call me almost anytime on my cell at 818-259-2744 or to call toll-free, they can call 888-658-8884.”

As for combining yacht cruising and benevolence, as mentioned in the first paragraph, here is the answer to that question:

Captain Monte is the founder of The Foundation for World Harmony.  As such, he donates 10% from each charter to charity.   “And not just any charity, it will be a charity of their choice, not mine,” Captain Monte exclaimed.  “It’s a way that people can get and give at the same time.  They get a pleasurable and relaxing boating excursion, and their favorite charity also benefits.”  For more detailed information, go to  www.thefoundationforworldharmony.org.

We can see that this is not just your average, ordinary, everyday yacht charter (as if…).  This is also a way to aid those who need our helping hand in whatever way they can get it and whatever way we can give it.  Captain Monte says it’s been a lifelong dream of his, and this dream is now coming true.