By Coach Adolfo Salgueiro  |  Coach Adolfo briefly shares about training Captain Sally-Ann Konigkramer to run the A1A half marathon, Sally battled the heat and humidity to reach new heights on her running journey. This is just the start.

The expectations for February 14th were high. It was the first live race for most of us in almost a year. But the South Florida weather was not on our side. The temperature at the start was 77 degrees and the humidity was at 90%. Tough running for conditions any given day, so we adjusted expectations as we walked towards the beach to the starting line of the A1A Publix Half Marathon.

I had three running pupils in the starting corral. They came from different walks of life as well as individual challenges and race goals. Given the trying racing conditions, I am satisfied with the final results, and my runners have expressed the same. This makes for a successful day.

Sally K (33) is one of the most strong-minded people I’ve ever met. She excels in a high-stress job that demands a lot of her time. Originally, we started working towards a 4:20 for her first marathon. The goal was within range but a trip half around the world, two 2-week work trips, and a sick week, took their toll on her training. I have no doubt she could have ran a 5-hour marathon but at the expense of tremendous suffering through the experience. We talked about it and 10 days before race day she switched to the half.

Because of the constant interruptioans on her training we could not work much on speed, so she ran on endurance alone. We planned for a 2:12-2:15 finish. The weather took its toll and yet she pushed through. She had a huge smile the two times I crossed paths with her. Finishing time was 2:14:38, ahead of 1099 participants and over half the ladies in her age group. Her 4:20 marathon is one solid training cycle away.

A dreamer, a hard worker and a respectful and respected Captain, Sally-Ann Konigkramer chats with the Dockwalk on this lively Instagram Live.

Having joined charter yacht Lady S just over a year ago, in this short but interesting interview, Captain Sally explains how she has been able to lead her yacht and crew to have a great year even amidst the pandemic. A fabulous and professional crew are key factors for rising above the challenges, along with counting on the support of her charter firm CharterWorld and her charter manager LJ Houghting. 

While a bit less busy than during a regular year, Lady S had pretty fantastic results. Keeping the crew motivated while also Covid-free was so important, and they made it happen while having a little fun in the process. Based in FLL, Motoryacht Lady S generally charters from the Bahamas to Maine, they go to the Caribbean as well although the US East Coast was great this year, with the Florida Keys and Bahamas being specially popular the last few months. 

Speaking of her background in the yachting industry, Sally shares the story of how she started out in the water from a young age, having been inspired by her father, an avid sailor himself. Sally got used to walking around docks, harbors and marinas from childhood, and got involved in racing which paved the way into boating—being Captain was always her ambition and she worked hard from the get-go.

On finding the right crew and getting them to work well together Sally says that taking your time to hire the right crew members is paramount. It’s best to do it properly from the beginning. A Captain who values and empowers the crew maintains a good working environment. Everyone’s opinion is respected onboard Sally’s yachts and every single crew member is afforded respect. Her crew participates in lots of training which keeps them learning and growing individually and as a group. Sally leads by example, with the knowledge that honesty and integrity are the best ways to help the crew feel accountable at all times.

When asked for recommendations for crew who are just starting out, Sally emphasizes that one must never-ever give up! Being consistent, working hard, staying focused and positive are essential ingredients for success.

Famous for its history and pastel-colored houses, this southernmost point of Florida along with the surrounding areas feature fabulous coral reefs, amazing snorkeling and breathtaking dives—with so much to see and do, we wished we could have stayed longer!

The yachting industry has been pushed in many different directions during the current pandemic in an effort to keep up with the constantly changing regulations of well-known luxury cruising destinations. It is easy to understand why yacht owners and yacht charter guests have grown frustrated as they try to hop on their vessels or embark in their charter vacations and enjoy a luxury yacht cruise to unwind and soak up a little fresh ocean air, sip their favorite cocktail and bask in the sight of crystal clear waters.

Key West was never high on my list of luxury megayacht vacation itineraries—until now. This destination—local to Floridians—pleasantly surprised me, as I visited along with a group of Yacht Lady S guests and we realized what her colorful waters could offer the industry, no elaborate time-frame to deal with and no COVID testing requirements.

My guests landed in Fort Lauderdale and we cruised down to the Keys and beyond during the sunset hours so they would wake up at anchor amidst the still, clear blue waters of "The Dry Tortugas", 70 miles off of Key West. 

The illusion of being in a luxurious remote island, surrounded by calm seas, provided a relaxing atmosphere that set the tone for the morning. A group of beautiful sea turtles accompanied us on the short tender ride to explore the history of Fort Jefferson / Dry Tortugas National Park. No other tourists were on the island at the time, except the local ranger. Most travelers generally arrive by ferry at set schedules, so our unique position allowed us an early start. 

Later in the morning we took our guests scuba diving with our very own dive instructor off "Bird Key Harbor", where we had our pick of wrecks to check out. The sealife was simply breathtaking, and the tranquility of exploring the quiet and untouched Tortuga Islands was refreshing! The group walked Lighthouse Beach, where a house still sits on the pier; broken in two. Although we only spent one night at anchor, we could have easily spent two! 

We then drifted off Key West where our scuba divers got to visit the famous and fascinating "USS Spiegel Grove Wreck" on Key Largo and even went back for a night dive! They just couldn't get enough of these wrecks! While we enjoyed the stillness of the ocean; we had a school of dolphins swim right up to the yacht where guests interacted for a brief moment while they circled us a few times until finally gliding away.

Docking in Margaritaville was a real thrill for our guests as they feature live performers on the pier every sunset, including jugglers, island musicians and artists. Guests can hear and watch all the action right from the sundeck as the yacht backs into the slip. Margaritaville Marina is a cute boutique villa in itself, which conveniently allows yacht guests to use the hotel’s amenities—from poolside cocktails or a dip in your own sundeck jacuzzi—the choice is yours! Located in the hub of Key West’s old town, Margaritaville is perfectly situated and all the historical sites are only footsteps away.

On our way home, we stopped off at the exclusive "Little Palm Island" a lush private island where guests went ashore to play golf and had a waterside brunch, looking out at Lady S before setting sail once again. 

Key Largo was our final stop, where our group was overjoyed to swim with dolphins! "The experience was raw and wild," said one of our guests. Far from the typical dolphin encounter where one sits on a shallow step timidly greeting a dolphin; our guests floated freely in the lagoon while a pair of friendly cetaceans lifted them out of the water by their bottlenose, shaking hands and fins, and even allowing guests to pet them. 

With everyone finally settled for the evening and watching the midnight ski, we sailed smoothly back to Fort Lauderdale. I was pleasantly surprised to realize that Key West had become one of our new cruising itineraries. There were far more activities at our fingertips that we could have enjoyed during a longer charter, so we’re already looking forward to our next visit.

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Bermuda Quick Facts:
Bermuda: A British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Capital: Hamilton • Largest City: St. George’s 
Area: 53.2 km2 (20.5 sq mi) • Population: 71,176 (2018 est.)

Named after the Spanish sailor Juan de Bermúdez, who discovered the island in 1505, Bermuda is known by most megayacht captains as a stop-off point for fuel and weather when crossing the Atlantic Ocean. In today’s COVID world, along with CharterWorld (my new brokerage firm), I have found it to be a new safe haven for successful charters. 

I recently made my passage from FLL (924nm) in perfect timing to avoid the tropical cyclone that was about to hit south and was fortunate to arrive at sunrise in the beautiful island of Bermuda, ready to pick up our first Bermuda yacht charter guests.

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Though the administrative procedures were a bit lengthy, Bermuda Yacht Services (our local agent) made everything simple and convenient. The crossing time from Florida and entry process were well worth the gorgeous sites we found at our finger tips, especially considering M/Y Lady S is fully equipped as a Dive Luxury Yacht—every diver’s dream!

Each day I spent at anchor with guests, I  witnessed the phenomenal beauty this island holds which is yet to be fully discovered by the yachting industry. The beaches offer the perfect combination of glass blue water and sandy bottoms, there are countless reefs and wrecks ready to be discovered and vast amounts of sea life to delight curious underwater explorers. With one main island and 180 smaller islands, there are countless adventures to be had in Bermuda.

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One of my favorite anchorages was at a point off Nelly Island tucked between the Paradise Islands inside Bermuda. We had complete privacy and enjoyed our very own nature reserve right in front of us, along with a small hidden cove which our guests could check out at leisure. During the breathtaking sunset hours we were serenaded by the song of the local birds and were completely blown away by the potential and natural beauty this small island has to offer.

I will surely be returning to Bermuda soon, whether for another charter booked onboard Lady S or perhaps on my very own vacation!

I’m simply "glowing" after having just received such a beautiful letter from Thomas McGowan of Engineered Yacht Solutions. A hard worker by nature, I always strive to give my best, and while I pride myself in having solid knowledge of all the technical aspects of yachting, the well-being of my crew is a priority, so I was honored at the recognition he gives to the dynamics and good vibes of our team.

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The crew of 41M (137’) Motoryacht Sofia

"Organized. Professional. Ambitious. Leader. Detailed. Intelligent. Driven. 

These are just some of the words that come to mind when I think of Captain Sally-Ann Konigkramer and my experiences working alongside her during multiple yard periods throughout the last six years. 

My company, Engineered Yacht Solutions, specializes in metal fabrication, welding, plumbing, pipe-fitting and valve testing. Each time that we've worked on vessels under Captain Sally's command, we've done Lloyds or RENA classification society welding or valve testing. On multiple occasions we've had to do major structural repairs/modifications to the hull plate and sea chest piping. This work requires major involvement from classification society surveyors, naval architects, the Captain and the contractor. It's tedious work and can really test the most capable people in our industry. 

I've always been impressed with Captain Sally's understanding of the processes and her ability to communicate accordingly with all involved—including the owner. Aside from her impressive technical abilities, something else is maybe even more profound—Captain Sally's crew always seem to be the happiest crew in the shipyard. As an employer, I understand the importance of having—and the difficulty in maintaining—"a happy crew". I look forward to working with Sally each time she is in the shipyard because I already know, whatever difficulties arise (and they always do), we're going to figure it out together and get the job done." 

—Thomas McGowan
President, Engineered Yacht Solutions

On this short interview charter Captain Sally Konigkramer MCA Master 3000 and MCA Y3 Yacht Engineer Tremanye Johnson discuss the importance of making scheduled yacht maintenance and shipyard periods a vital component of a yacht's operation.

Shipyard Maintenance is of extreme importance for yacht owners. Having an experienced captain and engineer team is crucial to staying on top of the vessel’s maintenance plan, anticipating what’s needed and keeping the yacht in excellent shape. This helps stay within budget while avoiding unexpected costs and shipyard expenses which can add up quickly, especially without proper planning.

Thanks for visiting  www.captainsak.com  where you’ll find out about how I became a megayacht captain, my journey into healthy living, my interest in maritime law, crew rights and advocacy, and my passions: from sports, to classical piano and even baking. I look forward to sharing lots with you, so please visit often as I plan to include a variety of information which will range from special itineraries and cruising grounds, yacht crew issues, yachting industry leadership and even some fabulous recipes from time to time. Please feel free to reach out to me at  sally@captainsak.com. I’ll always do my best to stay in touch weather-permitting and in between ocean crossings!