About Us
Captain Dave's background: It has been all about boating. I recall as a youngster searching in the woods for just the right spruce tree to serve as mast on my canoe. This craft boasted leeboards and a paddle under the armpit for a rudder. Years went by and by the time college came around I had a wooden Lightning, and was dreaming of building a big yacht. Soon this spare-time backyard effort was underway and ended up taking 10 years, with projects in lofting, woodworking, fiberglassing, welding, wire-spicing - you name it. Even the trailer to do a beach launch was a one-off, using 12 semi-trailer tires and two huge I-beams. Thus TAO was born, at the time one of the largest sailing trimarans in the world.
The movie presentation of the book "Strange Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst" was filmed on board TAO, named "Horse Latitudes," starring Gordon Pinsent. I have written many articles appearing in the yachting press, and established the sail-charter company Sail Provo, in the Turks & Caicos Islands. The company was a success, and TAO did great service as dive boat and fun destination in the islands.
Festive arrival - Turks and Caicos Islands
Click photo to enlarge
Click photo to enlarge
Riding the technology curve, during deliveries my crew and I now can easily keep in communication with owners. We have Email and Skype on the laptop, telephones both cellular and satellite, and now the latest gadget called SPOT. This item is the size of a hockey puck, communicates with the satellite and relays realtime GPS co-ordinates via Google Earth. We also deal with all types of electronic navigation systems. One can't help but wonder, "What's Next?"
Still, the basic joy remains the same. We get out on the water and sniff the salt air.
Dave Mathews