Paparazzi Frank Felker 22 August 2010 ENG 105 Dr.

Robert Vaughn Life in Fast Waters I could hardly believe my eyes as I approached the gang plank of the new Blohm + Voss 110m fast motor yacht. Most impressive was its size. At 110 meters (360 feet) it is definitely, not, your daddys bass boat. In comparison; I was in the U.S. Navy and served aboard a guided missile destroyer. My ship was 133 meters (437 feet) with a crew of 354, of which 24 were officers. This custom yacht would serve 12 guests, in 6 state rooms with a crew of 27. This was to be the shakedown cruise and the new owner, James Tidwell, had invited me aboard for the four days of testing. As I walked up the narrow, metal and teak gang plank I was assaulted by the smells of salt water and newness. New paint, brass polish, and the teak and mahogany fittings that baked in the summer sun, hit me with smells of money and impeccable taste. When Jim greeted me on the quarter-deck and asked my opinion of his new acquisition, it was all I could do to shake my head and shrug my shoulders. What could I say? This new toy of his would cost more than I made in two life times. As Jim started forward, leading me to the state room I would be calling home for the next four days, I do not believe I heard more than five words Jim said on the way. I was too busy, gawking and trying to assimilate my surroundings. The few words I did catch were that crew and guests would be meeting in the main salon (1 of 2) at 1300 hours for the grand tour. This would allow me a couple of hours to unpack and settle in. By the time we reached my room, I was slightly more prepared for the luxury that met me at the door. He gave me the card key and said he would see me in the salon. There was a phone on the

Paparazzi bed-side table for both in-house and ship-to-shore. The carpet was deep pile and had colors of sea blue and sand beige. It seemed an odd choice of colors but was, none the less, pleasing to the eye. The bed itself was king-size, the pillows of memory foam. Slipping into the large bath/shower area, I was greeted by a multitude of brass fittings that shone like gold. The sitting area walls had beautiful oil paintings (real beauty, real oil), all depicting ancient fishing villages. There was one port hole, almost large enough to qualify as a picture window. It also, was equipped with gleaming brass (I cannot absolutely swear they were brass and not gold). I plopped to a sitting position on the bed and absently ran my hands over the deep blue spread as I gazed around myself, only partially amazed this time. When I finally realized what I was feeling under the light touch of my fingers, I knew that I would have no problem sleeping on silk. Even though this was a shake-down cruise, I decided that I could learn to live with the surroundings. I reached the salon a few minutes after 1:00 PM, having gotten lost only twice. The other guests and crew had already assembled. Herman Blakely and his wife Carla were sitting on a small couch that seemed covered in light-tan suede. Herman was COO for the many companies that James Tidwell either controlled or owned out-right. On the other side of the room stood a man with a woman who sat on a stool next to the bar. The bar consisted of more highly polished brass and mahogany, this time accompanied by deep, rich, burgundy-colored, leather. I had never met this couple but I certainly had no trouble recognizing them. They had starred in many high revenue films, both together and separately. I read recently that they had adopted an Ethiopian child and were discussing another adoption in the near future. They were looking out of an over sized port hole and speaking quietly to one another. As Jim and I approached for introductions, I could not help thinking, These two young people are just too perfect to be real. She is unbelievably beautiful and his only flaw seemed the inability to stay clean shaven, which is, no doubt, a contrived look. After spending a short time talking with them, I can attest to the fact,

Paparazzi they are not only real but it is very pleasant to be in their company. The only other person I had expected to see was not present. Jims fiance, Katherine Roth-Meyer, apparently succumbed to mal-de-mer before ever leaving the dock. Katherine is a lovely woman but at times seems rather frail. After meeting the other guests, we were introduced to our Captain, Jonathan Beaufort, Cpt. USN (ret.), his Chief Steward, July (as in the month of) Heindrich, CSM, USN (ret.) and the rest of the crew. Other than the Captain and the Chief, I do not think there was member of the crew over the age of 35. After four days in their company, I found the entire crew of 14 men and 11 women to be young, fit, and imminently competent. It was now approaching 1430 hours and it was time to meet the guest of honor of our gathering, the recently christened, Katherine Blue Eyes. To me, being an old Navy man, the heart of the yacht, the engine room was what excited me the most. As we descended the metal ladder into the bowels of the ship, I found myself chewing on the smells of oil, steam, and ozone. The power plant waited patiently to unleash that incredible power. The 2x 32000 kW (main engines) coupled to two steer able Wartsila 9000 water jet boosters and assisted by two gas turbines also coupled to two further steer-able Wartsila 9000 water jet boosters are capable of producing close to 110,000 horse powers and could drive the ship to an amazing top speed of 40 knots. The electrical system was provided for by 2 x 870 kW diesel generators. Next to the generators sat four mG sets (motor generators) to give power to the exotics of the electronic gear, LORAN, SONAR, RADAR, SLIR (side looking infra-red), degausers, and auto-gyro stabilizers. I think I was beginning to fall in love. As I closed my eyes and inhaled the aromas of the engine room, I was consumed by nostalgia and transported back to an earlier time of my youth. Once again, it was my first ship and my first introduction to my new environment, the USS Berkley, DDG 15, and flagged to the Admiral of the 7th Fleet. It is said that smell is the most powerful of our senses that bring back memory. All I can say is that I once more

Paparazzi felt young and unbeatable. Once again, the world was mine for the taking and I was hearing the Siren song of distant shores. At times, the fantasies of youth can be, almost, overwhelming. After being drug from the engine room for the rest of the tour and for the next four days, I became more intimately aware of all the attributes of this fine, although money pit, of a vessel, which in an emergency, the Captain had informed me, could be crewed, engine rooms and all, by a single man operating from the bridge. Katherine, much to everyones delight, soon conquered the sea sickness that had threatened her joy of the sea and joined us shortly after weighing anchor. Due to stabilizing gyros and the size of the vessel, the ride was almost as smooth as that of a Naval Carrier. Speaking of carriers, I found that the Katherines tender garages, with side shell doors, on deck 2 can accommodate on one side a small light weight seaplane and on the other side a 23 foot tender as well as various water toys. The guest cabins are located together one deck below on Main Deck 3. Easy access is provided for Owner and Guests via the side gangway leading to the main lobby next to the lift and main staircase. On the same deck there is a cinema and a large outdoor area in the aft outfitted with two Jacuzzis. Our four days of testing slipped by all too quickly. No major problems arose and it was fantastic experience in travel and luxury. The nights at sea are always my favorite. With clear, balmy weather, if one looks over the side at the bow wake, swarms of tiny, fluorescent animals break apart into a living light show, bright enough to take the breath away of even the most hard hearted of observers. Looking upward, the stars take on magnitude not possible on land. With no competing light source, the stars appear as a million diamonds thrown across a black velvet back drop. If you are lucky enough to encounter a full moon, well, that is the reason for so many ship board romances.

Paparazzi Two months afterward, James Tidwell retired and married Katherine aboard the Katherine Blue Eyes. I was not invited on that particular cruise. That is quite alright though. Nine months, around-the-world, is a little too much for this particular old salt. Herman Blakely is now CEO of Tidwell enterprises and the two stars are still together, as far as I am aware. We, only rarely, will travel in the same circles. I do believe, however, that the paparazzi still call them by some ridiculous single name, like Lopitt or Brayjo or Bar-mitzvah or something equally inane. I would like to thank Jim for what is, most probably, the very best of memories. If I close my eyes and take a deep breath, I can still, at times, recapture those days of my youth. Thank you, buddy.

Resources USS Berkley (DDG-15), retrieved, 22 August 2010, from http://www.ussberkley.com/history.htm. The Blohm + Voss 110m Fast Luxury Motor Yacht, retrieved, 22 August 2010, from, http://www.liveyachting.com/the-blohm-voss-110m-fast-luxury-motor-yacht.

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