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Our Crew
Captian - Richard M. Friedman
was born in 1950 and raised in West Hartford, Connecticut. Affable, competent and
experienced, Richard has been on the water for over 40
years, since he first sailed as a young boy on Long Island Sound.
As a young man, Richard served as cook and engineer aboard commercial fishing
boats in Alaska. For 10 years, starting in 1972, he fished salmon, tuna and
herring on the Pacific from Santa Barbara to the Bering Sea. For five
years beginning in 1978, he captained his own purse seine boat as a commercial
fisherman in those waters.
In 1984, having made a transition to a desk job, Richard secured his U.S. Coast
Guard Master's License and began running both power and sailing charters
in Washington and British Columbia during the summer cruising season. He
and his wife, Nancy, purchased a sixty foot yacht, Explorer in 1994 and spent two years
circumnavigating North America with their three young sons, Julian, Gabriel and Asher.
In 1996 he and his family brought Explorer through the Panama Canal to the west
coast. He has been chartering with Explorer in Southeast Alaska from 1996 until
2006.
Richard is an engaging, warm and entertaining skipper, drawing especially on his
passions for natural history, anthropology, history and literature. He is
an avid bird watcher, a dedicated photographer and an enthusiastic sport
fisherman. He has completed a college level class with the Alaska
Naturalist Institute, a department of the University of Alaska Southeast in
Sitka and is certified as an Alaska Naturalist. Richard is fluent in
Spanish
With experience from the remote waters of the
Aleutian Islands to the rocky coast of Maine, he can comfortably navigate any
waters. In addition, he astounds folks with his ability to fix almost any
mechanical, hydraulic, electrical or plumbing problem. Richard has long standing
interest in cooking, an appreciation of
great wines and an
intimate knowledge of the seafood of Alaska. Captain Richard is a lover of
fine wines. During your charter Richard will
uncork a carefully chosen selection of the world's wines.
Richard's warm, hospitable nature, lively
curiosity and broad maritime experience assure all of ALASKAN SONG's guests of an
informative, safe, and enjoyable charter.
Chef/First Mate Nancy Friedman
After 10 years of chartering in Alaska, our guests will be enjoying
the company and cooking of Nancy Friedman. Born in the Deep South, raised there
as well as in the Pacific Northwest, Nancy came to Bellingham, Washington to
study theater at Western Washington University. She worked and cooked in
several restaurants.
In 1983 she and Richard met and married the following
spring. As a couple the Friedman's have been exploring the waters of the
Northwest and the world by boat ever since. Nancy learned to use the bounty of
seas with ingenuity and style.
Nancy is known as a creative and entertaining hostess.
Like all good chefs, Nancy's life informs her culinary creations. Picking up
dishes and stories from around the world and bringing them to the table aboard
Explorer; tastes and cultures combine in a way that is sure to delight and
surprise. She has a wide ranging and eclectic culinary repertoire.
Nancy and Richard worked together on several different
yachts as charter crew before their three boys now age 21, 19 & 18 were born.
The plan has always been for them to serve charter guests as a couple...but
that has had to wait until their boys were old enough. 22 years later, Nancy
and Richard are back together again as a yacht crew team. Nancy
made her Alaska debut
on Explorer in 2006 and looks forward to serving guests on Alaskan Song during the 2008
season.
As an artist and caregiver, Nancy brings intention,
grace and an open heart to food, people and life.
Deckhand/Steward Seth Williams
Seth returns to Alaska for his second season on Alaskan Song. Born on northern Vancouver
Island, raised in The Philippines and later in Washington State, he graduated from Western
Washington University with a degree in outdoor recreation and tourism. Seth is a Wilderness
First Responder and has worked in Japan at a U.S. Navy recreational facility, teaching sea
kayaking, sailing and guiding hikes up Mt. Fuji.
His hobbies include, rock climbing, sailing, photography and much more. He is learning the
art of film making which he applies on a weekly basis, making a DVD for our guests to take
home at the end of each cruise.
He has an easy and relaxed way about him, yet is a hard worker, able hand, and with his wide
travels and thoughtful way, an interesting fellow to converse with. 2007, his first year on
Alaskan Song, keyed yet another interest for Seth....cooking! In addition to keeping the boat
spic and span both inside and out, guiding our guests, and taking turns at the helm Seth has
learned and helped out the chef in the galley as well, gaining culinary skills.
Seth's presence on board makes life easier for everyone else. Helpful, upbeat, unflappable,
smart, funny and kind, we are happy to have him coming back with us for 2008!
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