In the
Pacific three valued and long-term members of team Zefiro disembarked.
Aye Min Thet had already worked for over ten years for
Gerhard’s company Uniteam Marine Shipping initially as an Ordinary Seaman and
then as an Able Seaman.
The first time he set foot on the planks of a sailing
ship was in December 2007 - it was the Zefiro 76foot Solaris. Starting as a Deckhand
Aye Mint Thet quickly understood and fulfilled his duties to everybody’s liking.
With his great diligence, his quick mind and his extremely friendly nature he
became a popular and indispensable member of the crew.
In spite of the annoying tendency to seasickness, even
in bad weather he demonstrated a great amount of discipline, never giving up
and leaving the jobs to the others.
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| Aye Mint Thet in front of the Statue of Liberty New York City |
In our opinion Aye Mint Thet actually was the first
Burmese, who crossed the Atlantic on a sailing boat. He was also on board as
the new Zefiro 100foot departed on her maiden voyage from Cape Town to the
Mediterranean.
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| Aye Mint Thet is an avid fisherman – it was seldom that a fish went off his hook. After a successful catch, chef Aung Myo Ko was immediately on hand with the filleting knife. |
In his fifth year on board, now with the rank of Bosun,
Aye Mint Thet passed the difficult test for "Yachtmaster Coastal," under
the surveillance of the Royal Yachting Association in Auckland, New Zealand.
Needless to say that Gerhard and the colleagues of Team Zefiro were incredibly
proud of him. Aye Mint Thet is now promoted to skipper of the Jubilaeum, a beautifully New Zealand built 77foot ketch. She will
sail in Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago
as a charter ship and also serve as a training ship for Myanmar yacht crew.
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| Aye Mint Thet: Will become captain on the Jubilaeum, a 76foot ketch. |
Aung Myo Ko also worked many years for Uniteam Marine.
He began his career as a chef at the Bayview
- Beach Resort on the Indian Ocean. Then he went as a chef on freight
vessels.
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| Aung Myo Ko in his galley aboard Zefiro |
He joined the new Zefiro 100foot in 2010. From the very
beginning he showed his professionalism and his ability and spoiled the taste
buds not only of the owner and guests but also of the crew. Circumspection,
cleanliness and above all passion for his career marked him out. And no matter
how bad the weather and how rough the sea, there was always something good and
freshly cooked to eat.
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| Shopping with Aung Myo Ko, here in Cuba, was always an adventure and great fun. |
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| …What more is there to say? |
Aung Myo Ko is currently taking part in a training
program for top chefs in Singapore. After graduating Gerhard offered him a job
as a trainer at Uniteam Marine. Aung Myo Ko would then train Myanmar chefs so
that they can later work as cooks aboard the cargo ships, as well as on the
super yachts that are managed by Uniteam Yachting.
Last but not least: In Nuku Hiva Nay Lin Tun, another
valued member of the crew, went from board.
Nay Lin Tun also began his career with Uniteam at the Bayview - Beach Resort; as waiter and
bartender, later working on a cargo ship. In 2010 Nay Lin Tun came on board the
Zefiro being one of the party as the Zefiro crossed the Atlantic that same year
and beginning her circumnavigation.
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| Nay Lin Tun with Neptune’s fork - after an equatorial baptism. |
Nay Lin Tun very quickly learnt his job and was
appreciated by all for his kind and calm demeanour. Gerhard would have liked to
further promote his sailing career, but Nay Lin Tun's desire was to become a
captain on a cargo ship. We firmly believe that he will achieve this and are
pleased that he remains in the Uniteam Marine family.
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| Nay Lin Tun knew that neither the Uniteam Marine nor the flag of the Norddeutsche Regatta Verein were allowed to be missing on board. |
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| Nay Lin Tun was also the best hairdresser on board. |
We will
miss Mint Aye Thet, Aung Myo Ko and Nay Lin Tun and wish them every possible success for the
future!
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