Robert Cook

Background

About Robert Cook

I have a very unique background, which has seasoned my life and who I am today. I was born and grew up primarily in Wisconsin and Indiana. I went to college and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University. I married, had two children, and some years later divorced. From a young boy onward I had always been drawn to the water and the sea. In 1982, post divorce, I moved from Indiana to Naples in Southwest Florida, a community and port with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, and I began what became a very impactful period of my life in the yachting industry. In 1985 I purchased a very capable 37 ft sailboat, began building my sea time, sailing experience and miles at sea and soon earned my USCG Captains license,(Master of vessels to 100 tons). As a licensed Captain and owning my own yacht charter and delivery company, I contracted to and delivered privately owned yachts (power and sail) up to to 100 ft LOA), between Florida and various islands in the Caribbean, including all the states along the US East Coast from Maine to Texas, most of the islands in the Caribbean, most countries in Central America, a few countries in South America, and a few countries in Western Europe. Over the span of 20 years, from 1985 to 2005 I sailed to and from 40 different countries and islands around the North Atlantic. My crews and I encountered many challenges and endured numerous storms at sea including severe cold fronts, tropical storms and hurricanes. In total I accumulated over nms at sea, the equivalent of sailing seven times around the world. In 2005 with 20 years of open ocean sailing and weather experience I began to phase out of active sailing and yacht deliveries, and began providing weather forecasting & routing services to the owners and captains of yachts up to 200 ft LOA (power and sail) that were making extended open water passages in every ocean of the world, which is a service I still enjoy and offer. Being in charge of vessels and crew at sea, sailing between countless islands and countries, in all weather conditions imaginable for 20 years, I feel I have experienced the highest highs and lowest lows, physically and emotionally that man can experience in a lifetime and certainly at sea. The effect of these years and events on my life has been profound. I have developed an abiding sense of calm, confidence, and yet humility, a keener interest in listening to others and their life stories, and a fuller trust in God, knowing that his hand touches everything in our world and lives.