This week I chat with Merrill Charette a long timer listener to the podcast (and a podcaster himself!) about his upbringing, experiences and how he ended up in the maritime industry.

I really enjoyed chatting with Merrill who is a fascinating character and a great raconteur. In this interview we cover;

• How he grew up the '6th child' with his other siblings being 5 Old English Sheepdogs!

• His very sports orientated childhood and his (and his fathers) obsession with Lacrosse

• The benefits of focus and determination to achieve his potential in lacrosse

• How he attended 4 high schools in 5 years experiencing bullying at every turn

• Tough love from his father

• Why he gave up lacrosse and rebuilt his identity

• Dealing with authority (when you know they are wrong)

• The 1000 Origami Crane Challenge and how it changed him

• Completing a challenging 2,200-mile trek along the Appalachian Trail

• Quitting law school

• The difference between moving on and giving up

• How a random comment from a stranger "You could always live on a boat" led him to the maritime industry.

• How he negotiated for and bought his first boat

• How he taught himself to sail his first voyage from New York to Boston

• Finding a new community of boat owners

• Becoming a boating entrepreneur as an outsider to the industry

• Artificial intelligence and the maritime industry