Welcome to the Sabre Yachts Work-iversary series for 2017! We’re kicking off the new year with David as he celebrates twenty years with Sabre Yachts! As we mentioned in a previous post, we’re marking off five hundred and twenty-five years of boatbuilding experience in 2017, and could never have dreamed of such a remarkable milestone without craftspeople like David. He has our sincerest thanks and gratitude. 

If you could send a message back through time your younger self what would you say?

Go into the Navy.

Tell me about the person who has impacted your life the most:

My mother and my grandmothers.

If you could talk to someone who has passed away, who would you talk to and what would you say?

I would talk to my brother. 

Would you rather be deaf or blind?

Deaf. 

Tell me about the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen:

Delivering my son.

What’s your favorite dessert?

My wife makes the best peanut butter cookies. 

What do you cook when no one else is home?

Steaks on the grill. 

What are you best at?

Getting along with people. 

What are you most proud of?

My children.

What is your theme song, and why?

The Gael, by Dougie MacLean. It comes from his 1990 album ‘The Search,’ and it’s the theme in the movie ‘The Last of the Mohicans.’

What’s something your mother taught you that you’ve never forgotten?

How to cook.

What’s your favorite book of all time?

The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I love the movie adaptations as well; I have to watch whenever they are playing. 

How honest are you?

I’m honest to a fault. 

When you’re 80 what story will you tell your grandchildren?

I’ll probably tell them about how dumb their grandfather has been at times. 

What super power would you like to have?

I’d like to fly. 

What is your dream car?

’68 Shelby Cobra

What, in your opinion, is the best thing about humanity?

I would say our ability to get along with each other, for the most part anyway. 

Is it ever okay to break the rules?

Yes.

If you could learn any instrument what would you play?

I would like to play the bass.

When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?

Happy, I guess. 

What’s your favorite song of all time?

Pretty much anything by Bob Dylan. If I had to choose one, it would be ‘Gotta Serve Somebody.’ 

Hi All,

Welcome to Sabre Yachts 2017 blog series! As our Sabre Spirit newsletter subscribers will know, we’re not stinting on the resolutions this year! (If you don’t receive our monthly newsletter you can follow this link to sign up.) In keeping with our many goals we wanted to provide our readers with some fun facts about what’s up at Sabre Yachts in 2017.

-Jamie LB Governale

We’re thrilled to announce two new appointments at Sabre this year:

	Aaron Crawford has been promoted to President, in addition to retaining his responsibilities as Chief Operations Officer. Aaron brings more than twenty years of manufacturing, design, and engineering experience to his new role, the last seven of which have been with Sabre Yachts. Aaron is an experienced boater and lives on the coast of Maine with his wife and two daughters.
	Glenn Campbell has taken over as Head of Engineering at Sabre. Glenn has been an integral member of our engineering team since 1997 and has contributed to more than fifteen new models in that time. Glenn received a BS in Industrial Technology from the University of Southern Maine and initially joined the Sabre engineering team as an intern while he was completing his degree.

Keep an eye out for the latest additions to Sabre’s lineup:

	The Sabre 45 Salon Express will make her official debut at the 2017 *Palm Beach Boat Show, running from March 23-26, in West Palm Beach, FL. Stay connected on our Facebook page to receive production updates, and follow @sabreyachts on Instagram for live updates from all of our shows and events.   * UPDATE: Unfortunately, the Sabre 45 Salon Expres will not be present at the Palm Beach Boat Show.
	Last year we debuted the Sabre 66 Dirigo in a Salon Express model. This year she will be joined by her sister, the Sabre 66 Fly Bridge. Dirigo is the Maine state motto, and translates from Latin to mean ‘I Lead.’ As anyone who has seen her will recognize, the Sabre 66 is certainly a leader in her class.

Our craftspeople are blowing us away in 2017:

Followers of this blog will know that last year we introduced our ‘Work-iversary’ series, where we interview craftspeople reaching anniversary milestones with Sabre. This year is a special year for this project, and here’s why:

1. We will celebrate more than thirty ‘Work-iversaries’ in 2017.
2. Those milestones will range from five years to forty years, representing a thirty-five-year spread.
3. The average tenure of craftspeople celebrating anniversaries this year is seventeen-and-a-half years.
4. Finally, these associates represent a combined total of five hundred and twenty-five years of boatbuilding experience at Sabre Yachts.

If that doesn’t blow you away, you need to re-read the list! We couldn’t be more proud of our associates, they are the heart and soul of Sabre Yachts, and we’re so excited to celebrate with them. 

This time around we interviewed Peter, who just celebrated twenty years with Sabre Yachts. Beginning as a member of our Production Team, today Peter holds the position of Safety & Environmental Manager. In this position Peter is responsible for ensuring that all of our equipment, procedures, and work spaces are “up to code,” so that the entire Sabre Yachts team can remain safe and healthy. Most recently, Peter organized a training session with our local fire department, to educate all office and shop associates in prevention practices and the proper use of fire extinguishers. We’re privileged to have people like Peter on the Sabre Team, and we’d like to congratulate him on twenty years of dedication.

Do you have a lucky number?

33. It’s my son’s high school football jersey number. 

If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?

Alaska, for the nature and the solitude. 

If you could learn any instrument what would you play?

I’ve always wanted to play the guitar. I tried for a little while, but it didn’t take. 

Tell me about something that was difficult but made you a better person?

The army was difficult, but it definitely made me better. 

If you could send a message back through time to your younger self what would you say?

Don’t take things so seriously, and you don’t have to know it all.

Tell me about the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?

My grandkids, they always make me smile. 

Tell me about the person who has impacted your life the most:

My wife. 

What do you cook when no one else is home?

I don’t.

What’s your dream car?

1970 Buick GSX Stage I

If you had to sell everything you owned, and could only keep one  thing, what would you keep and why?

I would keep my dad’s 30-06 Mauser. He built it with my Grandfather.

What is your theme song?

The theme from the movie Jaws! I’m only half joking – people always think I’m trying to catch them doing something unsafe in the shop. 

What’s the most important thing you learned in school?

Hard work really does pay off. 

What’s your favorite book of all time?

A Warden’s Worry, by Randall Probert. I love that deep-nature peace and solitude. We have a camp on Chesuncook Lake, and we go up with the family several times a year. 

Tell me about your earliest childhood memory:

When I was about two years old I fell out of my highchair. I got a black eye when I hit the corner of the table. 

What movie, no matter how many times you’ve seen it, do you have to watch every time it’s on?

Return to Macon County – 1975, with Nick Nolte and Don Johnson

Tell me about someone who is your hero:

My father is my hero. I didn’t realize it until he was gone. 

What super power would you like to have?

I have always wanted to fly. I used to dream about flying a plane when I was a kid, and I always wanted to be a pilot. 

What, in your opinion, is the best thing about humanity?

Compassion. I remember right after 9/11, everyone came together despite their differences, and supported each other. 

What’s your favorite desert?

Apple Pie

What’s your favorite song of all time?

“I Love” by Tom T. Hall. What can I say, it’s the little things in life.

Is it ever okay to break the rules?

Rules should be applied with common sense. No rule is absolute 100% of the time. 

What’s your least favorite thing about the world today?

Politics. 

When you’re 80 what story will you tell your grandchildren?

I will tell them all the embarrassing things their parents did. 

Where would you go in a time machine?

I love history. I would visit all of the pivotal times in the past, and I’d visit relatives when they were young. I wouldn’t necessarily want to change anything, just observe and see how things really were. 

Would you rather be deaf or blind?

I’d rather be blind. We tend to judge based on appearance. 

Diane recently celebrated 15 yeas with Sabre Yachts, and in those years she has done just about everything. Currently Diane builds all berths for each Sabre model, including the new 45 berth that includes a new motorized lift in the lid. She’s also spent time working in lamination, gelcoat repair, and has even pitched in cleaning bathrooms when the need arose. We’re incredibly lucky to have dedicated team players like Diane here at Sabre Yachts, an we are so grateful for her time and her commitment.

Do you have a lucky number?

13. I like things that are supposed to be bad luck; the number 13, walking under a ladder, a black cat crossing my path – they’re good luck to me. 

If you could go anywhere where would you go?

Scotland.

Tell me about something that was difficult but made you a better person:

Raising my children – I’m more proud of them than I am of anything else. 

Tell me about the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen:

A double rainbow over a scene of mountains at sunset.

What’s your dream car?

1964 Mustang Convertible

Pepsi or Coke?

Pepsi – but really Schweppes Ginger Ale.

Tell me one thing that none of your coworkers know about you:

I gave my soul to God when I was 6 years old. 

What’s your theme song and why?

Live and Let Die, because that’s what we do.

What’s your favorite book?

The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolken

Tell me about your best childhood friend:

Her name was Vicki, her birthday was on Halloween, and she was the only girl of nine kids.

Tell me about your earliest childhood memory:

Age 2, walking under the horses in the barn.

What movie, no matter how often you’ve seen it, do you have to watch whenever it’s on?

The original Ten Commandments, and The Wizard of Oz.

Tell me about someone who is your hero:

My dad. He was born in 1922, served in World War II, and always knew how to make me smile. He’s the person who has had the most impact on my life. 

What super power would you like to have?

I’d like to read people’s minds.

What, in your opinion, is the best thing about humanity?

Our willingness to help others.

Tell me about an embarrassing moment:

On a date, we went out to dinner and I accidentally took my date’s fork while mine was in my other hand. 

What’s your favorite dessert?

Strawberry Cheesecake

What’s your favorite song?

The Old Rugged Cross

Is it ever okay to break the rules?

Yes.

Where would you go in a time machine?

The old west, or America in the 1300s

If you could talk to someone who has passed away who would you talk to and what would you say?

My Grandson – I’d let him know that he is always loved and missed. 

We love featuring our talented and hard-working associates on this blog, and Mike is no exception. This week, Mike celebrated his twentieth anniversary with Sabre Yachts, and while he’s usually pretty busy making sure every Sabre is in top form before it leaves our Raymond factory, he agreed to take some time and answer our questions. Mike’s excellent work is no surprise to us after twenty years, but we were intrigued to learn that Mike is a twin, a fan of Eva Cassidy, and plays the guitar. Everyone here at Sabre would like to offer Mike our thanks and congratulations on twenty awesome years!

If you could learn any instrument, what would you play? 

I play guitar but wish I could play better…I’m a member of a band: www.thecobblestones.net  (Pardon my shameless plug!)

Tell me about something that was difficult, but made you a better person? 

Years ago I got the position of Customer Service Representative at Sabre.  That was very challenging at first.  I had to completely leave my comfort zone.  It was rewarding but at times stressful.  I grew into it.  My hat’s off to Tucker, Glen and Jen. 

If you could send a message back through time your younger self what would you say? 

Bullies are going to regret their behavior.  They won’t come to class reunions.

What movie, no matter how many times you’ve seen it, do you have to watch every time it’s on? 

Oh jeez that would have to be “Fargo”.

What super power would you like to have? 

The power to push slow drivers into the breakdown lane.

Tell me about the person who has impacted your life the most:

My fraternal twin brother Mark.  Together we survived Parochial grade school and played in bands.  He’s always been there for his family. We’ve shared some of life’s worst moments and some of the best.  And besides that, everything I have, I borrowed from him!

What are you best at?

I hope that I’m best at listening. People need to share things and someone must listen.

What’s your favorite book of all time? 

“Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer.  It’s a true account of a disaster on Mount Everest in 1996.  As soon as I finished the last page, I turned to page one and started reading it again.

Tell me about your earliest childhood memory: 

Sitting in our living room with my sister in a pair of rocking chairs listening to her Motown and Beatles records.

What’s your favorite song of all time? 

“Autumn Leaves” by Eva Cassidy.  I don’t understand how anyone could listen to it and not get a lump in their throat.

Name one thing that always makes you smile, no matter what: 

When my wife gives me directions in the car.  I’m terrible with directions and I’ll admit that.  She’s a little better than me.  We argue very politely and it’s funny.

If you won a million dollars what would you spend it on? 

My wife would donate to animal shelters and causes.   I’d pay off my daughter’s student loans, share some with family and put the rest away for retirement. 

Where would you go in a time machine?

Blues Alley, Georgetown, Maryland on January 3^rd, 1996.  I’d watch Eva Cassidy perform.