Most people merely daydream about ditching the daily drudgery of the old 9-to-5 job. Most have abandoned the idea of buying a yacht, creating a new career and giving themselves and others the opportunity to take to the open ocean “” if only for a few hours or days.
Not true for Capt. Dana Parks of Point Loma, who has turned the fantasy into reality.
After a couple of intense decades working in the high-tech, high-stress computer world, Parks took up sailing as a means to unwind. Ultimately, this led to the acquisition of a sailboat, then a power yacht, leading to the birth of San Diego Boat Tours.
“It began as a way to keep my sanity,” according to Parks, whose desire for good mental health has resulted in just that ” as well as a completely different career path.
His natural love of the ocean stems from having grown up on the east coast of Canada near the Bay of Fundy. The fascination continued to flourish after moving to San Diego.
A former La Jolla resident, Parks said, “I began walking along La Jolla Shores at night, walking and walking, and I found myself thinking all the time, ‘All I need is a tall ship and a star to steer it by.'”
The quote from poet John Masefield’s “Sea Fever” stuck with Parks, becoming a mantra of sorts.
“I really got into sailing, started taking [a lot of] courses and kept looking for ways to get more and more into it “” and perhaps even to somehow make a living out of it,” Parks said.
Eventually his dreams began to materialize with the purchase of his first sailboat, the “Star Dust.” Parks, a Coast Guard-licensed captain, was on his way to realizing the creation of the business, and his next acquisition was a luxury power yacht.
He said many seafaring offerings are aboard large boats holding dozens, if not hundreds, of passengers and are often on a tight schedule and fixed route. Parks’ goal, on the other hand, was to provide the privacy of the luxury yacht to accommodate smaller, more intimate groups. This also allows each group to completely customize its experience.
“There are very few people who cater to small groups,” Parks said. “Our yacht is very comfortable and warm. It’s completely enclosed in colder weather.
“We also provide a host on most cruises to see to the passengers’ every need,” he said. “Tours can be completely customized or we can plan it for you.”
According to Parks, itineraries can run the gamut.
“We offer all kinds of charters from sightseeing, tours around San Diego Bay, night charters, corporate team-building, champagne charters, anniversaries, ash-scattering “” we do a lot of those “” anything, really,” Parks said. “We are also able to do longer charters “” Catalina [Island] for a long weekend, for example.”
If people want more time, Parks said, longer charters are available, such as to San Francisco.
“We can even offer one-way charters if guests would rather fly back,” he said.
Brenda Biss and Eddie Fritz, visiting from New Hampshire, recently spent a picture-perfect, sunny San Diego afternoon on a whalewatching tour with a small group of friends who found San Diego Boat Tours on the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau Web site.
“It was awesome,” Biss said. “We saw two pods of whales. Captain Parks kept up with them, and we were able to see them fluke and breach several times.”
Fritz, who was visiting the area for the first time, said, “The captain and the host were really knowledgeable about the whales and about San Diego. It was not only a lot of fun but also a real learning experience. You don’t see too many whales in New Hampshire,” he said.
The experience, of course, is all individual.
“My favorite part of the cruise,” said Biss, “was that Captain Parks let us decide where to go and we ended the day by taking a cruise around San Diego Bay.”
Would they do it again?
“In a heartbeat,” said Biss. “Next time, maybe a champagne cruise at sunset to celebrate an engagement.”
Parks said small, intimate weddings are doable and can be quite elegant.
Biss and Fritz expressed surprise at the cost of intimate adventures.
“With our group of eight or 10 friends, it really only cost about as much as a nice dinner out,” Fritz said. “We had good food [on the boat] and you couldn’t ask for a better view.”
The 52-foot yacht features four levels, including the fly bridge, from which the captain usually pilots the boat.
“Guests are welcome to join me up there at any time,” said Parks, who also allows people to get the feel of driving the boat.
The yacht also features a completely enclosed sunroom with a great view and comfortable wicker furniture. The next level down is the salon with an overstuffed leather couch and chair, a stereo, high-definition Sony flat-screen television and DVD player.
For most, however, the view out the picture windows is usually enough.
The galley includes a refrigerator, microwave, stove and seating for several people to gather around the table. This level also has two staterooms, each with a double bed, bathroom and shower.
Parks said he loves his new career, and it is evident. A recent passenger from New York City observed, “Captain Parks, you must have really low blood pressure.”
Parks smiled as he reminisced briefly about a bygone time when perhaps the numbers were higher, and agreed.
“I guess I do,” he said.
San Diego Boat Tours is located at 2240 Shelter Island Drive, (619) 987-0663, or visit www.SanDiegoBoatTours.com.