I have been in correspondence with Laura for the last year. From chatting with me and meeting Tania Abei http://www.taniaaebi.com/ last month, she has decided to study in Auckland, NZ for what she says will be a commercial captain’s license for (her words) “large ships”. She noted in an interview that this will be a couple of years of schooling. Can someone shed some light on NZ’s requirements? If the same as a USCG license, it will be four years at the academy for a 3rd Mates Unlimited Tonnage Open Ocean license.
BTW, Tania was able to take her two sons sailing for a year, 6 months with her and 6 months with their dad and upon return, both boys are enrolled at Maine Maritime Academy for marine systems engineering
I believe Laura has an uncanny 6th sense when it comes to seamanship, I would defer to her skill set on a sailing yacht.
Bob