The Charleston Man by NUE

CHARLESTON MAN

This Could Be Your New Home

Daniel Stender REALTOR®

Mobile: 843-467-1058

Daniel.Stender@carolinaone.com www.DannySellsTheLowcountry.com

1530 Old Trolley Rd. Summerville, SC 29485

The premier auto body and performance shop servicing the Lowcountry for over 17 years

Sailing has been around for centuries. Rome wasn’t built in a day and couldn’t have flourished without the broad use of sailboats. For the Roman Empire, it was cheaper to deliver grain and other materials the length of the Mediterranean by sailing ships than it was to move that same shipment 15 miles by road. While commercial use of sailing for trade has gone by the wayside, recreational sailing continues to grow today. Can you say catamaran sailing in Charleston, South Carolina? Today, we talk to Todd Gallati, onboard “Everything Zen”, a beautifully designed 40 ft sailing catamaran.

Todd, how did you get to this place?

I grew up in Bradenton Florida and was always around the water- swimming, surfing, boating and fishing. I jumped on my first sailboat when I was 12. It was a 8ft Pram sailboat made for 1.5 people or 2 kids-think floating bathtub with a single sail and rudder (and a cup for bailing water when needed). My parents bought it because it was cheap and safe as it had no moving propellers! I was excited, cautious and exhilarated all at the same time for my first sail. I immediately loved the natural power of the push of the wind and figuring out how not to stall, not tip over and how to go faster. My sisters rarely went with me as I was self taught at the time. That was 45 years ago and while I enjoyed and owned power boats as well over the years, I always loved the natural, raw push of the wind over sail. After college and a 32 year career in healthcare administration, it wasn’t time to retire but rather “re-wire” and see if I could combine my love of sailing into a business. Enter Everything Zen Sailing Charters.

How did this sailing business start?

About 4 years ago, the owner of the charter sailboat next to us, commented to my wife Kathy and I that we must love sailing as we were out most nice weekends unlike many boats that just sit at the marina. He encouraged me to get my captain’s license as he had the occasional need for a 2nd boat when he had larger parties. We did a few charters with him and liked it –so much so that we decided to make plans to hang up our suits, ties and stethoscopes (Kathy is an RN), and start going barefoot on a boat! We set out to start a different private luxury sailing company that would offer comfortable, stable, owner captained/crewed and exciting afternoon and sunset sails in and around Charleston Harbor. Time for a boat upgrade

What kind of boat is “Everything Zen”

She is our second home (or floating condo as we call it) as we live onboard when we travel. She is a Leopard 40 sailing catamaran (40 ft long and 22 ft wide) , made in South Africa in 2017. Leopard is the #1 selling brand of catamaran in the US and is known for its sturdy construction, innovative open design layout and ease of sailing for its size. Practically 50% of Leopards get bought by charter companies all over the globe but mainly in the windy Caribbean. Charter guests are on and off these boats constantly, some serving as their own captain, so you know they can take it. Leopard was the first to introduce the “front door” to the bow area. This is a game changer for airflow and walking through the cabin. I liken it to the open-kitchen, great room concepts in houses over the last 25 years-

it brings people together on a boat like never before and is much safer than having to walk down the side of the boat to get from the bow to the stern of the boat. Most experienced sailors can sail this boat single handed as all of the lines and controls are right at the helm station which means I don’t have to leave the wheel to adjust the sails. Many much smaller boats require at least one crew member in addition to the captain in order to sail. Have you traveled on Everything Zen outside of Charleston?

Yes, we have made several longer trips on our boat- travelling from Cancun to Charleston when we bought her in 2021. On that first trip, we sailed 1,450 nautical miles to the Dry Tortugas, then Key West, a detour to see family in Tampa, then back to the Florida Keys, Miami and into the Gulf Stream conveyor belt back to Charleston. What a way to break her in. We have also sailed to and from the Bahamas. We got to the Abacos Bahamas from Charleston in 60 hours and only used 15 gallons of diesel. Another benefit of sailing! The sailing was great, even though some of our crew had some early seasickness. We we were able to catch some fish along the way. Still, that swim in the Bahama waters as soon as we got there was way better than the journey. To me, keeping our crossings to 2-3 days is plenty as I’m not sure we can keep our crew (ie. Family and friends) motivated much longer than that. We don’t want a mutiny at sea nor do I trust the weather forecast for more than 3 days out. We have learned you can’t travel on a schedule when sailing across oceans. We have delayed or accelerated our sailing dates, sometimes at the last minute, very often based on weather forecasts. Got to pick your window!

What’s it like 250 miles offshore as you are travelling under sail? Have you faced any scary situations offshore?

There’s nowhere to anchor in 500 plus feet of water so you have to keep going. But, besides a Canadian battleship that showed up on radar once (I was surprised too) and some pretty bad rain storms (we call them squalls when they are over the ocean), not too much out of the ordinary. We have seen some short 10-15 minute busts of 55 mph winds and lightning during some of those storms. We can see them coming and lower the sails and motor into the wind and waves until they pass. Hard to time them and out run them in our experience. We

consistently get small finch-like birds landing on our boat during crossings. They will come and land on your finger or shoulder and seem to be tired and looking for a free ride but sometimes they don’t make it. Offshore is generally a lot of lounging and not much of anything, rarely seeing another ship. Occasional fish bite, or wind kick up or dolphin pod on our bow is a welcome sight, but nothing compares to Kathy’s meal at sea-always a high point. We do 4 hour shifts at the helm controls at night and will usually have at least 4 people on board for any crossing greater than 36 hours, but usually have 6 on board. Safety equipment onboard is a must-we have radar, with alarm capability, as well as a satellite phone, Automatic Identification System (ship transponder and identification), texting transponder, emergency sos locator (epirb), and emergency life raft.

Catamaran or Monohull Sailboats…..which is better?

What a fun debate this is for sailors. I personally haven’t

met a floating sailboat I didn’t love! But, the beach Hobie Cats I’ve owned made me fall in love with the catamaran platform. I love the leverage and stability that the 2 hulls produce. They are generally lighter and faster than monohulls and larger cats certainly don’t heel (tippy tippy) as much. At 22ft wide, our 40ft boat is about twice the square footage of a similar sized traditional monohull and you don’t have to go “down below” to get to the salon/as its on the same level.

What are those aha moments you have had with this new venture?

Wow, so many. I always wanted to be in healthcare for as long as I can remember. My dad was a physician and my mom a nurse so I was naturally drawn to the hospital. I worked in hospitals from the time I was 16, but I had this opportunity and didn’t look back. 3 big revelations since we have started Everything Zen Sailing:

1) The Sea: Everyone is happier on a boat-5 star reviews are the norm. Even if the hospital caregivers and processes and technology literally saved a patient’s life, a 5 star review was not a guarantee. A patient is not there by choice and recovery can be trying at best. Turning the boat from Fort Sumter to the Battery into the setting sun, with the wind blowing onto our port side sails……8 knots of boat speed….aha moment every time. Just magic.

2) Relationships: Meeting both locals and travelers that have a love of the water like we do is awesome. Some have not been on a boat our size and many have not sailed without motors. So to show them that sailing is not witchcraft or “hard” is great. Sharing the lore of Charleston Harbor is an extra bonus. We love our city and feel privileged to call it home. Collaborating with the local sailing and tourism community has been very supportive for us as well.

3) Time: Setting our own schedule and wearing logo t-shirts and shorts to work makes us feel lucky. I have an adult autistic son that lives with us and it helps to have more flexibility in our schedule.

For more information and to book your own charter, go to Everything Zen’s website: ezsailingcharters.com

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Platinum Automotive Center is a premier auto-body and performance shop dedicated to providing highquality services to customers. For over 17 years they have been servicing the Lowcountry. They pride themselves on a commitment to exceptional workmanship, attention to detail, and exceptional customer service.

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Platinum Automotive Center is a family-owned and operated business, and we take pride in treating our customers like family,” says the Platinum Automotive Center team.

They care about our community and are always looking for ways to give back, building long-lasting relationships with their customers, and always going the extra mile to ensure that they are satisfied with our work. “Our team takes the time to listen to our customers' needs and concerns, and we work with them to find the best solutions to their problems.”

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Platinum Automotive Center is more than just an auto-body and performance shop. They are a team of professionals who are passionate about what we do, and they take pride in delivering exceptional results to our customers.

Sleek Fashion at PLATINUM AUTOMOTIVE

Photography by George Brown

PATRICK GRILLS’ REFLECTS ON HIS JOURNEY AS AN ARTIST AND TEACHER

I first learned to see myself as an artist when my First Grade teacher in Kingsport, Tennessee praised my work and encouraged me to do more. I enjoyed my art classes through high school and at Furman University. I knew I wanted to be an art teacher and to show my students that everyone has the ability to be an artist.

I was fascinated by the lives of the many artists that I learned about as I studied art history. They inspired me, and I enjoyed sharing their stories with my students. Before I retired, my former students and many others in our community sent me and my wife to Europe. Seeing their masterpieces and visiting

the places where they had lived and worked was like spending time with old friends.

I devoted my life and career to my students and my family, but I continued to do art as often as I could. I began as a potter and a watercolorist. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease several years ago, and painting became difficult for me. I had to learn a new way of painting, and I began experimenting with acrylics. My work became more abstract and much more colorful! I still enjoy painting scenes of places and people that I love, and sharing my paintings with others. I am grateful to have been an artist and an art teacher.

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