PENNY WHITING Keeping Track of it All:
WW: What priority do you place on monitoring the businesses performance? I do a yearly balance and keep track of the boat's maintenance. Because I work the boat I have to keep it to a high, safe, workable level. Other boats similar to mine that aren't worked commercially, so they don't throw half as much money at it as I do to keep it up to scratch. I enjoy spending money on the boat because I get great pleasure out of it being in good shape. WW: Does working five months tie you over financially for the other seven months of the year? Not quite. I live in Newport, Rhode Island on the East Coast of the United States from May to October each year and have been doing this for the last 15 years. I live with a family and help with their boats and houses. I also do cooking classes at the
Above: Age 15, in the cockpit of Coruba on her first ocean race to Noumea. Drongo the teddy also made the 1000 mile ocean trip. Left: At age 32 Penny started writing her first book when Carl was born in 1981. Photo taken aboard her present boat, Endless Summer.
Newport Cooking School. I don't have the huge expense of living in New Zealand and I have flatmates who take care of my house while I'm away. I don't get paid in America but I live with people and things are provided for me. WW: What is the general acceptable 'return on investment' figure for your industry? Definitely very minimal. There are very few marine orientated businesses in New Zealand that have a good return. We do it for the love of the occupation. It's not a huge money spinner. If I put my price up to make it profitable the people wouldn't be able to afford to come.
It has been $700 including GST for a very long time. Last year I made the suggestion to chop the hours down to make it cheaper to come but every one of my clients said 'Don't you dare. We're happy to pay. It's the best money we've spent'. Those accolades keep coming through all the time. WW: How do you manage bookings and advertising whilst overseas? I have a wonderful website. The booking comes through, I contact my niece here who posts the person a free copy of my book or DVD and when I come back in October I'm able to start work right away. It would be unusual for me to cancel a class through lack of numbers, but we do.
28 | WHO'S WHO 2012
