In this rare and precious exchange, he shares memories of his earliest days learning to sail, the mentors who taught him real seamanship, and the voyages that still shine brightest in his mind. With the clarity of a seasoned captain and the humility of a man who respects nature above all, he speaks about leadership, teamwork, risk, and the deeper lessons the ocean teaches across a lifetime.
This is not simply an interview. It is a legacy recorded in words—guided by a personal motto that sums up his spirit perfectly:
Interview:
1. How did you first fall in love with the sea, and how old were you when it began?
Our family summer holidays were spent on Fishers Island, NY, right off New London, CT. There were three sports that dominated the island: golf, tennis and sailing. I chose sailing. And as a 9-year-old, I took classes and then raced the local class boat, a heavy 10-ft centerboard catboat, in Hay Harbor, an enclosed pond-like venue. Excellent instruction, and hard to get into trouble.
2. Who was your first mentor in maritime life, and what did they teach you?
As just stated, the instructor at Hay Harbor. But in 1949, when I was 17, my Father built the Sparkman & Stephens yawl BOLERO. Her professional captain, Fred Lawton, is the one who really taught me deck seamanship. Then a year later, I had a Quincy-Adams 17 keel sloop, the Fishers Island class racer. I had older people as crew and so learned to race from them.
3. What has been your most unforgettable voyage, and why?
I chartered a 48ft Dufour sloop in Tahiti waters in the 1980’s with good friends. That combined excellent wind for sailing, clear seas for swimming and snorkeling and then interesting & exotic places to visit ashore.
4. What was the biggest challenge you faced as a sailor?
Staying awake on night watches! I am lucky not to be very susceptible to sea sickness.
5. Which destination or harbor still feels special to you today?
St. Tropez, in the Med. The inner harbor is ringed with magnificent yachts, both sail & power; but it is necessarily limited in size. Then moored beyond the enclosed port are some really handsome craft. Of course, the shoreside bars & boutiques make St. Tropez memorable as well.
6. What makes a great captain?
Braiding two streams together: first, professional competency: knowing and handling his yacht. Making judgments of risk. Figuring “work-arounds” for issues whose solution is not immediately apparent. But also, the ability to form a crew that genuinely wants to band together to operate the yacht properly – and to do that by inspiration, not compulsion.
7. At 93, what has the sea taught you about life?
Above all, respect of Nature. But also, to evaluate risk. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained” is a good precept. But the sea can be cruel; risk is inherent in all maneuvers. However, the satisfaction is completing the voyage as planned while also admiring the many-faceted beauties of the maritime world.
8. Do you believe the sea shaped your character? How?
It was not the sea, per se, but rather the need to accomplish a task with its difficulties and opportunities, by working together with others. I am not a single-hander; manning a good-sized yacht requires teamwork. First in civilian sailing, then as a US Navy Line officer, I developed a life strategy: organize, deputize and supervise. I continually apply that still in discharging my civilian responsibilities. Also, most everything is best accomplished with people. Their motivation and direction are a primary task.
9. What does “freedom” mean to you as a sailor?
Frankly, not much. Some might think it is freedom not to have to shovel snow or feed the cat. But a seaman is definitely NOT free. He is constrained by the force of Nature, to begin with. But then there are many other constraints: budget, efficiency, race competition, etc. I submit that we all are under constraints, though of course they vary according to our several situations.
10. What is the proudest moment of your life—not just in your career?
Commanding the USS TALBOT (DEG 4). She had an advanced weapons system that didn’t work as expected right off. I and my crew got that sorted out. Our Caribbean deployment was a model of efficiency. And I had a happy, productive crew. On the non-professional side, I am extremely proud of my three children, and so am proud of choosing their Mother.
11. If you could take one last voyage today, where would you go?
Back to show the flag in the Inland Sea of Japan. I was CO of the USS WIDGEON MSC-8 in the 1960’s. That is a fascinating area, where (in my day, at least) much could be done to cement international relations, while enjoying the complex history & economics of that core area of Japan.
12. What is your personal motto?That of my family:
GAUDEO (I rejoice.). Dour people do not prosper.
Nicholas Brown — 03-04-2026
________________________________________
At 93, Captain Brown speaks without exaggeration, without nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. His recollections are direct, measured, and remarkably clear—much like the mindset that defines experienced mariners.
Throughout the interview, one theme consistently emerged: the sea does not reward enthusiasm alone. It rewards preparation, discipline, and teamwork. Captain Brown’s reflections on seamanship, leadership, and risk were not presented as abstract philosophies, but as practical truths forged through decades of sailing and naval command. His words highlight the difference between admiration for the ocean and genuine respect for it—a distinction that only long experience can teach.
This interview was conducted by Albert de Craiciu, for whom the sea represents more than travel or recreation. For him, it is a symbol of independence, character, and human resilience. These are precisely the principles that guide the philosophy of Eberths.com. The Captain’s Journal was created to preserve authentic maritime voices—captains, sailors, and professionals whose experiences deserve to be recorded with accuracy and respect. Not as entertainment, but as testimony.
Captain Brown’s personal motto, GAUDEO (“I rejoice”), captures the spirit of this interview perfectly. It reflects a lifelong ability to find meaning not only in destinations reached, but in challenges faced and duties fulfilled. It is the voice of a man who has navigated both the ocean and responsibility with equal seriousness—and who still, even now, speaks with gratitude.
With this first entry, Eberths.com opens its Captain’s Journal with the standard it intends to keep: real stories, real seamanship, and real lives shaped by the sea.
Because at Eberths.com, we do not merely celebrate sailing.
We celebrate sailors.