About Author
Ronald Smith
My journey to writing this book began with a deep and lifelong love of the sea. In 1976, at the age of 13, my family moved from Western Massachusetts to Narragansett, Rhode Island, so my father could take over my grandfather’s cobbler business. That move changed my life. I was instantly drawn to the ocean and spent nearly every sunny day at the beach, playing in the waves, learning to boogie board, and attempting to surf—though I never quite mastered it.
Around that time, I met my close friend Dean, who lived just two streets away. We both shared a passion for the water. Dean introduced me to boating; his father, an old “Swamp Yankee” fisherman, allowed us to take his boat out before school. We’d scallop in the mornings, shuck them after school, and sell them to local restaurants by dinner. We also went clamming, water skiing, and spent countless hours on the boat whenever we weren’t in school. Not long after, I bought my first boat, a Boston Whaler.
My father worked tirelessly to provide for us and instilled in me both a love of the sea and the value of hard work. His philosophy was simple: if you want something, don’t ask—work for it. That lesson has stuck with me throughout my life. Over the years, I’ve worn many hats—lifeguard, bartender, realtor, and home developer—but my greatest joy has always come from being on the water. Boating, exploring, and navigating bring me unmatched happiness.
Before my wife Cyndi and I moved to Florida in 2019, I had logged over 8,000 hours on the water. Today, that number exceeds 9,000 hours. Cyndi is an incredible woman who has always supported my dreams without hesitation. After 37 successful years as a real estate builder and developer in Rhode Island, I felt it was time to begin a new chapter. That career brought many rewards—beautiful homes, nice cars, boats, and waterfront properties in both Rhode Island and Florida—but the sea always called to me.
Determined to pursue that passion more fully, I worked hard to earn my 25-ton, 50-ton, and ultimately my 100-ton Captain’s License. I now deliver yachts ranging from 30 to 100 feet, traveling up and down the East Coast, to Maine, the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, the Gulf, and the Caribbean.
This book is a reflection of my journey—a timeline of life events that shaped me, my wife, and our path together. Even the chapters that may not seem focused on the ocean are, in their own way, tributes to the love of my life: the open sea. She has fully captured my heart. Every day I spend on the water brings me immense joy, and it’s from that joy that this book was born.