HERITAGE
Boat Type: Offshore 54
Skipper: Thomas Nielsen
Club: San Diego YC
Home Port: San Diego, CA
Built: 1999
Captain/Owner Bio
Tom Nielsen, Co-Owner Nielsen Beaumont Marine, Inc. Cruised from Canada south to Sea of Cortez in 70’s, chartered sailboats in Caribbean, Belize, Tahiti, annual cruises to Catalina Island.
Favorite Cruising Destination
Tahiti – we chartered a Moorings Catamaran for two weeks. The most beautiful blue colors in the water and sky, lovely islands and people, perfect weather, perfect clear warm water.
Favorite Boating Experience
Sailing and snorkeling in Bora Bora on our 30th anniversary. Crystal clear blue water with abundant sea life – our favorite was snorkeling above 7-8 giant manta rays as they gently glided beneath us.
About the Crew
Geri Nielsen, (Tom’s wife), loves boating of all kinds, hobbies are tennis, paddleboarding, waterskiing. Rick Dahl, (Geri’s brother), avid fisherman particularly from his kayak, has crewed extensively on sailboats to and in Sea of Cortez.
What’s in a Name
We have boated as a family from the time our 2 kids were young (now 25 and 27). We have made a tradition of annual family trips to Catalina with Geri’s parents and extended family, which have given all of us years of memories and strong family ties. Tom has created a business in the boating industry. We all enjoy being on the water. With HERITAGE we hope to continue to share our love of boating with our grown children and hopefully future grandchildren.
Reason to Buy This Boat
We liked the open layout, indoor pilothouse, good headroom in engine room, separate stairs to staterooms, and walk-around deck.
Previous Boats Owned
HATTS OFF! – 46′ Hatteras 15 years, multiple other (power, sail, waterski) boats previously.
Interest in CUBAR
Having more time now as our kids have moved on – we want to spend time together doing what we love. CUBAR offers a great opportunity to learn to cruise safely together and meet other people who enjoy the same.
Boating Story
Years ago cruising the Sea of Cortez from La Paz to Mazatlan, Tom witnessed an amazing site: On a moonless night while on watch, he saw what seemed like torpedoes coming in alongside the vessel toward the bow of the boat – it turned out to be dolphins breaking through phosphorescence in the water creating blue-green-white light as they dove through the waves. It was one of those moments that one has in life that you are aware at the time that you will always remember and never be able to fully share through description.