Boat builder, vessels operations manager as well as a legendary superyacht guide in Indonesia for the past 18 years, Captain Jimmy Blee will present the “Ying and the Yang” of cruising Indonesia waters at the upcoming Asia Pacific Superyacht Conference, taking place from April 26 to 18, 2012.
Captain Jimmy Blee setting course on Asia Pacific Superyachts journey
On the second day of the conference Jimmy Blee will take to the podium to reflect and share his years of experience in context with the current and the future of the marine industry in Indonesia. He’ll share his passion for “Cruising in Indonesia: The Ying and the Yang” and offer personal insights, kicking off the afternoon session on April 26th.
Detailing his understanding of the vast cruising grounds that make up Indonesia, he’ll share the best way to be able to plan and execute trips which can cover as much of this wonderful country as possible.
A remarkable individual with a wide circle of friends in the yachting world, Jimmy has been a resident of Indonesia since 1994. His early university studies in sociology and politics combined with his deep knowledge of boating in Indonesia should give all an insightful view of how to approach cruising in Indonesia.
Hailing originally from Australia on Queensland’s east coast where he ran charter boats out of the famed Whitsunday islands. The then Captain Jimmy left in 1989 to travel to Thailand with the aim of helping his long time friend, Bill O’Leary, set up Amancruises at the luxury resort of Amanpuri in Phuket, Thailand.
Jimmy Blee with tribesmen during Asia Pacific Superyachts 'Senses' Indonesian voyage
This was the start of a path of rich maritime exploration, covering over 30,000 nautical miles, piloting boats through Asian waters. Later, after spending 1200 days of private chartering for the world’s “rich and famous”, he moved to Indonesian waters to assist in establishing a marine operations base on a remote island near Sumbawa in 1994 and oversee Amanresorts marine operations in Indonesia.
A wealth of experience and amazing voyages grew from his adventures. Blee started his own marine logistics company in 1999. Building and then running his luxury traditional wooden charter, “Ikan Gurami”, he operated expedition-style cruises and other long-range charter adventure trips. The many years spent on these trips took Jimmy to the special locations he now shares with others.
Sailing the waterways of Indonesia extensively, particularly the eastern islands whilst operating many of his own charter vessels, Jimmy has led several expedition-style cruises and other long-range adventure trips for the rich and famous to locations covered in and beyond any guidebook. His valuable maritime diversity has awarded him the skills and knowledge needed to run his marine consultancy − Indonesian Marine Services and a boat design, construction division and management agency with Richard Lofthouse, Asia Pacific Superyachts Indonesia.
In 2009 the company completed construction of the luxury 32m phinisi, Amanikan, for Amanresorts while managing and guiding trips for Superyachts, such as Senses and Helios, in Indonesia. This wealth of experience and knowledge has Jimmy in great demand as a superyacht guide and logistics planner, represented by Asia Pacific Superyachts Indonesia.
Jimmy is well known in Southeast Asian luxury charter and superyacht circles and is a volunteer contributor to the Indonesian Chapter of the South East Asia Pilot publication as well as a feature story contributor to many of the Asian based marine and yacht magazines. He continues to ply the remote Indonesian archipelago enjoying the friendly lifestyle with his Indonesian wife and three children. Known to many in the yachting world for his considerable talents and depth of knowledge about Indonesia cruising and voyages, Captain Jimmy will share his experiences and projections at the Asia Pacific Superyacht Association Conference in Singapore April 26th.
A member and enthusiastic supporter of the Association of Yacht Support Services (AYSS), Jimmy is a strong proponent of information sharing in the yachting world which in turn, helps everyone.
