Today we’d like to introduce you to Todd Gallati.
Hi Todd, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
As I was approaching 55 years old and almost 30 years in healthcare administration under my belt, I began thinking about what was next. I always thought 65 was an excellent traditional retirement age, but what if I could find another career earlier- one that shared my passion for the water? We had a Leopard catamaran that we ran to as soon as we had time away from work. So, the thinking continued.
We became friends with the owner of a charter sailboat next to us in the marina, and he commented to my wife Kathy and me that we must love sailing as we were out most weekends, unlike many boats that sit at the marina. He encouraged me to get my captain’s license as he occasionally needed a 2nd boat when he had larger parties. We did a few charters with him and liked it so much that we decided to hang up our suits, ties, and stethoscopes (Kathy is an RN) and start going barefoot on a boat! I went from the C-Suite of running hospitals to the big blue sea, and we set out for our 2nd career. We were going to start an exclusive, utterly owner-operated catamaran sailing experience that wasn’t available in Charleston, and we were going to name it Everything Zen Sailing Charters (ezsailingcharters.com)
Hospital work was all I ever wanted to do. I grew up around it. I liked the distinctive smell of hospitals from when my dad, a surgeon, took me on rounds to see his patients. I even got to view one of his surgeries. I danced with med school but settled over at the business school, pursuing degrees in management, an MBA, and a Master’s in Health Administration. I loved learning and pursuing improvements within the 4 hospitals I helped run or ran as CEO over 32 years. But isn’t 32 years of doing something enough? Shouldn’t we pursue alternate careers at some point, particularly when you have reached your career goal? That’s where I was at, anyway.
I grew up in Bradenton, Florida, and was always around the water- swimming, surfing, boating, and fishing. I jumped on my first sailboat when I was 12. It was an 8ft Pram sailboat made for 1.5 people or 2 kids-a floating bathtub with a single sail and rudder (and a cup for bailing water when needed). My parents bought it because it was cheap and safe as it had no moving propellers! I was excited, cautious, and exhilarated all at the same time for my first sail. I immediately loved the natural power of the push of the wind and figuring out how not to stall, not tip over, and how to go faster. My sisters rarely went with me as I was self-taught at the time. That was 45 years ago, and while I enjoyed and owned power boats over the years, I have always loved the natural, raw push of the wind over sail. After college and a 32-year career in healthcare administration, it wasn’t time to retire but rather “re-wire” and see if I could combine my love of sailing with a business. Enter Everything Zen Sailing Charters, a sailing company offering comfortable, stable, owner-captained/crewed, and exciting afternoon and sunset sails in and around Charleston Harbor.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest struggle was one of the following steps after a healthcare career: do I leave a job that I always wanted and was challenging and rewarding? When and what to do next?
As you know, we’re big fans of Everything Zen Sailing Charters. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
We are not your typical boat charter in Charleston. We offer private sailing charters aboard our yacht, Everything Zen. My wife and I serve as fully licensed captains and crew for the afternoon and sunset sails for up to 6 guests. We tailor the sails based on guests’ needs, specialize in special occasions, and have catering and private chef options. And the star of the show- our sailing catamaran. She is our second home (or floating condo as we call it), as we live onboard when we sail her away from our primary residence in Charleston. She is a Leopard 40 sailing catamaran (40 ft long and 22 ft wide), made in South Africa in 2017. Leopard is the #1 selling brand of catamaran in the US and is known for its sturdy construction, innovative open design layout, and ease of sailing for its size. Practically 50% of Leopards get bought by charter companies all over the globe, but mainly in the windy Caribbean. Charter guests are constantly on and off these boats, some serving as their captain, so you know they can take it and have garnered feedback from charter customers. Leopard was the first to introduce the “front door” to the bow area. This is a game changer for airflow and walking through the cabin. I liken it to the open kitchen great room concepts in houses over the last 25 years, which bring people together on a boat like never before and is much safer than having to walk down the side of the boat to get from the back of the boat to the bow/front. In addition, its sail ability is unparalleled. Most experienced sailors can sail this boat single-handed in most conditions. All the lines and controls are right at the helm station, so I don’t have to leave the wheel to adjust the sails or call on added help. In comparison, many much smaller boats require at least one crew member in addition to the captain to sail.
Sails up!
Pricing:
- 675 for 2.5 hr afternoon sails
- 750 for 2.5 hr sails that end after sunset
Contact Info:
- Website: https://
everythingzensailingcharters. com - Instagram: @
everythingzensailing - Facebook: @
everythingzensailing
