Today we’d like to introduce you to CiCi Sayer.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Since I was a little kid, I loved watching the TV show “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau”.
I had been working as a Charter Boat Captain for about 20 years, doing Whale Watching in the Winter, sailing in the summer as well as an 8-year stint as a shore boat captain in Two Harbors on Catalina Island. In 2009, when my summer job on Catalina Island ended, I contacted a number of charter boat companies for a job as a Captain. Unfortunately, because of the recession, no one was hiring.
That is when it hit me.
I would “Hire Myself”!
I knew what I wanted to do and what I loved, so that was the easy part.
Starting a business in a recession was the hard part.
I started working on the project in the middle of the recession, which was challenging enough, but my biggest challenge was overcoming my fear… fear of failing, fear of success, the uncertainty of stepping out off the edge of a cliff in the dark. I almost didn’t dare tell anyone what I was doing, for fear of being told that I was reaching too far, that I should wait for the economy to improve, or worse yet, that I should just stick to the tried and true.
Once I made up my mind to succeed, I started building a business plan. I had never written a business plan and didn’t know where to start. I bought books on the subject and followed the step by step directions. Then, with my plan in hand, I began applying for loans and grants. Sadly, a loan was out of the question because I was unemployed, and the nature of the business I wanted to start.
I was turned down at every corner.
No grants were available for me either.
So, I had to start asking for loans from friends and family members. This was excruciatingly painful for me. But, I was desperate, so I got on the phone and started dialing for dollars.
Once I had secured a few loans, I began my search for a boat. I knew from previous experience what I was looking for: a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat), a fast stable boat that could seat at least 6 passengers. I was quite fortunate that I had a number of friends on the lookout for me as well and within a month the perfect boat was located and purchased.
Once the purchase was complete, the real work started. Marketing the company was a challenge, as I was a new and unknown company in an area with lots of whales watching companies. I started with a great website and added my company to every website that I could for free. Additionally, I paid for online advertising. That was key to getting my name out there. Sites such as TripAdvisor where reviews can be posted is a priceless asset.
As the years passed, more and more business has been coming my way and every year has been better than the last.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing about this journey has been “smooth sailing”. As mentioned before, I started Offshore Blue Adventures during the recession, when not only was financing a serious problem, but leisure travel and spending was at a very low ebb. Our pricing structure was not the most expensive, but neither was it inexpensive. I was constantly reminding myself of some very valuable advice, that as tempting as it was to lower my prices, I had to stick by my plan and not undercut myself.
There were other challenges that were not so evident until I actually bought my boat.
Since I was planning on keeping it on a trailer, I needed to learn how to launch and retrieve the boat by myself, and how to tow and back up a trailer. That was a pretty steep learning curve and I was scared to death!
Most of what I had to learn, I had to teach myself. To learn the practicalities of towing & launching the boat, I went immediately to YouTube. It is amazing the things you can learn that way! But then it was practice in real life, mostly during the midweek when the launch ramp was empty of all those macho men and their boats.
Then three years into my journey, the absolute unthinkable happened. The boat was struck and capsized by a blue whale 13 miles from shore. Fortunately, everyone was quickly pulled from the water by the crew of a nearby boat and no injuries were sustained. But my lovely boat was destroyed. Thousands of dollars worth of camera equipment went to the bottom of the ocean. The engine was totaled, along with all electronics and severe damage to the tubes. A total of $30,000 damage of which only 50% was covered by insurance. I had to cash in much of my retirement savings to rebuild the boat. But in about 2 months, I was back in operation.
Since then there have been other small setbacks, but my mantra from the get-go has been “Failure is not an option”. That and my love of my work is what has kept me moving forward year after year.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Offshore Blue Adventures – what should we know?
Offshore Blue Adventures is primarily a Whale and Dolphin watching business, however, we also are constantly on the lookout for special exotic visitors, such as sea turtles, mola molas and even the occasional orca pod that may be passing through the area! Special event tours are also offered.
We are one of the very few “small boat” whale watching charters in the region. We run a RIB boat (Rigid Inflatable Boat) and carry no more than 6 passengers. Our unique draw for our guests is that we offer superior Whale Watching adventures without the crowds. Everyone gets a front row seat.
Because our boat is fast (20+knots) we can go in search of whales and dolphins away from the larger whale watching boats when the waters start to get “crowded”. We often have spectacular views, because the whales that we find are not disturbed or stressed by too many boats around them. We have even had whales approach our boat to check us out!
My greatest source of pride is in our captains, who are friendly and knowledgeable. We consistently receive 5-star ratings and reviews on all of our platforms!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I would say that Offshore Blue Adventures has succeeded due to hard work, friendly service, and adhering to our mantra: “Failure is Not an Option.”
Pricing:
- $85.00 per adult
- $50.00 per child 10 years and younger. (Sorry, not suitable for children under 4 years of age)
- Private trips available for $175/hour with a 2-hour minimum.
Contact Info:
- Address: Offshore Blue Adventures
1500 Quivira Way - Website: www.OffshoreBlueAdventures.com
- Phone: 310-974-2176
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
CiCi Sayer, San Diego Whale Watch
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
