“Wild” F/V Summer Bay Captain Bill Wichrowski and F/V Time Bandit Captain Johnathan Hillstrand described what it takes to be a good leader in an interview with Larry King. According to Wichrowski, a vital skill is knowing how to handle the boat when the going gets tough physically.
He explained: “Having a good background in mechanics is essential because when things go wrong when the boat is about to sink everyone will look to the captain for the answer.”
Another essential skill for leading a crew in such a stressful environment is building good rapport with those on deck. Hillstrand said, “They have to trust you to walk through hell and come back with you.” Wichrowski shared a similar sentiment and added how he tries never to show fear and to sow panic, even when scared.
In a separate interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Hillstrand explained the dangerous nature of her job. If a deadly situation arises, it’s ultimately up to the captain to use his experience and make sure everyone gets away with it unscathed.
“It’s the craziest thing on this show, and it’s real, and God is the director, so nobody knows what’s going to happen,” he said. “When you go and you go with your crew, you just want to bring the crew back; you want to grab the crab as fast as you can and go home.”
