Juvenile Stage

After graduating high school, Richie bounced through several jobs on the high seas from 1952 - 1954 trying to find his niche. His first jaunt was on a dragger, the "Jean" out of Freeport, Long Island with Otto and Vinnie Nielson. Richie didn't have a vehicle at the time, so he remembers sleeping on the vessel on and off for the two months he worked as a commute from Queens to Freeport a bit challenging by foot. He then spent a month with Capt. Phil Ruhle on the dragger the "Venus" out of Baldwin, Long Island. They set sail for Virginia accompanied by two other vessels to gill-net mackerel, but the trip turned out to be a bust. Upon his return, Richie mated for one summer on the charter boat the "Storm King" in Freeport with Capt. Eddie Richartz and then moved on to the "Survivor", in Island Park with Capt Tom Griffenberg. It was Captain Tom Griffenberg who encouraged Richie to pursue his USCG captain's license.

While serving as mate aboard the "Sailfish" in Freeport with Capt Freddie Brinks and mate Charlie Caple, Richie secured his captain’s license. Back in the 1950's, the exam consisted of thirty oral questions about the rules of the road. Richie explained that the examiner had to look up the answers in a manual. In the winter of 1955, Richie received a call from his mentor Capt Charlie Roesch to come work with him in Marathon in the Florida Keys aboard the "Espada." In his zest for adventure, Richie jumped at the chance and worked under the tutelage of Capt. Charlie and learned the ropes. Richie was given his first opportunity to make a few solo trips as captain of the vessel

He returned to Freeport the following Spring in 1956 and began employment with Frank Dorman and his son Buddy Dorman of the Viking Fleet of Freeport. He alternately ran the "Viking III, IV, and VI." There he met Capt Al Lindroth (“Capt Al”) who at that time was piloting the "Viking VII" for the Dorman's. Capt. Al would later become a rival competitor. The “Viking VI”, formerly the “Anita” out of Island Park, captained at that time by RichieTobey, was not yet ready for the cod season. Richie finished out the year with the Viking Fleet and left employment on his own accord in search of a vessel that was suited to his liking for offshore codfishing

Swim upstream to: Spawning Years

Richie on the bow of the "Sailfish"