Every month I interview someone who has made the transition from working and living on a yacht to a land-based life. This month I spoke with Anna Sinclair, who has set up her own personal training business in London.
How long did you work in yachting? Can you tell me about your yachting career – highlights, low points?
I joined my first motorboat as a deckhand April 2011 and five 45-62 metre boats later I made the transition ashore just in time for Christmas 2015. So many highlights and if I’d known about the industry when I was eighteen I definitely would have done it for ten years. I feel completely privileged for the opportunities it allowed. Sure the hours are long, but I still gush about being part of an active team in the sunshine, driving tenders, the ‘pinch-me’ moments of crossing the Atlantic, pulling into Bonifacio for the first time….
I have a sister to thank for showing me the deck route – she is on her way to becoming an excellent Captain. I didn’t ever consider being a stewardess and was fortunate to progress from deckhand, lead deckhand to bosun. Girls on deck are still in the minority and it’s pretty empowering driving a tender of guests into St Barts or calling the stern of a 62 metre into Cannes port.
Lowpoints: It is really intense, living and working with the same people 24/7, and when people get tired they will sometimes deal with situations in a way that can be disappointing.
How did you know it was time for you to make the move to land?
I got to a point where I didn’t want to waste a precious day off with a hangover anymore. Towards the end, I was finding myself getting up early for a run, ready to explore and then having to wait for others to emerge. I was craving routine again and not having someone else own my time.
I had started my qualifications towards my OOW, but didn’t feel like I had enough passion to justify the financial investment to complete it.
What was the most difficult thing about the transition?
I actually didn’t find it difficult at all. The timing was just right. I had fond memories but I was ready. I think because I had lived in London before I joined boats I knew what I was letting myself in for. I’d seen the grass from both sides. Don’t get me wrong – I was obviously outraged at having to buy toothpaste and do my own laundry!
Through a yachting connection I secured a Yacht Assistant position at Burgess yachts. This made the transition seamless. I spent the day talking to Captains and Chief Officers, understood the day to day requirements of life onboard and was surrounded by a group of great people that had also experienced that life at sea.
The hardest thing for me was actually sitting still! Once the novelty wore off of getting two days off after every five I quickly realised that sitting behind a desk just wasn’t making going to make me happy.
What was the best thing about it?
The best thing about being back has been reconnecting with old friends. I can receive a wedding/party invitation now and confidently accept without it being a last minute, logistical travelling nightmare or having to give that oh-too-often, apologetic “boss has paid a surprise visit” phone call!
Oh and sleeping though the night without the sound of an anchor being dropped or bowthruster vibrating through the cabin 😉
What do you miss most about yachting?
The sunshine, the sea, the banter, the relationships you form, the euphoria of guests leaving! It’s a pretty special club to be part of. Pulling into St Maarten after New Year, seeing friends on a boat next door. Everyone has slogged through Christmas and with the promise of a night off you know it’s going to go a bit crazy! The Caribbean does that to you!
What do you do now?
Well my desk stint didn’t last long and I pretty quickly worked out what I needed to do. Before yachting, I qualified as a Level three Personal Trainer and used my time at Burgess to lead weekly lunchtime fitness sessions for staff. Since leaving they have asked me back to continue this, and I now run my own London based Personal Training company, www.aftermyworkout.com I am also a spin instructor at BOOM Cycle.
Do you have any advice for fellow yachties about going land-based?
Money aside. Just think about the things that make you happy and the environment you need to put yourself in to make that happen. I had a really wonderful time on-board but on to the next chapter and I’ve never felt more inspired and positive.
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