How did your yachting career first begin?

To be honest I was always against working in yachting! I used to work as a waitress and bartender in Palma, and my impression of yachties was that they spend too much money on alcohol! Then I decided to do my yoga teacher training, and I needed the money for the course, so a job in yachting seemed like a good way to save. I got seasonal work on a yacht through a friend, saved some money and did my teacher training in March.

 

What has been your favourite boat you’ve worked on, and why?

I’ve worked on three boats, from 35-42m, and they’ve all been so different. Mostly it’s the people that makes them good –I’ve been really lucky, and worked with some great crew.

 

What do you enjoy most about working onboard?

I love travelling and meeting so many good people from different parts of the world – I think it helps us be more tolerant of others. Obviously yacht work is a great way to save, so long as you keep your focus on what you want to achieve. If I didn’t have my goals it would be hard for me to continue.

What do you enjoy least about yachting?

Getting involved with the petty things; it’s easy to lose yourself and the person you are. I also don’t like all the chemicals used in yachting, and all the waste. I try and encourage the crew at least to be less wasteful.

 

How do you keep sane on charter?

I’ve been really lucky because I’ve been able to do yoga on deck in the morning before the guests get up. This helps me set my mind for the day, and then throughout the say I remind myself to keep positive and stay grounded.

 

How do you cope with inter-crew politics?

I like it when I become friends with my crew, and we help each other out. I think it’s important to socialise together – we spend months living together so we become like family.

 

What are your best strategies for spoiling charter guests?

I’m a positive person and I’m always smiling, I think it makes a big difference with guests when your smile is genuine.

What is your signature cocktail?

I’m not sure what the name is so I’m going to call it a Magdificent! It’s similar to a Mojitio: muddle lime, brown sugar and mint, add crushed ice and tequila, then shake it, and top up with ginger beer. It’s delicious!

 

 

Your partner also works in yachting but you’ve never worked together – why is this?

We don’t really want to at the moment – we think our private lives shouldn’t be mixed with our working lives. We like our freedom as a couple, though it’s true that this summer we haven’t seen each other much.

 

What is your favourite yachting destination?

I actually like the south of France, it’s expensive but I love the architecture. And of course I love Mallorca, that’s why I live here!

 

If you could give your 20yr old self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Work hard; do your best; stay positive; keep your focus; give yourself a goal on what you want to achieve; and don’t compare yourself with others. And remember that yachting is a very small industry, so take care of your reputation.

Best housekeeping tip/hack?

You can make your own wrinkle releaser spray for linens by adding a bit of fabric softener to water and putting in a spray bottle – saves re-ironing those sheets when re-making beds!

 

If you owned a superyacht, what would you do with it?

It would have to be a sailing yacht, with a fit and active crew, and with all the watersports toys possible! It would have a special spa and yoga deck; a super healthy chef; and we would cruise the world.

 

What’s the best thing you’ve spoilt yourself to at the end of the season?

It will be the 4 month holiday I’m just about to go on to New Zealand, Australia and Cambodia.

 

Tell us about your best Bridget Jones moment on board.

I managed to put the boss’s cutlery around the wrong way 3 times in a row, even though I was convinced that it was the right way!

 

What’s your plan for the future?

My goal is to become a full time yoga teacher, I’m planning to do more teacher training next year and a course in vegan food. So I’ll definitely be in yachting for another summer at least!

 

 

 

December Events

The Christmas fairs in Palma are at Placa Major, Ramblas and Placa Espana. Cute wooden stalls feature decorations, gifts, handicrafts and food. There’s also an Ice Rink set up in the Parc des ses Estacions next to Placa Espana.

Lluc Sanctuary also has market stalls each weekend leading up to Christmas – a great excuse to visit this special location if you haven’t already done so.

 

Tuesday 22nd – Christmas Concert, Teatro Principal, Palma. The theatre’s choirs offer this traditional concert with carols, opera, and songs from around the world. Free entry; donations will be collected.

Thursday 24^th – La Sibil-la chant. In 1229 this Gregorian chant was brought to Mallorca, and since then has been handed down through the generations. It’s sung by a sword-wielding child, and it happens in most churches in Mallorca on Christmas eve.

 

 

From ship to shore

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 Kathryn Bosman who works as a recruitment consultant for wilsonhalligan.

 

How long did you work in yachting? Can you tell me about your yachting career – highlights, low points?

I was in yachting for 6 years, starting as a Stewardess / Deckhand on a small 35m and working my way up to Chief Stewardess on a 56m Perini Navi. The highlight of my yachting career has to be the people I met, they were like family and I have made some forever friendships with some special people. I didn’t have too many low points, I guess when the crew with whom I had worked for 4 years all went separate ways on different yachts, it just never felt quite the same once this team split and was one of the many reasons I moved away from yachts.

 

How did you know it was time for you to make the move to land?

I felt like I had reached my peak in yachting, I enjoyed my last role as Chief Stewardess and worked for a great owner with a brilliant crew. I knew I wanted to end my yachting career on a high so that was a good a time as any. I had also ticked off a few quests on my bucket list such as sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge and crossing the Pacific. I missed my family and wanted to be able to put some roots down and prepare to make a life for myself at home, I was missing important family events, friends were starting to get married and have children so I made the decision that I wanted to be around for these experiences. I was no longer enjoying the amazing destinations so I knew something wasn’t right and it was time to go home.

 

What was the most difficult thing about the transition?

I found finding a position that was suitable quite difficult at first; a lot of employees could not grasp what I had done in the 6 years in yachting. When you explain it in an interview to someone it all sounds very glamorous and not much like hard work.   I tried working in a restaurants but found I was still missing weekends and family events but not getting the perks of yachting. I also tried working for a large corporation in an administrative role but found this difficult as you are very much just a number in a larger office. Coming from a crew of 10 who were like my family, this was a big change.

The salary was also a huge difficulty in the transition; you have to take into consideration things such as tax and national insurance, which is alien to most yacht crew who have never worked ashore. Getting used to paying rent, bills, food etc was a big shock to the system. Most yachties have minimal outgoings and suddenly half of your salary is gone the day you are paid.

 

What was the best thing about it?

Seeing my family and friends as much as possible and having my weekends.   It is nice to feel like you have some control of your life back.

 

What do you miss most about yachting?

I miss the comradery between crew members and all the friends I made in yachting who are still on board yachts, as you can imagine I don’t get to see them much. I recently took part in the PYA Mixology and Table Setting competition at the Monaco Yacht Show and I must admit I do miss making yachts look beautiful and using my creative side, you don’t get to do that much in recruitment.

 

What do you do now?

I am now a Recruitment Consultant for wilsonhalligan Large Yacht Recruitment. I specialise in recruitment for the interior so speak with stews, chefs, pursers etc on a daily basis. I thoroughly enjoy this role as I am still involved with the yachting industry but don’t have to be on board, away from home. I love being able to speak with new crew to the industry and help them get a foot up into it, hopefully in years to come I will be speaking to them as Chief Stews. I also get a lot of Chief Stews and Pursers asking me for advice for moving ashore and again this is great to be able to help them with their transition.

 

Do you have any advice for fellow yachties about going land-based?

Make sure you are ready for the move ashore – it took me a couple of attempts to move home before I made the final decision not to take on any more temporary positions on yachts. I found every time I went away I would come back to square one. Be patient: it can take time to find your feet on land, but before you know it you will blink and 3 years would have sailed by. I still can’t believe I haven’t been working on a yacht for 3 years, it still feels like yesterday.

 

Before you make the move, enjoy the industry to its full potential and make some awesome memories to cherish for life. As I always say, “I cannot wait to tell my children all about life working for the rich and famous in some exotic destinations.”