How long did you work in yachting? Can you tell me about your yachting career – highlights, low points?
I worked in yachting for 12 years, starting at 19. My first position was as delivery crew on a 33m S/Y, sailing from France to Antigua. From there, I gradually worked my way through ranks, eventually becoming captain in 2017. I ran Sail Yachts between 60 and 90 foot for 5 years, occasionally thinking of making the move to land, but not being quite ready to make the decision.
My biggest achievement was the first time I crossed the Atlantic as Skipper. It was always something I had aspired to, but the feeling when we arrived in Antigua, was like nothing I had felt before, probably because I had had very little sleep for 2 weeks!!!
A big bucket list item that I finally managed to tick off last year, was sailing the Pacific. I had the opportunity to do a delivery from Tahiti to Hawaii, and Hawaii to Mexico, on a beautiful, brand new, modern classic sailing yacht. It was a fantastic trip with a fab crew!
My lowest points were always times when I wanted nothing more than to be with my family. From losing family members whilst away, to wanting to celebrate my 30th with my nearest and dearest, but being in lockdown due to Covid.
How did you know it was time for you to make the move to land?
I had been quite seriously thinking about winter 2021/22 being my last season in the industry, but again, didn’t quite think I was ready. That was until I injured my foot on Christmas eve. Due to being the captain, and having an upcoming charter, I wasn’t able to take any time off for the injury, so I soldiered through. Knowing that when the injury happened, I wouldn’t be able to give myself time to recover, was when the penny dropped that this would be my last position within the industry. That I wouldn’t put myself, or my body through this again. So it was on Christmas eve of 2021, that I decided my time in the industry was up, and that it was time for the next chapter to begin.
What was the most difficult thing about the transition?
I can honestly say I haven’t found anything difficult about the transition, which speaks for itself with regards to how ready I was.
What was the best thing about it?
I have stability. I have recently been able to support my family through a loss, and have been able to have them surround me.
Weekends… Who knew how good they are!
And there is a lot to be said about leaving work at the end of the day, not having to worry about alarms, or shore power dropping out!
What do you miss most about yachting?
My first thought was bumping into the friends I have made over the last 12 years, but I have still done that whilst being land based!
What do you do now?
I am now a Project Manager at Oyster Yachts. Anyone who has known me for a while will know this is exactly what I wanted to do when I left the industry, and have said so for the last 9 years! I have spent many years working on board Oysters, and as a result, alongside some of the teams at Oyster, which is what initiated this career goal. I was very fortunate to find myself in a role I had longed for, and to love it as much as I hoped I would. My knowledge of the boats themselves, and my ability to work with both the clients, and the workforce has definitely helped my transition into the role. Now, I am learning new things daily about the boat building process, and enjoying every minute of it.
Do you have any advice for fellow yachties about going land-based?
Don’t rush into it. Don’t just leave the industry because of one bad experience, believe me, I have had my fair share. On the other hand, don’t stay in it because you have career tick boxes, you don’t know what else is out there that might make you happier!
