Hannah Lawes left home at the age of 19 and has since worked on yachts. It took her a few attempts to move from Ship to Shore: “…nothing seemed to match the excitement and freedom I had working on yachts.” She is now based in Antigua working for Starboard Card, an onboard financial management tool that helps manage yacht budgeting, reporting and expenditure.
How long did you work in yachting? Can you tell me about your yachting career – highlights, low points?
I flew to Palma, searching for my first yachting job, in April 2014. Since then, I’ve worked in various interior and exterior roles and had a couple of stints out of the industry. But, I always seemed to gravitate back to boats. Although I had grand ideas of leaving the industry, for years I was never really able to achieve that goal and found it impossible to resist a good itinerary or interesting boat.
I’m glad that was the case though, because there have been so many highlights as a result! I’d have to say that my crossing onboard S/Y Amazon Creek was a real high point for me. It taught me lots about myself and my abilities as a person, as well as a crew member. It also brought me some lifelong friends and was incredibly good fun. I don’t think I’ve laughed as hard or as often as during that time.
I think the same can be said for a lot of crossings. They are certainly unlike any other work environment I’ve known. I so enjoy how your world shrinks and nothing apart from the boat, the crew and that journey seems to matter. I always thought it such a privilege to be able to sail across an ocean and be paid to do it! Now, I’d say it’s probably the aspect of the job I miss the most.
Another high point was actually my very first boat, M/Y Mia Zoi. It was a private yacht that toured the Greek islands each summer, owned by a loud, charismatic Greek Australian. He took great pleasure in teaching his five crew members about the islands we were visiting and his Greek heritage. I always felt very valued in that role and found the experience to be an enriching one. The crew onboard were a real family unit too, which is what I needed at 19, living away from home for the first time.
Of course, it wasn’t all highs, I have had low points too. Most of them were induced and amplified by stress and sleep deprivation though. The work hard, play hard culture in yachting can seem invigorating at first, but wearing sleep deprivation as a badge of honour is something I definitely left behind when I left the industry. Not only is it bad for the head, it can be dangerous in too.
How did you know it was time for you to make the move to land?
As I said earlier, there have been a couple of times when I thought it was time to move on from the industry, but ended up back the next year nonetheless. I think I came back each time because nothing seemed to match the excitement and freedom I thought I had by working on yachts.
But, I think I knew it was time for me to go when the work didn’t excite me anymore. Once I’d realised that, I stopped taking seasonal or permanent work and just took freelance gigs until I worked out my next move.
What was the most difficult thing about the transition?
I always thought that the wage drop would be an issue when I left, but it really didn’t matter, because having a base felt so much more fulfilling than a healthier bank balance and those kinds of adjustments are often temporary anyway. In truth, it wasn’t difficult because I felt ready for it, so all the little challenges that came with moving ashore were just part of the adventure. I have settled in Antigua, working for a company within the industry, so I don’t feel like my transition has been as big as some, I’m still around boats every day!
What was the best thing about it?
I’m sure I’m not unique when I say that having my own space was a huge novelty for a while. I think it goes further than just physical space though, I have total autonomy over my own life now. I get to choose where I go 100% of the time because my bed isn’t going to leave without me if I want to stay!
What do you do now?
Now, I work for Starboard Card, an onboard financial management tool that helps manage yacht budgeting, reporting and expenditure. So, I still haven’t been able to sever my ties with the industry completely!
I love that my knowledge of the industry has been repurposed to help build a really impressive product that is of genuine benefit to current crew. Accounting is an area of the job not often talked about, but it is important. Managing expenses onboard can sometimes be a hassle but, it shouldn’t be a part of the job that takes up any time at all, considering all the other things to think about during a busy season. I’ve heard so many horror stories about days of reconciliation or thousands paid on crew’s personal cards when the boat card just didn’t measure up. What we’ve built makes things so much easier and I’m glad to have been a part of that.
Do you have any advice for fellow yachties about going land-based?
Make sure you leave the industry because you are ready to do so, not because your current position isn’t the right fit. The next one could be a totally different experience. If you are ready, try and give yourself the space to explore your options. That might be by working in a different capacity for a while, like me with freelancing, or it might be saving up your charter tips all year so you can support yourself while you find your feet ashore.
For me, still being part of the industry in some way has been the right choice, made easier by a flexible company culture that means I can still go sailing if I want to, or go for a swim at lunchtime if I need a break.
Interview by Melanie Winters
