Ship to Shore Interview
Clair Minto is originally from Blackpool–a seaside town in the UK where she had her first job in a hotel at just 14! Having tried University and not liked it, she trained as a Croupier but decided hospitality was where she wanted to be. Working in Zakynthos as a holiday rep and in a busy bar for 3 seasons, whilst working as a croupier in Cairns she discovered the yachting industry -and a way to combine her hospitality background with her love of travel:
“I started yachting in 2006 on a sailing catamaran in the Bahamas. I had been looking for a job for a little while and was asked, ‘Can you cook?’ I replied, ‘Of course!’ Needless to say, I couldn’t cook but learned very fast!”
Career progression
After working on the catamaran, Clair did some yacht cooking courses and progressed to being Cook/Stew/Deck on Sunseekers in the Med. She worked 5 years for one family sailing the majority of the time in Greece – her favourite country!
“When it was time for change, I made the move to bigger yachts and the Stewardess route. Although I enjoyed cooking, I couldn’t see myself doing that on a larger yacht. I was never very good at the timing aspect and it would send me into a panic!”
Clair then became 2nd Stew on a 40m Feadship – the only private boat she ever worked on and by far the most stressful! After a season there and a Caribbean season on a 50m, she landed her first Chief Stew role, starting right before the Monaco Grand Prix. After that boat sold, she moved on to her final boat, a classic 52m, and stayed for three and a half years.
“It was here that I met my boyfriend, the yacht’s Chef, and had some of the most memorable times in my yachting career. It was a very busy boat with two great owners and an amazing Captain. Along with winters spent in the Caribbean, I also travelled to Mexico, California, Alaska, Norway, Northern Europe, the Great lakes, New England and Maine!”
Highlights / Low Points
“My highlights have been the places I’ve seen and experiences I’ve had along the way because of yachting; taking a helicopter to a glacier to go dog-sledding with guests in Alaska; tasting top wines in Bordeaux, and diving in incredible locations. Low points have been few and far between but it’s easy to say that in hindsight!”.
The Transition
Clair had a wake-up call when a family situation arose and had to return to the UK, leaving behind the boat and crew that she loved (including her boyfriend, who stayed on for another season). This was during the second lockdown. “Going from being around lots of people every day to only seeing a few family members was very strange at first”, explains Clair. “The best thing was being able to spend lots of time with family and keeping to a routine —something a lot of people take for granted and maybe even hate! But when you have been on heavy charter boats that travel constantly, you very much appreciate it! Being able to prioritise yourself and your health is also a big bonus! I’m also contemplating getting a pet – a recurring yachtie’s dream!”
Yearning for Yachting?
Clair misses a lot about her yachting days, “….the sheer joy of a day or evening off and making the most of it because you don’t know when it will come again; the close and instant friendships that you make; the feeling of satisfaction at the end of a trip when the guests are so sad to be leaving because you gave them such a great time!”And of course, the financial safety.
Chief Stew Shop
As Clair was leaving her life on board, she happened to see an advert for the sale of the Chief Stew Shop. The previous owner -also a former Chief Stew- was selling due to a career change. Clair got in touch – “The seller sold it to me as she wanted it to go to someone who would take care of it as she had done – hopefully I have done that!”
Clair was keen to not just be a shop but rather a service to help other Chief Stews and Captains save time and stress. Although she sells the usual interior items; toiletries; linens; tableware, and also custom marine mattresses, she also offers a difference: “I can help with issues that may arise due to the way yachts operate. For example, when the yacht suddenly needs to move, I can deal with the shipping headaches. I will also try to source replacements for obscure items and chase suppliers, etc – saving precious time. I keep my customers up to date throughout the whole process.”
Transitioning Tips
Clair’s advice is not to worry if you don’t know what to do next; “I used to think about it all the time. I would never have dreamed I’d end up running a business but the Chief Stew Shop came at just the right time – I love what I do! I still get to stay around the yachting industry whilst having the flexibility to work from anywhere”.
As a former Chief Stew, Clair loves to help yacht crew. She understands the frustrations of getting things done and makes everything as easy as possible for her clients!
Her final tip is “SAVE. YOUR. MONEY”!
Email: info@chiefstewshop.com
Phone: (+44) 781 667 8634
Instagram @chief_stew_shop
Interview by Melanie Winters
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