Having spent many wonderful years at sea, Emma decided to swap her deck shoes for a completely different onshore life. Now co-owner of Miku Mallorca, working as a naturopath and natural medicine practitioner, The Islander was keen to know more about her fascinating transition.

I get the feeling you have lived a varied and interesting life – can you share this with us?

I am now on the wrong side of 45 but life has never been better! This beautiful island of enticing sunshine and warmth has been home to my family and I (on and off) for 16 years.

During this time I worked in yachting, was posted to Holland to manage a new build alongside my husband Steve, and then returned to the UK for a while. Now, we find ourselves back on this sunny rock once again.

I embrace life at our rural finca with dogs, cats, horses, and chickens. The joy of space, the spectacular views and stunning weather make us happy. As a family, we enjoy everything and anything that involves being outdoors and in nature. Plus, of course, being in or on the water!

My love of the sea must have been passed down to me from my parents, who built a Warren catamaran back in the 70s and sailed the Atlantic in search of adventure.

So how many years did you spend in yachting and what was your personal experience of it?

My yachting career spanned 12 years with some fabulous memories made that I treasure to this day. And not just of alcohol-infused nights out when we had time off!

Having been born in Antigua but moving to the UK at the age of 5, I always knew my roots would lure me back to the sunshine. The opportunity for this came when I turned 18 and I realised that life in the UK wasn’t for me.

My parents bought me a one-way plane ticket back to Antigua in the hope that I would ‘find myself’ in this world! My godparents -the well-known Jerry Bardoe (Chippy) and his wife Lynda- bravely welcomed me with open arms. They steered me in the right direction (mostly off of the beach hanging out with the locals) to an interview for a junior stewardess position on a 52m – a large boat back in 1995!

Thankfully, the chief stewardess saw potential in me and offered me the job there and then. I had the joy of drinking rum punches and lounging on golden sandy beaches in Antigua for just a couple of months before my yachting career began.

I can’t lie – I found the demands, the hours and the intensity of working on a boat a shock! But that was always going to be the case with me being a lazy 18-year-old, never having a commitment to anything until that point! Ultimately, it was the making of me and I’m thankful for all the guidance I received along the way.

Once you got over the shock, what were the most enjoyable and not-so-enjoyable aspects of the job?

There were so many highs, and a few low points during my time at sea. I would have to say meeting my husband was a high point! The beauty of working so closely with people is that you get to know them really well and can make a well-informed choice when it comes to a partner! The camaraderie of working with a solid crew – the laughs, tears and merriment!

I’m sure time has softened my memory of the not-so-good bits. However, a period on an old Italian charter boat springs to mind. As a result of a limited budget and few maintenance periods, we had a charter season from hell. One evening comes to mind. We were at anchor serving dinner when the grey tanks decided to back up into the guest bathrooms, the ice machine, and the galley sinks! This was certainly not a highlight of my career!

What made you decide to make the move to land – apart from the grey tanks incident!?

My cue to leave the industry was the desire to procreate! In all honesty, the hormones kicked in and you cannot ignore those! I had also become aware that my husband’s 5-year plan to start a family kept resetting every year! He had no choice but to get on board – I was not being fooled anymore! By the time I was 30, I was ready to start a family and escape the confines of yacht life. I craved my own space, to not have to share the dining table with umpteen different people at every meal. No offence to any crew I worked with!

What were the most difficult and best things about starting a new life ashore, and do you still yearn for yachting?

The worse was not having food prepared for me – the absence of a chef hit home rapidly! How I missed the delicious, endless supply of culinary delights! I soon discovered that eggs are very versatile and can be used for breakfast, lunch or dinner! As much as I love to eat, I still find it a chore to shop, prepare and cook food! Yachting spoiled me on that front.

But the best thing was not to be called on the UHF 24 hours a day! Although, saying that, I spent the first few years being called by crying babies! This is something I had not thought through but thankfully babies grow and the next thing you know they are 14 and 16 years of age and don’t want to talk to you! I’m not sure if that’s just teenagers or if they are fed up with my egg dishes?!

To this day I still suffer from itchy feet! My husband gets concerned when I start to vocalise my urge to move again. However, it’s not so simple with a family, a business, and commitments.

So tell us about your current natural health business and how you came to work in this field.

I now own, along with my very good friend and master practitioner Kimmy, Miku Mallorca. We practice Japanese Integrated Medicine. This is a Japanese system of natural and naturopathic medicine dating back thousands of years combining: Physical, Nutritional, Emotional, Environmental and Energy medicine.

We integrate therapies allowing us to modify each appointment and treatment according to the needs of the patient. Using a variety of assessment methods, we will establish the overall health status of the patient including internal and external disease, injury, or ailment.

Treatments we use include acupuncture, joint and spine mobilisation, visceral fascia release, soft tissue balancing, cranial sacral therapy, nutrition, super tonic herbs, moxibustion, cupping, and more.

We treat a broad spectrum of conditions, disorders, injuries, and diseases. Eye, Ear, Nose, Throat, TMJ, Allergies, Circulatory disorders, Gastrointestinal disorders such as IBS, Constipation, Celiac, Colitis, etc. Gynaecological issues such as PMS, Painful periods, Menopause, Impotence, Fertility, Pregnancy and labour. Immune dysfunction, Lymphatic, Anxiety, Depression, Stress, Insomnia. Organ dysfunction, Musculoskeletal and Neurological disorders such as Sciatica, Headache, Bell’s palsy, Back and neck pain. Stroke rehabilitation, Tendinitis, Arthritis, Sprains and strains including all sports injuries and Physical conditions. Pain, Inflammation, Respiratory conditions including asthma, COPD, etc.

After a period of ill health, my life now evolves around wellness and practicing what I preach in my role as a Japanese Integrated Medicine practitioner. I found the medicine after being dismissed by various doctors in the UK who repeatedly misdiagnosed celiac disease. I was desperately ill but was fortunately introduced to Kimmy through a mutual friend. Kimmy was practicing Japanese medicine and was able to identify my illness and treat me effectively from day 1. After eliminating all forms of gluten in conjunction with my weekly treatments, my health bounced back rapidly in the space of months. It was life-changing and hence I wanted to learn the medicine to help others. Kimmy and I have now brought Japanese Integrated Medicine to Mallorca and are sharing Japan’s best-kept secret!

Do you have any advice for fellow yachties who are thinking of going land-based?

Absolutely – “The World is a book and those who do not travel read only a page!”

Enjoy what yachting has to offer because once you are land-based, it is hard to return. Embrace the journey because not everyone gets the opportunity to work in the industry of plenty!