Caroline, has lived in Mallorca since 1989 and after a long and successful yachting career she now runs her own pet transportation business punnily named “Magic Car-Pet Transfer”! Caroline is someone who managed to create at least 2 careers from doing what she is passionate about! That’s what makes this an inspiring Ship To Shore.
How did you get into yachting?
I had done a French/Spanish and Economics degree at Newcastle Polytechnic as it was then, and arrived in Mallorca to do my TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) having survived a year of teaching in Cataluña. That was my first real job after Poly. A guy on my course was a yachtie who invited me to go sailing with his friends during the Conde de Barcelona regatta after the course had finished. That was it! I was smitten! All the people I met were out-going, work-hard / play-hard types. They were travelling the world and getting paid a lot more than I was, teaching English to reluctant school kids.
So you made the right connections and got straight into it?
Not quite,… I announced my intention to my parents that I was off to the Caribbean for the winter – they were not very approving! – and the Guardia Civil had other ideas. I was forced to drive my impounded Beetle back to the UK after overstaying. By the time I got back, all the boats had left for the Caribbean and I spent a lean but fun winter, scratching around for daywork, and bar work in a grotty US Navy bar.
So after the long pauper winter, I was first in the queue for the first jobs when March 1990 came around. My first boat was S/Y Shenandoah of Sark! What a way to start! St. Tropez became St. Tropez when Shenandoah was in port! Such a fun crew headed by Stevie Wilkins. Then I worked 2 years on S/Y Aile Blanche with the dearly departed Alex Greenson as Mate. I even had a brief spell on Adix in the Pacific which, of course, was a massive highlight. I resisted motoryachts for a long time but once I was on a 48m Perini as Stew, I realised that it was basically a motor yacht with sticks, and I should just embrace the opportunities! My first Chief Stewardess position on M/Y Contico, a 45m charter boat was in 1996, and for the next 8 years I was lucky enough to work on several Feadships based out of Palma. At one point, the owner of one yacht where I was Chief Stew, bought a villa in Deia in the mountains of Mallorca. For over 8 years I was the Housekeeper (read – Chief cook, bottle washer, cleaner and pool cleaner, shopping companion and reform manager!). A wonderful time of hard work alone, but with that comes the freedom to create your own hours, and be entirely responsible for the quality of the service. I only realised afterwards what a golden time that was.
Before we talk more about your life ashore, what were the golden times of your time at sea?
The highlights of yachting are of course many – experiencing so much of the Med, Caribbean and parts of the Pacific. I will forever remember how the Marquesas are so incredibly green. I even got to Norway… Seeing so many parts of the world that I would have never gotten to visit under my own steam. Having time off in wonderful places like Tuscany, experiencing the big yacht shows like Monaco and Ft Lauderdale. Stingrays in the Cayman Islands. A morning swim with dolphins in the Florida Keys followed by a skydive in the afternoon!
Serving celebrity guests is of course always a huge thrill. There were some fabulous nights out in amazing places. I forged incredible life-long friendships with people of all nationalities. Helming Adix under full sail at night under the watchful eye of Paul Goss. Volunteering for 7 summers at a dog shelter in Dubrovnik where the boat was based was hugely rewarding, and a great way to switch off.
How did you know it was time to move ashore?
I had often planned to leave yachting by age 30 – 35. You could argue I was out of it during those years at the villa, although I often pitched in for the owner’s 2 yachts. When the couple divorced, having worked for them for over 11 years, I tried my hand as an estate agent in Deia. I soon realised that I don’t have the personality for that type of hustle. I was not keen on the office atmosphere either. Soon however, I was lucky enough to be offered a Chief Stew position on a 45m yacht based in Palma where I stayed for 7.5 years.
Late 2020 the yacht was sold. I’m sure I was let go by the new owner for being too old, and not a skinny, young girl. We may not like it, but appearance always has and will continue to be paid tremendous importance to in this industry. No matter how politically incorrect it may be.
So the decision was made for me, eight months into Covid, at the start of winter. Not the best timing…
But, I had an idea about what I could do next. Based on my experiences with animal rescue during my off time, I started researching pet transportation.
And you were like a dog with a bone!
Yes! I took over a pet transport business from Mallorca to the UK and re-named it Magic Car-Pet Transfer! Our client’s pets swish effortlessly from one location to another to be reunited with their owners. To date, I have moved 99 dogs and cats back and forth from Mallorca to the UK and Ireland – even a 65kg Mastin! I offer a service that caters to all clients’ needs. I work out the most efficient routes, ferries and hotels. I organise the turnarounds, cage disinfection, quotes, route-planning and deal with vets on passports and documentation issues.
Staying informed about all the legal requirements needed for me and pets to travel to and from the EU post-Brexit has been quite something. Covid times were an additional challenge of course. Being able to offer advice to pet owners wishing to tackle the trip themselves is very satisfying. I enjoy getting it right, sailing through customs with a vanload of pets and back out onto the open road again. When the planning all comes together, it is very satisfying. My favourite part is the reunion when you get full body wags and jubilation from dogs on seeing their owners again. Many come racing back up to me, as if to say thanks!
