Nathaniel Golden – Stew/Cook on a sailing yacht
Let me introduce you to Nathaniel Golden, a man who is living the kind of life that most people daydream about, while also making some rather comical splashes along the way. Nathaniel traded the rainy skies of the UK for the sun-soaked shores of Greece, and now, Mallorca. Nathaniel is working as a Stew/Cook on board a beautiful sailing yacht and he’s here to share his far from average story with us, filled with surprising twists, and even more interesting endings.
Nathaniel had been calling Greece home for the past eight years, living in film set worthy locations such as Kalamata, Athens, Mykonos and Crete before finally finding his way to Mallorca just eight months ago. He’s a self-proclaimed language enthusiast and after conquering Greek (which is not an easy language, think of the saying, “it’s all Greek to me”) he’s now got his sights set on Spanish.
Because he loves to challenge himself in new ways, Nathaniel’s not just sipping cocktails on the beach on his days off, instead he’s jumping headfirst into new activities like CrossFit. As he humorously puts it, fitness hasn’t exactly been his thing for a while. But, like many of us, he finally got the itch to shake things up a little. In fact, he’s so committed, that he’s signed up for a five-week bootcamp in Thailand, where he’ll learn Muay Thai, and yoga alongside even more CrossFit. “It’s going to be a huge challenge,” he says with a mixture of excitement and mild terror, but we’re betting he’ll take it all in his stride.
But before buffing it up in Thailand and even before setting sail in the yachting world, Nathaniel’s life was firmly rooted in hospitality. He’s owned his own bars and restaurants in the past, which sounds glamorous until you hear the part where he had to learn how to plaster a wall because a contractor bailed on him. “I mean, it didn’t turn out as good as the professionals, but I did a great job for an amateur!” he says, with a chuckle. He’s got that blend of pride and humility that comes from learning through experience. While hospitality might sound like hard work, Nathaniel’s clearly someone who finds joy in a good challenge, whether it’s fixing up a bar or learning how to deadlift.
Yachting came into Nathaniel’s life on the recommendation of a friend, and it was like discovering a whole new world. He hadn’t worked in hospitality for a while, and he’d missed it, so when his friend suggested the high seas, Nathaniel didn’t need much convincing. He jumped aboard and hasn’t looked back since. And it’s easy to see why. He’s found the ideal boat that feels like the full package: “My current boat has great crew, fantastic owners and benefits that make everyone happy! If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the sea changes you and my love for the water has only deepened over time!”
When asked about his favourite part of the job, Nathaniel doesn’t hesitate. “The travel, of course!” Seeing new places while doing something he loves is a no-brainer. But yachting is far from predictable, and that’s another aspect he relishs. “You never know what the next day will bring, which means it’s impossible to get bored.”.
However, there is a downside, too. Imagine working all day in the interior of a yacht, only to pop your head up and realise you have no idea where you are! I’ve come out on deck after a long day and thought, “What country are we even in right now?” he says, laughing at the absurdity. “It’s a bit disorienting, but I’ve learned to roll with it!”
As for keeping his cool during long owner or charter trips, Nathaniel shares his trick, “Finding small moments of peace. Whether it’s sneaking in a chapter of a book or watching something on Netflix, it’s important to recharge, especially in an industry where you’re always on!”
But perhaps Nathaniel’s biggest strategy is knowing how to spoil the guests. His secret weapon? Freshly baked cookies. “Cookies every day!” he laughs, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. And really, who could argue with that?
“I love making cookies! I have a passion for baking and I’m constantly whipping up desserts and afternoon treats for the guests!”
Of course, not everything about life on board is glamorous and if there’s one thing that grates on him, it’s watermarks around the sink. “I don’t know why, but it just really gets to me, as does the lack of storage space. I have a slight addiction to clothes shopping and there is never enough room for the random things that I have accumulated along the way!” It’s the little things, right?
When we talk about his most embarrassing moment on board…because every good yachtie has one, just picture this: Nathaniel, fresh into his first season, is returning to the yacht with bags of provisions in hand. As he tries to step from the tender onto the swim platform, disaster strikes. He misses the platform entirely and goes straight into the water, bags and all. “I really don’t think this is something I will ever forget!” he says, cringing at the memory, although at the time, he was definitely more concerned with drying off than seeing the humour of his shopping sinking to the bottom of Davy Jones’s Locker!
When it comes to his favourite destinations, Nathaniel doesn’t hesitate to name the Ionian sea as his top pick.
“I would definitely say that the Ionian sea is far and away my favourite yachting destination, with its crystal-clear waters and fantastic scenery. My favourite two islands are Paxos and Anti Paxos. One thing that sticks out in my mind there is exploring the blue caves in Paxos, as it was an incredible experience that I will never forget! If you get a chance to go, you must!”
Nathaniel also loves the beautiful little villages of these islands. “I found the locals incredible and even with the influx of tourists, they have not lost their authentic charm and culture. I spent several months there last year and would go back in a heartbeat. Although it wasn’t without its issues, as unfortunately provisioning in this area has its good and bad sides. You get fantastic quality but unfortunately not a lot of choice, but I guess you can’t have everything!”
The Ionians and Mallorca aside, there’s still so much left on Nathniel’s bucket list, most notably, the Caribbean, which he hopes to visit next year. And then there’s Thailand, “I’ve already been there many times but the thought of seeing it by boat? That’s a whole new kind of adventure!”
Nathaniel isn’t just coasting through life (though he could be, given his nautical career). He’s also studying for his accounting and finance degree in his downtime. Yes, you read that right, while managing the high standards of service and food on his current yacht, he’s also hitting the books. And somehow, he’s still finding time for himself. If that’s not something to be proud of, I don’t know what is.
And finally, I ask Nathaniel if he could give his younger self any advice, what would it be.
He replies, “It would be to join the yachting world sooner. I didn’t start until I was 32, but now at 35, I’m making up for lost time. Also, don’t worry about making mistakes, just be true to yourself,” he adds, which feels like solid advice for anyone, really.
