INTERVIEW WITH FIONA GREY
Welcome Fiona! Let’s dive right in—tell us a little about yourself.
Where do I start? I’m originally from Australia, born and bred in Queensland. However, I spent my 20s living in Melbourne, where life was vibrant, fast-paced, and full of skateboarders. Literally! I worked for a young startup called Globe, and let me tell you, spending your days surrounded by some of the world’s best skaters teaches you to live every day like it’s your last. Those days were pretty wild! Now? Well, life looks a little different. I’m a mum first, raising two beautiful daughters who keep me on my toes more than any CEO ever did. I’m also a fashion lover, a sunset chaser, and a proud cat mom. I laugh—a lot—and genuinely love life, even when it throws a curveball or two.
That sounds like quite the transition! So, how did a corporate career in Melbourne turn into a yachting adventure?
It was a bit of a leap—or maybe a cannonball! I had a long-standing corporate career, but something inside me wanted more. Adventure, travel, maybe just a different pace. A family friend, who was Chief Engineer on the iconic yacht Octopus, told me, “It’s time to spread your wings.” I took his advice to heart. At 33, I packed my bags, left Melbourne, and landed in Antibes in April 2011. I had zero yachting experience and no idea what dock-walking even meant. But there I was, hustling every day with my CV in hand, blisters on my feet, and a stubborn determination that screamed, I’m not leaving without a job!
Dock-walking is no joke! How long did it take to land your first job?
It felt like an eternity—about six weeks, but who’s counting? (laughs) I was stretching my job search from Antibes to Imperia, Italy. Every morning, I’d put on my most professional smile and hit the docks, hoping for a breakthrough. But let me tell you, being a greenie in your 30s isn’t exactly a selling point in this industry. One afternoon in Imperia, just as I was about to call it quits and head back to Antibes, I spotted a captain on the dock. Something inside me said, Go talk to him—what’s the worst that could happen? So, I did. We chatted for five minutes. He must have seen something in me—probably desperation masked as enthusiasm! The next day, I was on deck at 8 a.m., ready to embark on a two-month charter season aboard a 47m Heesen called 4You.
Talk about a lucky break! How was that first season?
Intense. I won’t sugarcoat it—it was exhausting, both physically and mentally. But I was hooked. We started in Cannes, and from there, it was a whirlwind of back-to-back charters. By the end of the season, I was tired, sore, and possibly running on caffeine alone, but I’d never felt more alive. When the season ended, I took my hard-earned tip—10,000 euros!—and did what any sensible person would do. I traveled the world. I ended up in Amsterdam, living my best life, but the yachts kept calling me back.
What brought you back to yachting after that break?
Fate—and maybe a little bit of luck. I landed a job as Second Stew on the 75m sailing yacht Phocea. But a week before I was supposed to join, the job fell through. Fun fact: Phocea had a pretty eventful year after that. Go ahead, Google it! So, back to Antibes I went. I stayed with a friend at The Crew Grapevine, and within weeks, I found myself on a 69m motor yacht
called Amadeus (now Redemption). It was love at first sight. We left Barcelona’s MB92 shipyard and made Monaco our base for the next 18 months.
What was life like aboard Amadeus?
Magical. The yacht was both private and charter, with repeat guests who were absolutely lovely. The owner, despite his high-profile status, was down-to-earth, and the crew? Phenomenal. Our captain, Marcel Busse, led with a perfect mix of professionalism and humor, and every Head of Department was top-notch. One summer, we were docked in Porto Cervo, hosting a movie star who, coincidentally, starred in my all-time favorite film. On the next yacht over? A world-famous rapper with his entourage. It was like watching two worlds collide in the most surreal way. I remember thinking, This is the stuff you can’t make up.
That sounds unforgettable! Were there any challenges during your time in yachting?
Oh, plenty! The exhaustion was real. There were long days, late nights, and moments where I missed home terribly. I also had my fair share of messy cabin mates—sorry, Em! (laughs) And of course, some guests had…interesting requests to say the least. I have stories that could make your toes curl! Can we remove this line please?
When did you know it was time to transition to life on land?
I was six months pregnant with my first daughter. Let’s just say no one wanted a surprise delivery mid-charter! My plan was to take a short break and return to yachting, but life had other plans. We moved across five countries in three years including Monaco, Aus, UK and finally Spain. Mallorca became home, and with two little ones in tow, returning to yachting just didn’t fit anymore.
What was the hardest part of that transition?
Screaming babies. (laughs) Suddenly, charter guests seemed easy in comparison! Sleep? Nonexistent. I also had to navigate life in the South of France, where fluency in French wasn’t optional. And all the administrative tasks I took for granted on yachts? Now they were mine to handle. Not exactly fun! The biggest challenge, though, was losing the camaraderie. Onboard, you’re surrounded by people 24/7. On land, it can feel a bit lonely.
Despite the challenges, you’ve built something incredible. Tell us about your app!
Yes! I launched Crewdar, a yacht recruitment app designed to streamline the recruitment process. The idea came from a personal struggle—I was working part-time on a 27m sailing yacht and needed to find my replacement. We didn’t have the budget for an agency, and social media platforms were flooded with unqualified candidates.
That’s when I thought, There has to be a better way. Crewdar uses AI to verify crew certifications, bank-grade identity checks to ensure safety, and a community-driven review system for transparency. Unlike traditional agencies, we don’t charge placement fees, and we provide full insurance and protection for crew. Our goal? To bring yacht recruitment into the digital age.
A core part of our ethos is a genuine desire to improve the yachting industry, to help people who find themselves in the same situation I did all those years ago. We are the only dedicated mobile app for yacht recruitment, which gives us access to powerful tools such as real time notifications, location services and global reach. For greenies interested in day work, this means we can find jobs in their precise area, and notify them of opportunities in real time. For vessel managers, this means instant pools of candidates, matching any required criteria, within any desired search radius. Our standardised digital CV allows vessel managers to swipe through all suitable candidates, chat, call or arrange interviews, and ultimately offer the best candidate the job. All in a one-stop-shop, without having to exchange personal contact information or leave our secure platform.
Our focus on data and AI allows us to offer services never seen before in the industry: one problem I found when I was looking for work was that I never received any feedback as to why I was being rejected, or how I could improve my chances, or even improve myself. To address this, we offer a real-time insights section, which delivers actionable information explaining precisely the skills, qualifications, visas, salary requirements, or other criteria which are the biggest opportunities to improve to help match with the highest number of jobs. Our hope is that this will encourage crew to obtain more qualifications, elevate themselves, and ultimately raise the standard across the industry.
Similarly, for vessel managers, we offer real time feedback as they define their search criteria, which currently spans 17 different attributes, from positions & pay, to location, skills, qualifications, languages, visas, driving licenses and many more. Our app provides an immediate view of how many available crew meet the job requirements, allowing the vessel manager to find the sweet spot between the most highly qualified candidates, and a big enough range of crew to find the perfect personality match for their vessel.
Our value proposition is unheard of in the industry; we’re able to leverage technology to streamline the entire process, and we pass those efficiency savings on to our customers.
That’s impressive! What do you miss most about yachting?
The friendships. There’s something about living and working with people in such close quarters—you form bonds that last a lifetime. Some of my closest friends are people I met on yachts, and no matter how many miles separate us, we stay connected.
For those considering leaving yachting, any advice?
Don’t rush it. Life on land isn’t going anywhere. If you love yachting, stick with it. Get your qualifications, soak up as much knowledge as you can, and don’t let ego get in the way. Be a sponge—absorb everything.
And remember, life on land is static compared to the adventure of the seas. If yachting fuels your passion, keep going. Life is short—go hard or go home!
Wise words! Thank you for sharing your incredible journey.
My pleasure! It’s been a wild ride, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
And with that, the former yachtie turned tech entrepreneur leaves us with a story that reminds us: sometimes, the most unexpected journeys lead to the most fulfilling destinations.
