Life Below Deck with Tommi: A Journey from submarines to superyachts

Meet Tommi, a 35-year-old engineer originally from Telford, UK, who now calls Palma de Mallorca home. With his best friend Tori and their three cats, Dora, JoJo, and Teddy. Tommi has embraced life both on land and sea and when he’s not ensuring everything on board runs smoothly, you’ll find him hiking, cooking, gaming or restoring his beloved 1972 Mini, aptly named Murtle the Turtle! 

His engineering journey started early, joining the Royal Navy Submarine Service at 17, where he undertook both mechanical and electrical apprenticeships. For over six and a half years, he worked on both the oldest and newest submarines, HMS Sceptre and HMS Astute. After leaving the Navy, he transitioned to railways, working as a technician and then later an engineering manager for the Metropolitan Line and Eurostar. By 2019, a restless urge for change led him to yachting, bringing with him a wealth of technical experience and a keen eye for problem-solving…(all will be revealed!)

The transition to yachting came a little unexpectedly. Bored with the railway industry, a Facebook post expressing his frustrations caught the attention of a former Royal Navy colleague. A simple message, “Come to Palma, the industry is desperately short of engineers!” A lightbulb moment one could say and that was all it took. With the support of his then-husband, Ricky, Tommi packed a bag, boarded a flight and dove headfirst into a new career. Starting with Marlin Marine in Port Adriano, he quickly found his way onto a yacht through a crew agent. And the rest, as they say, is history! 

Among the yachts he’s worked on, SY Blue Papillon holds a special place in his heart. It was here he experienced his first transatlantic crossing and Caribbean season. The guests were genuine and kind, the crew became lifelong friends and the boat itself, an impressive Royal Huisman, was every engineer’s dream. Going from an intense dual nine-month season straight into a ten-year survey, coupled with an extensive electrical refit, definitely kept Tommi on his toes. The challenge only fuelled his passion, shaping him into the very capable engineer he is today.

For Tommi, the best part of life on board is undoubtedly the crew camaraderie, the inside jokes, and the ability to laugh even in the most chaotic situations. Having a professional chef on hand isn’t too bad either. 

But no matter how well a boat is prepared, the first day of a guest trip always brings the inevitable, something breaking, usually something critical to the guest experience. As an engineer, staying composed under pressure is key.

Sanity during long trips comes in the form of routine and morale boosters. For Tommi, maintenance work keeps him occupied but it’s the crew mess game nights and themed food days (hello, Taco Tuesdays!) that make all the difference. His strategy for spoiling guests? Simple, ensuring everything runs seamlessly. Engineering can be a thankless job at times, when things work, no one notices but the second something goes wrong, all eyes are on you.

Every engineer has their pet peeves and for Tommi, it’s an easy one: not pushing in cupboard and drawer locks. One missed lock and the crew mess could end up covered in cutlery, or worse, a whole snack cupboard’s worth of contents strewn across the passageway. And of course, there’s the occasional embarrassing moment. Dropping a feeler gauge into the main engine? Check. That sinking feeling in his stomach as he helplessly heard a ‘tink, tink, tink’ sound as it found its way into oblivion? Also, check! Hours of searching with a borescope (when his problem-solving skills were tested to their limits) when finally, it was retrieved. It’s a mistake he won’t be repeating! 

When it comes to destinations, the British Virgin Islands and Greece are on the top of his list for their stunning scenery and crystal-clear waters. . There’s nothing quite like finishing up a long day’s work and diving straight into the ocean for a swim. But on the bucket list? The Pacific Islands, followed closely by the Northwest Passage and Scandinavia. The idea of exploring more remote and untouched parts of the world excites him, especially the challenge of navigating engineering projects in extreme conditions.

One of Tommi’s proudest career achievements was successfully navigating Blue Papillon through a ten-year survey and an extensive Huisfit electrical refit. The sheer scale of the project meant constant problem-solving, adapting to unforeseen issues, and working long hours.

Exhausting? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.

For those considering a career in yachting, Tommi offers one key piece of advice: if you want to progress in deck or engineering, keep meticulous track of your sea-time from the start. Gathering old testimonials can be a nightmare, especially if a new captain has taken over. And for aspiring engineers, he strongly recommends gaining commercial experience first—an engineering cadetship not only fast-tracks qualifications but often comes with the added bonus of paid training.

There’s also the importance of adaptability. Yachting can be unpredictable, plans change, boats move, and challenges arise at a moment’s notice. The best engineers are those who stay calm under pressure and enjoy problem-solving on the fly. And of course, resilience is key. Life at sea isn’t always glamorous, but those who thrive in this environment are the ones who find joy in the unexpected and embrace the adventure.

Looking ahead, Tommi’s plans include securing his engineering tickets, working towards Chief Engineer role on a 50-60m sailing yacht with a second engineer, and of course, continuing to travel. With South Africa on the cards this year and a European road trip planned with his Mini next year, one thing’s for sure, Tommi isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

As he puts it, “Keep doing what you’re doing. You’ve got an exceptional time ahead of you. Yeah, the punches will come but roll with them.” It’s advice he would give to his 20-year-old self and a philosophy that continues to drive him today.