Georgia Kirton was just 24 when she started making waves in yachting. With her easy humour and natural drive, she brought a spark to any crew she joined. Growing up in South Africa, the ocean was part of daily life and her love for it began long before she knew it would become her chosen career. “Our family holidays were always spent in Mozambique,” she says. “Boogie boarding, swimming and eternal sun worshipping! If it involved getting sandy and salty, I was 100% in!”

Those carefree days led to a love of adventure and when both Georgia and her sister found themselves itching for a change, they made the leap into yachting together. “We decided to just go for it but wanted to support each other.”

Her interest in yachting began through a family friend who painted a vivid picture of life at sea. “He made it sound so incredible,” Georgia recalls. After completing her honours degree in Fashion Design, she swapped sketchbooks for scrubbing brushes and dived head-first into her yachting qualifications.

Before relocating to Palma de Mallorca, she spent three months as Head of House at a local beauty salon, managing clients and schedules. A good training ground, as it turned out, for a future working onboard yachts. “It taught me so much about service and paying attention to every detail!”

Arriving in Palma, Georgia joined the ranks of dock-walkers, pounding the marinas by day for over 2 months solid and scrolling job boards by night. Her first break came as a dayworker on a sailing yacht. She remembers helping the captain and crew prepare for a guest charter and she absolutely loved every minute of it.

“It was only a temporary job,” she smiles, “but the teamwork and the precision of the job, I knew I’d made the right choice!”

Soon after, she landed her first role aboard another sailing yacht. “The owner was such a mentor,” she says warmly. “He did everything he could to help me improve my skills so I could progress quickly. When you feel valued, you work harder and enjoy it much more!”

Working inside STP Shipyard was an education in itself. “It had its chaotic but brilliant moments, that’s for sure!” she laughs. “I dealt with contractors every day, and this really boosted my confidence. One unexpected perk was that the local workers started to teach me Spanish! Every day I would learn a new word or phrase and it was a lot more fun than Duolingo!”

It was such a privilege, and I learnt so much working inside STP, one of the busiest shipyards in Mallorca. I felt a part of something very special and started to feel excited about pursuing a future in yachting. 

Still, she admits the job can have its repetitive moments. “Cleaning the same cabins every day isn’t always thrilling but things change so quickly onboard, there is always something new to learn.”

Even though most of Georgia’s first season was spent on the hard in the shipyard. She recalls, “I didn’t get the opportunity to lose my marbles!” (something that happens to the best of us eventually after a crazy season!) However, for Georgia, being lucky enough to work for such a supportive owner, allowed her to focus on the positives of the job! “I just rolled up my sleeves and got the work done without complaining but it made my first trip with guests onboard (where we actually left dry land) all the more special.

The only thing Georgia could do to spoil the owner at the time was to make sure his boat was always clean and tidy when he visited (despite all the contractors making mess all the time) she says, “He always had bottles of cold water waiting for him as it was crazy hot inside the boat at times and this small gesture went a long way as he appreciated the little things!”

During her first season, she was also lucky enough to be trusted with more responsibility than she expected, including sourcing contractors, materials and helping with refit decisions. “It felt amazing to be trusted that much by both the owner and the captain.”

When I asked about her biggest frustration, she laughed. “Spending all morning cleaning a cabin, going for lunch and then returning to find the contractors have taken it completely apart again!” she sighs. “But that’s refit life I guess, especially in a shipyard!”

Georgia is also not afraid to laugh at herself. “I once fell down the scaffold stairs,” she admits. “My co-worker ran to catch me but the crew on the yacht next door were laughing hysterically so I had to laugh too even though it hurt like hell! In the words of Taylor Swift, I just had to shake it off!” 

Off-duty, Georgia loves life in Palma — especially the beaches and the old town’s endless streets full of traditional tapas bars. But her wanderlust hasn’t stopped, Malta and Corfu are top of her bucket list. “I read a book set in Corfu, and I became obsessed with going there. Her other destinations are Alaska and Australia, which Georgia tells me are her dream destinations!

Her advice for aspiring young yachties is simple, “Don’t overthink it, just go for it! It’s the greatest adventure you’ll ever take. Be yourself, do your best, trust your abilities and don’t sweat the small stuff! Two years down the line and Georgia still follows her own advice.

“If I could give my younger self one piece of advice it would be I wish I had spent more time reminding myself that being 20 is only a drop in the ocean of my life and that I have so many adventures to look forward to!” 

Looking ahead, Georgia hopes to one day become Chief Stewardess and get more involved in guest experiences, planning trips, creating memories and adding her personal touch. For now, she’s embracing the lessons, the laughter and the yachting lifestyle. “You never stop learning in this job and that’s what makes it so addictive!”