When I first got into the industry, I'll admit I had no idea what I was doing. I was just 19 or 20 years old, heard about the good money, and decided to just jump on a plane to the south of France to give it a try. I had absolutely zero experience with boats up until that point. But I ended up lucking out with my first boat - the first officer there was an absolute gem. He took me under his wing and taught me everything I needed to know, really fast-tracking my learning curve. By the time I left that first boat after a year and a half, I was able to step right into a boson role on a smaller vessel.
I started to think about leaving the industry when I re-joined the boat I was on before Below Deck. The owners wanted me to come back after my TV debut and we had a great relationship, but new crew had been employed whom I didn’t get on with and I felt very pushed out of my role. I just couldn't stomach the daily slog of being surrounded by people I didn't get along with anymore. It was this paired with my high value of privacy and independence, and I knew at that point that the yachting lifestyle wasn't aligning with my personal values long-term. I also knew that I wanted to go down the business route rather than working onboard. Don't get me wrong, when you have an amazing crew that clicks, it's an absolute dream - you're basically just hanging out with your friends all day. But the second you end up on a "bad" boat, it just sucks the joy right out of it.
I think a big part of it was also just the natural evolution of priorities that happens as you get older. Your 20s are all about exploration, experiences, and figuring out who you are. But as you approach 30, the need to start planting roots and building a real life becomes a lot stronger. I wanted to be surrounded by my friends and family, have a proper home base, and generally just live a more grounded, stable existence. The constant back-and-forth of yachting life just didn't fit that vision anymore.
The transition out of the industry definitely came with its fair share of challenges, though. When you're in the yachting bubble, you have this amazing support system and community around you - the crew houses, the likeminded colleagues, the built-in network of opportunities. I’ve never worked in an industry that is so well supported. As soon as I left that, I felt completely lost. It was just this overwhelming "what am I going to do now?" feeling. You almost have to build your life again. ]The financial adjustment was brutal - going from a 3.5k per month yachting salary to a 24k per year land job, that was a major reality check. It’s hard to work from the bottom again.
Thankfully, I did eventually find my footing by getting connected with a group called YPY – Young Professionals in Yachting. It's essentially a networking group for shore-based yachting industry ex-crew, and it was exactly the kind of community I needed to rebuild that sense of belonging. Attending their events and making those connections really helped me rediscover that rhythm and pace I was used to in my crew days, just in a more stable, land-based way. I've made some great friends through that group, and it's been invaluable for maintaining that yachting industry connection even from the shore side.
The whole experience of transitioning out of yachting and into entrepreneurship with Crew Pass has really shown me how transferrable a lot of those skills are. The regimented, high-pressure nature of working on boats - having to make instant decisions, handle curveballs, and just generally be constantly on the go - that mentality is so applicable to running your own business. I feel like the resilience and adaptability I built in yachting has been a huge asset. And of course, the industry knowledge and network I have access to has been instrumental in building a business that caters to that world.
CrewPass was an idea I came up with after working with MarineGuard, where I was a project coordinator delivering security systems on Superyachts. I realised that for so many land based jobs, there are DBS checks and other security checks, but it was rare to find this on yachts. I then built a software that delivers comprehensive background checks that ensure safety for superyacht crew, vessels, and agencies across the globe, and Crew Pass was born.
At the end of the day, I feel like I've truly created a life that aligns with my values and sense of purpose now. Yachting can be this golden handcuff situation where you get so wrapped up in the money and the lifestyle, but eventually you have to be honest with yourself about what you really want. For me, that meant prioritising things like having a home base, being close to my loved ones, and feeling a true sense of fulfilment in my work. It was definitely a challenging transition, but I'm really proud of where I've ended up.
My final piece of advice for anyone looking to make the transition ashore: leverage your connections. Surround yourself with people who can support you, and if you’re starting something of your own, building a strong network is essential. Immerse yourself in the shoreside yachtie community. When you understand the industry, you become a valuable asset to businesses outside of it. So, if you’re unsure about your next move, explore the opportunities within the industry—just on the shoreside.
For more help or information about how YOU can plan YOUR exit strategy, book in a discovery call today!
Comments