Faith Poppy Dorey Lark

I was in the Yachting industry for just over 4 years, my roles were ‘stewardess’ and ‘senior stewardess/Yoga instructor + Personal Trainer.’

I decided to leave yachting because my desire to move home and start a family with my partner (whom i met onboard my first boat) was greater than my desire to stay in yachting.

I also started to struggle morally with a few things in the industry, the ridiculous hours, working for the sake of working, sexism, mind-numbing/pointless tasks, the superficial side to the industry etc. It all took its toll in the end.

The more i got to know who i was as a person, the more yachting started to feel out of alignment with who i am and what i wanted to do with my life. Don’t get me wrong, i absolutely loved my time in yachting and enjoyed so many aspects about it. Some of my greatest memories and friends made have been thanks to yachting.

I would use my holiday leaves, shipyard periods, crossings and COVID lockdown days to always do something in the direction of where i wanted to take my life post yachting.

I did Yoga teacher trainings in Nepal and Palma, I did a vegan chef course in Bali and i would do online courses too. When i was onboard I loved listening to educational, business-related podcasts while detailing or in the laundry.

After living in a tiny, shared cabin for those 4 years i began to yearn for simple things like cooking my own food, being able to plan weekends, decorating my home, and having a more ‘normal’ life with my partner. I am an introverted homebody, so i found living and working with so many people and all their personalities and energies quite intense.

I would say the main reason i left though, was the extreme burnout.

It is such a huge adjustment leaving the yachting world because while you’re in it, it really is your whole world. The biggest adjustment for me was no longer having the disposable income and also the risk of starting your own business. Yachting is quite a fast paced-lifestyle, we worked hard and we partied harder; travelling to exciting new places, once in a lifetime experience’s, constantly surrounded by a lot of friends and to then, for me, move into an off grid tiny home, deep in the bush, that you can only get to via a bush walk, was quite the contrast. In fact, it could not have been more opposite. But that was what i was craving towards the end of my time on board. I wanted quietness, space to be alone, i wanted to be surrounded by nature and trees, to feel grounded and free; all the things i missed while being in yachting.

I prepared for the transition for quite a while, i used my free time while in the industry to focus on building foundations. By the time i left i already had a business plan, brand designs/logo for my business, as well as multiple offerings. I designed and had my tiny home built all while being on the other side of the world, so that as soon as i got home i could hit the ground running. Having something i was passionate about to devote my time too really got me through the harder times on board.

I have put to use all the courses i did and am now teaching yoga, doing 1:1 numerology readings, i host workshops and retreats. I run an Airbnb (my tiny house) and i also have taken over the family business owning/operating a vintage clothing store on the main street of Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. And most importantly i am a mum to my little girl, Zanthe.

My current career gives me really good work life balance, flexible hours, a healthy environment, it’s close to home and i get to be my own boss. It doesn’t really compare to my time in yachting because they are both such different industries. Yachting was extreme highs and lows and my life now is steadier and more consistent.

I gained so many skills and valuable knowledge from yachting which have transferred to my life and work on land. Yachting was one of the best things i ever did.

My biggest piece of advice would be to use your shipyard periods, crossings, and leaves wisely. Set yourself up for an easy transition by doing things such as Investing in property, doing courses or trainings in the field/s you’re interested in (Some boats even pay for trainings if they can benefit the boat too.) Live it up while you’re on board/leave - party, say yes, do the things! but also save some of your pennies to take the stress off coming home and setting up your new life, especially if you don’t plan on working right away.

When you do exit the industry, adjust your spending. I naively continued to live and spend like i did on the yachts and burnt through a lot of my savings quite quickly. Luckily i did use some of my earnings to set up an Airbnb which is now a passive income.

Travel, find yourself and who you really are, what you want in life and what you want to do with your time.

Also know that if you try something and it doesn’t work out or you run out of money you can always temp or do another season, Yachting is a great security blanket to fall back on if you need it.

Yachting taught me to be adaptable, it taught me independence and self-awareness, and most importantly how to stain treat any stain (a life saver with a baby) Those long boss-on trips really prepared me for the lack of sleep that comes with parenthood.

One of the biggest gifts from my time in Yachting was meeting Amelia, she is the most empathetic, nurturing, non-judgmental and caring person. She always offered a listening ear, a warm embrace or wise advice when you needed it.