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This month’s Life After Yachting feature follows Sarah Diggle-Whitlock from Seas The Day.
She came to Mallorca as a Dive Instructor in 2000, started on yachts then, she came straight in as a Chief Stewardess. Over 10 years she has worked on M/Y & S/Y from 40m to 110m. She’s circumnavigated twice and completed 10 Atlantic crossings. Moving shoreside in 2010, she worked as a Yacht Manager, Assistant Charter Broker & Recruiter. She started teaching superyacht courses in 2013, both onboard, in maritime schools & currently offer the only online course aimed at green crew, in any department: the IAMI GUEST Introduction to Superyachts & Yachting Life, Unit 23.
For more about her yachting career and future endeavours with Seas The Day, read on!
How long did you work onboard? What was your role and which yachts did you work on?
10 years, Chief Stew, always busy charter yachts. M/Y Sairam, M/Y Amivi, M/Y Indian Princess, M/Y Indian Empress, S/Y Georgia, M/Y Exuma C, M/Y Sanora, S/Y Helios …. The list goes on.
When did you leave the Superyacht industry and what were your reasons for leaving?
2010 to move shoreside. I lived 15 years in the SOF. I had been thinking about it for a while, but it is a hard transition. My boss/owner at the time always convinced me to come back. Finally, it was because I wanted to have a dog desperately, to be ‘normal’. So I bought two! I have always stayed working within the industry though.
Before leaving, did you plan an exit strategy?
Yes many, I applied to agencies & reached out to my shore side contacts. The idea of sitting in an office all day terrified me though! All I knew was running about being busy.
Most important lesson you learnt as a crew member that you now apply to day-to-day life on land?
The importance of kindness, helping others, team work & anything is possible with the right mindset & friends around you. Stay healthy, keep fit, a healthy mind & body is so important. Treat people how you wish to be treated.
Always & I mean always, make friends with the Chef!
What is your current job role, and where are you based?
I run Seas The Day Training offering courses to people wishing to join the industry, to those already in the industry wishing to further their skills, mentoring & coaching. I also work with the amazing West Nautical team assisting their Yacht Managers. So I am very much still involved in the industry!
Can you tell us more about Seas The Day and what you do on a day-to-day basis?
I answer many enquiries from people all over the world hoping to join the industry, I always try to reach out via phone to have a ‘proper’ conversation. I have stayed in contact with all my ex-students, spanning 15 years, so I have all manner of calls & emails from them! This could be tricky situations onboard, contract reviews, nerves before an interview, where to get a B1/B2 visa, hot spots for shore side visits with guests, the list goes on! But I love it all, my students have all found work & I feel so privileged that they stay in contact & ask for my advice.
At the end of the online course for entry level crew, they get a 1:1 zoom call, so four evenings a week I am busy completing these, also offering advice, going over their resumes & their next steps.
The good, the bad and the ugly parts of transitioning from yachts to shore?
The good is freedom & you start to become YOU again, as a Chief Stew my whole world revolved around the owner/s, knowing their needs & desires became like a sixth sense, a physic ability, but you can forget yourself. Getting a dog, a big commitment to a yachtie, you know you can’t go back! Living in your own house & decorating to your taste, not the owners.
The bad – the things you miss but cannot get back land based, crossings with no guests onboard, sunsets, dolphins, the amazing crew food, the camaraderie – a good crew become family very quickly, you cannot beat the feeling of living with friends in this incredible environment, selfish, negative people do not last as crew, so its hard missing these positive, team orientated ‘family’ & definitely the drop in salary!
The ugly is how institutionalised you can become, not being able to buy the best of everything or going to a restaurant & finding it so hard to not buy the same wine as you served onboard. The standards onboard can make you become an accidental snob, which takes a while to overcome. I’ve resigned to the fact I shall forever be a wine snob!
What is the hardest struggle you have faced since leaving the industry, and how did you overcome it?
Honestly, it’s that people shore side are nowhere near as helpful, positive or friendly as yacht crew or people you meet in the industry. I have found many times a cold, bleak place where the attitudes shore side are negative to the point, I found it unbearable. It has only strengthened my passion for aspiring new crew to join the industry. Most crew have no family with them, no friends when they start, they are joining on blind faith & bravery. The industry, in my opinion, is one of the safest, welcoming, friendly sectors I have ever known, everyone wants to help, as we all started in the same place once upon a time & like I already mentioned, negative, selfish, lazy people do not last.
Also finding work within the industry when based in the UK.
I overcame it by creating Seas The Day Training & always working within people in the industry, attending the Yacht Shows & networking with the people I have known for years & creating new contacts.
I consider myself an external expat!
Read more: Life After Yachting: Carmen Preda. Crew Life & Capsea Yachting!
Did you have any other career options in the back of your mind when you were considering your life after yachting?
No, I always knew I would remain in the industry. I was a very successful, happy Chief Stew, where I implemented all the training & always ensured the crew were mentally healthy & felt supported. A subject I am still very much involved with & advocate within my course & via advice. My first job offer was as Simon Cowells PA, I turned that down as I didn’t want to travel anymore & I wanted a dog, he was a lovely person & the irony that I left the UK to travel the world, only to want to settle down didn’t elude me.
If you could return to the start of your yachting career, would you change anything?
No, I loved every part of it.
I would probably have liked to save more, It can be very difficult as you want to receive what you give, so when the guests get off, you tend to go to nice restaurants, eat the expensive food & plus the yachts are always berthed in luxury locations, so prices can be hiked up. That was my excuse anyway!
I love the idea of ‘Crew Family Office’, which I am including & endorsing within my course. I wish there was something like this when I was onboard, we had no guidance at all.
What kind of positive changes would you like to see in the industry?
Our online course, the IAMI GUEST Introduction to Superyachts & Yachting Life, Unit 23 being offered alongside STCW in ALL maritime schools as a standard – STCW alone does not cover real life onboard, standards or the expectations required, leaving a caping hole for green crew not being educated or prepared for life onboard.
This results in many crew either leaving or being let go prior to the end of their trail period meaning expensive repatriation flights, agencies replacing for free missing out on the monthly salary commission & the individual potentially suffering from a confidence knock & poor mental health.
It is packed full of relevant superyacht information aimed at anyone in any department & is only £199, including certification fee & ongoing support.
I am a part of many discussions on this problem in the industry. Thank fully our course is now considered a ‘recommended industry standard’ alongside STCW, which is hugely positive & has been implemented in many maritime schools, yacht management companies & recruiters now.
Mental Health First Aid courses also a standard, especially for HOD. Seas The Mind are a fabulous company offering these courses, that I have completed myself.
Crew days out are also such a positive act that should be implemented more. Crew tend to have these big personalities all in a ‘goldfish bowl’ environment, so getting out together is both physically & mentally very important for crew.
What does success mean to you and what is your career vision for the next 5 years?
Having been around the wealthiest people in the world from working in the industry, my idea of success I learn from them & what I experienced (which was I had no desire to be in that wealthy calibre) It is not about money, yes having enough to be comfortable, investing well, but real success is about doing something you are passionate about, making positive changes – no matter how big or small, staying true to your goals.
Success for me is watching my students flourish, loving the new life they have created, I always say ‘pass on the kindness’ & I am so proud that they all do. If I have new students who have just finished their online course, ready to go out to Antibes or Mallorca, I reach out to previous students to request they meet up, show them around. They always do, which is a great start for the new green crew.
Success is supporting each other & knowing you’re in a safe place with like-minded individuals. Success is peace of mind.
My career vision is to continue to listen to what the industry needs & provide solutions, where I can. I would like to be in attendance of most of the boat shows, continue to collaborate & work with the incredible people I am with already & reach out to those yet to meet. There are so many inspiring industry professionals out there! I am looking forward to more radio interviews, seminars, travel, meetings & discussions.
My UNIT 23 course being offered with STCW
I really enjoy the 1:1 coaching & mentoring, so I look forward to that growing so I can recommend other affiliates too.
Lastly, can you share some advice for crew members thinking about their life after yachting.
- There are so many options for life after yachts shoreside, that are directly relevant to this elite industry, talk to somebody for advice. Feel free to contact me or I can recommend someone else, I always find people are so inspired & positive once they have the information.
- Make a realistic plan, then make another 2, I highly recommend to have a plan A, B & C. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, trail & error is ok, you’re looking to find your happiness in a new environment, be kind to yourself, your skillset is unique & valuable.
- Going from a yacht to an office environment can be difficult, so maybe consider working on a yacht with a quieter itinerary, so you have the chance to wind down, maybe live shoreside if possible. I used to offer temp Chief Stew cover for holidays, Atlantic crossings, or if time off was required. Let a yacht management company know, it’s a great way to earn a little extra without the commitment of living onboard & always needed.
- For interior crew look at gaining IAMI GUEST certifications, they are super transferable & internationally recognised. It is a fantastic support system & learning programme to be part of.
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