Crew Advice

Ask Captain Kelly: How Inclusive is the Yachting Industry?

30 June 2023 By Staff Report

Have a tricky onboard situation you’d like an outsider’s perspective on? Have a burning career question? We can help!

Welcome to Dockwalk’s Ask Captain Kelly advice column, where we post your questions and get insight from a current captain, Capt. Kelly J. Gordon. Capt. Kelly currently works aboard M/Y Freddy but grew up in a small town in Indiana. Her path into yachting began in Beaufort, North Carolina, where she now claims as home base. She’s a former chemistry professor and loves to teach — while she takes pride in her ability as a motor yacht captain, she has a soft spot for young adults, especially those that come with questions.

This week‘s question tackles the idea of inclusivity within the industry.

Q: How inclusive is the industry? I am gay and am very interested in joining the yachting industry, but I worry about being accepted. What advice would you offer someone in my position?

A: Welcome aboard! That’s what I would say! It’s 2023 and I think this is one area that this industry is progressing in. Yes, you may run into some a$$h@le$ from boat to boat, but in my experience, fewer and fewer people care about your sexual orientation. We (captains and managers) are concerned with finding good, hardworking, drama-free crew more than anything these days.

If you show up and work hard, that is really all that matters at the end of the day. I literally just asked all my crewmembers — a mix of men and women of different races and age ranges from 23 to 50 — what they thought, and they all looked at me like I was crazy for asking. Every one of them said, “Who cares?” and the oldest of the crew said, “Is that really even a concern anymore?”

So there you have it!

If you want to get her advice, please email AskCaptainKelly@dockwalk.com and you could see your questions and her answers featured here. All personal information will remain anonymous.