Associate Editor Aileen Mack joined Dockwalk in July 2018. She is a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. If she’s not at a concert or coffee shop, she is lost in a book, movie or a YouTube rabbit hole. Email Aileen at aileen@dockwalk.com.
It's easy to get lost in the idea of the luxury and the highlights that are posted on social media, especially for those interested in joining yachting. However, not everyone is cut out for the lifestyle, pressure, and relentlessness ofit all. Dockwalk Editor Lauren has been interviewing crewmembers live on our Instagram @dockwalk about their journeys into yachting and what they think some of the misconceptions are about the industry. Here are some of their thoughts:
"The intensity of it. I think a lot of people forget how intense [it] is to live and work in the same place and it gets to a lot of people. A lot of people don't last because of that. It's not for everyone and only a certain percentage of people can do something like this. That's a big misconception because they forget you're here all the time on the job."
Chef Dean Harrison
"[With Below Deck/, everyone's like I know exactly what you do and you're like [nope], you have no idea about a well-run boat with good communication and everything isn't staged to be a huge drama. Yes. there are dramas and things go wrong, but that's our life. It's actually a job. a career - amazing things for the right sort of person, depending where you go. whether you go sailing. charter, whatever your avenue is."
Chief Stew Tracey Bamforth
"A lot of people just think we're constantly on holiday, which is understandable with all the posts of photos and stuff. But when it comes to family and people who don't know the industry, people think it's like cruise ships, which I think is quite funny. My grandmother sort of thinks I work on a cruise ship. I'm just tired of correcting her now. People think we're living in a life of luxury when we're not- we're working."
Chef James Howard
"That yachting is easy and glamorous. The benefits are amazing. The travel is unbelievable; you see some places you'd never get to see otherwise. But it's hard work, the hours are long, you can go a [whole] season and not get a day off, or if you're lucky, you might get a couple days off. I think as long as you're prepared for that and you know a little bit about what you're getting into. you'll be fine."
Chief Stewardess Georgia Rex
This article originally ran in the May 2021 issue of Dockwalk.