My Journey in Yachting, So Far

A Lifelong Bond with the Sea

I’ve always had a strong connection to the sea. Born in a port city, I grew up in a family that spent entire summers—and many other holidays—by the beach. The rhythm of the waves, the scent of the salt air, and the open horizon formed part of my earliest memories.

But it wasn’t until 2015 that I took my first real steps into the world of sailing. I joined a 12-day coastal journey aboard a sloop—a deeply immersive introduction that changed everything.

This wasn’t a typical sailing holiday. It was a hands-on experience that I was fortunate to join as a sponsored volunteer. The voyage was part of a master’s project in anthropology, organized and led by a Sardinian skipper. The trip was partially crowd-funded, with the rest of the cost covered by a corporate sponsor. We lived and worked together on board, learning the rhythms of the sea, the responsibilities of crewing, and the culture of shared adventure.

By the end of those 12 days, I knew: I wanted more.

Where Next?

After such a powerful introduction, the question naturally arose: would I pursue sailing further?

My answer was an enthusiastic yes—but the path wasn’t immediately open to me. At the time, I was living in a location without access to sailing clubs, yachts, or coastal infrastructure. There were no clear facilities or communities I could join to continue the journey. For a while, sailing remained a strong interest, but one I had to put on hold.

Training, Charters, and My First Taste of Seamanship

Earning My First Certification: Competent Crew

The RYA Competent Crew course was a five-day liveaboard program, designed to introduce complete beginners to life on a sailing yacht. It was equal parts educational and enjoyable—a crash course in seamanship that covered everything from basic safety and terminology to sail handling, helming, and life onboard.

I shared the saloon berth with Bruno, a fellow student from Portugal, who was also completing his Competent Crew. The environment was dynamic but supportive. Each day we learned something new: how to tie essential knots, how to secure mooring lines, how to tack and gybe safely, and how to manage galley duties as part of a team. The evenings were for review, camaraderie, and quiet reflection in unfamiliar harbours.

Completing the course gave me a sense of belonging and a clearer understanding of the world I had entered. More importantly, it earned me a certificate—something tangible I could present when approaching other sailors or considering future opportunities.

From Training to Chartering: Building Experience in Southampton and Croatia

Bruno and I kept in touch after the course. He quickly progressed to the Day Skipper qualification, while I enrolled in the theory component online via Urban Truant. We both wanted to improve our skills, and so we made a plan: book short weekend charters in UK waters to prepare for a week-long bareboat charter in Croatia.

We met both in person and online to discuss itineraries, budget, and responsibilities. Our initial outings in Southampton were ideal—sunny, calm, and rich in small lessons that can only be learned through repetition. Each charter gave us a better sense of who we were on board: our strengths, our blind spots, our preferred tasks, and how we worked as a team.

For our Croatian adventure, we didn’t book a skippered tour or join a flotilla. We opted for a bareboat charter, meaning we were solely responsible for the yacht. The company provided the vessel, and little else—no itinerary, no provisioning, no captain or host.

This meant everything from planning the route and anchoring locations to provisioning and dividing responsibilities was up to us. It was as liberating as it was instructive.

Learning by Doing: Why the Competent Crew Course Was Invaluable

Looking back, the Competent Crew course laid the foundation for these experiences. It helped me move from passive participation to active seamanship. Rather than simply following instructions, I began to understand the rationale behind each decision: why the skipper chose one anchorage over another, why we reefed the mainsail at a certain wind strength, or how we estimated our arrival time based on tide and speed.

It also equipped me with practical knowledge—how to coil lines properly, how to keep the heads in good working order, how to perform galley duties while underway without becoming a hazard. I gained the confidence to contribute meaningfully, rather than feeling like a guest.

This level of involvement makes sailing more enjoyable. It turns a day on the water into a shared mission, rather than a guided ride.

The Realities of Bareboat Chartering

Many people are introduced to yachting through flotilla holidays or skippered charters. These can be great fun—but they don’t necessarily teach you much about actual seamanship.

Bareboat chartering, on the other hand, strips things down to the essentials. You’re in charge of everything:

Route planning
Weather monitoring
Boat handling
Safety protocols
Docking and mooring
Fuel and water management
Budgeting and provisioning

We even managed the cost-sharing through Excel spreadsheets, confirmed plans by email, and carpooled to reduce travel costs. The sailing decisions were made by Bruno and me, with some input from other keen but unqualified friends who joined the trip.

The destination preferences, meals, and provisioning were all up for discussion and voted on—making it a collaborative but structured experience.

More Than Navigation: The Art of Seamanship

One of the things that stood out during these charters was just how much thought goes into each decision on the water. You might see a mooring buoy on a satnav, but that doesn’t tell you how to book it, whether it’s privately managed, what it costs, or what the holding conditions are like. You also need to consider emergency contacts, marina facilities, local regulations, and shore-side dining options.

Through the RYA training, you learn how to think holistically as a sailor. It’s not just about moving a vessel from point A to B—it’s about understanding tides, winds, crew dynamics, safety margins, and even how to enjoy your time responsibly. That includes knowing when to anchor and when to moor, how to avoid bad weather, and how to locate that perfect harbourside restaurant that doesn’t break the bank.

In one memorable instance, we moored in a secluded bay in the Adriatic where, after hopping ashore over rocks, we found a small, wooden restaurant offering fresh seafood and homemade wine. It wasn’t in any tourist guide, but the kind of place you learn about by talking to the sailing community—or learning what to look for through training and experience.

There is a difference between being a sailor, and being an RYA-trained sailor. Knowledge is empowering and also carries with it a sense of credibility and, dare I say, prestige. As someone who was not yet a British citizen at the time, I felt privileged to be part of a training network that carries the name “Royal” with purpose.

Pushing Further: From Qualification to Commercial Endorsement

Completing Day Skipper and Building on the Momentum

After our bareboat adventure in Croatia, my enthusiasm for sailing only grew stronger. I wanted to formalize my skillset and develop more independence on board. So I returned to the Hamble School of Yachting and completed the five-day RYA Day Skipper practical course.

This was a key milestone. The course emphasized decision-making, leadership, and accountability. I began to take on more responsibility—not just in terms of sail handling or navigation, but also managing others on board, anticipating risks, and planning passages with confidence. Each hour felt valuable, both for refining my technique and reinforcing the mindset required of a true skipper.

Exploring the Certification Landscape

Through networking and research, I discovered that several complementary certifications could deepen both my knowledge and professional standing:

The International Certificate of Competence (ICC)—necessary for chartering boats in many non-UK jurisdictions—was available free for RYA members. As I was now a member, I applied and received it.
To qualify for the ICC, I first needed a VHF Radio Certificate, which I completed through a two-day classroom course at Elite Sailing. It may sound simple, but knowing how to operate a radio in an emergency or communicate with harbour authorities is a fundamental part of safety at sea.

Each credential wasn’t just a tick-box—it represented another layer of capability and another step toward operating with autonomy and credibility.

Setbacks and Silver Linings: The COVID-19 Era

Just as I was gaining momentum, the pandemic struck. The world locked down. The mile builder I had booked was cancelled, and like many others, I found myself stuck at home.

I often read accounts of liveaboard sailors who continued to travel the world during lockdowns. There was a poetic irony to it—while most of us were confined to our homes, the sea remained one of the few places where freedom could still be found.

With extra time on my hands, I kept studying. I began the theoretical segment of the RYA Yachtmaster qualification, completing much of the coursework online. However, without the opportunity to follow up with the practical component, I chose not to sit the final exam.

Still, I didn’t see this as a failure—more like preparing the ground for when the time was right. I had developed the knowledge. All that remained was the opportunity to demonstrate it.

Training Between Lockdown

When restrictions eased slightly, I used the window to train further. I joined Elite Sailing in Chatham, where I completed a boat handling weekend and a coastal cruising course. These weren’t certification courses, but they kept me sharp, offered valuable feedback, and allowed me to stay connected with the water.

Due to ongoing restrictions, however, we weren’t allowed to spend nights aboard, and all training days had to end back at the marina by sunset. It was a compromise—but a meaningful one.

One piece of advice I received at the time stayed with me: “Join a local dinghy club and keep practicing.” Initially, I dismissed it. How could dinghy sailing compare to crewing a 10-ton yacht?

But I later came to appreciate the suggestion. It wasn’t about the size of the vessel—it was about decision-making, wind awareness, sail trim, and the habit of staying active in the sailing world, even when far from the sea. Like many other businesses, the club was closed during lockdowns, but it remained in my sights for when normal life resumed.

Charting a Path Toward Commercial Standards

As I gained more qualifications, I realized I could now apply for Commercial Endorsement—a credential that would allow me to work aboard commercial vessels, not just private ones.

To qualify, I completed:

The STCW Basic Safety Training (Firefighting, First Aid, Sea Survival, and Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities)
A professional medical examination – ENG 1
The RYA Professional Practices and Responsibilities (PPR) course

These weren’t simply hoops to jump through. Each module gave me deeper insight into the responsibilities of working professionally at sea—from understanding maritime law to managing onboard emergencies, to knowing how to function effectively in a structured crew environment.

So Why Not Just Book More Mile Builders or Join Sail Week?

It’s a fair question. Many people build sea miles by joining fun group sailing holidays or paying for extensive mile-building trips.

But for me, the motivation was different. I wasn’t looking for a holiday—I was committed to becoming a competent, capable, and trusted yachtsman. Not someone who’d clock miles passively, but someone who could lead, contribute, and stand watch with full accountability.

I didn’t want my time at sea to be about sipping cocktails on deck. I wanted it to be about learning—about understanding how to make better decisions, handle adverse conditions, how to navigate, and develop the kind of judgment that only comes through experience and proper training.

From Passion to Practice: Yacht Deliveries and Logged Miles

Getting Real Sea Time: Halcyon Yacht Deliveries

After completing my qualifications, I still faced the same essential challenge all aspiring sailors face: how to gain meaningful time at sea.

That’s when my brother—himself an enthusiastic sailor—introduced me to Halcyon Yachting, a company that offers professional yacht delivery services. They help yacht owners relocate vessels over long distances, often for sales or seasonal repositioning. These are not leisure trips—they are operational passages that must be completed safely, efficiently, and under the direction of an experienced skipper.

What made Halcyon ideal for me was their willingness to take volunteer crew members—people with the right qualifications and attitude—alongside their professional delivery teams. With my Day Skipper certification, VHF license, and commercial endorsement, I was eligible.

I seized the opportunity.

Deliveries, Mile Builders, and Night Watches

Over the next few years, I participated in a number of deliveries and one three-week mile builder that leaned more toward risk management than pleasure cruising. These weren’t always glamorous, but they were deeply formative.

I sailed in varying conditions, on different boats, with different crews. Sometimes we were a team of four, other times only two or three of us were handling everything. I stood watch in fair weather and foul, and gradually became comfortable navigating through the night.

Across all voyages to date, I logged:

Over 5,000 nautical miles
Nearly 300 hours of night sailing
Multiple solo and shared night watches

Many of those hours were earned through responsibility. I wasn’t just present—I was relied upon. That meant plotting courses, trimming sails in the dark, avoiding hazards, adjusting to wind shifts, and staying mentally sharp during early morning shifts.

These weren’t simulations. This was the real thing.

Reflections: What Sailing Has Given Me

The journey from volunteer crew to experienced sailor has been as much about mindset as mileage.

I’ve learned to stay calm under pressure, to adapt to shifting weather and group dynamics, to prepare thoroughly—and to improvise intelligently when things don’t go to plan. I’ve gained not just knowledge but resilience, flexibility, and judgment.

But most of all, I’ve gained clarity.

So What Comes Next?

Yachting is no longer just an interest or even a passion. It’s a part of my identity—one I intend to carry forward in various forms.

Right now, I’m land-based for several reasons, both personal and practical. I’m waiting on the outcomes of some decisions I’ve made—decisions that could shape the next chapter of my life at sea.

That said, I continue to explore possibilities actively. I see several paths:

Working aboard private or commercial yachts as a professional crew member
Purchasing my own yacht, for full independence and world exploration
Chartering or sharing ownership, for flexible access to time at sea
Continuing deliveries and mile-building, deepening my experience and credentials

At this stage, I suspect my future will include a combination of these approaches. But I also recognize that some outcomes can only happen through alignment with others—whether it’s finding the right crew, securing the right berth, or collaborating on a shared sailing vision.

A Final Word: Sailing Forward

As a trained manager, a scientist at heart, and a student of experience, I’ve always been focused on how—how things work, how people respond, how processes evolve. Yachting brings those questions to life in a unique way. It isn’t just about water, wind, and boats—it’s about clarity, cooperation, and courage.

So I sail on. Sometimes in motion, sometimes in planning. But always toward the horizon.

Here’s to more sailing.

date

December 12, 2025