From the Farm to the Sea: Interview With Superyacht Captain Kelly
Hi Kelly! Tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up the furthest from yachting anyone could imagine, landlocked on a farm in North Central Indiana. However, it was my move to the coast of North Carolina where I obtained my Master of Science in Chemistry that I was introduced to yachting. It was completely by chance and a student wanted to show me around town that I was introduced to the yachting industry. As she invited me to an event onboard a yacht and I stepped onto the back deck, I instantly knew that this was for me. In fact, I knew within an instant that I wanted to be a captain.
What inspired you to pursue a career in the superyacht industry, and how did you get started?
I knew within an instant that this was for me and that I wanted to do this, be a captain. I have always gravitated towards male dominated careers, and this is likely from having grown up outdoors on a farm. I have always loved working with my hands and enjoyed fixing things. To me, yachting was similar to the tractors that I had grown up with-heavy equipment, manoeuvring the equipment and repairing it. Afterall, yacht engines, at that time, were nothing more than marinized tractor engines. That was the attraction and it was a challenge to learn something new and I have loved learning since I was small.
What are some of the obstacles you’ve faced as a female captain on a yacht, and how did you overcome them? Have you encountered any biases or stereotypes as a female captain, and how have you managed those situations?
It can be tricky being a woman leading in a male dominated industry. I have had to prove myself over and over again and overcome biases and even sexual harassment. To be honest though, not that many and I attribute that to my mindset and approach. Being a female captain, in a male dominated industry, there could have been a lot more challenges that presented. But, my mindset, approach to other captains, and showing them a great deal of respect provided me with an industry of support.
Inspiring other women, mentoring others, and breaking down barriers all provides a sense of accomplishment and empowerment for me. It’s rewarding to see more women entering the industry and to be part of the positive change towards greater diversity and inclusion
What advice would you give to young women aspiring to become captains or pursue careers in the yachting industry?
Do it! Just do it! It will be hard, but so worth it. Embrace the men as they will become your allies. When you feel like you must prove yourself just a little bit more don’t let that get you down. And, if being on deck was easy, we’d see women on deck everywhere. And we all know anything worth having doesn’t come easy. 🙂
You speak a lot about mental health on your social media page. How do you prioritise and manage mental health on board for both yourself and your crew?
What a great question! When it comes to myself, to be completely honest, sometimes I am spot on with taking care of myself and other times I stretch myself a little too thin. But, I have done so much work in the past with counselling, therapy, and mind work that I know my limits and know when to dial it back. I am an extroverted introvert. So, while I like to be full all of the time I know when I need to take time to myself. And, this comes from really knowing oneself. I want to emphasise though that I have put a lot of work in and continue to do so, everyday, and y’all should too!
When it comes to my crew I find that it is best to be myself 100% of the time. So, they know when I’m happy or sad. What this does is encourages them to do the same with me and other crew mates. So, if we need to go for a walk and talk or sit and cry, we do. I find that being open with them fosters a sense of security and safe space on board. In addition, we make work fun. We do things like start every morning meeting with a laugh session. I pay attention to how they’re handling their work loads and if we need to take a half day, we do. If we need to take a day to go kayaking, snorkelling, or something fun, we do. Really, I prioritise my and my crew’s mental health by making it the absolute number one priority onboard. If one of us isn’t doing well, we fix it!
Looking ahead, what are your plans for the future and what do you plan to achieve in the yachting industry?
Looking ahead, I am most excited about officially launching my nonprofit (coming very soon!) focused on mental health support within the yachting industry. This initiative will provide resources, counselling services, and workshops to promote mental wellness and awareness of industry-specific issues. Additionally, I am working on developing more educational content and expanding the reach of the “Captain’s Classroom” series, continuing to speak at boat shows and beyond about mental health and leadership, and recording season 2 of my podcast Uncharted: Conversations with Captain Kelly. It is definitely a busy time with so much exciting opportunity to create some positive change!
Thank you, Kelly, for sharing your inspiring journey and valuable insights. Your story is a testament to the power of passion, resilience, and the importance of mental health in the high seas of the yachting industry. We look forward to seeing the positive changes you bring to the industry and beyond.