Checking the tide: What lessons has yachting taught you?

What’s the best life lesson that yachting has taught you?

This question stopped yacht crew in their tracks yesterday. A few, you could tell, couldn’t come up with anything, but most were stumped to pick just one lesson. Yachting teaches those who work on yachts not only about yourself, but how you interact with others. And those “others” run the gamut from your peers to your boss and subordinates, to the ultra-high-net-worth individuals who own and charter these yachts. Given that perspective, it’s easy to understand how tough it was for captains and crew to choose just one lesson.

Stew Morgan Passarelli

M/Y Amitie

101’ Hargrave

Just to be yourself. Be friendly and treat people how you would want to be treated.

Chief Stew Jamie-Lee Sykes

M/Y Excellence

150’ Richmond

To take pride in everything you do, and to not take shortcuts.

Dayworker Bianca Franck

M/Y Remember When

162’ Christensen

To appreciate life more, my time off and my time to myself. And that hard works pays off at the end.

2d Stew Meghan Dedrick

M/Y Monte Carlo

132’ Amels

That life can be adventurous and lucrative and unconventional. I have kids, but you can still do weird and wonderful things.

Capt. Cohen Dahm

M/Y Our Toy

120’ Feadship

Don’t judge people on face value.

2d Stew Gaby DiGiuseppe

M/Y Matchpoint

162’ Christensen

It’s definitely given me thicker skin. I come from such a small town. People here move and transition quickly. I’ll never forget my first chief stew leaving. I said ‘no, you’re abandoning me.’ I will always get attached to people, but now I don’t take it so personally.

Capt. Adam Cunerd

M/Y Scott Free

120’ Northcoast

Responsibility. And to work hard but also enjoy life. And yachting gives you the best between the two.

Capt. Craig Cannon

M/Y Miss Lisa

92’ Citadel

Safety, making sure all your systems are ready. Yachting prepares you for anything, just like Boy Scouts. I was an Eagle Scout; it just teaches you to be prepared you for anything.

Chief Stew Ashley Cameron

Westport

Yachting has taught me the importance of following your intuition, your gut feeling. When it comes down to it, you have to ask, does this feel right?