Sailing women: celebrating International Women's Day

During this International Women’s Day, we want to celebrate some women who turned sailing life into their greatest passion. The nautical world might be male-dominant at first glance, but women are showing more and more interest and growing their presence in this world, proving that no industry is born with gender restrictions.

This is a collection of the most meaningful answers gathered while interviewing three sailing women: we’re talking about D’Andra Lewis, a Licensed Marine Captain at Dede’s Boat Rental and Charter Services in the British Virgin Islands; Laurence Miseray, a sailboat owner who ditched her Parisian life to start a life of sailing with her husband, completing multiple Atlantic Ocean crossings; and Nikolija Baretić, yacht hostess and chef of Croatia Yachting, in Croatia. 

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Tell us D’Andra, what is your personal experience in engaging in a traditionally male dominated field such as that of sailing? 

It’s always an overwhelming and prideful feeling to see passengers or locals amazed by my performance at the helm. This motivates me to perfect my skills and encourage other females to pursue their career in a male dominating field.

Do you think that in the future there will be more and more women experiencing sailing whether for leisure or at a more competitive level?

Certainly, in the power boat industry there are more female captains appearing. There are a few speed boat and sloop racers. In the BVI we have seen an increase of female students taking advantage of the maritime courses and internships provided by HLSCC.

What is your advice for women who are attracted to sailing but have not yet tried it yet? 

Never be afraid, sailing is your first class ticket to an unplanned adventure. As Robert Brault said “Life is like sailing. You can use the wind to go in any direction”

D’Andra L. Lewis’s, Licensed Marine Captain

Follow her on Instagram: @SkippaLul_284

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Laurence, we’re curious to hear how it all began. Can you tell us a little bit about you, have you been sailing all your life? What was your pre-sailing life like?

I had never sailed before this experience! It all started when my husband was preparing for an offshore race (the Transquadra) in 2016, he already knew how to sail. We had a beautiful house on the west side of Paris but we were fed up with our professional lives. Then, one evening before Christmas he came up with the idea of traveling around the world on a sailing vessel and I immediately said yes. He taught me to sail in Malaysia, where our journey began, and where we bought our first boat, then in 2019, I decided to take my RYA Day Skipper qualification. 

How has sailing changed the way you are?

It is a lifestyle that includes many positive aspects. First of all, I gained great self-confidence and achieved things I never imagined I could do - taking an Advanced Open Water Padi diploma and crossing the Atlantic Ocean just to name a few.

It also made me much less materialistic: I realized we don't really need most of the things we own in life also by meeting people who live so happily with nothing! Living on a boat makes you cut everything to the essentials: you become more efficient, more organized, you waste nothing, and find solutions to everything. We learned to cherish every moment much more, every simple little thing really amazes us.

You also become more sensitive to environmental issues: we now use as little plastic as possible, consume only organic products on board, and have a copper coat for the boat. It’s a life that brings you back to the roots, to who you actually are, completely free from the consumerist society and media.

Laurence Miserey, full-time-sailing boat owner and qualified skipper

Follow her adventure on Instagram: @womanwhosails

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Nikolija, what’s the best part about being a yacht chef and hostess?

Spending my whole summer on the sea is definitely the favourite part of my job, but great people, great experiences, and great cuisine are amazing parts of the nautical experience too. Spending a week on a boat with people creates both professional and friendship relationships, new experiences every day keep amazing you, and great cuisine every day just makes you happy. 

As a part of a boat charter company, I make sure our guests have everything they might need to have the best possible holiday experience. And what I love the most about it, is that everything you do counts. Every step you take towards providing the ultimate holiday experience for your guests is appreciated and rewarded in the end.

And the most challenging one?

We work during the warmest and sunniest time of the day, and that can be physically demanding. There are also over-the-barrel moments caused by strong winds and bad weather which put all of us in a situation where we just have to do what we have to do to save the boat and ourselves. But it’s nothing to be worried about, both make you stronger at the end of a day. :)

Can you use a few words to inspire other women to join this amazing world as you did?

Yes! I was never aware of how much I could do and how fast could I learn before first stepping on a boat. If you do so, not only will you instantly be dragged out of your comfort zone, but it will also help you see how precious the beauty of your country is to people from all around the globe, and you will start appreciating it even more. 

I would highly recommend this profession, not only for the sun and sea all day long but also for the people you meet and the friendships you form along your way. As an artist, being in contact with variety of people from all around the globe helps your creative mind and opens future opportunities. Together with the sun and the sea, in my case it has been the perfect profession for the past 4 years.

Nikolija Baretić, yacht hostess and certified chef 

Follow Nikolija on Instagram: @nikolijabaretic

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