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 Second mate aspires to the ship life
By AMY THURMAN
Waterfront News Columnist
Imagine working aboard a mega-yacht that spends winters in the Caribbean and summers in the Mediterranean. And though you’re a woman, you’re not a stewardess or chef, but the ship’s second officer.
I recently had the chance to speak with Sara Whitehead, 29, a second mate aboard the 207-foot motor yacht Polar Star. Originally from England, Sara has always been comfortable on the water. When she was 8-years-old, her family cruised on their sailboat for over a year before settling on the island of Palma, Spain, where her parents still live today.
WN: (Waterfront News): What led up to your choosing yachting as a career? And why mate instead of stew?
SW: (Sara Whitehead): My parents both sail and it sort of took form from there. I met a group of yachties and listened to their stories about traveling, about different places and the blue waters of the Caribbean. I knew if I didn’t try it then, I never would. So I took a course on yacht master theory and got a job on a boat.
One of my first jobs was a short-term position as laundry stew and I think that was my last stew job. You have to respect the laundry stew, that can be a tough job. But I’ve always been a bit of a tomboy and the deck officer position just appealed to me more.
WN: Tell us about your title.
SW: My actual certification is for deck officer of the watch yacht 3000 tons. This allows me to serve as first officer (or first mate) aboard vessels less than 500 tons. The yacht I’m on now is over 500 tons so I qualify as second officer. I report to the first officer and the bosun reports to me.
WN: Have you encountered any difficulties in your job due to your gender, or are there ways in which being female makes things easier?
SW: I think the biggest difficulties in my job due to my gender are the ones I put there myself, like the score I keep in my head where I always need to keep up with the boys or do better. Physically that’s sometimes a challenge, like in lifting things, so I try in other areas. There have been a few occasions in the past where I’ve been working on something difficult and one of the hands will stop what he’s doing to help me. This can cause conflict because he’s not doing his job. But mostly it’s fine.
Another aspect is that there are still a few owners/captains out there who will not have girls on deck – but so far so good. There are also those who bring their families aboard and are more comfortable with female crew.
WN: Do you know other female officers?
SW: I have a few female deck crew friends but most of them have left the industry already, some to become firemen and others just to do the family thing. When I started, I knew hardly anyone. I’d heard of a couple female captains and first mates but they’re somewhat elusive and I never met them!
WN: What’s next? Do you want to move up to first officer? Do you see yourself running a large yacht as master one day?
SW: I’d like to be first officer on a vessel the size of the one I work on now and one day be master on something a little smaller. There are a few other things I’d like to do which are not so conducive with working on yachts. I’m 29 and I’d like to have a family one day, so that limits my time.
WN: What’s the job itself like? Do you have much free time? How often do you get home?
SW: It depends. When we have charters, it can be 13-hour days. When we don’t, it’s more like a regular work day. I spend my free time reading, watching DVD’s and of course, studying. I usually get home twice a year. I’m lucky in that – we cruise in the Med in the summer and that usually means stopping in Palma, so I get to spend time with my family.
WN: Do you prefer being in the Med to the Caribbean?
SW: I like both places for different reasons. I’m more familiar with the Med, the lifestyle there, the attitudes. But I enjoy being in the Caribbean too. The water is beautiful and the diving is great!
WN: What about how your job affects you on a personal level? What do your parents think?
SW: My parents have been great about it. I think my Dad likes having a tomboy second mate daughter he can talk shop with (He works with boats as a land-based electrical and electronics engineer.) I don’t think Mum likes it so much when I speak for hours on end to my dad about my job, but she’s really proud of me for doing what I do.
WN: Do you have a boyfriend?
SW: Yes I have a boyfriend. [She smiles].
WN: What advice would you give to other women wishing to take the same path you’ve chosen?
SW: Start early getting your tickets [certifications]. We unfortunately do not have as much time as men in the industry if we plan to have families, so get going!
Never forget to get your sea time signed off or your testimonials, no matter what position you hold, if you want to make the switch to deck – but that applies to all deck crew, not just girls. Start early and just do it!
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Amy Thurman is a Fort Lauderdale-based freelance writer. If you’re a woman boater who would like to share your experiences in a future column, e-mail Amy Thurman at: writeofpassage@gmail.com .
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