Celebrating Women in Yachting: Marlies Sanders CEO of a ‘sailing boutique hotel’

This month, Heesen honours Worldwide Girls’s Day with portraits of inspiring Dutch ladies in yachting. Marlies Sanders holds a powerful profession as a yacht captain — a title she’s earned via dedication, resilience, and an unwavering love for all times at sea.

Rising up in Drenthe, within the japanese a part of the Netherlands, removed from any crusing waters, a profession as a captain didn’t appear the obvious path for Marlies Sanders. “I used to be 12 once I first went crusing, in Friesland. I bear in mind how blissful I used to be to be allowed to take the helm for some time. Later, after my mother and father divorced, my father, my sister and me went to a crusing camp. We completely liked it.” Nonetheless, there was little to recommend that crusing would at some point turn out to be her occupation.

She went on to review Enterprise Administration, moved to Paris, and labored as a dealer in meat and livestock. Then, crusing unexpectedly re-entered her life.

“I used to be requested to affix an Atlantic crossing on a 60-footer. I’m fairly adventurous, however I had by no means sailed on the open sea and knew nothing about navigation, so I declined. However the seed had been planted.”

From Boardroom to Open Water

Marlies constructed a profession in advertising and marketing at worldwide firms, which she genuinely loved. However after 12 years within the company world — with plenty of enterprise journey however little time to really see the world — she felt the urge to take a break and go travelling for actual. Throughout an extended sabbatical via Asia, the concept of embarking on a significant crusing journey started to stir once more.

She bought the chance to sail a Jeanneau 54 throughout the Atlantic with two others. “I had barely sailed offshore. Buddies mentioned, ‘Marlies, you’re mad! What if you happen to get seasick?’ However I completely liked it. After the crossing, I used to be instantly requested to gather a ship in St Maarten. I ended up staying on that yacht for a month, taking good care of the whole lot on board and studying a fantastic deal. I then labored for a really quick 16 days stint as Chief Stewardess on a 118-footer, however that basically wasn’t for me. What I liked most was the crusing life itself!”

A Foot within the Door

After participating in quite a few races on St Maarten, Marlies set her sights on turning into a raceboat captain. “That didn’t fairly materialise. However a type of races — a transatlantic one from New York to England — led to my first job as captain, on a 56-footer owned by a Dutchman. I didn’t even have my {qualifications} on the time, however after that summer season I knew for sure: I used to be going to get my ‘tickets’.”

Formidable and wanting to be taught, Marlies has since been working in the direction of certifications for more and more bigger yachts. Most lately, she grew to become captain of a lately launched 37-metre Italian motor yacht. Over the previous few months, she has been assembling her crew and making the yacht her personal, with plans to constitution within the Mediterranean this summer season.

Management at Sea

What does Marlies imagine makes captain? “Many individuals assume it’s all about being good at dealing with a ship. After all, that’s vital — however it would possibly solely be 5 per cent of the job. I usually say I’m the CEO of a small firm. It’s primarily about working with individuals, so it’s good to take pleasure in that and be good at it. You’re employed carefully along with your crew, and also you’re additionally dwelling collectively in a confined area.”

She considers herself a considerably unconventional captain. “I’m maybe a bit much less hierarchical than a lot of my colleagues. I attempt to give individuals the area and the instruments they should do their jobs properly.”

Nonetheless, there are occasions when she has to face her floor — particularly when coping with ‘demanding’ friends. “In the end, I’m answerable for everybody’s security, so I’ve to have the ability to say ‘no’ when obligatory. However I at all times attempt to take action diplomatically and to handle expectations from the outset.”

Charting a Course Collectively

Marlies is aware of what it means to steadiness knowledgeable and private life within the demanding world of yachting. “It’s completely potential to have a relationship on this business — even once you’re each on deck. It may need been simpler if I’d married a Chief Steward or a chef as a substitute of one other captain, however it’s positively doable. We’ve run boats collectively up to now — he was the one who taught me the finer factors of docking and manoeuvring, and we’ve taken turns on the helm. Now that we each maintain our Grasp 3000 certificates, we work on separate vessels. It’s not at all times straightforward, however we each love what we do and provides one another the area to develop and observe our personal paths.

A Man’s World

At current, solely two per cent of all captains are ladies — one thing Marlies believes is because of a lot of elements. “Many individuals — each ladies and men — don’t even realise this type of profession exists, and getting ‘on deck’ isn’t straightforward. It’s solely lately that extra consideration has been paid to ladies within the yachting world, and now that extra feminine captains are slowly coming via, you typically see a little bit of resistance.”

On this male-dominated world, prejudice continues to be very a lot alive. “In some ports, they nonetheless ask if they’ll converse to the captain — after which look stunned once I say that’s me. You additionally discover it within the small issues: job adverts are sometimes written with males in thoughts, manuals use solely male pronouns, and cabin layouts typically don’t take ladies under consideration. The opposite day I had an applicant who solely wished to work for a male captain. You would get labored up about that, however it’s probably not definitely worth the power.

“Fortunately, there are additionally loads of optimistic reactions. My earlier employer truly thought it was fairly cool, and my present boss hadn’t particularly requested for a girl — however now says he actually likes it!”

Know What you Need

Marlies would like to see extra ladies observe in her footsteps and turn out to be captains. What recommendation would she give them? “Ensure you know precisely what you need. It’s a unbelievable world, however it’s positively not for everybody. The work is demanding, and also you’re away lots. If an in depth pal will get married whilst you’re in the course of the constitution season, you merely received’t be capable of go. So actually discover the occupation — after which go for it. Don’t let anybody let you know it’s not for girls. Select your individual path. Ensure you’re educated, succesful, and at all times proceed creating your self.

“If I needed to do it over again, I may need gone to maritime college. Then once more, my expertise within the company world — working with groups, managing individuals — has been extremely invaluable. I typically see younger captains who rise via the ranks shortly, however then immediately discover themselves answerable for a big yacht. That’s no small factor. It takes time to turn out to be good at crusing — and at management. I’m nonetheless studying on daily basis, and I feel that’s precisely the way it must be.”

Full Circle

Marlies nonetheless believes she has one of the best job on this planet. “Since you’re out at sea, crusing within the open air — however particularly since you’re consistently working with new individuals. If you handle to construct a fantastic group round you, this job is a lot enjoyable! In a means, it’s come full circle for me. Earlier than finding out Enterprise Administration, I truly utilized to the Resort College. So ultimately, I did find yourself in hospitality in spite of everything — I usually say I run a floating boutique resort!”

And her final expertise as a captain? “It’s each the locations and the individuals. Locations like Arctic Canada and Greenland — seeing polar bears within the wild is just magical. Antarctica continues to be on my checklist. The journey has fallen via twice on the final minute, so I’m hoping the third time’s the allure!

“However it’s additionally the individuals who make this job so particular. When crew members inform me I’ve impressed them to make a profession in yachting… how stunning is that?”