Louisa, Crew Manager at bluewater, has worked with the company for 12 years and is now in charge of the crew department. She has been with the company since it was a small office in Antibes, before becoming a world leader in crew and training solutions! Read on for some funny stories and to find out why Louisa loves being in the crew placement division.
1. What do you enjoy most about working for bluewater?
No two days have ever been the same. You really have no idea what jobs are going to come in and who will walk through the doors. The directors are all so supportive and approachable and having been here since I was a mere 24 years old, it feels like I’ve spent most my adult life with bluewater!
2. What is the most challenging part of your job?
Meeting people who obviously have no interest in the industry and no desire to be part of it long term. These days it is such a fantastic career path to follow - it frustrates me seeing candidates who don’t take it seriously.
3. What was your background before joining bluewater?
A mixed bag really – I worked for an investment bank in London before moving onto Financial PR.
4. What year did you start working at bluewater?
I arrived in Antibes May 2004 having no idea about the industry but having a very good feeling about Antibes and after working in a bar that summer, I joined bluewater in August.
5. What was the company like as a whole when you started - who did you work with and in what department?
Worlds away from how it is today! I worked in the training department and we were all together in a tiny office!
6. What was Antibes as a place like, compared to now?
Much the same, really! These days there are many more crew houses, and perhaps each year there is a bigger buzz when crew start arriving in town, but fundamentally, Antibes is the same buzzy hive of crew activity!
7. Do you know any crew now from back when you started? If so, what do they do now?
I know many crew that are still here – many are captaining yachts of their own now, or have left the industry to start up shore-side ventures.
8. Finish this sentence; working with bluewater gives me great satisfaction because…
there is never a dull moment!
9. What is your favourite memory from working at bluewater?
Bluewater parties – be it yacht show parties, Christmas parties, birthday parties, crew parties or parties for the hell of it, bluewater knows how to throw truly excellent parties!
10. What do you have to say about the evolution within the crew department over the years? Has much changed?
Yes, crewing has evolved massively over the last 12 years. There is more competition than ever to stand out, to get qualified and to succeed, so people cannot ‘wing’ it as much as they perhaps did a few years ago.
11. What is your favourite time of the year and why?
Spring time! March, April, May, the town wakes up from winter! There is a huge buzz with many people coming back to town, looking for work and yachts looking for crew, I love it.
12. What advice would you give to new crew coming into the industry?
ALWAYS do your research! This is a very, very competitive industry with more people than ever wishing to make a success out of it. Register with the agencies, introduce yourself to them, dockwalk, network - and really try to sell yourself as the best yacht crew member out there!
