Melanie White - Author, Behind Ocean Lines
Season 2, Episode 709, Nov 07, 2022, 12:42 PM
"An ex-yacht chef uncovers the
Melanie White - Author, Behind Ocean Lines
"An ex-yacht chef uncovers the dark reality of life at sea.
By the age of twenty-two, Melanie is ticking life's boxes as if filling in a routine survey. Good grades at school? Check. Reliable university degree? Check. Steady graduate job? Check. Her two feet are planted firmly on solid ground; her life to date perfectly mirrors society's expectations. That is until she finds herself plunged into the superyacht industry, like an ice cube thrown into a cut crystal glass of the finest whisky, having stepped foot on a boat just three times before.
Not only is she required to learn how to run, sail, and race a multi-million-pound yacht on the job, she is forced to adapt to a wholly unnatural life afloat, largely confined to a bunk bed, crammed galley, and live-in colleagues. Oh, and to devise, develop, and deliver fine dining menus for some of the wealthiest people on the planet. No biggie.
From the Mediterranean to the Caribbean to the Arctic she cruises, visiting places many can only dream of, orienting herself in an environment few have the opportunity to observe. But while her culinary knowledge evolves and her on-board responsibilities grow, the world as she knows it begins to close in. The depth of the ocean no longer phases her; it's the darkness inside which she fears.
Behind Ocean Lines is a deeply personal account of a deterioration in mental health against a backdrop of opulence. It is, shockingly, not an anomaly in the industry. It is about time the public is told."
Yachting is facing a serious crew shortage, not only with crew retention, but with attracting new crew to the industry. In typical fashion, there is conference after conference, discussing the why's and how to fix it, while ignoring the reality as it doesn't suit the required narrative.
Melanie has gone on to start a company that focuses on Mental Health for Seafarers. @seasthemind
Hear Melanie's story.
To contact Melanie:
@cookinanook
To purchase her book, check out Amazon
#yachting #superyacht #yachtcrew #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #author #chef #yachtinginternationalradio
Melanie White - Author, Behind Ocean Lines
"An ex-yacht chef uncovers the dark reality of life at sea.
By the age of twenty-two, Melanie is ticking life's boxes as if filling in a routine survey. Good grades at school? Check. Reliable university degree? Check. Steady graduate job? Check. Her two feet are planted firmly on solid ground; her life to date perfectly mirrors society's expectations. That is until she finds herself plunged into the superyacht industry, like an ice cube thrown into a cut crystal glass of the finest whisky, having stepped foot on a boat just three times before.
Not only is she required to learn how to run, sail, and race a multi-million-pound yacht on the job, she is forced to adapt to a wholly unnatural life afloat, largely confined to a bunk bed, crammed galley, and live-in colleagues. Oh, and to devise, develop, and deliver fine dining menus for some of the wealthiest people on the planet. No biggie.
From the Mediterranean to the Caribbean to the Arctic she cruises, visiting places many can only dream of, orienting herself in an environment few have the opportunity to observe. But while her culinary knowledge evolves and her on-board responsibilities grow, the world as she knows it begins to close in. The depth of the ocean no longer phases her; it's the darkness inside which she fears.
Behind Ocean Lines is a deeply personal account of a deterioration in mental health against a backdrop of opulence. It is, shockingly, not an anomaly in the industry. It is about time the public is told."
Yachting is facing a serious crew shortage, not only with crew retention, but with attracting new crew to the industry. In typical fashion, there is conference after conference, discussing the why's and how to fix it, while ignoring the reality as it doesn't suit the required narrative.
Melanie has gone on to start a company that focuses on Mental Health for Seafarers. @seasthemind
Hear Melanie's story.
To contact Melanie:
@cookinanook
To purchase her book, check out Amazon
#yachting #superyacht #yachtcrew #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #author #chef #yachtinginternationalradio