Ballito’s Beauty and the winch

The young, blonde, soft spoken Letitia Rowley recently traded her nail file and face scrub in London for a line and a winch on a classic yacht in the Mediterranean.

Back in her Ballito home for a quick recovery stop after she fractured her elbow on Skylark – the 1937, 11 metre yacht she now calls work – she shared her transition story from beautician to sailor.

“After nine years in London, I really needed a change. My brother Gareth sails for a living and it sounded like a fun experience, plus there is the bonus of not spending any money on the boat,” said the 30-year-old Rowley, who did a Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) course and went to Antibes, France to join yachties from around the world on a mission to work on the open seas.

“Dock walking is quite intimidating, but you have to do it. I also went to agencies, posted on yachtie Facebook pages and networked as much as I could.

“I knew I did not want to sit below deck of a massive super yacht and shine silver all day, which is usually the job girls end up doing as stewardesses.”

Luck struck in April this year, when an agency placed her on Skylark.

“They usually only accept people with sailing experience, but I think the fact that I am more mature worked in my favour.”

She is one of three paid crew members on the competing classic, and the only girl.

“I am on foredeck where I help bring the sails down and I am in charge of the downhaul, which stabilises the sails. I use a winch and clutches to control the sail.

“I enjoy the regattas, although I usually just get orders shouted at me. The sailing lingo is so different. The most amazing thing is that we have been winning too!”

After the regatta, they all go to the after party, such as the recent one which was held in a fort in Monte Argentario, where the crew can go mingle and have fun.

When they are not taking part in a regatta, the crew live on land.

Rowley said her contract ends in October and then she will see where the wind takes her next.

Rowley’s tips to get your foot on a yacht:

1. Do a course in South Africa before you go.
2. Be friendly and willing to work hard, which South Africans usually are. I have had two days off in three months and sometimes work from 7am till midnight.
3. Try all avenues, be open minded and get your name out there.
4. Always be aware of how you behave – Antibes is a fun place, where lots of yachties drink and party, but be careful, because you never know if your future captain or boss is sitting next to you.
5. Make sure your Facebook is presentable, as they check out your page.
6. Don’t be picky – it is about getting your foot on the boat.

>>  Expect to find the latest trends in Health, Wellness and Beauty in Ballito.

>> Meet the top players in the North Coast property industry. See our Property People feature.

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