Life after redundancy. Grabbing the opportunities

It is over a year since I swapped life in an office for a life on the sea – as a skipper for various charter companies. My lifestyle could not be more different and how much I have learned.

Lets be clear – I had no real idea of what I would do and day 1 unemployed after years in the corporate world was scary. All I knew for sure was that I wanted to do something completely different to what I had been doing. I wanted a change to the corporate and the financial services world. Other than that….

I have enjoyed sailing as a hobby since I was a teenager so with some time available I helped some friends occasionally when they took out guests on charters. I enjoyed that and eventually decided to formalise my sailing skills and did a 3 month Yachtmaster course over the winter with Hamble School of Yachting. What a challenge – and sense of achievement when at about 23.00 on Saturday 7 February after a 30 hour exam the examiner told me I had passed.

So I could now really start a new lifestyle. Could I do it? Would it work? Would I enjoy it? Would I be able to ensure all guests (corporate or friend/family groups) enjoyed their trips? Would I earn enough to live on? Would I miss the power suits and make up or would I love practical comfortable clothing and wind swept hair? Read on…..