Netherlands

Quintesse Group

Today (18 May 2023) marks the second celebration for the International Day for Women in Maritime. The day celebrates women in the industry and is intended to promote recruitment, raise the profile of women in maritime and address the current gender imbalance in the maritime industry. This year we are taking a look back into the SYT archives to find out more about some inspirational women in the yachting industry.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/227358/image/large-7c3ae25e987c930550b85719620a26dd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/227358"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/57095" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="International Women’s Day 2023: Women at the helm of change (2023-03-08 08:30:00 +0100)">International Women’s Day 2023: Women at the helm of change</a>Wednesday 8 March 2023 marked International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marked a call to action for accelerating women's equality in all industries. SYT spoke to Below Deck’s Captain Sandy Yawn, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/526" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Northrop and Johnson (Company)">Northrop &amp; Johnson</a> Sales Broker, Annie Avery, interior designer Destry Darr Pethtel of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2524" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Destry Darr Designs (Company)">Destry Darr Designs</a> and business owner and Development Consultant of Onboard Monaco, Marcela de Kern Royer about their experiences in the industry.You can read more about their stories <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/57095" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="International Women’s Day 2023: Women at the helm of change (2023-03-08 08:30:00 +0100)">here</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260758/image/large-d114845098d9a706f89986d98c42100b.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260758"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/57093" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Giovanna Vitelli named Chairwoman of Azimut|Benetti Group (2023-03-07 15:15:00 +0100)">Giovanna Vitelli named Chairwoman of Azimut|Benetti Group</a>March 2023 saw former Vice President of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6046" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azimut-Benetti Group (Company)">Azimut|Benetti Group</a> Giovanna Vitelli named as Chairwoman of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6046" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azimut-Benetti Group (Company)">Group</a>. According to the shipyard, the appointment guaranteed the stability necessary to seize all the opportunities of the future.Read the full announcement about Giovanna Vitelli <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/57093" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Giovanna Vitelli named Chairwoman of Azimut|Benetti Group (2023-03-07 15:15:00 +0100)">here</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/260405/image/large-73ab825e05dd7a5b0b4e2e5116ef04a2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/260405"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/57061" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Meet superyacht interior designer, Valentina Zannier (2023-03-08 16:30:00 +0100)">Meet superyacht interior designer, Valentina Zannier</a>In Issue 43 of the SuperYacht Times newspaper, SYT spoke to Valentina Zannier of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/65" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nuvolari Lenard (Company)">Nuvolari Lenard</a> on her journey from junior assistant to her current position as Chief Interior Designer. Valentina discussed the 115-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7335" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lady Jorgia115.1m (377'7&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2021">Lady Jorgia</a> (ex.&nbsp;Ahpo), as well as the 141.63-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6426" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nord141.63m (464'8&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2021">Nord</a> and the 86-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3678" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Quattroelle86.11m (282'6&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2013">Quattroelle</a>.You can find out more about Valentina Zannier <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/57061" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Meet superyacht interior designer, Valentina Zannier (2023-03-08 16:30:00 +0100)">here</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/227490/image/large-cd5df8ccee88791e66d6fa2ca73475ed.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/227490"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/56161" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Jenny Matthews on diversity and the beating heart of yachting (2022-10-18 16:00:00 +0200)">Jenny Matthews on diversity and the beating heart of yachting</a>Issue 42 of the SuperYacht Times newspaper saw <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6715" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="She of the Sea (Company)">She of the Sea</a> and LEGASEA founder Jenny Matthews discuss the most critical questions in the industry of Who Are We? and Who Do We Want To Be?You can read the full discussion <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/56161" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Jenny Matthews on diversity and the beating heart of yachting (2022-10-18 16:00:00 +0200)">here</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/193957/image/large-7a0d38b223e82687d0120f6ba6032820.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/193957"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/52809" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ione Astondoa: Carving a space for women in the yachting industry (2021-04-29 15:00:00 +0200)">Ione Astondoa: Carving a space for women in the yachting industry</a>In 2021, SYT sat down with the newly appointed Ione Astondoa of the family-owned yacht builders <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/412" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Astondoa S.A. (Astilleros) (Company)">Astondoa</a>. Ione speaks about what it is like to be a fourth-generation Astondoa and her unique position as a young woman working in the yachting industry.Read her full story <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/52809" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ione Astondoa: Carving a space for women in the yachting industry (2021-04-29 15:00:00 +0200)">here</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/227489/image/large-17c5e1deaf6f19225da98b84465e4c31.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/227489"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/55171" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="International Day for Women in Maritime 2022: How the tides are turning for women in yachting (2022-05-18 15:45:00 +0200)">International Day for Women in Maritime 2022: How the tides are turning for women in yachting</a>Last year was the first celebration for the International Day for Women in Maritime. SYT spoke to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6715" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="She of the Sea (Company)">She of the Sea</a> founder Jenny Matthews about their survey into diversity in the industry, as well as Captain Kelly Gordon, Communications Specialist at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Yachting</a>, Sarah Flavell, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2529" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Worth Avenue Yachts (Company)">Worth Avenue</a> yacht broker Veronica Pizza and Hannah Hombergen, founder and designer at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6714" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Quintesse Group (Company)">Quintesse Group</a>.&nbsp;Read the full interview <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/55171" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="International Day for Women in Maritime 2022: How the tides are turning for women in yachting (2022-05-18 15:45:00 +0200)">here</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/195431/image/large-973427ea7745de05be8c9b321814041c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/195431"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/52940" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Broker Insight: 5 questions with Julia Skoptsova (2021-05-17 10:30:00 +0200)">Broker Insight: 5 questions with Julia Skop</a>SuperYacht Times spoke to Julia Skop, yacht broker and founder of Russian brokerage firm, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5144" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Smart Yachts (Company)">Smart Yachts</a>, about her entrance into the profession, the foundation of her firm and what it is like to be a woman in the superyacht industry.You can find out more about Julia Skop&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/52940" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Broker Insight: 5 questions with Julia Skoptsova (2021-05-17 10:30:00 +0200)">here</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/66234/image/large-d9dc43e5edf1dbdd49e041f3e1ab4fe3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/66234"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/49663" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Super yachting females on International Women’s Day 2019 (2019-03-08 10:30:00 +0100)">Super yachting females on International Women’s Day 2019</a>In 2019, SYT shone a spotlight on some of the key female industry figures we had featured over the past year. This included superyacht photographer Olga Dromas, brokers Irina Blagodyr and Julia Stewart and CEO of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/69" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Winch Design (Company)">Winch Design</a>, Aino Grapin, as well as the female crews at the 2018 Rolex Sydney Hobart.Read more about these inspirational females <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/49663" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Super yachting females on International Women’s Day 2019 (2019-03-08 10:30:00 +0100)">here</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/210023/image/large-4ced9afd224f83c801e29cdc415ee73f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/210023"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/53973" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="An extraordinary life on boats with owner Patsy Bolling (2021-11-09 15:00:00 +0100)">An extraordinary life on boats with owner Patsy Bolling</a>For issue 39 of the SuperYacht Times newspaper, Editor-in-Chief Francesca Webster caught up with serial yacht owner and veritable yachting legend Patsy Bolling. During this interview Patsy talks about her incredible life on boats which spans nearly her whole life.Find out more about Patsy Bolling <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/53973" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="An extraordinary life on boats with owner Patsy Bolling (2021-11-09 15:00:00 +0100)">here</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/27367/image/large-66574397952a7c2d0b2db3f15e9b978b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/27367"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/48219" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="International Women's Day 2018: Inspiring women in yachting (2018-03-08 14:30:00 +0100)">International Women's Day 2018: Inspiring women in yachting</a>For International Women's Day 2018, SYT celebrated by speaking to influential women from across the yachting industry to hear their inspiring top tips for women who want to get ahead in what is often perceived by many to be a male-dominated industry. We spoke to Sales and Charter Consultant for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/244" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="IYC (Company)">IYC</a> Katya Grzeszczak Jaimes, President of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4387" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Monte Carlo Yachts (Company)">Monte Carlo Yachts</a> Carla Demaria and Captain Maria Grazia Franco.You can find out more about these women <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/48219" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="International Women's Day 2018: Inspiring women in yachting (2018-03-08 14:30:00 +0100)">here</a>.

International Day for Women in Maritime 2023

SYT marks the second celebration for the International Day for Women in Maritime by celebrating inspirational women in the yachting industry.

Celebrating the work of women for International Day for Women in Maritime 2023

The 18th May 2022 marks the first celebration for the International Day for Women in Maritime. The day celebrates women in the industry and is intended to promote recruitment, raise the profile of women in maritime and address the current gender imbalance in the maritime industry.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/227489/image/large-17c5e1deaf6f19225da98b84465e4c31.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/227489">In 2021, a survey on diversity in the industry by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6715" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="She of the Sea (Company)">She of the Sea</a>, highlighted the disparity between female crews and their male counterparts. The team found that of 32,000 crew members, including those currently employed and those seeking work, only 28 percent were women and more shockingly, only 2.1 percent of captains were female. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/227494/image/large-12c143c193660a52c3d85c4c2b73c6f7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/227494"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6715" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="She of the Sea (Company)">She of the Sea</a> was founded by Jenny Matthews in 2018 after she realised she had not worked with another female in the deck department. The company has evolved to look into diversity, inclusion, innovation and sustainability in the yacht industry. “We did this data collection to guide the programmes that we build. A really big challenge we encountered though was that although these organisations wanted to be involved, only 37 percent of the 57 companies actually had this data available.”The gender imbalance with yacht crew is quite a staggering statistic, and really highlights the key issues faced in crew leadership roles. There is a very obvious gender imbalance across all roles with senior roles facing similar issues. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6715" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="She of the Sea (Company)">She of the Sea</a> found that only one in four women in the yachting industry occupy a senior position; to break this down, 3.9 percent are chief officers, 1.9 percent are captains. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/227361/image/large-0d229b716cc16d58a9ae49294899825b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/227361">Across the industry there are women thriving on the challenge of changing these statistics. To put these figures into perspective, according to <a href="https://superyachttimes.ac-page.com/homepage" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">SYT iQ</a> out of the 1,209 active captains, only one percent are female. One of those is the 32.2-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/374" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sanlorenzo (Company)">Sanlorenzo</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6390" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Freddy32.2m (105'8&quot;)Sanlorenzo2016">Freddy</a>’s captain, Kelly Gordon, who was introduced into yachting by a student while working as a chemistry professor. “I was intrigued from the moment that I stepped on board. I remember remarking, ‘I can drive this thing!’ to the captain and he challenged me to return the next day!” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/227357/image/large-3624aaa36062b2311cb07155f2f01f2f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/227357">Kelly knew nothing about boats before this moment and it became clear pretty early on that she was in a male dominated industry. “I am quite determined and when I set a goal, I reach it. Before long, the men in the industry became my greatest assets and support! I think that as more and more women show up and succeed in male dominated roles it just opens the doors for other women that might need a little nudge to pursue their dream.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/227493/image/large-d057736efe4e04d3f8db73641ba44861.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/227493">Although the statistics for females onboard are low, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6715" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="She of the Sea (Company)">She of the Sea</a>’s survey found that when it comes to the shore-side sector, 34 percent of Managers are female and 17.4 percent are female Directors. Despite the survey showing that the yacht crew sector is unbalanced, with more men in deck and engineering roles than women, they have instead found jobs onshore.&nbsp;Sarah Flavell, Communications Specialist at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Yachting</a> knows all too well about the challenges women have faced to get to this stage. “When I joined the superyacht industry 20 years ago, the landscape of gender equality was very different. I can remember working at boat shows and being one of only five or so women at the entire event that was not a visitor. People were always very surprised to see females there, especially working, it just wasn’t part of what the industry was used to.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/227358/image/large-7c3ae25e987c930550b85719620a26dd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/227358">This experience is one that many women across the industry are experiencing when they first enter the world of yachting. Francesca Webster, Editor-in-Chief at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4509" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SuperYacht Times (Company)">SuperYacht Times</a>, was first introduced to yachting by her brother when she was 18. “It opened many doors over the years and I fell in love with the industry and the yachts themselves.” She worked for a few years with him running charter yachts, before moving towards sailing, and eventually to her current position in the industry, at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4509" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SuperYacht Times (Company)">SuperYacht Times</a>. “It still remains a highly male dominated industry, both onboard and ashore, and I think one of the biggest challenges comes when your ability or skill set is overlooked on face value for your gender – which is not an irregular occurrence.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/227491/image/large-834fc361b6e4878dd06cbb41954a1527.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/227491"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6715" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="She of the Sea (Company)">She of the Sea</a>’s 2021 survey found that 66.6 percent of employers have faced challenges with recruiting, placing or retaining women within the industry. “We found that when we look at common barriers that any marginalised community faces, a lot of it comes down to opportunity and access,” added Jenny Matthews. &nbsp;Those same organisation’s were also asked the same question but regarding minorities, which found that 75 percent had encountered challenges. “Yachting is an ego driven industry filled with successful people, there will always be challenges no matter the gender!” says Veronica Pizza, yacht broker for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2529" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Worth Avenue Yachts (Company)">Worth Avenue Yachts</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/227510/image/large-3ae22eeef43145436f7574a2af1685e0.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/227510">As <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6715" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="She of the Sea (Company)">She of the Sea</a>’s survey results have already suggested, it is extremely important for us to understand the career aspirations of those in the industry, especially women. The learning opportunities absorbed during our training can set the tone for years to come. This is why it is important to recognise this indifference, as Veronica Pizza so eloquently puts it “don’t let the gender imbalance stop you from pursuing your career choice, whatever that may be!”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/227359/image/large-65130fae0e32b03825ac5ca45e56f4e1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/227359">Hannah Hombergen, the founder and designer at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6714" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Quintesse Group (Company)">Quintesse Group</a>, an interior design company based in the Netherlands, believes the industry is adapting and that the tides are now changing for the better. “There are always challenges in this niche industry, but I see gender-related challenges decreasing over the years. Women in the industry are working more and more together, so we become stronger together. Men are not a tread for us, but an asset for our development and strength!”So how can we become more inclusive of gender and minorities within the yachting industry? Organisations need to be looking more at their verbal and visual representation to make sure that their education, policies and practices reflect all genders and minorities. We need to be focusing on how the talent pipeline is distributed with the next generation, and how we recruit these individuals. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/227490/image/large-cd5df8ccee88791e66d6fa2ca73475ed.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/227490">Jenny Matthews says, “For women it is important to know that your power as a woman isn’t about how much you can be like a man, or that your power in a minority isn’t how much you can assimilate to the majority. It’s about how much you can step into your own power and be your authentic self. You can’t let your gender define you, but you also can’t cut it out of who you are. So embrace your uniqueness because it will be your power.”

International Day for Women in Maritime 2022

The 18th May 2022 marks the first celebration for the International Day for Women in Maritime. 