March is Women’s History Month with International Women’s Day falling on March 8, 2025. In celebration, YATCO took the time to interview a few women in business within the yachting industry. In Part One of this feature, we speak with Jamie Smith of Crew Haven and Lauren Wardley of Ethical Yacht Wear.
Jamie Smith – Crew Haven
While working two jobs in Miami, Jamie Smith met a yacht captain who shared his experiences in the yachting industry. Ever one to steer clear of the beaten path and forge her own way, Jamie told YATCO when she heard about a job that involved cruising the world with the ocean as an “office view,” she knew it was meant for her. Said Jamie, “That week, I completed my STCW, and within 3 days I was getting my sea legs!”
Jamie Smith spent 7 years in the yachting industry starting as a Deck/Stew and working her way up to Chief Stew. During her career, Jamie worked on a variety of private and charter yachts ranging from 80-184ft (24-56m), including Heesen motor yacht AT LAST (145ft/44m).
Jamie is the founder/owner of Crew Haven – a crew housing and property management company based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Beyond accommodation, Crew Haven cultivates a vibrant community atmosphere, offering networking events that allow both new and seasoned yachties to meet other industrial professionals. After five years in business, Crew Haven is currently operating over 200 beds in Fort Lauderdale and recently expanded to West Palm.
Watch Crew Haven – FOUR SEAS video on YouTube.
YATCO: What inspired you to start a crew housing business?
Jamie Smith: During my time yachting, I often struggled to find a place to stay in between gigs. Hotels felt super isolated and lonely after spending so much time with other crew. There were a few crew houses available at the time, but the cleanliness was not up to par. I decided to take things into my own hands and came up with the idea to create a place where yacht crew can come together, network, and make lasting memories in a safe and clean home! Crew Haven started in my personal home; I would rent my extra rooms out to yacht crew and quickly realized this is what was missing in the industry!
YATCO: Do you feel the skills you learned as a Stewardess have helped in your business pursuits?
JS: The skills I’ve learned as a yacht stew have helped me tremendously in my path as an entrepreneur! I’ve learned how to communicate effectively, manage my time, and keep the business organized as far as finances, booking requests, scheduling my employees, and learning how to handle conflict in an efficient and productive way. Every lesson learned from yachting has influenced my career in some way. I’m still learning every day and I love that no two days are the same! It really is true what they say – “Find your passion and you’ll never ‘work’ a day in your life.” I LOVE what I do and after five years, I still wake up with no alarm, ready to face the day ahead. There’s something to be said about that.
YATCO: What sets Crew Haven apart from other crew houses?
JS: When yacht crew choose to stay with us, they aren’t just choosing what bed they want to sleep in. They’re choosing to be a part of a family who have their backs. We look out for each other, we respect each other, and most importantly we have fun!
Additionally, Crew Haven’s community group chats provide a platform for fostering relationships. Whether you’re here for work, leisure, or a bit of both, you won’t discover a better place to stay that combines comfort, convenience, and a sense of belonging!
YATCO: How has yachting impacted your relationships with women in the industry?
JS: Because of yachting, I’ve built lifelong friendships [with women] that I’ve met from all walks of life and in all different departments on board. From Captain to Chief Stew to Chef, even the newbie greenies inspire me to keep that spark going. I’m a firm believer in the energy you feel when you meet someone. It’s really cool being able to stay in touch with girls I went to my STCW class with, now we’re all “grown up.” I’m meeting their babies, and I get to travel all over the world to visit them!
YATCO: How do you maintain a sense of community with other women in the industry?
JS: You have to find your group of women who are on your side, regardless of where you’re at in your career. You’ll start to build your own community of support, and it’s up to you to keep in contact and let each other know you are there for them! I call these “Wellness Checks.” There is a group of girls who know exactly what this means when I send this message. A quick “I’m thinking about you, how are you doing” to let them know I’ve got their back! It really goes a long way.
YATCO: What message would you like to share with women who aspire to work in the yachting industry or start their own business?
JS: Knowing your “WHY” is so important. You have to have a vision, a goal. Something tangible that you can see day in day out and losing focus is not an option. It’s so easy to get caught up in the late nights out, especially after a drop day (let’s be real, we all love a well-deserved glass or three of wine), but, keeping yourself on a budget and focused on your WHY is what will really help you get ahead.
When I was yachting, I was also finishing my bachelor’s degree online. The real thing is, anything is possible, you just need to want it bad enough! Taking a chance on yourself is something that not many people are bold enough to do, but the minute you set your mind to it, you’d be surprised just how rewarding it can be.
Click here to learn more about Crew Haven or connect on Facebook and Instagram.
Lauren Wardley – Ethical Yacht Wear
Lauren Wardley was a hotel manager when a friend told her she could combine her passion for hospitality and love for the ocean by pursuing a career in the yachting industry. “Instantly I was sold and bought a one-way ticket to Fort Lauderdale!” said Lauren. After leaving her home in Sydney, Australia, Lauren spent seven years working onboard a variety of yachts as a Stewardess, including 200ft (61m) Feadship motor yacht SAMADHI.
Lauren now runs Ethical Yacht Wear – a company that uses organic cotton and recycled fabrics to provide the yachting community with sustainably made crew uniforms and industry apparel. Ethical Yacht Wear’s mission is to produce high quality, sustainable uniforms for yacht crew while giving back through efforts that protect the oceans and planet. The company operates on a circular business model, having sponsored the removal of one million plastic bottles from the ocean thus far, while supporting impoverished families through uniform sales.
While working onboard as a Stewardess during her company’s inception, Lauren gained her first client – 254ft (77m) explorer yacht LEGEND. After outfitting the crew onboard the vessel with sustainably made uniforms, Lauren realized the potential positive impact Ethical Yacht Wear could make on the yachting industry. The brand is now growing in popularity as an increasing number of yachts are turning towards bringing sustainable practices onboard. This includes 140ft/43m ANCORA (the first new build to start their uniform inventory with 99% sustainably made items) and Burgess fleet member REV OCEAN (a scientific exploration vessel set to be the world’s largest yacht at 639ft/195m when delivered in 2026).
Read more about eco-friendly yachting practices here.
Find Out How Ethical Yacht Wear provides a Solution to the World Plastic Crisis
YATCO: What inspired you to start a yacht crew uniform company focused on sustainability?
Lauren Wardley: I was working 20-hour shifts on a busy charter yacht in France and listening to business podcasts on repeat in the laundry room. It was around the time 4Oceans and Toms Shoes became popular – both give-back business models. I realized then and there it was my dream to create a give-back business. I started selling organic cotton t-shirts to raise money for ocean conservation and DockWalk soon wrote an article about my cabin side-hustle. Fast track 5 years, Ethical Yacht Wear is a thriving uniform company on a mission to give back to our oceans!
YATCO: What steps do you feel can be taken to increase sustainability efforts onboard?
LW: There has been a rise in eco-friendly products in the time I have been in the sustainability space. I think awareness, education, and the realization individuals can make a difference are all very important factors in suitability efforts. There are now sustainable solutions for most products used onboard today!
YATCO: Can you share a moment in your career when you felt particularly proud or empowered as a woman in yachting?
LW: A proud career moment was when I spoke at the USSA Blue Economy seminar in West Palm Beach alongside some other incredible women. There seems to be continuous support and uplift for the business I have built, and articles such as this provide the consistent empowerment needed to keep going.
YATCO: How has yachting impacted your relationships with women in the industry?
LW: I am inspired by women all around me and I generally don’t have to look all that far to find strength and support. One person who has held me and supported me over the last couple of years both professionally and personally would be (former Chief Stew and founder of The Yacht Stew) Gemma Hulbert. You don’t often gain a best friend later in life, but this woman has been my backbone, a role model, and true inspiration with her strength and consistency in running her own wonderful companies.
YATCO: How do you maintain a sense of community with other women in the industry?
LW: I feel like a few of us ex yachties who have built businesses have found each other organically. I still stay quite mobile and nomadic so I can attend events, plan things with friends on their rotations (if still on board). I moved to Mallorca to stay within the industry in order to keep the community thriving for EYW, and with technology these days it’s been fairly easy to stay connected.
YATCO: What message would you like to share with other women who aspire to work in the yachting industry or start their own business?
LW: Go for it! One piece of advice I give new crew is “if the boat doesn’t work for you – get off.” I have had some incredibly unsafe, nightmare boats that I wish I’d just gotten off sooner and found a good one (Samadhi or similar). Business wise again – just do it! I don’t believe anyone is necessarily smarter because they have a business, I just believe it’s the difference between doing it or not! I am available to help and support anyone wanting to create and build something!
Keep an eye out for Ethical Yacht Wear in the Sustainability Corner at the 2025 Palma International Boat Show!
Click here to learn more about Ethical Yacht Wear or connect on LinkedIn and Instagram.
These interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.
Stay tuned for Part Two of this interview series! For more interviews, browse YATCO’s Women in Yachting Series.
