^{Adrienne Gang. Credit: Bravo TV.}

Our interview with the chief stewardess who entered the industry at 51-years-old was a big hit with our readers. Why? Because it showed that there are endless opportunities for endless people in the superyacht industry. And the reason our chief stewardess got into yachting was simple. As she says in the interview, “I saw the first season of Below Deck, and Adrienne. I thought, I want to do what she’s doing”. Banks actually got in touch with Adrienne Gang, the chief stewardess from the first season of the Bravo TV show, who gave her advice on taking those first steps into the industry.

Helping people get into yachting is something Gang has been doing since the show made her a known name in this industry, due to one particular and well-known attribute of the superyacht world. “The yachting industry is very reactive in the way it waits for people to arrive, as opposed to us going out and trying to recruit in places where we know it will do us good,” she tells me. “I think in 2009, when the big boats started to become moth balls and things started to go south for the yachting industry, we lost a lot of really good people because there weren’t a lot of really great jobs. I think we’re coming back to that now. The jobs exist and there’s enough people, so we’re getting to the point now where we need to start weeding out the non-quality people again.”

"There are two very interesting entry points in this industry. Either you’re 20-something or you’re quite a bit older, coming into it as a second career." - Adrienne Gang

The US military is one area where Gang is confident we can source quality individuals (among others – Gang has also visited those enrolled in their STCW, at culinary school). The military is, after all, where our 51-year-old chief stewardess spent much of her career. “I went to Annapolis and spoke to a group of cadets at the naval academy there, and expressed to them the interest of the yachting industry to get them into our industry after they were done with their service career. Because what better knowledgeable, educated group is there to come into yachting? It’s a great platform and I’m shocked that the yachting industry doesn’t do more with our military to get them into yachting. It’s a great platform for the continuation of their military and boating career.”

But Banks’ story got the thumbs up from so many of our readers due to the fact that, at 51, she was that bit older than your average stewardess, a perception Gang is hoping to alter. “There are two very interesting entry points in this industry. Either you’re 20-something or you’re quite a bit older, coming into it as a second career. I’ve started a sort of foster programme for ladies who want to get into yachting.”

And Gang tells these women that there are two types of boats to which they are perfectly suited. “It might have little kids and the parents want a more responsible person looking after them. Or you’ve got a boat with a really possessive wife who doesn’t want a teeny bopper around her husband,” she explains. “There are plenty of these kinds of boats that exist. It might not be quite as glamorous as being on the boats you see on the TV, but there is a niche for them.”

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