Kelly Gordon is a yacht captain. Period.
She also happens to be an extremely busy female captain of the 106-foot long San Lorenzo Freddy in a male-dominated field. And as you’ll see in this latest “influencer interview,” being able to drive and dock a large yacht is only one part of being a captain. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at the very human side of yachting.
BS: You were a science teacher in a previous life. Is that right?
KG: That’s right. I was a chemistry professor. I taught at a junior college.
BS: How did you make the jump from college level chemistry teacher to being a yacht captain?
KG: Well, I grew up on a farm in Indiana—literally in the middle of a cornfield. I only found the ocean and warmer weather when I went to grad school near Beaufort, North Carolina. My first introduction to boats was when I was invited to a party on a yacht during my first year of teaching. But I quickly noticed that the mechanics of a boat are very similar to the mechanics of the tractors I’d operate from back home.
Before too long I was saying to the captain, "I can do this." He's like, "Oh, you think so?"
That was the first time I stepped foot on a yacht. But I just knew that’s where I wanted to be and that I wanted to be a captain. Lucky for me, that captain took me under his wing.
He was like, "Okay, fine. If you want to be a captain, you need to know engineering too, and you need to know how to work the deck and what goes on inside the boat."
The only area that I didn't ever know, and don't ever want to know, is the galley. But I’m grateful to that captain who taught me everything he knew.
BS: It’s no secret that the yachting industry is male dominated, certainly in the C-suite of the business side and also in captain's position. How has it been for you?
Kelly: For the most part, the men in this industry have been nothing but my biggest fans and my biggest support. There have been a few chauvinistic men that have said a woman has no place on the bridge. But I just won't allow that energy to be around me except to add a little fuel to my fire.
But most of the guys are so supportive. They keep me going.
BS: Have you ever had an all-female crew?
Kelly: Yes, and I loved it, especially when we all were out on deck, and someone wants to know who the captain is! Most people assume that “he” is below decks somewhere. But I found that the boat ran smoothly with an all-female crew. I’m not saying that my male counterparts are not meticulous but the attention to detail is quite a bit different.
BS: Because you're dealing with demanding owners, charter guests, and crews of all ages and nationalities, yacht captains need to be psychologists too, right? Can you explain how that works?
Kelly: Yes, and my experience as a college chemistry professor has really helped me too because most yacht crews are made up of people in their “20s”. But I love that age range! I love to help them try to figure out where they're going in life, and what they want to do.
BS: I love this stuff. Can you share a crew success story?
Kelly: Absolutely. I've worked with my mate for three years and seeing her grow has been amazing. Her navigational and boat handling skills have skyrocketed. Others have gone on to get their captains licenses or achieve other goals
BS: What advice would you share with other women who aspire to either lead a company or captain a yacht? I mean, it seems there might be similar challenges..
Kelly: I always say, you have to be your biggest cheerleader first. But sometimes, in a male dominated industry, you need a mentor, or an external cheerleader because you're not always going to be able to push yourself to keep going. Especially when you're young, and you're starting out, or even when you're older and you've changed careers, you might not have that level of confidence. On the days that you don't, you need somebody from the outside that does and they keep pushing you.
BS: What's the best thing about being a yacht captain?
Kelly: There's a huge intrinsic reward. Really. I mean it. Learning something new. Taking command of a larger vessel. Navigating a new body of water. Always learning something new is why I love being a captain. I gave up teaching chemistry because I wasn't constantly learning. Every semester was the same. Every day is different on a yacht. Every hour is different. But I also get the reward of working with young adults and helping them grow too.
Because here’s the deal. I dropped out of high school at 15 because I wanted to be at home on the farm with the animals. It was the best decision my mother could have ever made with me. Yes, I went on to get a graduate degree later, And when I was teaching in college, sometimes my students would get overwhelmed, and say, “You just don't get it.”
But I could say “No, no, no. I was a high school dropout. My mom went back to college. I was helping raise my little brother and run the farm and work a part time job. I get it."
As you can see, Captain Kelly Gordon is making a positive difference for many people in her life. And I’m grateful to be reminded that we all can make a positive impact on the people around us too. All it takes is a healthy dose of enthusiasm, a dollop of curiosity, and a whole lot of patience.
Happy holidays everyone!
