with Lieze Muller Chief

Stewardess

What did you do before yachting and how did your yachting career first begin?

After University I went straight to work on cruise ships and stayed there for 10 years. Yachting was the next level up. I have two brothers who are also in the industry, so it came naturally for me.

What has been your favourite boat you’ve worked on and why?

I have been on one yacht since starting in the industry. She is a great yacht in the water that glides smoothly and reaches a comfortable 10 knots easily. The people you work with always make or break a contract and I am so lucky to have the most amazing boss and fellow crew, and that is enough to make it my favourite boat.

What are the best and worst parts about working on-board?

There are so many good things about working onboard, including travelling, seeing beautiful places, meeting people and making money. But for me my absolute favourite part has to be the sunsets we get to see…they just never get old. Each seems to be different to the next, and they seem to make you feel so thankful for having a life so exciting and adventurous.

How do you keep sane on charter?

It’s not always easy to find time to get off the boat during charter so my go to is always Yoga. During the night stargazing is perfect when you are stuck on the boat but would love to connect with nature. When I have time to get off I go for a hike or run or just visit a local beach for sunbathing, supping and swimming.

What are your best strategies for spoiling charter guests?

The ultimate spoil for me is making sure towels and bathmats are always fresh. This is a big one. It’s not always possible to wash daily so some days I make sure to tumble dry them so they smell fresh and are nice and fluffy. Some people shower several times a day, so I would need to do this a few times a day to make sure they feel extra spoilt.

What’s the coolest thing you have done for guests?

Although it doesn’t seem like much, finding time even just to wash hair some days is hard. So, finding the time during busy charters to make the guests some of my signature date balls to take home after a charter is definitely special. That’s if the crew have not finished them first…They are such a crowd pleaser. Everyone loves them as they are tasty and guilt free…

What is your signature cocktail?

I am known as the best Bloody Mary maker…EVER!!!

What is your favourite yachting destination?

I don’t have a favourite destination. I love exploring anywhere I go. But somewhere I would still love to go is the Pacific islands…

If you owned a superyacht, what would you do differently?

Not much differently actually. I would still travel the world and would probably still clean the boat myself… the only difference would be that I would not have to work for someone else.

What is your on-board pet hate?

Men leaving the toilet seat up.

What career achievement are you most proud of?

Being able to work in the hospitality and service department for over a decade. It’s not always easy but can be very fulfilling as you meet such diverse people.

Best housekeeping tip/hack?

Setting the table for breakfast at night after guests have gone to bed! It saves time the next morning and gives me a few minutes’ more sleep.

Tell us about your funniest embarrassing moment on board.

One day I asked the crew what the black sheet in the bathroom was for. They laughed and said that it was the blackout for the window! This black screen/sheet had been in the shower every single day and was positioned just under the window but not covering it. I had been looking straight at it every day for over a month not realising however, that I had been showering with everyone being able to see me through the window! I had assumed it was a one-way window where only I can see out… to my dismay it wasn’t…Safe to say it was quite embarrassing and I could never forget that moment!

What’s your favourite adventure in Mallorca?

Anything outdoors…hiking, biking, walking around.

If you could give your 20-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Travel as much as you can as long as you can…collect memories not things.

What’s your plan for the future?

Stay in the industry as long as possible. I would like to have my own business…something in the health department like a yoga instructor, massage therapist, vegan restaurant owner or health consultant. And most definitely a lot of travelling.

Tell us a little about yourself…

First of all, it might be a challenge to say only ''a little'' about Lars Molin, but I shall give it a try!

I grew up in a small seaside town north of Copenhagen, Denmark. Despite hanging out with friends on the beaches during the summer months, sailing never really got my attention although I did enjoy spending days on the water with those who knew how to sail. I was into football and golf, in particular, but also enjoyed trips with the local boy scouts, exploring the local fields, forests and wherever else the adventure could be found. Later in life, the wilder the adventure, the better it sounded to my adventurous spirit. Comparing me to a mix between a wannabe Indiana Jones and Dennis the Menace is not far off – I was a bit of a troublemaker, but those stories will remain untold (unless shared over a beer in the Corner Bar... LOL).

After finishing my military service with the Royal Guards, fate led me to a summer camp in the US. After three magic summers in the mountains of Pennsylvania and loads of newly established international friendships later, a Danish mate of mine told me about yachting. Was it really true that you could explore the world and get paid good money at the same time? I nearly dropped everything in my hands and set off to Fort Lauderdale to see what that was all about!

The Face behind Palma Yacht Crew!

Lucky for me, those were the days (1993) when you didn't need know port from starboard and the captain was the only one with a certificate of some sort. Local yachties took me under their wings and gave me a ride to the Caribbean where I landed my first job as a deckie. I still recall the day I walked down the dock in Simpson Bay Marina seeing a faded 100' 1967 Benetti sitting by the end of the dock. To say the least, it was far from as flashy and shiny as nearly all other yachts in the marina. I was ready to turn around, but as the saying goes; beggars can't be choosers... And so, I continued down the dock, knocked on the door where I was greeted by Captain Tony wearing his whites including his gold Pierre Cardin shades, gold Rolex, gold rings, chains and belt buckle – and then white shoes and socks... Apparently, the last deckie, who was from Cairns, had told Tony to go f#*! himself and walked off the boat same day. Being the only candidate not being Australian I was hired on the spot. That was my lucky break into yachting – the rest is history...

How long did you work in yachting?

Between October 1993 and December 2016

Can you tell me about your yachting career – highlights, low points?

There are many highlights, but the one standing out from them all would easily be spending a summer season in Alaska. A close second would be exploring the fjords of Papua New Guinea. What a stunning part of the world those are - I hope to return someday soon!

To the contrary, a low point would be being let go after five years on board the most beautiful old expedition yacht where the crew was like a family. I stood up for our seasonal African dayworkers when the local yacht/finca manager wanted them replaced by Mallorquin friends of his. He whispered a few words in the owner's wife's ears about how they could save money by replacing me and shortly after I was on the dock – and the Africans replaced by Mallorquins... This led to two years of backpacking through Africa, Asia and Australia, so I suppose that as long as it doesn't kill you, nothing is so bad that it is not good for something, right?

How did you know it was time for you to make the move to land?

It was partially because of all the BS that also exists in yachting, but primarily due to my father's health; He was getting old, so being away for such long periods of time was far from ideal when all I wanted was to be with him. I had difficulties focusing on my job, when the right thing was to move back to Copenhagen to care for him during his final days. I still believe I made the right choice.

What was the most difficult thing about the transition?

By the end of my yachting career, I swapped on and off between being at sea and being land-based. This gradual transition worked a dream for me. With that said, suddenly having to cover all expenses yourself, including electricity and water takes getting used to after living the Life of Riley for so many years, in that regard. The daily banter on board and the travels are very much missed as well.

What was the best thing about it?

Privacy and freedom to do what you want to do and when you want to do it! Simple as that.

What do you do now?

While being based in Palma I was working on the expedition yacht mentioned earlier. Most of the crew was South American, so the social life on board was primarily in Spanish. One day the thought of others dealing with similar issues occurred and Palma Yacht Crew (Facebook Group) was born. Initially, the idea was to create a social network for yachties locally, but as the word started spreading down the docks, more and more would be using the community to ask questions, look for work and crew or simply just a place to crash while being in between jobs. I saw a need for similar networks in the main yachting hubs worldwide and set up Facebook groups in other destinations where yachties could help each other. Soon people would start messaging me from all over the world with their questions and requests.

With a total of 350K+ profiles in the network, it has become a full-time job for me these days. Thankfully, a very helpful team of moderators help me watch the boards, screening new member requests etc. Without them, it would not have been possible to keep the community running so smoothly.

What do you miss most about yachting?

The many international friendships, the travels, the banter, the job, and the sea.

Do you have any advice for fellow yachties about going land-based?

Absolutely; The longer you have worked at sea the harder it can be to change lifestyles. You will become a lot more money conscious as you will have to provide everything for yourself. Suddenly, you are not being taken care of anymore. No more luxury products from the market, fancy travels, new electronics, expensive dinners, champagne lunches etc. For this reason, my advice will be to leave yachting with savings enough to provide for yourself for a good three years to come. Paying rent/mortgage, electricity, water, internet and telephone all add up. Add taxes on top of that! Some may even have a baby in the making, a car or property expenses to cover as well.

“Life ashore ain't cheap!” –famous last words...

Obviously, leaving yachting is a lot easier with an education and a career to fall back on, but we are not all so lucky. Others may be looking to find a land-based yachting gig or to establish a business of their own. To those my advice is to see if you can get it set up (at least the business plan) while you are still crewing. The ideal thing is to step off the yacht and straight into your new job/business and then move forward from there. This is certainly do-able for those looking to work online or to establish an online business. There are so many opportunities out there, whereas it may be slightly more challenging if you want a shore-based business.

Last but not least, if you are looking to invest your money to accomplish some of the above, be careful with whom you trust your savings. Some plans include heavy penalties should you need your money earlier than anticipated. Spread your savings in different baskets – please... If you don't manage your own investments, choose your financial advisor with great care! Too many yachties have had significant financial losses in the past trusting advisors who were more concerned about their own commissions than the return of their clients' investments – unfortunately.

Whatever you do, don't lean back and let one day take the next, with next to nothing being accomplished. Be proactive and get the ball rolling. The “Life After Yachting” - community is a great place to start!