Inspirational Women in Yachting with thecrewchef - Nina Wilson
As part of our International Women’s Day series, we are taking the opportunity to shine a spotlight on some of the inspirational women in yachting. The yachting industry is predominantly male, with women comprising only 2% of yacht captains and 4% of chief officers. It's not just those filling positions on yachts, but also those in senior business positions, where women make up only 17% of board directors.
Nina Wilson is one of our inspirational women in yachting, here she tells us a little bit about what it’s like to be a female Head Chef in the yachting industry, her career highlights, challenges and the one person she’d love to cook dinner for if she got the chance.
Full Name: Nina Mary Eleanor Wilson
Job title: Head Chef
Nationality: Australian
Number of years as a chef: 6
Superyacht size: 80m
Number of guests: 20
Number of crew: 20
Seasons / charters: Caribbean
What would you say to any females out there dreaming of becoming a chef in yachting?
“Do it! And do it right - get some training ashore, go do some stages, and know your worth when it comes to day rates and salary.”
Tell us a bit about your journey of how you became a senior level female chef in yachting?
Gosh - the word senior makes me feel old, and I’m about to turn 30 next month (and just found my first grey hair) so this is all a lot right now ha! In all seriousness - I started out as a stewardess, then tried my hand at being a deckie - but really missed being creative.
I've always been creative and loved food, so decided to transition into the galley felt right. I started out by attending a culinary school, and then working as a sous chef under some excellend head chefs (Shout out to Dean Harrison) and was fortunate to be working as a sole chef on a 45m when the owners decided to upgrade to a large vessel, meaning that I could step into a head chef role quite easily. I love having a team in the galley, it was lonely being a sole! It was my goal to become a head chef before I was 30, and I managed it when I was 27 so, not too bad!
What is your favourite aspect of the job?
“Getting to do what I love - which sounds cliche, but I just LOVE cooking and eating food! It's a creative process that changes every day. I also like being my own 'boss' in the galley.”
What has been your biggest challenge as a yacht chef?
“Provisioning in Alaska - wow that place is remote! I one had fresh dairy flown in on a seaplane because the trip got extended, and the guests were smashing hot chocolate like no tomorrow!”
Do you have any standout moments or highlights in your career?
“Cooking for the Prince of Monaco - who ate like an absolute champion. Additionally, the fresh seafood in Alaska - wow. The halibut we got to prepare was incredible.”
Have you encountered many hurdles in your career due to your sex?
“I do believe so. It's hard to quantify as its usually in a series of micro aggressions or small incidences that by themselves, don't feel right but also don't seem too horrendous - but when you add them up its all a bit like hey, I don't believe that a male in my situation would have been treated the same way. Having to stand my ground more on certain things like using certain provisioners, saying I need dayworkers etc but having to put more effort into proving my point.
The other aspect is that women are generally expected to be polite and respectful all the time, when in reality I can be very direct - and this has led to being told I'm being a bitch or too bossy - when I can clearly remember previous male head chefs acting the same if not worse and no one batting and eyelid.”
What would you say to any females out there dreaming of becoming a chef in yachting?
“Do it! And do it right - get some training ashore, go do some stages, and know your worth when it comes to day rates and salary.”
If you could cook dinner for one inspirational woman, dead or alive, who would that be and what would you cook?
“Taylor Swift hands down. I'm obsessed.
She’s an incredible creative - her music, art and directing are constantly evolving. I'm waiting for the day she charters a yacht that I'm chef on - I would expire!”
Follow Nina’s adventures on Instagram: Thecrewachef and YouTube: TheCrewChef