Meet the Team.
Gemma is the Founder & Director of The Yacht Stew Academy and TYS Recruitment, two international businesses dedicated to training, supporting, and placing yacht crew across the globe.
A former Chief Stewardess, Gemma left her last yacht in 2020 to focus full-time on building a platform that could educate, connect, and inspire the next generation of stews. Since then, she has become recognised as a leader in yacht training and recruitment, delivering IAMI GUEST-accredited courses, developing the industry’s first Chief Stewardess Certificate of Competence, and building one of the most engaged online communities of interior crew.
Gemma is a two-time Acrew Award winner and a regular speaker at international yacht shows and industry events. Her reputation combines professional expertise with a genuine passion for crew wellbeing and career development. Known for her creative thinking and community-first approach, she has guided thousands of stews through their training and career transitions, both onboard and ashore.
Away from the academy and agency, Gemma can be found baking, podcasting, and enjoying life in the UK countryside with her husband, family, and two cats.
Grab a cup of tea & meet the creative minds behind The Yacht Stew.
Lorrie Sanon
America
Floral Designer & Trainer
Claire Blackler
Scotland
Master of Wine & Trainer
Eileen Donaghey
Northern Ireland
Afternoon Tea Expert & Trainer
Myles Cunliffe
England
Mixologist & Trainer
Rachael Avara
America
Event Designer & Trainer
Andrew Flock
America
Global Tea Supplier & Trainer
The Yacht Stew Story.
In 2016, The Yacht Stew began as an Instagram account where Gemma hoped to meet and connect with more Stewardesses around the world. Based on the West Coast of Canada at the time and rarely meeting other crew, she turned to social media to find a community that understood the ups and downs of yachting — from long guest days and endless pantry clean-ups, to the joy of giving guests unforgettable memories.
The response was overwhelming. What began as late-night blog posts soon grew into podcast and magazine features, and eventually into a thriving global community. The need was clear: interior crew wanted not just connection, but also guidance, training, and a safe space to grow in their careers.
This is how The Yacht Stew Academy was born: a training academy with community at its heart. Offering in-depth courses designed by stews, for stews, TYSA helps crew progress from “greenies” to senior leaders with kindness, relatability, and excellence at the centre.
Today, The Yacht Stew has evolved into a hub of support, training, and recruitment, with thousands of crew worldwide turning to the brand for knowledge, opportunity, and encouragement. We are the educators, mentors, and champions of the new wave of Super Stews.
