By Kelsey McCallum
Sandy Yawn, the current lead and first female superyacht captain on Bravo’s reality TV series Below Deck Mediterranean, is one of the most recognized captains in the world. With over 30 years of international maritime experience, she has long inspired audiences and fellow crewmembers alike with her calm confidence at sea.
But before her illustrious career on the water began, Captain Sandy struggled with addiction as a teenager. After getting kicked out of eleventh grade, she found herself washing boats at a local Florida marina, a moment that unknowingly launched her future.
Today, Captain Sandy’s career has reached heights she never imagined, and she’s now helping others find their own fresh start through the same industry that changed her life.
Her foundation, Captain Sandy’s Charities, is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and educating tomorrow’s maritime leaders and environmental stewards. The charity champions inclusivity, sustainability, and career preparedness for students across Florida—building awareness for a rapidly growing sector that needs skilled, passionate professionals.
We recently spoke with Captain Sandy about how her foundation’s educational initiative, Steering Toward Success, is creating opportunities for young people to thrive in the maritime workforce.
The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Q: Why is it important for students to consider the marine industry as a viable career option?
The marine industry offers far more than just one career path. It offers many different options—from sales and charter brokerage, to shipyard work, to life at sea. Whether you want to stay on land or go offshore, there is a place for you.
And the opportunities are real. People who work in the marine industry can earn up to 20 percent more than many land-based jobs, often with full medical coverage and outstanding benefits. You travel, meet people from different nationalities and cultures, and build relationships all over the world.
Along the way, you also learn about navigation, the oceans, marine life, and the cities and ports you visit. The sea becomes your classroom, and the world opens up in ways that most other careers never offer.
For me, choosing a career in the marine industry was the best decision I ever made. It didn’t just give me a job, it gave me a life filled with purpose, growth, adventure, and opportunity.
Q: Steering Toward Success, the foundation’s educational program, is geared towards raising awareness of job opportunities in the marine industry for students across Florida. Could you tell us a bit about how the program works?
Captain Sandy’s Charities partnered with Young Minds Inspired, an organization composed of experienced educators, to develop an in-school curriculum approved by the State of Florida for use in every public school statewide.
Together, we successfully rolled out programs for elementary, middle, and high school students. The curriculum is delivered through digital education kits hosted online by Young Minds Inspired, allowing teachers across Florida to easily access and download the materials. Additionally, we produce printed educational posters that teachers can use in their classrooms, giving students a clear and engaging visual learning experience.
The program continues to evolve, advancing education and awareness within the maritime industry. Our long-term goal is to engage every teacher and student in Florida, creating lasting exposure to maritime careers, skills, and opportunities.
Q: What does career preparedness look like in the marine industry? What skills do students need?
Preparing to enter the industry starts early in a student’s education. Courses in math, science, technology, and hands-on learning help build a strong foundation, while marine-focused programs introduce students to real, achievable career paths.
Exposure is the next key step. Career days, field trips, internships, summer programs, and job shadowing make maritime careers tangible—not just an abstract idea. From there, certifications and specialized training become essential. Basic safety, first aid, navigation, engineering, or hospitality credentials can quickly open doors to entry-level opportunities.
Beyond technical training, aspiring maritime professionals should focus on developing life skills such as leadership, communication, time management, and confidence. These are just as important as hands-on expertise. And be sure to say “yes” to opportunities! Many maritime careers begin in entry-level roles, and showing initiative, reliability, and a positive attitude can accelerate long-term growth.
A key component of our program is an apprenticeship pathway, designed to help students explore different options within the marine industry and discover which role is the right fit for them.
Through hands-on experience and exposure to a variety of positions, students gain clarity about the job they want to pursue. Once that decision is made, many marine companies are even willing to invest in their future by sending them to schools where they can earn the required certifications.
For students interested in a career at sea, this often begins with attending a training center such as Maritime Professional Training, where they will complete their basic safety and foundational instruction. From there, students choose a career track—deck or interior—and continue with specialized classes aligned with their chosen position.
This structured approach gives students confidence, direction, and real-world preparation, while providing the marine industry with skilled, motivated professionals ready to succeed.
Q: Why are environmental awareness and sustainability such key parts of your program? How does Steering Toward Success address these concepts?
The ocean is not only beautiful, it’s essential to life on Earth. It produces the majority of the oxygen we breathe and provides a vital food source for people around the world. Protecting it isn’t optional; it’s our responsibility.
Ocean advocacy is so important to me, and because of that belief, I made sure that ocean stewardship and sustainability were embedded directly into the Steering Toward Success program. Its curriculum teaches students practical, everyday ways to protect the ocean. From reducing plastic use, to proper waste disposal, to choosing recycled and sustainable products.
By educating kids early, we’re not just teaching lessons—we’re shaping habits, values, and future leaders who will protect the ocean for generations to come.
Q: What kind of feedback are you receiving from students and teachers who use the Steering Toward Success program?
The feedback we’re getting has been very encouraging. Many students and teachers had no idea these jobs even existed, and that is exactly why we’re doing this. Our goal is to introduce students of all grade levels to the idea that there are opportunities for a different kind of career, one they may never have been exposed to before.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive. All of the comments we’ve received have been so supportive, reinforcing the importance of early exposure, education, and awareness of the marine industry.
Q: What’s your vision for the future of the marine industry, as new generations of recent graduates begin to enter the workforce?
My vision, shared by many others in the industry, is to help create a generation of Americans who not only care for the ocean, but who also become stewards of the marine industry and are eager to work in it.
Over the years, I’ve seen a clear reality: many Americans don’t want to go to sea. As a result, much of the workforce abroad is made up of foreign crew, while American representation continues to decline.
That’s exactly why this work matters. We want young people to see the marine industry through a new lens—to understand the opportunities, the purpose, the adventure, and the long-term careers available both at sea and on land.
By introducing students early, we can change perceptions, spark curiosity, and build pride in maritime careers. Our goal is nothing less than to create a new generation of American seafarers, equipped with the skills, mindset, and passion to sustain and lead the marine industry into the future.
Q: What’s next for the Steering Toward Success program, and for your foundation in general?
What’s next for the foundation is expanding into mental health support, giving students real tools they can use when they face adversity, anxiety, pressure, or self-doubt—the very challenges I faced when I was young.
This phase is about helping students learn how to recenter, stay calm, and find clarity in moments that feel overwhelming. Our goal is to introduce practical strategies they can carry with them for life. I’ll also be sharing the tools and antidotes that I’ve used myself; the techniques that have helped me stay grounded, manage stress, and maintain peace of mind in high-pressure environments. These are simple, accessible practices, but they’re powerful.
By pairing career education with emotional resilience, we’re not just preparing students for jobs—we’re preparing them for life.
About Captain Sandy Yawn
Captain Sandy Yawn is a dynamic leader, international speaker, and businesswoman who has overcome obstacles on land and at sea. Her remarkable leadership has shattered barriers, and her integrity and courage earned her the Distinguished Crew Award from the International Superyacht Society in 2006. She embraced a new challenge as the series lead on Bravo’s Below Deck Mediterranean in 2015, inspiring audiences worldwide with her signature blend of conviction and passion for the sea.
Kelsey McCallum is an Associate Editor for TEACH Mag. She holds a BSc from the University of Guelph and a Graduate Certificate from Centennial College. She currently lives in Toronto, ON, with her partner and their cat, Banksy.
