Four days ago the yachting world was rocked by the death of Paige Bell, a South African stewardess. Reports circulating among crew forums say she was killed by a fellow crew member; the facts are still emerging, but the loss is real and raw. A GoFundMe has been set up to help her family, and an industry-wide petition calls for mandatory criminal-background checks for all seafarers. One paragraph is nowhere near enough to honour Paige, but silence felt worse. Let’s keep her family in our thoughts and commit to making our workplaces safer. (gofundme.com, chng.it)
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“Mental wealth is about purpose, about growth, and about creating the space necessary in your life to wrestle with the bigger-picture questions.” — Sahil Bloom(leadforsociety.uchicago.edu)
Why Mental Wealth Matters More Than Ever at Sea
Sahil Bloom’s framework reminds us that financial success is hollow if the mind steering the ship is taking on water. Mental Wealth covers three buckets: purpose, growth, and inner space for reflection.
For yacht crew, those buckets spring more leaks than most:
ISWAN’s YachtCrewHelp helpline logged a record rise in mental-health contacts last year, with yachties reporting higher rates of anxiety, depression, bullying and abuse than other seafarers.(iswan.org.uk).
The message is clear: we are paid well, but we’re not all right.
Filling the Tanks: Practical Ways to Build Mental Wealth On Board
1. Micro-rituals that fit a watch schedule
Five-minute breath work before dog-watch to down-shift cortisol.
Pocket journaling: three lines at lights-out (gratitude / worry dump / tomorrow’s win).
Audiobook “walks” on the foredeck - pace laps while learning something that excites you.
2. Purpose on the water
Ask Bloom’s “10-year-old you” vs “90-year-old you” test: would both versions salute how you spend your hours today? If not, set one intentional project for the season—finish a credential, master latte art, start that property-search spreadsheet.
3. Connection without bandwidth
Schedule recurring 15-minute “home port” calls with family during your least-busy shift change.
Start a crew book-swap or workout challenge to deepen relationships on board. Depth > breadth, just like we discussed in Social Wealth.
4. Professional backup
YachtCrewHelp (-) +44 (0)20 7323 2737 or live chat 24/7—free, confidential, multilingual. Save it in your phone now.(iswan.org.uk)
Many insurers now cover tele-therapy; carve out a weekly slot in the crew mess or your cabin with noise-cancelling headphones.
5. Captaincy of the mind = compound interest
Just as ignoring physical exercise in your twenties makes a comeback harder at fifty, neglecting mental fitness today compounds the wrong way. Keep the dimmer switch on—even a low setting lets the habit compound.
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A rising tide lifts all five boats; a leak in Mental Wealth can sink the fleet.
Sounding the Depths — A Reflection
What mental-wealth practice will you commit to this week, and who can hold you accountable? Hit reply and let me know—consider this your first micro-ritual.
Stay safe, keep your mind buoyant, and remember: money buys options, not meaning.
— Charl
ICYMI- Bitcoin Podcast with Scott Melker
I’ve had the privilege to sit down with one of our previous charter guests- Scott Melker a.k.a The Wolf of All Streets to chat about all things crypto and Bitcoin. Check it out! He has over 1M followers on X which is about 999999 more than I do.
If this resonated, share the petition, support Paige’s family if you can, and forward this newsletter to one yachtie who needs the reminder that they’re not alone.
Fair winds— Charl | The Yachting Investor (PS: Coaching slots are open—if your finances need the same TLC as your friendships, let’s chat.)
