Emma James | Stewardess SW105Wolfhound

Emma Caroline James – Stewardess SW105 Wolfhound

Emma, you graduated from the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa) in 2015 after completing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Visual Communication Design. You have been a free-lance artist and illustrator also. And yet you have been working as stewardess first aboard SW94 Windfall then aboard SW105 Wolfhound since 2016. What brought you to choose a yachting career?

I didn’t realise it at first, but design translates especially well into the world of yachting. From table settings to cheeseboards it’s all about what things look like- well maybe not all- and that comes naturally to me. As a visual person it’s important to me that things look nice all the time.
I look at everything because there’s design and art in everything. After completing my university degree I realised that an office job would never satisfy my desire for travel, adventure and working with people but luckily there’s a lot of room for creativity within the yachting industry. I just love to have fun with it.

SW105 Wolfhound has an excellent reputation in the luxury charter industry, her guests’ expectations are very high. What are your secrets to surprise them?

I genuinely want to provide an exceptional and memorable experience and it’s important to me that our guests feel cared for. I love holidays, who doesn’t, so I try to imagine what I would want. I think that the key is to be warm and friendly yet also discreet. I pay attention to details because the smallest of things can make the biggest difference.
There’s no secret that good hospitality begins long before the charter starts then depends on the team effort of all of the crew. It’s also important that the crew gets along, because guests can see and pick up on any tension that there may be. But teamwork is the real secret.