Being part of the boating industry means I get to call some pretty amazing people friends. Alberto Sonino is one of those friends. As an owner of a marina in Venice with an extraordinary history of creating a now idyllic environment from a wasteland,  to stories of organising the boats for the James Bond movie Casino Royale scenes set in Venice -  Alberto has some stories many would love to hear, and so it is great to share them here with you in this interview.

Our chat took place at the METSTRADE show in 2024 - probably one of the best events for networking - alongside the WORLD MARINAS CONFERENCE of which he is one of the main organisers this year. The World Marinas Conference is an event anyone can attend - and it's always not only a great way to catch up with marina owners and operators from all over the world, but every location loves to "show  off" their location to it's best - so can you imagine what Alberto and the Venice team will put together? I can't wait to see. See you there in October folks.

In the meantime if you would like to meet Alberto he's in the Italian section of the halls at Dubai International Boat Show this week.

For more information on the World Marinas Conference and to book go to:

https://www.worldmarinasconference.com/

For more information on Alberto's marina go to:

https://www.veneziacertosamarina.it/en/

Major Sponsors of The World Marinas Conference include:

https://www.d-marin.com/en/

https://www.ferrettigroup.com/en-us/

Interviewing Michele J Goldsmith is like gaining wise knowledge from a woman with such an array of world experience that you feel enlightened by the end of it. Michele has been in the boating industry for so long it is part of her identity. From working with intricate necessary boating products to being a superstar of the boating industry media world, her journey has been, as in all boating industry ones, varied and interesting. During this time she has gained substantial awards for her contribution to industry, gathered deep data that helps us all see what the future holds in the boating industry, and even visited Everest. Yet through it all her continuous drive, grace, and considered conversation has been a beacon for many women in this industry to look up to, be guided by and be grateful for. Michele has organised, and still does, some amazing female dominated events at key industry events like Miami Boat Show and METSTRADE and each one is attended by an abundance of women looking to hear, as usual, the positive messages she gives about what we can do, and what we can achieve. I am lucky enough to count Michele as a friend. Lunch with her is always filled with inspiration, determination and a generosity of spirit to see others rise that is a rare and very special quality not everyone possesses, but radiates in droves from Michele.

There are some fascinating stats in this podcast....make sure you listen to it right to the end.

Darling, thank you so much for your friendship and this interview I hope everyone enjoys our chat. #boatingindustry #boating

If you are going to Miami Boat Show you can book for her event (which features as a guest speaker one of my other absolute favourites, also a dear friend, in the industry Michelle Hildyard of Raymarine)

BOOK HERE

You can find Michele here:

Thanks dear listeners I really appreciate you ears

Please review the podcast and help us reach more and more and thus share more and more knowledge, inspiration and incredible people in our boating industry and beyond to hopefully have them join us

Josie Eastman was pulled into the boating industry by a family that believed she would bring a fresh and modern approach to it, and along with her strong organisational skills, business management training and team management abilities she hasn't looked back. Winning the Rising Star Award at the Raymarine Boat Builder Awards in Amsterdam in 2023 really put her Australian boat brand "Edencraft" on the world map which is her goal - to make Edencraft a world distributed brand. These strong and able to handle Australian conditions boats are based on an original hull design the story of which includes drug cartels and murder intrigue. It's a boat brand grown men aspire to and even shed a tear for. Listen as I explore with Josie her career trajectory and her passion for a brand that she holds with great pride and ambition to truly bring to all of those that have a love for fishing all over the world. There are some great marketing tips for all boat businesses (how to get kids hounding their parents to buy boats) and some truly inspirational moments for all women looking to enter or further their career in the boating industry in this podcast.

The image for this Podcast is Josie to the left then Lisa Blair middle and myself on the right and just some of the amazing women at our networking event at Sydney Boat Show Thanks to Shadow Superyacht and Chapman Yachting.

Photo Credit: Rising Tide Films/Mulpha Events

For more details on Edencraft see:

https://www.edencraft.com.au/

If you would like to connect with The Boat Princess and enquire about being on the podcast or sponsoring one of our events you can connect with me here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicky-vaux-the-boat-princess-04014530/

We've had a short break from publishing episodes at the end of 2024 but believe me we are coming back with a bang in 2025 - or should I say a POP of Champagne as my first guest for this years' series is the incredible Madame Natalie Vranken of Pommery Champagne. This strong, determined and vivacious woman lives and breathes Champagne but not in the way many might interpret but in a passion for creating the very best version of it for the rest of us to enjoy both in the Champagne itself but in the way we get to enjoy it too. Pommery was created by a woman...a widow that had the foresight to invest in herself and her "brand" when "brand" was not the catchword it is today. Madame Pommery took great risks but made astute decisions that still stand today in creating what Pommery is and will always be - a unique and beautiful experience. And indeed this is what they always focus on in bringing the brand to market - they create experiences their clients will never forget - partnering with locations and unique offerings that create a memory - so that when you next sip their champagne that memory is brought back into your mind. So why did I, the Boat Princess, want to interview Madame Vranken? That's simple. One: She's an amazing businesswoman that you have to hear speak - she shares the qualities one needs to be an entrepreneur and some amazing life advice. Two - boating and Champagne are a natural partner - they both instil amazing memories and they are both a luxury but one we should only aim for the best version of. If you haven't tasted Pommery then make sure you do - then you'll know why it's not just the colour of this brand (that glorious blue much like my own brand) that pulls me in. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed recording it. The privilege of what I do is simply getting to meet amazing people like Madame Vranken and soaking up their experience, advice and passion - it's a privilege I never take for granted and one I love sharing with you all, my dear listeners all over the world - whom I also never take for granted. 

For more information about Pommery see https://www.champagnepommery.com/home

If you would like to enquire about being a guest on our podcast, or connect with me you can do so HERE

So exciting! I found a living riverside legend, and I can't wait for you to met Peter Methven  OBE. With his calm and soothing voice, Peter takes us on a journey from his very first boating experience to dinner in the dining room of the elegant and majestic Royal Thames Yacht Club that was established in 1775.  Next year the RTYC celebrates it's 250th year and whilst in this fireside chat we don't go back that far, Peter shares some of his fondest and most impactful memories. 

https://royalthames.com/

Peter spent 2 years as the Rear Commodore between 2010-2012, during which his role as a Flag Officer ,who is third in command and is responsible for organizing social events. This includes the club's website, bar, and catering. The Rear Commodore may also appoint club members to fill other roles, such as House Secretary, Catering Secretary, or Social Secretary.

Peter's career was intentional, taking up roles that gave him experience in the marine industry.  A qualified boat builder, he is now an export consultant with an exemplary track record in developing markets for products and services, delivering export growth for small and medium sized companies in the UK and overseas.

I just know this conversation will answer many questions and fill your imagination. 

For more information head to www.theboatprincess.com

Associate Director of McKenna Townsend, Charlotte Sampson, sat down with me at the Royal Thames Yacht Club, London, to chat about the vast landscape of marketing.  We found common ground in attending the same university where Charlotte completed a Sports Leisure Marketing Degree.  

The experience to analyse partnerships with Ericcson, to focus on humanitarian response, education & digital skills, climate and environment as well as diversity and inclusion, was the stepping stone into aviation, marine, and technology. 

A specialist in Public Relations for the outdoor industry, Charlotte has packed the goody bags, and has a track record of delivering media opportunities, product reviews in magazines, and advertising campaigns that uplift the awareness and demonstrate the benefits to the end user.

In the transition into motherhood, Charlotte's world changed and she set about curating her village to support her returning to her career.  Flexibility, challenging and reward are values she looks for in an organisahttps://mckennatownsend.com/tion, and advocates for other parents to be confident.

So settle in as this delightful conversation that takes you on the journey of adaption.

McKenna Townsend are a PR and Marketing Firm based in the UK.

You can find out more about them here:

https://mckennatownsend.com/

For more information about how you could feature on our podcast and share your story with the world see  www.theboatprincess.com

If you'd like to know more about my world and where I am and up to you can follow me on Instagram HERE

And for more in depth and educational articles you can follow me on Linked in HERE

In this fireside chat (actually on a Rooftop in France in my casual look - had no idea Ben was going to video this, I suppise I should have guessed!), experienced media and digital creator Ben Taylor, shares how he manifested a career that was never on the list of possible jobs whilst at school.  He shares with me some of the concepts and his contribution to the marine industry and the pathway that he curated to establish Taylor Media. 

Ben's mission is to be a reliable voice that informs, empowers and engages the industry internationally. His content covers; people, companies, events, technologies and hot topics including; sustainability and supply chain issues across the marine leisure and superyacht sector.

Ben's Youtube 

Ben's Interview with The Boat Princess

This 45 minute episode is one of two with our second half becoming available through our exclusive content membership 'Top Deck'.   Head to www.theboatprincess.com to subscribe to our Newsletter and we'll be in touch with details soon!  This is where we will be making exclusive announcements, showcase product launches and publishing those conversations you don't want to miss. 

Enjoy and I will see you on the water soon.

Nicky x

PS Please review the podcast it means more of our guests stories get heard and a rising tide lifts all boats! x

Now I will admit, my travels around the world have seen me cross paths with many within and upon the fringes of the boating and marine industry, but this time I found myself in the same room as Joe, Lynch. The CEO of ICOMIA.

His story starts when he was 6 years old, when his parents bought a boat and a book and during the summer of 1976 they took their three children and the dog sailing. 

His passion was spurred by his circle of friends who range from amateur boaters to olympic athletes.  Joe shares the accessibility of boating, sailing clubs and contributions of the community in competition and connection. 

Joe is a natural leader, with a deep understanding of his own personal limitations but has the collective knowledge of contacts that can solve the problem or make the difference around the world. 

For the past year, Joe has made his mission to listen and learn from the people, free from commercial bias and free from personal bias, and be there for the good of the industry. 

ICOMIA is helping countries grow their industry and build opportunities within the network on projects to maintain contemporaneous initiatives.   To add value, Joe has learnt how to leverage the good will of membership and find the resources, promising to write the book about the application of commercialising the not for profit principles. 

ICOMIA is very lucky to have the support of a volunteer board that supports this industry and you can find out more about Joe and ICOMIA right here.

Don't forget to check out my other episode with Darren Vaux about the ICOMIA research into sustainability. 

There is something soothing and special about being on or near the water. Whether it's seeing the vast horizon that opens up a whole world of endless possibilities, showing us there is always more to look forward to, or the gentle rocking of the waves against the shore line, resetting the sand to new, my travels have continued to open doors to the people who have build a life connected to the ocean and with them a new perspective I haven't always seen. 

In this episode I welcome to the podcast - Suzy Chisholm, the innovating co-founder of start up - Swiss Ocean Tech, Safe Anchoring for Sailor, Ship and Sea, and officially, a communications expert.

So as we dive into this conversation, she shares her unofficially role as 'building bridges between people and ideas', bringing people together who strive for that common ground. Her secret in almost all cases, can be found with the right approach and attention. 

So what does it take to create a unique connection between two unknowns. The power of direction. There are so many ocean references I can make about Suzy's philosphy, but I will let you hear then for yourself.   

Where we found common ground was at the heart of doing with intention because as she will explain, when everyone understands the mission at hand, they automatically pull in the same direction. There will be no shortage of struggles, hurdles or setbacks, so if we are all heading in the same direction, we are always able to stay on course.

One more thing, Spring is here, and these gorgeous days right now and the ones you could be spending on, in or around the water - come and see us at Bobbin Head Marina, our Waterside Bistro is the perfect place to be. 

Welcome back to Part 2 of my conversation with Jasper Smith.  If you haven't heard Part 1 - go back and listen and this episode will make so much more sense.

'Without a healthy ocean, we don't have healthy humans'.  That is the philosphy of today's guest, Jasper Smith, a design engineer who has previously build the worlds biggest online game play arena, is now applying his skill and passion to embed protective measures and experience to the sea state.

I met up with Jasper Smith when I was last in the UK, and spoke with him about his connection to the water, which included living on a barge to exploring Alaska with his family and friends.  Jasper has spent years making memories, media and movies as well as starting the World Ocean Trust.

'It's astounding to me that we buy a superyacht and staff it and then leave it in the marina for 10 months of the year. Redundancy is key."

Jasper's ambitions are powered by passion to build and design boats for adventure, and the lifestyle he knows we want to lead.  From the smaller vessel to a 60ft yacht with a hybrid system and 15 -20 hours of silent running.  They are designed to be off grid for three months, comfortable inside, easy to drive providing security in preparedness.

Thank you for listening to this 2 part series and be sure to tell your friends and colleagues to follow us so we can spread these important stories to many more.

We would also love you to review our podcast.

1. Open the Podcasts app

1. Visit our Apple Podcasts page in your web browser

This helps us expand our audience further. Did you know 65% of our downloads are in the US despite us being an Australian company? Don't underestimate the power of a podcast - it's out there forever. For more information on us and how to connect with us to feature your story on our podcast contact us at www.theboatprincess.com

For more information on our interviewee:

Links:

https://www.arksen.com/en

https://www.10percentfortheocean.org/

https://mckennatownsend.com/