Overlooking the Penarth Marina, which even on a grey day looked peaceful and serene, who wouldn’t want to call this place home? For Lewis Griffiths, 25 it is just that. Leaving his captain’s hat at home, his jovial spirit shone through as he described living on his reclaimed sailing boat as, “The best alternative lifestyle ever.” Not only has Lewis called it his home for nearly two years, he has been inspired to turn his alternative lifestyle into an alternative living, captaining private yachts.
Living on a boat was never a lifelong dream, despite learning to sail at his local yacht club from the tender age of eight.
It was while watching George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces his passion for sailing took on a new significance. “Ideas spiraled out of control – but in a good way”, he smiled. Inspired by a couple renovating a canal boat, he realised that swapping the conventional two-storey house for a life at sea seemed like a great idea.
In the midst of the UK housing crisis, buying a house was out of his reach, but he was surprised to discover how sustainable, green and inexpensive yachts were.
Escaping the nine to five
What was initially a low-cost way to home ownership quickly became a lot more.
“I bought the boat in Dartmouth, sailed 300 miles around the UK coast and thought it was the best thing ever, so I started researching how I could sail boats as a career. Six months later, I quit my job and did this.”
Originally from Swansea, Lewis graduated in music technology from the University of South Wales, Cardiff and spent two years working as a recording engineer. While music will always be his first love, he confessed that an office job was not for him. “I would wake up in the morning, or even in bed the night before dreading having to go to work the next day”, he said.
“I literally do just sail boats for a living!”
When asked to describe his job now, he beamed: “I literally do just sail boats for a living!” Having just returned from four months skippering in Greece, he’s now enjoying time off before the start of the new season in November.
The Highs and lows of a life at sea
It’s not all just one big holiday. Working 18 to 20 hours a day when there are guests on board, Lewis doesn’t stop. Being in charge of an 82ft yacht comes with its challenges. “On boats that size you tend to get one or two crew members, not only would I be captain, but I would take care of the interior and prepare it for guests, anything you could think of, I was responsible for.”
Despite relishing the fact that he can work and travel, only being home six weeks to two months a year is difficult. “Even with guests on board, it’s not the same as having your mates around, so it can get lonely,” he admits.
Looking to the future, he explains that he has no long term plan, but is enjoying the moment. “I want to see how far I can take it.” With a bucket list to hand, the world is his oyster.
Below, Lewis shares his top five things about living on a boat.