AWY - Association of Women in Yachting

Founded by Anna Percival-Harris, managing director of John Percival Marine Associates/Hoylake Sailing School, the AWY - Association of Women in Yachting provides a resource for professional women in the yachting industry.

The Association of Women in Yachting was created to give women in the yachting industry the opportunity to access a supportive and resourceful networking platform, something that was previously missing in the typically male-dominated industry.

On International Women’s Day in 2019, the AWY released its mission statement:

‘To provide encouragement and endorsement to our female colleagues in the Yachting Industry and to celebrate and value our self-worth at all times.’

Directors and honorary members of the Association of Women in Yachting

• Anna Percival-Harris (founder and director of AWY) – as managing director of John Percival Marine Associates/Hoylake Sailing School Ltd, Anna has developed the largest privately owned maritime training providers. The organisation delivers more than 40 maritime courses.
   
• Emma Oakden (director of AWY) – after working as a commercial lawyer and raising a family, Emma entered the yachting industry with JPMA/HSS and has spent the last 3 years learning everything there is to know about the industry.
   
• Jessica Pegg (honorary member of AWY)- with a background in teaching, Jessica has embraced life in both Spain and the UK. She now works as a senior relationship consultant at Yachting Pages Media Group and has won a number of company awards.
   
• Joey Meen (honorary member of AWY) – Joey started her yachting career in 1990 and has been active within the PYA council since 2005. She is now CEO of the GUEST Program and has helped to develop training development projects.
   
• Zara Tremlett (honorary member of AWY) – Zara is the first female to receive the recognition of Certified Marina Management status in the Asia region during her time as marina manager at Phuket Yacht Haven. Presently, she is managing Port Louis Marina in Grenada. 
   
• Julie Davies (honorary member of AWY) – Julie joined the JPMA/HSS business development team in 2007 and was promoted to centre manager in 2015. She has also won a BBC Christmas Star Award in 2017 for her work with ‘Hot Wheels’, a wheelchair dancing club.
   
• Chantal Flashman (honorary member of AWY) – Chantal moved to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, at the age of 22 and spent the next ten years working as a stewardess on several sailing and motor yachts. She is now the interior manager for Imperial Yachts.
   
• Fiona Maureso (honorary member of AWY) – before training as a charter broker, Fiona worked briefly as a deckhand/stewardess on a 40-metre (131-foot) superyacht. Now working as senior charter broker for Northrop & Jonson, Fiona has also been an active member of MYBA The Worldwide Yachting Association.
   
• Lucy Jones (honorary member of AWY) – Lucy started her yachting in career in 2001 as a deckhand/stewardess and has worked her way up the yachting ladder, filling a captain position for two years on a 32-metre (104-foot) Sunseeker.
   
• Lisa Peck (honorary member of AWY) – Lisa boasts 20 years’ experience in marketing and is passionate about helping young people in the yachting industry. Currently, Lisa is the global marketing manager for Fraser Yachts.
   
• Amilee Luke (honorary member of AWY) – Amilee has operated at an executive level for over 20 years and is now the chief operations officer at Bluewater Crew Training USA in Florida. She is directly responsible for creating one of the industry’s leading MCA Master, Chief Mate and OOW Oral Prep Programs.
   
• Bridget Featherby (honorary member of AWY) – Bridget started her 15-year career working on yachts after discovering the industry by accident whilst on holiday. She now applies her invaluable experience to her current role as crew administrator in the yacht management department at Camper & Nicholson’s.

The Association of Women in Yachting are in collaboration with Yachting Pages on a series of inspirational interviews with Women in Yachting. The interviews look into the background and careers of yachting professionals, who offer advice and support to those aspiring to break into the yachting industry.

Contact the Association of Women in Yachting today to find out more about the association and discuss networking opportunities.