A Captain's Journey: From Humble Beginnings to Mastering the High Seas
How Capt. Jeremy Parker went from a young boy with a dinghy to the captain of a 110-foot ketch.
From Christmas in Antigua to rafting across the Channel as a teenager, Jeremy Parker sails beyond memories and casts his mind back reflecting fondly on his offshore career where he spent over twenty years working as a captain.
Few lives are as deeply intertwined with the water as Jeremy Parker’s. From his earliest days in a small dinghy to commanding 110-foot sailing yachts across the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, Jeremy’s story is one of adventure, resilience, and a lifelong love for the sea. Raised across continents, his early exposure to sailing in Singapore set the stage for a remarkable offshore career spanning decades. Now settled in Tasmania, Jeremy reflects on a life defined by wind, waves, and the ever-changing horizon.
Just A Young Boy And His Dinghy
Born in the UK into an RAF officer family, Jeremy's father undertook frequent changes of posting with no fixed roots in the UK. Aged eight, Jeremy moved to Singapore where his father was posted with the Royal Air Force. He resided there for three further years. It was during these formative years that shaped Jeremy’s relationship with boats and the water, and he learned that he had a natural propensity for sailing and it sparked his lifelong love for boats. “Social life in Singapore revolves around sailing and golf, and fortunately my father chose sailing for the family.”
Swallows and Amazons: Teenagers Crossing The Channel
At the age of ten Jeremy found himself back in the south of the UK where he attended boarding school and he continued to sail and study all things nautical whenever possible.
As a teenager Jeremy spent his all of his free time sailing with The Ocean Youth Club in the UK, which is similar to the Boy Scouts on water. He sailed vintage 50-foot traditional sailing gaff rig boats on their last legs to the Channel Islands and France loaded with 15 kids. “There were just a couple of adults, no showers, bucket and chuck it toilets. Growing up in the late 60’s, kids generally got greater independence and teenagers were allowed to make their own mistakes.” Even as a child Jeremy found himself feeling contained within the confines of his boarding school classroom.
Adventure Under Sail At Just 19 Years old: From Steward To Deckhand
After leaving school, despite his fathers desire for him to attend University, Jeremy took a year off to sail. Through his contacts at The Ocean Youth Club he secured a job as a deckhand working on yacht deliveries, moving boats from the Mediterranean to England across the English Channel.
Once the post was over, Jeremy spent the winter back in England. Through a fortunate stroke of serendipity, a local paper advertised for a steward needed for a 100-foot charter boat. departing immediately. His father knew Jeremy wanted to work on the water and suggested that he should apply, but as a young man, Jeremy feared the unknown. After applying for the steward role he was invited on board to meet with the crew. The boat, a classic Camper and Nicholson pedigree built in Southampton captured Jeremy's attention. Whilst the voyage was initially intended for the Caribbean, it was diverted to Palma de Mallorca. The shutdown of the Arab oil states led to a fuel shortage. He was spending a lot more time making beds and serving tables than he expected. He decided that on his next job he wanted to practise the art of seamanship.
Wandering The Med
After his steward job ended Jeremy used the contacts he made on board and embarked on a full charter program in Greece as a deckhand. From there, he ended up gallivanting around the Mediterranean meeting people ashore from all walks of life, from all backgrounds and races.
Above: Jeremy Parker on a traditional Campers and Nicholsons wooden yacht, Sea Rambler, 1975. Image via Jeremy Parker.
Determined to miss a rainy British winter, he secured a job in Malta as a paid deckhand on a small boat with an American owner. He worked the boat hard and he had a great time. Finally, he was the master of his own ship. “Some boats hardly ever moved. Other boats never sit still, and you're always hoping for a happy-medium.” Jeremy comments. “Skippers are appointed through a management company or a lawyer. It is very rare that you would meet the owner until the very last interview”.
Private Yacht Owners: Captain Of 110-foot Ketch
Jeremy worked his way up from a deckhand to a captain and engineer of medium to large sailing yachts in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and US East coast whilst maintaining a home in Mallorca. During this time he developed an interest in the history and application of celestial navigation in a practical setting pre-GPS.
Aged 28 years old, Jeremy got behind the helm. He took over as captain from a boat he had worked on as the first mate for three years. He had a solid feel for the boat and the crew with whom he was working. It was an ideal situation and timing for him to take on a larger role.
Caribbean Islands: Slices Of French Paradise
Jeremy is most drawn to remote anchorages in the Caribbean Sea and West Indies, where he particularly enjoyed island hopping through Lesser Antilles Martinique, Guadeloupe, St Barts, St Martin. “They're not colonial outposts that Britain has forgotten about. The quality of French fusion food in local restaurants is fantastic.” In the Caribbean there is a finite season in terms of seasonality due to the hurricanes. Jeremy worked for four years for a German family. They often requested to be in a full service marina with a five-star golf course, every day by five o'clock. As a captain of a yacht you are obligated to fulfil the owners requests at any given moment.
Countries in the Caribbean that were once part of Britain have endless bureaucracy. All the big yachts use agents to ensure that wherever they go, everything in customs and immigration is sorted out when they arrive due to the large sums of backhand money exchanged.
Read more about Cruising In The Caribbean: Everything You Need To Know.
Changes In Marine industry: Assessing Captain Suitability
Traditionally, boat owners used to have come from a sailing background and just had a genuine interest in yachts. Today, charter crowds that focus on having a prestigious lifestyle rather than a genuine interest in sailing. Hence, an uptick in motoryachts. Boat owners and charter managers are less able to judge the suitability of the captain leading to a faster turnover of captains and crews. “It is important that the crew have a good feel for a boat. Boats do less moving around now. Modern yachts are too big to do anything other than go into a marina or anchor three miles offshore. In top line marinaa guests sit on the aft deck to be seen. Jeremy speaks with a wistfulness for the good ol’ days.
Anchored In Hobart
Jeremy eventually settled in Hobart, Tasmania with his Australian wife and son, Felix where he enjoys sailing and teaching. As I close the call with Jeremy, it seems to me his life has been one string of pearls. 'Not all those who wander are lost.' a quote from 'The Fellowship of the Ring' by J.R.R. Tolkien rings in my mind.
Anchored by Experience, Driven by Passion
As Jeremy Parker reflects on his extraordinary journey from a young boy in a dinghy to a seasoned captain navigating the world's oceans, his life embodies the essence of adventure and the enduring allure of the sea. Whether mastering celestial navigation, exploring remote anchorages in the Caribbean, or teaching the next generation in Tasmania, his story is illustrates the richness of a life spent pursuing one’s passion. Though his voyages may now be closer to home, his spirit remains forever untethered, proof that a true mariner never stops exploring.
Are you interested in learning about celestial navigation? Read our guide, Celestial Navigation: Mastering the Basics.
