Meet the woman who runs her successful company from a YACHT sailing around the world

Erin Carey is no ordinary mum-of-three – she’s the only person in the world to run a public relations agency from the deck of a yacht as she sails to exotic destinations with her family.  

The 41-year-old, originally from Sydney, decided to change her family’s life after watching the documentary ‘Maidentrip’ in 2016.  

At the time, Erin and her husband Dave weren’t in a position to drop everything and take off on the adventure of a lifetime thanks to their mortgage and three children aged under six. 

‘We decided to work backwards and calculated how much money we thought we would need to buy a boat and take two years’ leave without pay from our jobs. Then we brainstormed ways to make that amount of money,’ Erin told FEMAIL.

For two years they saved, cut their expenses, sold personal belongings and rented out a spare bedroom in their house to international university students while their children shared the other bedroom. 

The family set sail to the Caribbean in 2018 on their 47-foot yacht, and have so far visited more than 15 countries.   

The 41-year-old, originally from Sydney, set sail with her family (pictured) to the Caribbean in 2018 after watching the documentary Maidentrip by Laura Dekker

Erin says her PR agency Roam Generation is unique as the company focuses on travel, leisure and luxury while operating from the yacht, and she works with clients from around the world.  

Erin added that sailing is no longer reserved for ‘rich white men in their sixties’ and is a lifestyle or hobby anyone can take up.

‘In the last decade, we have seen the popularity of sailing video blogs on YouTube explode in popularity; Channels like Sailing La Vagabonde, SV Delos and Ryan and Sophie Sailing have helped change the perspective of sailing,’ she said.

‘Behan and Jamie Gifford also run a coaching business called Sailing Totem that offers mentoring, guidance, resources, and practical support to help regular people make a successful transition into the cruising life.

‘The best part of working from a boat is the flexibility and endless inspiration. My day is free to schedule it how I like.’

Currently Erin and her family are based near a town called Marina di Ragusa in southern Sicily for the European winter.

‘As soon as the weather is more stable, we will set sail for Greece and Turkey,’ she said.  

‘The best part of working from a boat is the flexibility and endless inspiration. My day is free to schedule it how I like,’ Erin told FEMAIL. Currently the business is based on a town called Marina di Ragusa in southern Sicily for the winter

As well as running a business, Erin and Dave homeschool their three children. 

‘Moving onto a boat when the kids were three, six and eight meant we had to homeschool them, and to be honest, that has been the hardest part of this whole journey,’ Erin said.

‘The younger two are currently attending a local school in Italy (where they only speak Italian) but once we set sail again in about 6 weeks, they will go back to boat school.’

The children also share one room due to the limited space.  

As for the children’s education, the three boys need to undertake homeschooling and are also learning Italian 

Erin and her partner learnt how to sail during an intense week-long live-aboard course

Erin and Dave learnt how to sail during an intense week-long live-aboard course.

‘Nautilus Sailing offers courses in the South Pacific, along with other destinations in the Med and Caribbean. You get to holiday aboard a yacht and learn how to sail at the same time. They are the perfect solution because you really do get to have a great taste of boat life before you go and sell your house or quit your job,’ Erin said.

She added that participants walk away with a qualification that allows them to charter a boat anywhere in the world. 

When Covid-19 hit the family was already in Australia and stayed in Adelaide for 18 months before returning the boat in the Azores a year ago 

The couple bought their boat in Grenada in the Caribbean and explored the Windward and Leeward islands for 18 months.

They then headed across the Atlantic Ocean towards the Mediterranean, which involved 17 days of non-stop sailing.

‘We stopped in the Azores, where we stayed for three months before flying back to Australia via Thailand for 6 weeks,’ Erin said.

When Covid-19 hit, the family was already in Australia and stayed in Adelaide for 18 months before returning the boat in the Azores a year ago.

Over the past 12 months they’ve been to Portugal, Spain, Tunisia, Malta and Italy. 

The family has so far visited 15 countries. Over the past 12 months they’ve been to Portugal, Spain, Tunisia, Malta and Italy

While life at sea can get lonely sometimes, the family always enjoy sailing and visiting new places. ‘Luckily the good outweighs the bad, at least out here we get to feel alive and explore the world in our free time,’ Erin said

But life at sea can get tough at times, with the family living in extremely close quarters with little opportunity to socialise with others. 

‘Last season was lonely. We hardly met any other kids and friends were few and far between. That means we have to rely on each other a lot,’ Erin said.

‘We spend a lot of time together as a family and that can be hard, but I know in the long run it will definitely make us closer.’

At times it can also get cramped and living and working on a boat has it limitations. 

‘We don’t own a car, we have a handheld shower and limited hot water, we also have limited power and water when on anchor. We have very few of the conveniences of home,’ Erin said. 

But it’s not all bad, as the family are able to experience various different ways of life.

‘Luckily the good outweighs the bad, at least out here we get to feel alive and explore the world in our free time,’ she said.