Commanding with Care: Mental Health and Leadership at Sea | Captain’s Chat

What happens when a captain admits they don’t have all the answers — and leads anyway?



Captain Liam Devlin sits down with WaveWellness Founder Xanthe Bowater for a raw and honest conversation about mental health, leadership, and the urgent need to support yacht crew beyond lip service.



In this episode of Captain’s Chat, Liam and Xanthe unpack the hard truths: bullying, burnout, toxic cultures — and the silence that surrounds them. From Xanthe’s own survival story in the industry to Liam’s transparent reflections as a leader, this is a call for captains, managers, and crew agencies to do better — and finally embrace the tools already available.



🧭 You’ll Learn:

✅ Why leadership must include emotional support and psychological safety

✅ Xanthe’s personal story of trauma, recovery, and building WaveWellness

✅ The gap between shoreside support systems and yacht crew reality

✅ Why many captains feel unequipped to handle crew wellness — and how that can change

✅ How WaveWellness is building a new model for onboard health

✅ What real engagement looks like — and why crew must meet support halfway

✅ How management companies and crew agencies could lead the shift (but often don’t)



This episode isn’t about theory — it’s about the lived experience of leadership at sea.



📚 Learn more about WaveWellness:

🌐 wavewellnesss.com

Instagram: @wavewellnesssolutions

LinkedIn: WaveWellness Solutions



🌐 Learn more about M/Y Unbridled:

yachtunbridled.com



#CaptainLiamDevlin #WaveWellness #YachtCrewSupport #CaptainsChat #SuperyachtLeadership #MentalHealthAtSea #CrewWellbeing #YachtingIndustry #LuxuryYachting #CrewCulture