Finding Your Voice at Sea: Why Communication Is the Key to Crew Wellbeing

Yachting International Radio
Sep 4, 2025
3 min read

The Silent Weight of Communication

In the high-pressure world of yachting, silence can be dangerous. Onboard, where stress levels rise with long hours, demanding guests, and close-quarters living, the way crew communicate often determines not just harmony — but safety.

Few understand this more deeply than Alicia Sedgwick, communication coach, author, and former lawyer, who has dedicated her career to helping people find their voice. From courtrooms in England to classrooms in Monaco, Alicia has transformed her own journey of self-doubt into a mission to empower others.

“Communication is a survival skill, not just a soft skill. It protects wellbeing, promotes teamwork, and sustains safety onboard.”

From Law to Leading Voices

Alicia’s story begins in the legal world, where she often felt undermined and unprepared. Thrown into practice without structured training, she lacked the confidence to believe in her expertise. But leaving law opened unexpected doors: hosting her own TV and radio shows, leading events, teaching TEDx youth, and finally coaching executives, students, and crew.

Each step reinforced a lesson she now teaches: that confidence grows when voice meets purpose.

Why Communication Shapes Self-Care

When asked why communication is critical to self-care, Alicia is clear: our health depends on it. Suppressed feelings don’t disappear — they emerge as illness, aggression, or burnout. The key is not in avoiding conflict, but in expressing boundaries with clarity and respect.

“It’s not what you say — it’s how you say it. Body language and tone shape over 90% of effective communication.”

This is particularly relevant at sea. Crew often work 16–18 hour days, navigating different cultures, languages, and expectations. In such environments, body language becomes the first line of understanding: a reassuring glance between colleagues, an open posture instead of folded arms, or the calming power of speaking in a lower register to de-escalate tension.

Tools for Speaking with Power

Alicia coaches her clients to step into a “power pose”: feet grounded, shoulders back, hands relaxed, and breathing from the diaphragm. This physical shift, combined with mindful breathing, instantly steadies the body and voice.

She also emphasizes practical tools:

Use “I” statements to reduce confrontation: “I feel undermined when I’m interrupted” instead of “You never let me speak.”
Pause and breathe before responding, creating space between emotion and reaction.
Visualize conversations going well and use affirmations like “I deserve to be heard” to reinforce self-belief.

“The breath and the voice are connected. When you breathe with awareness, you speak with clarity — and confidence follows.”

Building Trust and Respect Onboard

Communication is not only about words spoken, but about the trust built over time. On yachts, where crew live and work side by side, small acts of communication carry weight: respecting boundaries, acknowledging cultural differences, or offering a simple look of support when pressure mounts.

For Alicia, authenticity and integrity are non-negotiables. Living and speaking in alignment with one’s values ensures clarity, professionalism, and ultimately respect.

“When you know your priorities and values, you communicate with strength — and you no longer tolerate what doesn’t align with who you are.”

The Path Forward

Alicia’s work ranges from corporate leaders to refugees seeking asylum, all connected by one universal truth: finding your voice changes lives. Whether addressing a yacht crew under pressure or an individual silenced by circumstance, her approach blends vulnerability with strength.

Her message is simple yet profound: communication is not optional self-expression. It is self-care, safety, and survival.