Relief Crew Foundation: Bringing Yachting Skills to Humanitarian Shores

Positive Waves with host Jana Thomas welcomes Sam Stewart, founder of the Relief Crew Foundation, to explore how Humanitarian Yachting is helping the community make a lasting difference far beyond the deck.

From Superyachts to Refugee Camps

After a decade working aboard yachts, Sam Stewart took a leap few crew ever consider. He resigned from his vessel and spent a summer volunteering in a refugee camp. There, he quickly realized the unexpected overlap between yachting and humanitarian work.

“It became obvious pretty quickly that the skills you develop onboard a yacht were really beneficial in a humanitarian environment.”

From logistics to maintenance, adaptability to teamwork, Stewart saw first-hand how yacht crew could be a vital resource in communities facing urgent need. That vision became the foundation for the Relief Crew Foundation, a platform that connects yacht crew with humanitarian projects across the globe.

Building the Relief Crew Foundation

The initiative was born not just out of Stewart’s determination but also through the support of the yacht owner he once worked for, who believed in the mission and provided financial backing. With that support, the Relief Crew Foundation set out to bridge two worlds: the expertise of yacht professionals and the needs of vulnerable communities.

Today, the foundation taps into humanitarian networks built during Stewart’s two years in Greece, while continuing to expand through word-of-mouth connections.

Ghana: 51 Toilets, One Village Transformed

One of the foundation’s most recent missions brought crews from three different yachts to Ghana, where they spent 17 days building toilets for every household in a small village.

For a community that had no sanitation system and relied on open fields, the project was transformative. The impact went beyond infrastructure — it restored dignity and health to an entire village.

“The most humbling moment was when the first toilet was finished. The community held a ribbon-cutting ceremony. They were celebrating having a toilet for the first time in their life.”

The crew worked side by side with local residents and partner NGOs, not as outsiders but as collaborators. They were welcomed with music, dancing, and warmth that carried through the mission.

Regrounding Through Service

The Relief Crew Foundation isn’t just about the communities served — it’s also about the crew who join. Beyond the professional experience of working in challenging, resource-limited conditions, participants often find something even more valuable: perspective.

“When you come and work with a community in genuine need, one of the biggest things you gain is perspective. It’s a chance to reground yourself and connect with the humanity of the world.”

For yacht crew often immersed in the high-pressure, luxury bubble of yachting, these projects offer a reset — a way to reconnect with purpose while using their unique skillsets to create change.

How the Industry Can Support

The Relief Crew Foundation welcomes yacht crew who are ready to volunteer their time and talents, but not everyone can step away from their roles. For those who cannot serve on the ground, donations and funding are equally vital to sustain future missions.

Whether through volunteering, financial support, or simply spreading the word, the yachting industry has the opportunity to contribute to projects that change lives — both for communities in need and for the crew themselves.

🌍 Learn more and support at: www.reliefcrewfoundation.org