Jesse Barnes truly loves his job. He’s a 26-year-old mate who has been in the industry for seven years, and he doesn’t have a negative thing to say, even if not all of his experiences have been positive. He’s got some fun tales, and some not-so-fun tales. In general, this interview should make all you stews and mates out there pretty happy about your lot in life. And if not, at least you’ll have a few more stories to commiserate about.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I always try to come up with some tongue-in-cheek answer to this type of question. But seriously, the first things that come to mind are the types of food I love: chili, garlic, and I couldn’t live without ice cream. There’s not much I don’t like. Oh, and puzzles. I love puzzles. The bigger the better.

How did you get into the yachting industry?

I’d just quit my job working for a dredging company when I saw an advertisement in the paper for a job as a cook on a boat sailing around Australia. By the time I rang them, the position had been filled, but the woman on the other end of the phone just happened to be a crew agent, and she asked me to come in and chat. Two weeks later, I was at the Monaco Boat Show on a 52-meter Feadship.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

First, the water. Maybe I’ve just had good skippers, but going to sea for me is far and away my favorite thing about my job. It’s my heaven. Sitting on the bridge, under way, with the sun shining, surrounded by blue…it just feels right. Yachting in general is nice, because we follow the good weather. Obviously, this isn’t always the case, and I’ve had my share of bad weather, but more often than not, being at sea on a yacht is comfortable.

The other thing I love is the nonsense. Anyone in yachting will understand when I talk about the stories and inside jokes that develop when you spend all your time with a group of people. There are “had-to-be-there moments” and “location jokes” that you just don’t get in the civil world, because no one else lives in such close quarters. Some of the best moments of my life are times I’ve been crippled with laughter with my crew. The relationships in this industry are invaluable. We get to know everything about our coworkers and quickly feel that we’ve known them forever. I’ve met some of my best friends in the world through yachting.

What makes your life a living hell?

Any of the “Next Top Model” series or “E News.” Give me the remote!

What is your ideal day?

If I wake up, and at some point during the day I laugh, then I’m happy. Happy is ideal.

Favorite place in the world?

Kenutu. A small island in the Vava’u group of islands in Tonga. I sailed there with two friends on a 37-foot catamaran. We spent three days nestled in a lagoon hiding from terrible weather. The swells crashing onto the rocks threw spray into the air and cast rainbows all over, and the lagoon was awash in various shades of blue and different colors from the coral. Even then, I knew I’d struggle to find a prettier picture. I still haven’t.

You’ve been in the industry for a long time, what’s the secret to success?

You have to want to be here. I’ve had a few stints out of yachting, but they only made me miss it. I like the lifestyle, and I love being on the water. This is a perfect fit for me. At times, I miss home and my family, but I like being here. So, the secret is to do something you want to do. If you can find more things wrong with the job than things you like, do something else. Life should be enjoyed, and work is a part of life.

Do you have any funny or embarrassing stories you can share with us?

Plenty. I’ve had deckies call me on the radio because the drill bit they were using was burning the wood, only to find the drill was in reverse. I’ve had a stew, on New Year’s Eve, drink too much and try and pick someone up over VHF in St. Barths. On my first job, I was asked to find a “long weight” and spent all day in the dive store. I’ve had charter guests make me wear a jock strap and jump from the mast. On my current boat, one of the crew decided to go fishing with a diving lure at 15 knots and nearly lost the rod. I could go on all day. And those are the stories I can tell you…

What are your plans for the future?

Day by day at this stage. There are so many opportunities to be had in this industry. A friend has a website, blueoceanyachting.com, which is a one-stop website for yachting news. I’d like to find an avenue like that. For now, though, I’m happy with this boat. Perhaps I’ll get some engineering qualifications and give wrench-turning a go. Who knows where this game will take me?

Andrea Bailey was born and raised in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. After graduating from Georgetown University in 2009, her love of the ocean brought her back to the island she always called home. Andrea is a writer and editor, but she’ll forever be a sailor at heart.

Tags: Feadship, Jesse Barnes, Mate of the Month, Monaco Yacht Show