SeaPeople Live S2 ep. 6 | The Two Youngest Female Captains? with Phoebe & Perrine
Podcasts
Aug 13, 2026
What does it take to become a professional captain before you're 25?
Phoebe Whitbeck earned her captain's license at just 20 years old. Perrine Louvet had never worked in the sailing industry before, yet in only two years she's completed multiple Atlantic crossings and logged more than 13,000 nautical miles.
In this episode of SeaPeople Live, they share the realities of building careers at sea: from docking million-dollar boats and overcoming imposter syndrome to earning trust, making life-or-death decisions offshore, and proving that experience isn't measured by age.
Whether you dream of becoming a professional skipper, working in the yachting industry, or simply following your passion, this conversation is packed with practical advice and inspiring stories.
Watch the full conversation here:
In This Episode
In this episode we chat about:
🌊 How Phoebe became a professional captain by age 20
🌊 Perrine's journey from city life to multiple Atlantic crossings in just two years
🌊 The biggest lessons they've learned about confidence, responsibility, and decision-making
🌊 What it's really like being a young female captain in a traditionally male industry
🌊 How SeaPeople unexpectedly helped launch new career opportunities
⛵ Follow Phoebe's journey on SeaPeople:
https://dashboard.seapeopleapp.com/@seaearthsail
⛵ Follow Perrine's journey on SeaPeople:
https://dashboard.seapeopleapp.com/@perrinelouvet
Experience Can't Be Faked
One of the most powerful themes throughout the conversation is that experience speaks louder than résumés.
Both Phoebe and Perrine explain how documenting their journeys, learning from every skipper they sailed with, and embracing responsibility helped them earn trust in an industry where competence matters above everything else. From Atlantic crossings to charter boats in the Virgin Islands and sail training in Maine, every mile became part of a story that opened the door to the next opportunity.
By the end of the conversation, both women reflect on what they would tell their younger selves. Their answers are simple but powerful: it's going to be harder than you imagine but better than you ever imagined. And if you've earned your place, believe that you deserve to be there.
