Do It For Gem: A Crew Health Message That Matters | Superyacht Laundry
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When yacht crew work away from home, routine health appointments can quickly become complicated. Boats move, schedules change, contracts run long, and personal medical checks can be pushed further down the list.
But some checks cannot wait.
In this episode of Superyacht Laundry, host Cherise Reedman speaks with Jayn Willis, founder of The Floating Florista Foundation, about her daughter Gemma, known throughout the yachting community as The Floating Florista.
Gemma was a yacht stew, florist, and much-loved member of the industry. Fit, healthy, active, and full of life, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer after a routine screening. Her story is now part of a wider mission to remind women, crew, captains, and senior teams that cervical screening, women’s health, and routine medical appointments must be treated as essential crew welfare.
Through The Floating Florista Foundation and the Do It For Gem message, Jayn continues to raise awareness around cervical screening, especially for those working at sea or away from home for long periods. This conversation is about grief, legacy, awareness, and why the industry must make space for crew to protect their health without embarrassment, dismissal, or delay.
In this episode:
- Gemma’s life and legacy in the yachting industry
- Why cervical screening matters, even without symptoms
- The challenges of accessing routine health checks while working away
- Why captains and senior crew need to take women’s health seriously
- The work of The Floating Florista Foundation
- The meaning behind Do It For Gem
- Why crew health should never be dismissed as optional
Guest:
Jayn Willis
Founder, The Floating Florista Foundation
Host:
Cherise Reedman
Superyacht Laundry
Search Yachting Channel on your favourite podcast platform for more conversations from across the global yachting industry.
Superyacht Laundry | Yachting International Radio
Important note:
This conversation is for awareness and general information only. It is not medical advice. Anyone with symptoms, concerns, overdue screening, or questions about cervical health should speak to a qualified medical professional.
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Superyacht Laundry welcomes aligned supporters who believe in honest storytelling and meaningful support for women who have lived and worked in the yachting industry and beyond.