Sober Crew Social Club: Drinking, Identity & Life Onboard | Superyacht Laundry

What happens when drinking is no longer making life bigger, better, easier, or more fun?

In this episode of Superyacht Laundry, host Cherise Reedman is joined by Laura Kilbey, founder of Sober Crew Social Club, for an honest, funny, and deeply human conversation about alcohol, yacht crew culture, identity, loneliness, pressure, safety, and what it really means to choose sobriety while working in an industry where drinking has long been part of the social fabric.

Laura shares how Sober Crew Social Club began, why she stopped drinking, and why people do not need to hit “rock bottom” before deciding that alcohol is no longer serving them. The conversation moves through blackout drinking, crew nights out, anxiety, isolation, onboard safety, emotional coping, social pressure, and the difference between giving something up and choosing something better.

This is not a lecture. It is not about telling everyone to stop drinking. It is about giving yacht crew permission to question their relationship with alcohol without shame, without labels, and without waiting for things to fall apart first.

In This Conversation:

• Why Sober Crew Social Club started
• Drinking culture within yachting
• Why “rock bottom” should not be the benchmark
• The difference between problem drinking and alcohol no longer serving you
• Blackout drinking, anxiety, and the morning-after fear
• Why yacht crew face added risks around alcohol and safety
• How drinking can become a way to cope with stress, loneliness, and pressure
• Why stopping drinking onboard can feel different from stopping ashore
• The importance of community, accountability, and honest support
• Why sobriety can be framed as gaining something, not losing something

Guest:
Laura Kilbey
Founder, Sober Crew Social Club

Host:
Cherise Reedman
Superyacht Laundry

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Superyacht Laundry | Yachting International Radio

Important note:
This conversation is for awareness, reflection, and general discussion only. It is not medical, psychological, or addiction treatment advice. Anyone concerned about their drinking, mental health, or substance use should speak with a qualified professional or appropriate support service.

Supporters Welcome:
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.

Contact:
cherise.reedman@yachtpearlsofwisdom.com