Whangarei Yacht Support: Born from a Life at Sea

Whangarei Yacht Support (WYS) exists for one simple reason: cruising sailors need trusted hands to care for their boats while they’re away. Whether it’s for a few weeks or an entire cyclone season, WYS offers tailored guardianage and caretaker services, from basic monthly check-ins to full-service support including cleaning, deliveries, project oversight, and even land-based accommodation.

The idea for the business grew naturally, after four years and 20,000 nautical miles spent living aboard a 43-foot yacht. My partner and I had chased a lifelong dream of long-distance cruising, crossing oceans, exploring foreign cultures, diving in pristine waters, and becoming part of the incredible global community of liveaboard sailors.

When we returned to Northland, I expected to feel proud. Instead, I felt lost. I had been a mother, project manager, world traveller and now, I didn’t know who I was. We settled in Whangarei and stayed close to the cruising community, and before long I found myself doing all the things I loved: helping friends with their boats, storing gear, arranging deliveries, lending out our car, offering a bed when they needed time off the boat.

That’s when the spark hit -what if this became more than just favours for friends? If they needed support, surely others did too. So, I created Whangarei Yacht Support.

WYS was born out of lived experience. We know what boat owners worry about, because we’ve been there. And we know how much peace of mind comes from having someone reliable on the ground, someone who understands boats, and the lifestyle that comes with them.

If you're coming to Whangarei, get in touch. Even if it's just to swap stories over coffee. But if you're looking for someone to care for your boat as if it were their own, you’ve found the right place.

Helen Shrewsbury