Born and raised in Paris, Brokerage & Administration Support Nathalie Miquel-Elcano did not exactly grow up by the seaside…
She writes: “Yet at 8 years old, I decided I wanted to learn sailing, which I luckily had a chance to do as I was spending every summer holiday on the south coast of Brittany. By age 12, I informed my parents that I wanted to become a professional sailor. Study first, they replied. So I did, while continuing to sail dinghies and small cruising boats any time I had a chance to.
In 2009, with two Master degrees under my belt (one in English literature, and one in intercultural communication and translation), I had the opportunity to race on a small classic boat at the prestigious Voiles de St Tropez. One thing led to another and before I knew it I was offered a job as a deckhand on the boat of my dreams.
What followed? Nearly 10 years of sailing around the world on yachts of up to 40 meters, working on deck but also as a chef and stewardess. This allowed me to gain in-depth knowledge of the industry and a good all-around understanding of boats.
In 2018, I made Mallorca my permanent home and started a family, which led me to take a break from sailing as I dedicated myself to my two young children. In 2022, I decided I was ready to get back to work and looked for a way to combine my education and my lifelong passion for boats.
At a young age, I inherited a love of photography from my mother, went on to take some photography classes after high school and I can now say that photography has always been part of my life. I gained invaluable experience at the Vanderbilt University in the US when I worked there, joining the college newspaper’s team of photographers. This all came to excellent use later in my yachting career, working in the charter business. I enjoyed doing many photoshoots for the charter brochures and as a result, I have developed a keen eye on how to get a yacht ready to look her very best for photos. I know exactly the marketing shots needed to deliver a top quality set of Berthon particulars and I am delighted to be able to put my skills to good use once again.
Joining the sales team at Berthon Spain was the perfect opportunity for me. I get to write and talk about boats every day and I make good use of my training in, photography, communication and languages, juggling between English, Spanish, French and German on a daily basis. I share my time between supporting the two brokers, liaising with the UK office and communicating with the service team at Berthon Spain. One thing is for sure, there is never a dull day in the office!”
