Alasdair Babber Shah
This is the blog of Alasdair Babber Shah, who is currently pursuing a career in the yachting industry. This blog will explore various aspects of Alasdair Shah’s professional life and personal interests, covering a range of topics including the role of a deckhand, the RYA Day Skipper licence, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the reasons that photography makes for a great hobby.
Professional Career
Alasdair has previously held the role of a deckhand, which can be a great way for entry-level professionals to begin a career in the maritime industry. Working on large water vessels, deckhands typically receive on-the-job training that delivers the essential experience, knowledge and skills required. Responsibilities as a deckhand can vary depending on the type and size of the vessel but typically involve helping to keep the vessel seaworthy and clean. This is likely to include undertaking tasks such as cleaning and greasing machinery, using a variety of knots, ropes and radio and navigational equipment, and preparing cabins for crew and passengers.
The RYA Day Skipper licence, which Alasdair has achieved, denotes that an individual has the skills required to safely skipper a motorboat or small cruising yacht by day in familiar waters. The recommended route to accreditation is to undertake the training in two parts. The first covers knowledge-based training and theory, such as navigation, meteorology, collision regulations and pilotage techniques. The second part of the training involves putting this theory into practice and developing practical skippering skills including boat handling, crew management, passage making and practical pilotage.
Alasdair recently adopted a baby elephant, Pardamat, via the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) after reading his tragic story. The SWT is one of Africa’s oldest wildlife charities and embraces all of the measures available to conserve, preserve and protect wildlife. Established 45 years ago, the charity is best known for its Orphans Project, which is the world’s first and most successful elephant orphan rehabilitation and rescue programme. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, the trust’s field headquarters borders Tsavo East National Park.
Interests & Hobbies
A keen photographer, a selection of Alasdair’s work can be found on his Instagram page. There are many compelling reasons to take up photography as a hobby. As well as the fact that photography is fun and a great way to preserve memories, research shows that learning a new skill is good for the brain and can even help improve memory. Plus, the hobby can be an effective means to alleviate stress and boost mindfulness – and, as capturing great photographs often entails getting out of the house, walking and even hiking, it can enhance health and boost fitness levels, too.