And it begins!
I am Charlotte, co-founder of BoatVet, and I thought I would take a moment to introduce myself and break the ice.
From a young age, I have always been deeply passionate about animal welfare. Dr. Jane Goodall has been a constant source of inspiration to me, as she has fearlessly highlighted the emotional lives of animals and the critical importance of safeguarding both them and our planet.
I am incredibly grateful for my career as a vet, but it was during a three-week volunteer stint in Sri Lanka with Dr. Janey Lowes at WeCare that I truly felt I was using my degree in the way it was intended. While I thoroughly enjoy meeting people and their pets, my heart lies with helping those who are less fortunate—animals without loving, caring owners, those in more remote areas, and supporting the owners who lack access to veterinary care.
I also have a profound love for treating wildlife. Given the negative impact we, as humans, often have on the creatures with whom we share this planet, I take great pride in offering assistance to each individual animal whenever possible. I firmly believe that we are stewards of creation and that our role is to help wherever we can.
In the past week, a significant milestone has occurred—we’ve bought THE boat!
When Lloyd and I first met, one of our earliest conversations centred around our shared vision of sailing the world and engaging in charitable work. We both have a deep passion for adventure, pushing boundaries, and helping others. Since that moment, we have been constantly searching for ways to make this dream a reality. This year, we made a determined push to turn our vision into action.
Like many of you, we’ve experienced the heartache of family members falling ill or losing loved ones, which serves as a stark reminder of how fleeting life is. It makes you realise how important it is to seize the moment and chase after your dreams.
We aren’t sure where this adventure will take us or how far it will go, but one thing is certain: if we don’t try, we will never know.
After several years of planning, saving, and securing donations, I am thrilled to announce that this week we purchased our boat! She is a 41-foot Beneteau Oceanis. We first viewed her in January and were impressed, though we were uncertain if she was the one. Fast forward to late February, and everything simply fell into place. We brought her back from Dartmouth to South Wales over the course of a weekend, accompanied by Dylan, one of our dogs.
The boat requires a fair amount of work to get her ready, and we expect she will be on the hard for the next 12 to 18 months. Over the coming weeks and months, we’ll be assessing her condition, making plans, and scheduling necessary works. We’ll keep you updated on our progress.
It’s a pleasure to virtually meet you all!
Warm regards,
Charlotte