Sean and Lucy Stevens talk about their holiday and boat-building business on the Isle of Wight. Interview: Alex Fisher
Lucy says: ‘I was born on the Isle of Wight, and even though I left to study Oceanography in Southampton, I always knew I would return. When you have grown up by the sea, it is hard to be away from it for too long. Oceanography is the study of the chemistry, physics and geology of the ocean. The sea is a marvel and it is endlessly fascinating to me. I knew Sean because he grew up in Ventnor, but we started dating after I photographed the boat he designed. As well as running the boat business we now also have a holiday business on the farm where he spent his childhood. We love to introduce visitors to the ocean and take them out on sea safaris where they get a chance to pull up lobster pots and fish for mackerel.’
Sean says: ‘I moved to a strawberry farm in Ventnor when I was two years old and had a wonderful childhood by the sea. I left to study Marine Biology, but began fishing commercially when I returned to the island. I was never satisfied with the boat I had and ended up designing my own, the Cheetah Catamaran, which then became my business. We have now built and sold more than 500 of these here in Ventnor and Lucy and I have delivered them all over the world. We are so lucky to live this amazing life by the sea.’
To stay with Sean and Lucy go to oceanbluecoastalretreats.co.uk. The boat can be found at cheetahmarine.co.uk.
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