Melanie was born and raised on the tiny south Atlantic island of St Helena, at the age of 17 through a government sponsored cadetship she left st Helena to study as an engineer at South Tyneside Maritime college in the north of England.
After qualifying as an engineer in 2001 Melanie worked on the Royal Mail ship that supplied the island traveling between Capetown in South Africa, the U.K, Ascension Island and Tristan Da Cunha.
In 2003 Melanie joined yachting starting as a motorman onboard the classic steam yacht SS Delphine and was then promoted to 3rd engineer within a few months.
Melanie enjoys being outdoors, travelling and scuba diving.
