Small Boss of the Minsk Sea. How an 18-year-old girl became a yacht captain
At six years old, Viktoria was terrified of water to the point of trembling in her legs and went into dancing, but at 18, she obtained the right to command a yacht. On shore, she is often mistaken for a guest. A short, delicate girl with a soft smile — only 160 centimeters tall and weighing less than 50 kg. But as soon as Viktoria takes the helm, hoists the sails, and confidently gives commands to the crew, all doubts vanish. On the water, she is a true captain. Foreign guests even coined a respectful nickname for her — Small Boss. Journalists from Times.by spoke with the captain about overcoming childhood fears, learned why steering a boat is no more difficult than driving a car, and how sailing changes one's view of the world.
Today, Viktoria Herashchanka is 22 years old. She skillfully captains yachts on the Minsk Sea, teaches beginners, conducts master classes, and helps people experience their happiest moments: from romantic marriage proposals to their first independent voyages under sail.
From Childhood Fear to Family Business
Viktoria grew up in a large family — she is the youngest of six children (she has four older brothers and a sister). Her brothers were passionate about sailing from childhood, so at six years old, the girl first tried her hand at it. But her first outing on the water was remembered not for its romance, but for intense fear.
"It was a small sports boat of the 'Optimist' class, which children usually train on," she recalls. "The wind was moderate then, the coach was giving instructions from a motorboat, and I was sitting alone in a tiny yacht in the middle of the water, desperately trying to cope with the excitement. I remember my legs trembling. It was interesting, beautiful, even exciting, but I told myself: 'Thanks, but dancing is my thing.' And for a while, I forgot about sails."
After this, Vika indeed went into creative pursuits — she professionally engaged in dancing and singing. But sailing still didn't let her go. Years later, one of her brothers opened his own yachting business and invited his younger sister to help during the season.
The tasks were simple: greeting guests, handing out life jackets, explaining safety rules, and registering clients.
"I saw yachting from a completely different perspective for the first time. It was something indescribable. New people, emotions, happy eyes after cruises... It really energized me. At some point, I realized: I don't want to just stand on the shore and hand out life jackets. I want to be at the helm myself," our interviewee says.
International Experience and a "Ticket to Another World"
Childhood fear gave way to determination. At 18, Viktoria obtained Belarusian sailing licenses, and at 19, an international certificate, allowing her to captain yachts abroad and rent them anywhere in the world.
A significant stage for her was professional practice in Turkey. A week of intensive training living directly on the boat, with two daily training sessions and strict exams, finally erased her novice status.
"Our Minsk Sea is still small, and the yachts are simpler. But abroad – huge marinas, the possibility to go into the open sea for a whole day. We lived on the boat, cooked our own food, took turns on watch, and sailed new routes every day. They told me then: 'After yachting, you won't want to stay in hotels anymore.' And that's true. The world looks completely different from the water," the girl says.
It was then that Viktoria realized that yachting was not just a hobby or seasonal work, but her ticket to the wider world. Now she has a dream: to travel under sail across the Mediterranean Sea — first with her loved one, and in the future, with her children.
According to her, taking the first step into this sport in Belarus is not as difficult as it seems. Obtaining sailing licenses costs not much more than a car driving license, and the minimum training cost starts from 1600 rubles. Driving licenses are issued by the State Inspectorate for Small Vessels (GIMS).
"It's no harder than driving a car"
And although many are still unaccustomed to seeing a woman at the helm, Viktoria herself takes stereotypes calmly.
"When people come for a cruise, they almost always look for a male captain first," the girl smiles. "But then the briefing begins, and everyone quickly understands: the main person on board is the one responsible for safety."
She confidently monitors the weather, makes decisions on the water, and calmly handles situations that seem extreme to beginners. At the same time, she describes steering a vessel very simply: "It's no harder than driving a car."
In her opinion, the most challenging task for a beginner is not technique or physical exertion. The main thing is to learn to feel the wind:
"When you understand where it's blowing from, everything becomes simpler. The sail fills, the yacht begins to obey, and you are already in control of the situation, not the elements controlling you."
Before each outing, the crew checks the weather forecast, and on site, assesses the real situation: wind strength, direction, gusts, water conditions:
"An experienced captain sees the wind even by the ripples on the water: notices a gust in advance, understands how the vessel will behave, which way it will lean, and warns the guests."
For Viktoria herself, yachting has long become the best meditation and a way to recover. During the peak season, the girl spends up to 10-12 hours a day at the helm. The load is colossal, but even with such a schedule, she finds time to go out on the water in absolute solitude.
"Only wind, sails, and silence. For me, this is real relaxation," says the interviewee. "My minimum cruise is two hours. Less simply makes no sense: you need to have time to feel the water, slow down, and switch off from the city hustle."
Calm or bad weather doesn't scare her — in every state of nature, she finds its beauty: from absolute tranquility to a thrilling sports mode.
A Place for Proposals
Today, Viktoria goes out on the water on the yacht "Sofi" — a boat named by her brother Andrey in honor of his daughter. Every weekend, events take place on board that people remember for a lifetime: weddings are celebrated here, stylish bachelorette parties and family photo shoots are held. But most often, people come here for romance — to propose marriage.
Men, according to Viktoria, prepare for this event much more seriously than it seems from the outside: they get very nervous, sometimes even come for a rehearsal in advance.
"We help them come up with the perfect moment, suggest how best to organize everything. Often, girls suspect nothing and think they've just come for a beautiful photoshoot. And then, in the middle of the water, the cherished words are spoken: 'Will you marry me?'"
But the most touching thing, the captain says, is seeing these couples return to the board a few years later, already with children:
"You realize that you're not just taking people for a ride, but investing a piece of yourself into the history of their family."
In addition to commercial cruises, Viktoria's team conducts free charity outings on the water every Tuesday for large families, children, and people with disabilities.
"We want to show people that the Minsk Sea is not just water next to a metropolis. It's a place where you can feel freedom, beauty, and true peace. We pour our soul into this and understand that such emotions must be shared," she emphasizes.
"It's not just work, it's a part of me"
When Viktoria is asked if she sees yachting as her future, she answers without hesitation: "Yes." Although she admits that there was a period in her life when it seemed that she should try herself in another field or completely move away from sailing. But everything changed as soon as she found herself on deck again.
"I come to the yacht, hoist the sails — and I realize how calm I feel inside. It's not just work anymore, it's a part of me. Every time I return to the water, I gain not just experience, but indescribable emotions. I sail, I feel how amazing it is, and I understand — this is my path."
Just a few years ago, a female captain in Belarus was an exception to the rules. Today, the situation is gradually changing.
According to Viktoria, on the Minsk Sea, at least ten girls already independently captain yachts, and the number of those who can sail as crew members is many times greater.
Moreover, within the yachting community, there is practically no competition. Female captains stick together: they support each other, offer advice, and share experiences.
To everyone who doubts whether they should try something new, the Small Boss gives a simple piece of advice:
"It's okay to be scared, it's okay to doubt — that's absolutely normal. The main thing is to try and not be afraid to ask questions. There are no bad questions. And then at some point, you take the helm and realize: 'Wow, I can do it! I'll succeed!'"
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