My Perfect Weekend with jeweller Maddy Barber

Who: Singaporean former radio personality Maddy Barber, 51, is the founder of Madly Bespoke Jeweller, a jewellery design house that specialises in coloured gemstones.

Madly is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a limited-edition Beyond The Bling coffee-table book that chronicles its evolution from a home-based business to a brand that has expanded to Dubai and Munich. The book is available at Amazon, Madly’s online shop and the Madly Brand Experience Centre in Ann Siang Road.

Ms Barber runs Madly with her British husband Wez Barber, 47, while her elder daughter Elizabeth, 28, manages Madly in Dubai.

Though based in Singapore, the Barbers have a family home in Phuket, where Ms Barber learnt sailing from her husband. She also travels frequently to England to visit her younger daughter Alicia, 19, who is studying there.

“My perfect weekend would be lying on a boat, sailing to various beaches around Phuket, and snorkelling. 

My husband has always talked about learning to sail, and how he wants to retire on a boat. It’s a nice, romantic dream to sail off into the sunset and get away from people.

We were supposed to go on a sailing course in 2023, but I fell and broke my elbow. My friends made fun of me, saying there were less painful ways to get out of sailing.

When Wez and I sail, I become his deckhand and he will tell me what to do. He will let me steer for a while. I have learnt how to raise the main sail and jib, and how to trim the sails. 

I am learning how to use the navigation equipment. It is also challenging to figure out which direction the wind is coming from. 

We own a 41 feet Hanse 415 yacht that is docked at the Phuket Boat Lagoon, located near our Phuket home. I last sailed with him in August, when we sailed to a nearby island called Koh Naka Yai. 

We are embarking on a five-day voyage on Nov 8. We will head to Koh Kradan and, hopefully, Koh Lipe, if the winds are favourable.

Sailing involves a lot of planning, especially if you are to be out at sea for a few days. You need to ensure there is safety gear and an adequate food supply. We do not need to worry about water as our boat has a water filtration system.

As this will be the first time we are going together for a long sail, I reminded Wez that he has to be patient with me. He always tells me I need to be quick as a deckhand to catch the wind.  

Our children have flown the coop, so there is no better time to sail together. I do not think I am an avid sailor, but I am starting to enjoy it.

My dream is to sail from Phuket to the Similan Islands, which is said to be a paradise. Maybe we can plan to go there in December.”