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If you think you’d like to work aboard a yacht…

It has to first of all be said that you should expect a great deal of hard work! The hotel industry is often described as one of the hardest businesses to be in – yachts are like hotels, only worse. Essentially, a yacht is a floating, self-contained city. Not only does it have all of the conventional attributes of a luxury villa, it also has a great deal of complex, and often sensitive, machinery and equipment aboard. On top of this, it spends it’s time in a marine environment – something that even the most rugged materials struggle to withstand.

Given these facts, it’s easy to understand why running and maintaining a yacht is a never ending task. Look at most yacht crew members and you’ll see they’re rarely without a cloth in their hand, cleaning or polishing something! And then there’s the owner and guests to consider. When you have guests aboard, you’re with them pretty much 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so you need to be able to get on with people. This isn’t always easy; they can be very demanding, sometimes they’re hard to please and, frankly, spoilt. They’ll certainly expect the best and, given the amount it’s costing them to be aboard, that’s only fair enough - which brings me to the owner.

For the owner, their yacht is treasured possession, obsession, toy and status symbol – and you wondered why yachts are always female! Understandably, this can make a tricky foundation for a good working relationship; the successful Captain is not only a skilled yachtsman, but also a gifted manager and diplomat.

If I haven’t already put you off, I’ll tell you about the upside. Working aboard a yacht is a great way to experience some of the most beautiful places in the world. You’ll meet interesting people, both amongst guests and other crew members and you’ll become part of a lifestyle that others only dream about. If you don’t mind the hard work and lack of privacy that comes with living and working aboard, it can be a great way of avoiding being stuck in an office all day. It won’t, however, make you rich – unless you marry the owner!

Qualifications:

The more, the better. Also, make sure your qualifications are recognised globally. Some of the best basic qualifications in this respect are those offered by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA).

Experience:

It’s always tricky trying to get experience when you can’t get a job because you don’t have any. In the yachting business it’s made easier as there are ample opportunities to crew yachts on deliveries, as well as crewing for owners who just want some extra hands on deck for amateur racing or weekend cruising. Expect to get your board paid but not much else; the most precious reward is sea miles so make sure you record them in your log book and get it signed off by the captain.

Visas and work permits:

It is vital that you check out and are fully conversant with the requirements in relation to your nationality and the areas you are likely to be seeking work. DO NOT LEAVE THIS UNTIL YOU APPLY FOR A JOB. Make sure that you arm yourself in advance with the right visas for travel. You will normally require an offer of employment in order to gain a work permit and the yacht owner will need to act as your sponsor. Be realistic about this – if you are low on experience and need a work permit in order to get the job, it is more likely to go to someone with the right passport. Get your experience closer to home instead of making life difficult for yourself.

And finally…

Like most fun businesses to work in, yachting is one of those to which many are called and few chosen. You must be prepared to put in the effort and persevere. This means doing your homework, getting the right qualifications and putting in the time to get experience, even if at first you don’t get paid for it. There are always jobs available for people with ability and enthusiasm so don’t give up if you’re not immediately successful.