subject: Where to Get a Job on a Superyacht [print this page] The first thing to be aware of is that the superyacht calendar is cyclical-not necessarily seasonal in the traditional sense.
Most agencies and employers will refer to a particular season in yachting. Each part of the year will be a prime yachting season in various parts of the world. There are several yachting hubs where prospective crew should base themselves in order to be available for upcoming positions.
Europe
The prime cruising season in Europe is during the summer, from June to September. Antibes (France) and Palma de Mallorca (Spain) are two yachting Mecca's which welcome the largest amount of job-seeking crew members. Many yachts spend their summers in the Mediterranean operating charters or cruising privately. During these months, many additional crews will be hired to help out while yachts are on charter.
Americas
Ft. Lauderdale (USA) is the yachting hub for yacht crew, especially for beginners. Superyachts typically come to Ft. Lauderdale for repairs, yard work and crewing once they have returned from trips to the Mediterranean, East coast of the USA and the Caribbean. They often depart in early winter and early spring for cruises.
The Caribbean (particularly Antigua and St. Maarten, etc.) is active all year round, but the busiest season will be in the US winter months (October - March) when many superyachts move south to warmer climates. However, most US based yachts pick up their crew in Florida or their home port before they leave.
The Bahamas is a relatively popular spot all year round. Because the islands of the Bahamas are so close to South Florida, it is uncommon for crew to base themselves there. Typically, crew from Florida will be flown for work in the Bahamas when necessary.
During the US summer months (May - September) many superyachts leave Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean, to head to the northeast coast of the United States. Newport, Rhode Island (USA) is a very popular spot, especially for sailboats and race crew. You will find a great deal of yachting activity in and around this area, all the way down to New York and the islands located off it.
Working on a superyacht is considered full time employment unless otherwise stated. Most boats either work on a seasonal, temporary fill-in or permanent basis:
Seasonal is usually about 3-6 months.
Temporary / freelance may be for any length of time, normally filling in for crew on vacation, helping with charters, etc.
Permanent is usually a commitment of at least one year. Owners and Captains make every attempt to avoid having a high crew turnover and therefore look for crew willing to make this obligation.
Day work is a term used by both new to industry crew and experienced crew. It refers to work that is done on a daily basis (paid daily), usually in between jobs or to gain experience in the industry.
At the start and end of a superyacht season, there is usually a lot of chopping and changing going on among superyacht crew as many leave their yachts for a number of different reasons.
Sometimes the position was only seasonal to begin with, sometimes the itineraries of certain yachts do not agree with the wishes of certain crew, whilst others may decide to leave the industry to explore other interests altogether.
Whatever the circumstances, it can be a very unsettling time for crew- especially when good friends leave!
HOT TIP: If you are just beginning your career on yachts, it's important to understand that more boats on your resume are NOT better. If you jump around from boat to boat, you may ultimately be overlooked for work because you appear to be a "boat hopper" Captains want crew with staying power
