So what would you like to do, work on a Power boat or Sail boat?

This comes down to personal preference, some will swear blind that they will only ever work on Sail boats, others will only work on Power boats.  Whatever the case, here’s a little info to help you make an informed decision.

The preference between power and sail is a personal choice.  Sailing is very much a lifestyle choice, the relaxed atmosphere, cruising under sail and the joy of just being on the water.  Sailing is all about the journey as your cruising speed is a lot less than that of a powerboat.  The community between sailors has a tight bond and the working environment tends to be a little more relaxed than that of a motor yacht.  The owners and guests aboard a sailing yacht are there for the relaxing atmosphere and the joy of sailing.  Don’t get me wrong, the level of service that you offer your owners and guests will still be of a high standard, it’s just that the atmosphere is a lot more relaxed and laid back.  Motor yachts however have the ability to arrive at destinations within short time frames, allowing you to deliver owners and guests on time.  With that ability, the level of expectation from owners and guests are quite high.  The hotel services, guest rooms, food, tenders to transport the guests and even the image of the crew all play a part.  Motor Yachts are more like floating five star hotels, so if you use that as an example you will understand the level of expectations for all involved.
Once employed on a full time basis, the yacht will supply you with a uniform, ranging from shoes & socks to Jacket’s and pants.  The interior look after your laundry, the chef’s will cook lunch and dinner & the rest is up to you.  I know I left home the first time thinking I’d need boat shoes, a good weather proof jacket & all number of yachting appliances.  Once you step foot as crew aboard a yacht all your everyday essentials will be provided, razors, shampoo, deodorant etc.  However this may not always be the case.

Living conditions will vary from boat to boat, as you can imagine that cabin sizes will differ a lot between a  80’/24m to say a 246’/75m yacht.  However it doesn’t matter on the size of the yacht, as there is such a large range of yachts, that there is something to suit everyone’s needs.
Working on a yacht carries with it a lot of similarities of working on land but the big difference is that your home is now on water and very much controlled by the elements, like weather, wind & rain.  The other big difference is that this new lifestyle is not your average 9-5 Monday to Friday job.  You can be expected to work any hour of the day and also it’s not uncommon to go weeks without a day off.  It’s the nature of the industry but you’ll find that these times will be during Summer’s crazy season and the Christmas NYE period.  What ever the case may be, if you’re happy to work for your money, then you’ll love this job!

New to Yachting