The yacht that gave me the taste for sea was a twenty four-foot sailing yacht. She was small, smelled of damp, mould and cooking but I adored her. Many a weekend was spent, through good weather and bad, sailing across the Solent, around the Isle of Wight, down to Lymington. Every weekend on her was an adventure.

I knew that I wanted to sail for a living but my parents were very disapproving. My father was an architect, my mother a nurse; they wanted me to go to university. To please them I studied engineering. Within weeks of graduating I had my first job on a yacht. I went on as a deckie with a view to assisting the engineer and we had a great crew. The yacht was based in France and was owned by a well known musician. Not even a month had passed before I was making inquiries about doing my Yacht Masters.

Seventeen years later I can look back on the choices I made and wonder if I would change anything. The owner I work for now is an internationally recognised businessman whose name is virtually known in every household in the western world. The job is extremely demanding and some would say high powered. I have risen well in my field and I enjoy the prestige that it offers.

I own three houses in the UK and have a beautiful home on the French Riviera where my wife and two children live. I would say that I was successful and the quality of my life and that of my family is high.
Once one reaches a certain level in this industry something changes. There are certain crew positions on yachts where you know the crews filling them are there for the short term. A couple of years, perhaps a decade at best then they are back home to babies and suburbia.

Then there are the crews that are in for the duration; engineers, officers. Once you reach that level, the circle becomes tighter. People seem to be there to stay. Sure you might go a few months, maybe a season without seeing them but see them you will. This is a huge bonus in a business like this where most people are so transient. So yes, I have many work colleagues that I can comfortably call friends.

But, the Ferryman must always be paid and the stresses of the job are many. The boat itself is worth millions and the responsibility of her and all those on her is mine.

The boss, though very nice, is a perfectionist. The boat has to be just so. The crew just so. Everything must run like clockwork. If there are any hitches he goes ballistic and heads roll. He is used to having his own way and what he says, goes. When it comes to unions and the security of long-term tenure, the crew and I have none.But to change anything? No, I don’t think so. My children go to excellent schools and as a family we are as financially secure as is possible. I have a job that is extremely challenging but one I thoroughly enjoy. Would I say I was lucky? Yes I would.

My tips for would-be crew approaching me for work.

For Heaven sakes, dress decently! Would you approach the door of a multinational corporation in cutoffs, sandals and dreads asking for a job? Why then, is a million-dollar yacht any different? The job is demanding and glamorous. Appearance counts for so much. If potential crew show so little understanding of this on their dock walk, it is obvious that they have no idea what the job and the life is about.

When you do get to see me, have a copy of your CV that I can keep, or a web address with your CV on it. I will always check references, and telephone numbers scribbled down hastily during an interview may mean nothing to me later on.

Remember this business is just that, a business. Not a free ride. Yes, it pays well but you do have to earn your money. The last thing I have to add is this. The industry is always looking for crew, particularly in this decade with the massive expansion and new builds being ordered almost daily. If you are serious about doing this, then take it seriously. There is always room for dedicated crew.