The World Is Your Oyster - by Norma Trease

Anyone aiming to work on a large yacht, whether power or sail, needs to aware that this is the ultimate ‘it’s not a job, it’s a lifestyle’ career. Besides the obvious - that you will be living and traveling aboard most of the year - there are other factors which make this an all-consuming job.

Have you thought of spending Christmas and Mothers Day away from your family? Perhaps missing the wedding of an old friend? Even more subtle influences can become magnified, for when someone else is choosing what you wear every day, and what meals you are offered to eat, what time to get up, that can get old fast. Yet for the right person and personality, the benefits of working on yachts are tremendous, including extensive travel, meeting interesting, diverse people from all over the world, meanwhile offering an unparalleled opportunity to save money. Big money. But you have to understand that there’s always a trade-off. It’s hard work too.

Entry level yacht jobs (deckhand, stewardess) often pay up 25-30K USD per year. When the yacht pays for your uniforms, the washing thereof, feeds you daily (and most yacht chefs are fantastic cooks); usually supplying you with basic toiletries such as toothpaste and shampoo, obviously your expenses are seriously reduced. Compared to a land job, where you have to pay for all of the above, plus rent (or mortgage,) utilities, clothing, probably insurance, transport to and from work, etc., no matter how much you earn, it’s hard to save much for your future. The average yacht crew is definitely required to invest in their career from the very beginning, with entry-level crew basically required to hold a minimum of a STCW certificate, (which costs about $1000, and takes a week.) Compared to the several years many young people invest in university or more advanced degrees, to attain a ‘serious’ job (if indeed you can even find a decent land job), that is pretty minimal. Those looking to build long-term yacht careers, slowly rising up the chain of command, require unceasing on-going licensing and training. However, if you play your cards right, and choose a solid, professional yacht, building a stable job history, you will probably find that your employer, the captain or yacht owner, will help with the costs of your training.

The money you earn is great, but it is the fringe benefits of all kinds which make yachting jobs and careers truly special. Besides the obvious - someone else pays all your daily expenses - the people you can meet are outstanding, often inspirational. You never know who might be a guest on your yacht: business tycoons, world-class scholars, noted economists, top-level politicians, entertainers, bankers, medical professionals, movers and shakers from all over the world; not to mention your fellow crew, who probably have a lot to teach you. Listen and learn. Many yacht crew are able to educate themselves on the modern world around them, developing sophisticated conversation, knowledge of current affairs, gleaning investment tips and just plain wisdom which can translate into life-long personal benefits. The chance to see the world from a rarified perspective, to experience varied cultures and cuisines, to interact with people from all over the world are still more life enhancing experiences that cannot be overestimated. Working on yachts also teaches you the ever important skill of teamwork, which will always reward your future work and personal life. The ability to be flexible, and to deal with many nationalities might well be a valuable asset. Even the most basic of yacht routines, cleaning, can help you in your professional and personal life; for believe me, employers, friends and lovers always appreciate the yachties who keep themselves, their home and environment ship-shape.

Many entry-level crew wonder, how long does it take to realize the benefits of yachting? The cost of STCW can be recouped in as little as one week of charter, while still being able to save a tidy chunk during a single season. It takes about 10 years to develop the sea-time and experience to become a captain or chief engineer. Steward/esses can achieve a senior position in about half of that time; while chefs, if school trained, can usually walk straight into top jobs. In today’s world, the on-going career opportunities for yachties to transfer their skills, contacts and experience into an even more serious land-based yachting career are almost unlimited. The number of ex-crewmembers who have established businesses all over the world number into the hundreds - if not the thousands - and include such thriving industry sectors as shipyards, training schools, placement agencies, uniform companies, technical/engineering firms, consultation, brokerage, marina operation, yacht management, and even the ever-humble publishing! So the benefits can truly last a lifetime.

The last decade has seen a phenomenal growth in the size and volume of yachts, both power and sail. Yachting business is a truly global industry, and the future continues to look strong, especially as yachts have become the ultimate safe refuge for the world’s richest people, of whom there seems to be an unlimited supply. So if you possess an independent nature, a yearning to learn more about the world around you, and a desire to set yourself up for a brighter and more productive future, go for it. The world is your oyster, and a yachting career could be your pearl.