yacht crew list template

Cookies on GOV.UK

We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.

We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.

You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

• Business and industry
• Trade and investment
• Customs declarations, duties and tariffs (import and export)

Crew list - International Maritime Organisation form (C97)

Use form C97 to record the crew members on your voyage.

International Maritime Organisation - crew list (C97)

MS Word Document , 146 KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Use form C97 International Maritime Organisation ( IMO ) to record the crew members on your voyage.

Email HMRC to ask for this form in Welsh (Cymraeg) .

Related forms and guidance

Import and export: IMO general declaration (C94) Use form C94 to declare a ship’s voyage and cargo.

Import and export: IMO ship’s stores declaration (C95) Use form C95 to declare a ship’s stores.

Import and export: IMO crew’s effects declaration (C96) Use form C96 to declare the crew’s effects.

Import and export: IMO passenger list (C98) Use form C98 to record the passengers on your voyage.

Related content

Is this page useful.

• Yes this page is useful
• No this page is not useful

Help us improve GOV.UK

Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.

To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone.

• CHARTER YACHTS
• CREWED YACHTS
• Bareboat Charter
• Skippered Charters
• Crewed Yacht Rentals
• POWERBOAT or MOTORYACHT CRUISING
• HOUSEBOATING
• SAILBOAT CHARTERS
• CATAMARAN CHARTERS
• SAILING DESTINATIONS & ITINERARIES
• CHARTER GUIDE

YACHT CHARTER CHECKLISTS FOR DOWNLOAD

New boat listing.

Good preparation and organisation are key to plain sailing vacation! Our sailing charter checklists will help you to plan your cruise easily and effectively. 

If it's your first time chartering a yacht we can assist you with our first time yacht charter - step by step guide .  

If you need help, feel free to have a look at some pages we provide for you so that you can easily plan and organize your yacht charter vacation.

• Which license is required for bareboat charter  ?
• Do I need a visa ?
• What kind of insurance should I choose ?
• all you need to know if you are the Skipper, you'll find in our Skipper Guide
• for more info, please have a look at our Yacht Charter FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

CHARTER CHECKLISTS FOR YOUR NEXT YACHT VACATION HOLIDAYS

Here you have the possibility to download some checklists for your next cruise free of charge! Handbooks, guides, planning checklists - What to pack for a bareboat sailing charter, which documents to take with you for yacht charter holiday - checklists you can use before and while you go for a sailing vacation.

• YACHT CHARTERS & RENTALS WORLDWIDE
• Offer your Yacht
• B2B partner area
• Terms of use
• Privacy policy

Using this site requires JavaScript. You are either using a browser that does not support JavaScript or has JavaScript disabled. Please click here for detailed information.

404 Not found

Yacht crew positions and contracts

Somewhat unsurprisingly, the operation and implementation of tasks aboard a superyacht is a full-time job for more than just one crew member. The superyacht industry, therefore, offers a wide range of roles on board, catering to individuals with a range of skill sets and career preferences.

The number and range of roles on a typical superyacht will vary depending on its size and set up. For those who know which role to pursue, the next step will be enrolling with crew agents  and crew training schools , while for those who don’t know where they may fit on board, keep reading.

We cover the most common positions, with a list of typical responsibilities and an expected salary range for permanent crew working on yachts between 35 and 100 metres LOA (data taken from  YPI Crew's Yachting Salaries tool ).

Yacht job roles, responsibilities and crew salaries

Superyacht captain or skipper.

Arguably the most well-known and respected job role aboard any yacht – large or small – is that of the captain. The captain has two primary objectives on board: The safe manning and operation of the vessel, and the care of guests and crew.

The main responsibilities of a superyacht captain may include:

• Safe navigation and operation of the yacht
• Budget management and accounting
• Decision-making and crew management
• Managing the upkeep of the yacht
• Taking control of yacht repairs and refit projects
• Assuming the role of ‘host’ and entertaining when necessary

Depending on the size of the vessel and experience of the applicant, a captain can expect an average salary of anywhere between €6,000 and €20,000 per month. You can find out more about a captain's salary in our dedicated article.

First officer/chief mate

All superyachts generally have a first officer or chief mate, who is essentially ready to take over the yacht should anything happen to the captain. On larger yachts, there may also be a second officer.

Job roles therefore vary depending on the set up of the department. The first officer is second in command to the captain and manages all the deck crew, including the second officer, bosuns and deckhands. He or she is also responsible for:

• Ensuring the safety of the yacht and individuals on board
• Overseeing all deck operations and management
• Supervision and preparation of water toys
• The management of administrative and safety procedures on board
• Bridge watches and the navigational passage planning of the yacht

A second officer may hold navigational responsibilities, keeping charts and publications up to date. The job may also involve monitoring radio equipment and bridge watches, and he or she may be appointed as the designated safety or medical officer.

A first officer or chief mate may expect a salary of between €4,000 and €8,900 per month, depending on the level of responsibility. In comparison, a second officer may start on a salary of €2,500 per month and a sole mate on a monthly salary of €3,500.

Bosun 

The bosun, sometimes known as the leading hand or senior deckhand, is likely to be an experienced deckhand, working his/her way up the career ladder. The bosun is responsible for maintaining the exterior of the yacht and is in charge of supervising the deckhands. The bosun is responsible for:

• Organising deck operations, including storage, the use and maintenance of tenders, toys and equipment, deck maintenance and supplies
• Bridge watches and overseeing security
• Overseeing the passerelle, and the safety of guests as they embark and disembark
• Outstanding guest service and an eye for detail

In return, a bosun may expect a salary of between €3,000 and €4,500 per month.

A deckhand is just one of the entry-level positions available on board a superyacht. Primarily, he/she will work with the other deckhands to maintain the exterior of the yacht, keeping it in pristine condition. Deckhand responsibilities include:

• Cleaning, painting and varnishing
• Polishing and finishing
• Line handling
• Driving and supervising guests using tenders and toys
• Guest service and cleaning

As an entry-level position with few additional qualifications required, a deckhand may expect a salary of between €1,250 and €2,500 per month.

Engineering

First/chief engineer.

A first or chief engineer is in charge of the engineering department on board, and is responsible for its safe and efficient operation. Reporting directly to the captain, he/she will manage the vessel’s engineers, electrical technical officers (ETO’s) and electricians, as well as:

• The day-to-day management of mechanical and electrical operations aboard
• Team management and supervision
• The coordination of operations with shore-side engineers
• The trouble-shooting and repair of all systems and equipment on board
• The sourcing and purchasing of parts
• The docking, undocking and anchoring of the yacht

First or chief officers can generally expect an average salary of between €4,700 and €9,900 per month. A second engineer may expect a salary starting at around €1,500 per month.

A purser is a senior crew member who manages several areas of the superyacht, ranging from crew recruitment and financial matters, to interior management and provisioning, depending on the crew on board. Pursers are typically found on larger yachts, as the role can otherwise contain a large amount of crossover with the responsibilities of the chief stewardess or housekeeper.

Where required, the purser becomes the chief of finances and keeping the accounts and financial affairs of the yacht in order.

Responsibilities of a purser include:

• The management of all financial matters on board including accounting and bookkeeping
• HR, payroll and general crew management such as keeping crew certifications up to date
• Management of the yacht’s interior including inventory tasks
• Provisioning the vessel with food, beverages, cleaning supplies, uniforms etc.
• Working with heads of departments to ensure smooth, efficient management of financial matters and purchasing and provisioning logistics
• Coordinating any contracts and deliveries to the superyacht
• Planning events and arranging owner and guest trips, as well as managing pre-arrival tasks such as transport options and venue checks
• General administration

Chief steward or stewardess

A chief steward/ess is likely to have progressed to this role through learned experience aboard a superyacht. They are in charge of the operation of the yacht interior and its staff, reporting directly to the captain. Attention-to-detail and outstanding yet discreet guest service are vital to this role.

The main responsibilities of a chief steward/ess include:

• Food service – including silver service
• Drink service and bar tending
• The oversight of accommodation cleaning and preparation
• Cabin preparation
• Flower arranging
• Obtaining local currency
• Arranging trips, transport and events for the owner and guests
• General yacht operations

As a chief steward/ess, you could expect to earn a salary of between €3,500 and €7,000 per month, while more junior stewardesses could take home anything from €1,400 to €4,000 per month, depending on the scope of their responsibilities on board.

The food is one of the many things a guest will always remember about his/her time aboard a superyacht. As expected, the chef plays an incredibly important role on board, sourcing, purchasing, transporting, preparing and presenting food on the table.

Depending on the size of the yacht, a chef may work alone, or may manage a sous chef and/or crew cook or galley hand, while at all times keeping the galley in pristine condition. He/she must be able to prepare a wide range of dishes, from the basic to the exotic, sometimes with scarce supplies. The main responsibilities of a yacht chef include:

• Devising interesting and delicious menus, meeting the demands of dietary requirements and the event in hand
• Sourcing and purchasing food items and ingredients
• Arranging the transportation of food stuffs to the yacht
• The preparation, cooking and presentation of meals for guests (and sometimes crew)
• Cleaning and maintaining the galley

The expected salary of a yacht chef can range from €4,500 to upwards of €9,000 per month, depending on the size of yacht , the experience of the individual and amount of supporting galley staff working aboard. A second/sous chef of a mid-size yacht (60m) might expect a median salary of around €3,650 per month.

Yacht crew contracts

Typically, yacht crew contracts will be offered on a seasonal basis (three to six months), a temporary basis (changeable periods), or a permanent basis of one year or more. Day work is also available – great for those seeking daily payment and on-board experience.

The  Maritime Labour Convention 2006  (MLC) sets out the interests of yacht crew welfare, providing minimum requirements for crew accommodation, welfare and employment. It demands that all crewmembers working aboard commercial charter yachts should be hired on the basis of a Seafarers Employment Agreement (SEA).

A crew contract should set out, in more detail, the name and contact details of the yacht’s owning company or agency, plus a description of the vessel. It should also include details of:

• Salary – How much you will be paid, and how
• Probationary period
• Annual leave or time off
• Summary of dismissal
• Repatriation
• Venue of jurisdiction
• Drug policy – always zero tolerance at sea
• Special issues – confidentiality, tips and kickbacks
• Personal hygiene expectations
• Official MCA-approved contracts and agreements

A sample crew contract, crew confidentiality agreement and job descriptions can be found in this document from  MGH Publishing .

In the unfortunate event that you are fired or dismissed, the MLC demands that a document (or reference) should be provided. This must not contain any statement to the quality of work given or salary taken. It must contain sufficient information to facilitate finding further work, or satisfy sea-service requirements for skills upgrading or promotion. An aggrieved owner cannot withhold it.

Picked your role? Read on to find out where and when to find a superyacht job , or  find yacht crew agents on Yachtingpages.com

Tried & Tested

A jacket completes any crew member's uniform so it's an important garment to get right. In this Tried & Tested, Sea Design pits eight popular jackets against one another to determine which one is best for superyacht crew in 2023.

iAQUA creates high-performance, technologically advanced underwater scooters. In this Tried & Tested, a team of experienced testers have rated and reviewed the AquaDart Pro and AquaDart Nano series to reveal the stand-out iAQUA sea scooter.

In our 2022 Tried & Tested, yacht toy specialist EAMS and a group of captains and crew review a selection of the very best luxury water toys on the market. Find out which toy was crowned the winner...

European-founded crew uniform specialists Coco & Kandy Crew has unveiled an updated brand image, revamped website, and a...

Antigua Slipway Ltd. has started extensive repairs on the classic sailing yacht Nordwind, facilitated by the expertise o...

Popular Articles

Finished reading now find your perfect supplier..

Search our industry-leading directory for over 20,000 superyacht suppliers, providers and marinas.

Everything you need to know about being a superyacht chef

• Chef Interviews
• Beach destinations for yacht chefs and foodies
• The Ultimate Port Guide: Rybovich, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
• The Ultimate Port Guide: Berth One, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
• The Ultimate Port Guide: Savannah Yacht Center, Georgia, USA
• The Ultimate Port Guide: Port Denarau Fiji
• The Ultimate Yachtie Guide To Antibes And Cote D’Azur
• The ultimate Yachtie guide to Barcelona, Spain!
• Dockwalking for yacht chefs [updated 2022]
• The Ships Cook Certificate: What you need to know
• How to get a job on a super yacht as a chef
• Private Vs Charter
• Starting as a crew chef
• Superyacht crew agents
• What certificates does a Superyacht Chef need?
• Working as a yacht stewardess vs crew chef
• Yacht crew in the wild
• Yacht Chef Job Board
• 5 Best Cookbooks for 2019 for yacht chefs
• 5 of the best chef gadgets​ for 2019
• 5 knives every chef needs in their knife roll this season
• The Yacht Chef cookbook of 2020 : The mymuybueno cookbook
• Short order
• cooking classes
• Crew Food: How It Can Make Us Better Chefs
• Crew meal ideas

Crew Preference sheet free printable

• Crew Weekend Food Ideas
• Sample Yacht Chef Menu
• The BEST vegan cookbooks for yacht chefs
• Writing a killer yacht chef cv is easy!
• Worldwide Superyacht Provisioning Spreadsheet
• Yacht Chef Websites
• Work with us

A crew preference sheet will make your life easier. We know a happy crew is more fun to be around, and a sneaky cheat that chefs have up their jackets is that we control the food onboard for lunches and dinner. In some cases breakfast, depending on how big your boat is.

When we know a crew member is having a rough day, we can ask them to swing by the galley for a little treat. Or when we want to reward someone for always taking our trash out when we don’t get time, or for helping with washing a couple of dishes, or just for providing some good banter on long boss trips.

Likewise, we know it is important to provide a balanced diet for all crew members, taking in to account their dietary requirements due to allergies, religious reasons, and also personal reasons.

What about the difficult crew?

Having a vegan or a gluten-free crew member is not make or break for a yacht chef, so long as they know how to manage the crew members. Likewise for peanut allergies and other serious allergic reactions crew members can have from food. So long as they are reasonable about the expectations of what sort of food they will get, and don’t sneak off to eat burgers on the weekends (We all know that ONE stew who claims to be vegan onboard….) As chef’s, we don’t mind putting in the extra effort for a couple of hard-working crew members. Especially when those dishes do magically get done, and thanks are given.

To help you out, there’s a super easy crew preference sheet printable here for you to download. Throw it up in the crew mess for them to fill in every month. Or less depending on your crew turnover. It will provide you with loads of great ideas and your crew menu will practically write itself!

In my experience, the crew are less likely to fill these in when they have to attach their names to it. I have no idea why, but for that reason, it’s been done as a bit of a free-for-all. Let them all jot down their likes and dislikes and reap the benefits as your next few weeks of meal planning just got easier!

For more downloadables, check out our page Yacht Chef Tips

If you loved this crew preference sheet, share it with other chefs in your network. It’s free chef love after all.

Leave a Comment Cancel

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email Address *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

How to get a job as a superyacht chef

300+ free crew food recipes, yacht chef portfolio websites.

A creative space for Superyacht Chefs to share and engage. List your jobs, apply for jobs. Share knowledge and opinions. Celebrate your wins. Get yacht chef related discounts and insider help.

New to yachting? Green Yacht Crew? : Start HERE!

Professional yacht chef cv writing, yacht chef cv writing tips, recent jobs.

• Fort Lauderdale
• Never Enough ll LLC

Click here for our favourite yacht chefs ;)

Crew Content

Essential Guides

Ocean Mapping

NAVIGATING THE YACHTING INDUSTRY

Download free yacht crew cv templates.

How to fill out the templates?

The CV templates you can find below are editable Microsoft Word documents that you can fill in with your personal details. Once completed, save the document as a PDF and upload it to your YPI CREW profile .

Below you will also find examples of filled out CVs to help you get an idea of what the final version should look like. If you need additional tips on how to write your CV, have a look at our guide on ‘ How to write a memorable yachting CV ’.

Some examples of good yacht crew CV photos:

Remember that looks are not important, what matters is the photo should capture a glimpse of your character. A smiley photo with a nice light, wearing a plain white polo or collared shirt (for chef's whites or blacks for chefs), no cap, no sunglasses, neat and tidy. No selfies. If possible try to take a picture outdoors, with yachts in background but this is not mandatory.

YACHT CREW RESUME TEMPLATES

Download free yacht crew cv templates, deck department.

Download CV Template

Download CV Example

Bosun/Deckhand CV

Engineering Department

Engineering CV

Interior Department

Yacht Chef CV

Chief Stew CV

Stew and Specialist CV

Other essential guides

Mandatory certificates

What you need to know about B1/B2 visa

How to write a memorable yachting CV

How to prepare for a yacht interview?

What are the two main yachting seasons?

Big yacht crew hubs you should know about

Is yachting the right choice for me?

Yacht crew salary guide

Explore yacht roles

Are you ready to find your new ideal job on board a yacht.

Become a member of YPI CREW and connect with our recruiters so they can guide you through your job search.  

Each of our recruiters is specialised in crew placement for a particular department and they will do their best to get you an interview on board a yacht. They will also advise you on how to best present your experience and skills and prepare for a yacht job interview.

Explore the latest in yachting

• 20 hours ago

YPI CREW Will be Attending the Superyacht Technology Network Conference in Barcelona

Is a career in the yachting industry a good fit for me?

Webinar Friday, 15th March: How to Start Your Yachting Career as a Superyacht Stew?

YACHT CREW GUIDES

Learn about different positions on board a yacht.

YACHT CREW SALARY GUIDE

Let’s get started. call us on +33 (0)4 92 90 46 10 or email us., our mission, vision and values, mlc 2006 compliance, essential guides, yacht crew positions.

Chief Officer

Second Officer

Third Officer

Chief Engineer

Interior Crew

Head of Service

Head of Housekeeping

Specialist Positions

Spa Manager

Spa Therapist

Personal Trainer & Yoga Instructor

Hairdresser

Mandatory Certificates

B1/b2 visa information, how to write a memorable cv, how to prepare for an interview, yachting seasons, yacht crew salary guide, is yachting the right choice for me, cv templates, ocean mapping, crew content.

+33 (0)4 92 90 46 10

[email protected]

How to Compile an Interior Manual for Steward/esses

An integral part of managing a successful steward/ess team on board, whatever the size of the yacht, is having a comprehensive steward/ess training manual. I have always found it extremely challenging and unprofessional when, upon joining a new yacht, I was unable to find a single note anywhere on owner preferences, scheduling, inventories, SOPs, general interior rules and regulations etc. 

This happened to me with almost every new chief stew and purser position I accepted, which meant that I had to spend immense time and effort compiling a training manual myself - time that you don’t always have just before a busy season or at the end of a period in the yard.

In my view you can’t achieve the standards of service a guest or yacht owner deserves without giving proper training and information to your team, and it's unfair to expect them to ‘guess’ what you need and expect from them.

In this column we'll take a look at some suggested content for a training manual for an efficient, organized and well-run interior team. Obviously each manual must be adapted for the individual yacht.

Introduction

A brief ‘welcome aboard’ with some positive input is a good starting point. It is important to make the new steward/ess feel like they are not just receiving a book full of lists, rules and regulations, but that it also leaves the door open for them to approach you – and to feel safe and welcome to do so. 

It's very important to add a complete and thorough description of all the on board operational documents – I always discussed this with the captain, chief officer and other senior officers to ensure I communicated the correct and most up to date versions.

Onboard Operational Procedures and Documents

Master list and emergency safety plans and all emergency procedures, as well as emergency exits – I always find it works well to add photos of donning a life jacket, where emergency exits are located, etc.

MSDS (material safety data sheets) for all cleaning and housekeeping products.

All applicable and updated SOPs (standard operating procedures).

NDA and applicable confidentiality forms/contracts.

General Operational Information

Crew information – phone numbers, laundry days, cabin, etc.

Crew preference sheets.

Crew medical information and allergies.

A list of all interior inventories.

Inventories

Location of all interior items – bilges, under stairs, under beds, etc.

Galley and service items.

Salon/dining room/stew pantry storage.

Decor/theme storage and location.

Table setting items, napkins and napkin rings.

Cabin inventories.

Crew bilge and other bilge inventories.

Crew mess inventory.

Master cabin and all guest cabin storage inventories.

Linen closet inventory.

Medical inventories - guests OTC (over the counter medicine), crew OTC, MCA.

Audio-visual and Equipment Instructions

Full instructions on how to operate all AV and other equipment in the interior.

Audio visual systems.

Internet and satellite systems.

All applicable equipment on board – instructions with photos.

Steward/ess Duties and Scheduling

Our next section would cover steward/ess duties, regulations and scheduling – let’s look at some suggested documents for this very important section.

A description of the steward/ess responsibilities on board.

Detailed job description for each steward/ess position, including the chief stew and purser - it is only fair to be clear and open about each team member’s responsibilities, including team leaders.

Crew assessment/performance/evaluation forms – include examples of these to provide open and honest information regarding what individuals will be evaluated/assessed on, and how often.

Future performance planning for each steward/ess – this should be fluid and adjusted as each stew's performance is measured, assessed and discussed with the individual.

Daily, weekly, monthly maintenance scheduling.

Daily worklists and responsibilities (including the laundry room and crew mess).

Crew head and cabin cleaning checklists.

General interior worklists and checklists.

Detailed cleaning checklist for each area on board.

Interior cabin cleaning procedures.

Sheet change days for which cabins.

A list and explanation of cleaning products and how to use them.

Dayworker worklists and checklists.

Air conditioner monthly cleaning and maintenance sheets.

On-charter dinner service guidelines.

On charter daily routine for steward/esses.

Pre-arrival checklists.

General tips for steward/esses with guests on board.

Guidelines for stowing for sea.

All owner and guest information.

Owner Preferences/Cheat Sheets

Each guest’s preferences and cheat sheet - thorough briefing/information on each guest (especially if it's a private yacht).

Clothing inventories of each guest.

Guest toiletry inventories and preferences.

Explanation of each guest, family tree, etiquette, titles, protocols, do’s and don’ts etc.

A list of service items and favourite glasses/dinnerware, etc. that the owners like, for instance: “Mr Smith only drinks out of the Christofle whiskey tumbler and never wants wine out of the Riedel glass set, always use the Robbe and Berking Red Wine glass for his wines.” – photos are crucial in this section.

Events/Parties On Board

Events/parties on board - preparation/mise en place checklists.

Contact information for chandlers, suppliers, and caterers.

Theme night ideas and set-ups.

Cabins where they go, how the arrangements should be made/look.

Flower order sheets.

Flower suppliers worldwide.

Alcohol and Beverages

Preference sheet for guests.

Alcohol and beverages inventory and order sheet.

Alcohol inventory – border control.

Wine training – containing notes on terroir, region, grape in wine, food and wine pairing, cheese and wine pairing.

General Laundry and Ironing Information

An explanation of your crew laundry labelling system.

An explanation of your guest laundry labelling system.

Include a complete list and explanation of all the onboard laundry products and how to use them.

A list of laundry care symbols and their meaning.

A list of common fabrics (upholstery and clothing) that the stew team will be working with on board and how to clean/handle each fabric (pay special attention to dry clean only fabrics, such as silk, etc.).

Sheet changing days and laundry schedule – all crew.

Crew uniform inventory.

Crew uniform description.

List of crew uniform suppliers, their contact details and each item they provide.

Crew uniform sign-out document.

Guest giveaway gifts – such as T-shirts, capes, etc. (included in uniform order).

In the Laundry

Galley tea towels must always be washed separately from everything else. Cleaning cloths also need to be washed separately. Both should be washed at 95 degrees C but, for hygiene reasons, they must never be washed together.

Table linens – place mats and napkins also get washed separately. Delicate linens must be washed in a delicates bag and all napkins and place mats need to be hang-dried.  They will shrink and become misshapen in the dryer. If in doubt, hand wash the napkins instead of running through the washer.

Galley rags, napkins and tea towels must be collected every night at the end of shift and washed or soaked.

Guest clothing and linens should be ironed and put away as soon as possible. Do not leave guest linens to build up, the longer they sit and pile up, the more potential for them to get marked and stained, and the harder it is to tackle the pile.

Crew clothing should be returned to the respective cabins at the end of each day. Don't forget what is hanging up. On charter, crew sheets are only washed on the allocated day.

White in-service uniforms must be treated before they go through the wash (chef jackets, polo shirts, epaulet shirts, etc). Check for stains and check the collars. If the stain has not come out in the wash, treat again. Do not put it through the dryer as it will make the stain set.

Always make sure that the laundry room is left clean and organized after your laundry shift. Clean the floor, wipe down all the machines, regularly clean out the filters of the dryers, drain the washing machines, keep the liquid dispenser of the washing machines clean.

All table linens, guest bed linens and epaulet shirts must be starched with spray starch and water.

General Laundry Tips and Rules

Only use laundry detergent in the machine, never powder.

Laundry must be sorted: check pockets, check for stains and check the labels, and separate colours and delicates from stronger fabrics.

Guest laundry always gets priority – always check the labels before washing!

Guest clothing: If in doubt whether to put in the washing machine, send to the dry cleaner instead. If ever in doubt about how to clean guest clothing, ask the chief stew first!!!!  Remember to label all guest laundry in the CABINS before taking to the laundry room.

If guest clothes are sent out to dry cleaner, always keep bathrobe belts on board – they disappear otherwise!

Guest linen to be changed as per the sheet change rota.

Do not wash more than one large guest bath sheet in the washing machine at a time, it unbalances the washing machine and can cause it to stop or leak.

Make sure crew use their laundry bags.

Check and stain treat ALL whites before washing.

Treat all stains with the appropriate stain remover, if in doubt ask.

Do not tumble dry unless the stain has been removed otherwise it will set into the fabric.

If you washed boat fender covers or something really dirty, run the washing machine with bleach (empty machine) afterwards, before you wash crew clothes. Then make sure to wash a load of whites after the bleach cycle.

NEVER mix colours and whites.

NEVER mix crew and guest laundry.

NEVER mix galley rags with other laundry.

NEVER mix cleaning rags and tea towels.

NEVER mix engineers overalls with other laundry.

NEVER mix cleaning rags with other laundry.

Be careful when you iron clothes – if in doubt about what heat to use – ASK! Always use the iron cloth over delicates and black/dark items.

Roller iron sheets, napkins, place mats and tablecloths when SLIGHTLY damp and then hang dry.

Hang the ironed napkins and guest pillowcases on a ‘clip-hanger’ during guest trips – they will be ready for use anytime the service or cabin stews need to use them.

ALWAYS make sure that guest clothes are hanging on guest hangers when returned to guest cabins.

General Ironing Tips

• What to spray on sheets, pillowcases, tablecloths, duvet covers, napkins:  1/4 spray starch mixed with 3/4 water in a spray bottle. For an eco-friendly alternative, mix 2 – 3 teaspoons of corn starch with 500 ml of water in a spray bottle. 
• Cleaning the vent holes: Often the vent holes in the bottom of the iron will become clogged. Take an ear bud and toothpick and clean out each hole individually. Always empty a steam iron after each use to prevent clogging.
• Cleaning the internal parts: Fill the steam iron with equal parts water and white vinegar. Let it steam for several minutes. Disconnect the iron and let it sit for one hour. Empty and rinse with clear water using the same process. Be sure to iron over old fabric prior to ironing clothes. If your iron cannot be cleaned with vinegar, clean it as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Energy efficient ironing: Put aluminium foil under the ironing board cover on the board.  It will reflect heat onto the garments and cut ironing time. 

Inservice – Guests On

Never leave any cleaning products lying around in guest areas, be sure to put things away in their appropriate place. As soon as a guest leaves any area, immediately enter and clean up/fix that area.

Keep daily tasks up to date, especially laundry. The boat will not run efficiently if tasks are left to build up.

Make sure you finish all of your jobs at the end of the evening before you sit down and stop work.

Do not go off to bed at the end of the evening and leave dishes on the sink, either clean or dirty. Wash them, dry them, and put them away.  Leave the boat clean and tidy as the guests could get up in the night and may come into the pantries or bar to get a drink. CONSIDER THE PERSON WHO HAS TO GET UP IN THE MORNING AND CLEAN UP YOUR MESS.

If you are on late stew, then you need to be available to the guests until they go to bed, or until they dismiss you for the evening. That means checking on them regularly, offering drinks, etc. 

When you return from a break, always check in with the stew on duty, find out what is happening with the guests' movements, and see if anyone needs help or has something specific that they need you to do. Please return after your shift in a timely manner.

REMEMBER – effective communication is the single most important part of making the boat, and the guests' vacation run smoothly.

Always wear your radio and turn it down low when you are around guests. Ensure it is charged at the end of each shift.

Always be alert and attentive to the guests and what is happening around you. If you are speaking to a guest, or are visible to a guest, do not slouch or lean on furniture or on the boat itself. You must look and behave in a professional manner at all times.

Guests & Service

Guest information and documents.

Breakfast set-up – for owners.

Breakfast set-up – charters.

Checklist for day packs.

Charterer information/preferences (especially for return charter guests).

Detailed guest preferences – especially on a private yacht.

Set-up/mise en place lists for lunch and dinner.

Stewardess schedules on charter.

Guest dislikes, likes cheat sheets.

Guest Service and Table Service Training

Summary of various styles of service used on board.

Photos of different service items/cutlery, etc. and what they are used for.

Basic cocktail recipes and specific explanations of the owner’s/guests’ favourite cocktails and how to prepare it.

A good idea is to prepare a fancy picture book that can be laid out in the bar area with a variety of cocktails offered on board – this can be used for training and to encourage guests to order cocktails from the book.

Another idea is to use photos of how to make each cocktail rather than just give the recipe.

How to do turndowns, turnups and cabin checks while on charter.

Basic food health safety guidelines to be used on board.

General Service and Guest On Rules

American, French, English, synchronized service – make sure stews understand these different styles and are shown (and practice) these styles often.

If you are serving from the left, you will serve with the left hand, that way you are creating open body language towards the guests. Likewise, when serving drinks, you should serve with the right hand, especially wine, presenting the label to the person whom you are serving. Remember to put a wine napkin around the top of the bottle.

Discuss seating arrangements and menus with the host before every meal – normally the chief stew/head of service does this.

ORDER OF SERVING: How do you serve your guests and who is served first, second, third, etc.

Always know exactly what is being served and be able to explain this to your guests (such as ingredients, terminology, origin of food, pronunciation, cooking method, etc.) REMEMBER ALWAYS to have a smile while serving!!! 

EYE CONTACT is also very important - if you never gain eye contact with guests they will feel as though you are trying to avoid them. They are there to have a great time, enjoy their meal, and you can create the atmosphere for this!! Even if you do not say anything to them, a smile and eye contact will enhance this atmosphere of relaxation and fun.

When serving pie or cake slices in a triangle, make sure the cake/pie point shows towards the guest when putting it down in front of them.

Always discuss with the chef/chief stew/head of service how plates will be presented to guests – meat to the bottom, vegetables at the top, potatoes on the left, whichever way the chef wants to present his/her food. This ensures that dishes are put down the same way in front of all guests.

Make sure that everything on the table is neat and orderly before a meal, knives all lined up, place mats one inch from the border of the table, spoons facing the same direction. Check the table a few times before a meal, you might find something that you have missed. Specifically check that glasses and silverware have no fingerprints on them.

Salt and pepper shakers are always put down next to each other: Salt on the left and pepper on the right.

If you are cleaning in a guest cabin and that guest enters the room, assess the situation – if they are just popping back to collect something, politely acknowledge them and discreetly carry on with what you are doing. If, however, they appear to be wanting to use the bathroom, or wish to get changed, lie down, etc., politely acknowledge them and then leave the room, taking all cleaning things with you.

Helpful Hints and Chief Stew Pet Peeves

Something I've always found very helpful is a section I called ‘Chief Stew Pet Peeves’. It isn’t fair to expect your team to simply guess what your expectations are and what will cause irritations and misunderstandings.

This section can contain general notes and tips such as:

Flush all heads and run taps twice weekly and put ice and vinegar down each toilet once a week.

Run the espresso machine daily. Ensure that water is always circulating through all the nozzles. Put milk nozzle into jug of hot water and steam – to flush all milk out of nozzle.

Once a week run master cabin Jacuzzi with baking soda and vinegar. When using cleaning products, never spray directly onto the surface. Always spray on a rag or cloth first.  ONLY USE PRESCRIBED CLEANING PRODUCTS!!  See elsewhere for a complete list of cleaning products to be used on different surfaces.

Always carry cleaning products in a caddy and use drop cloths to protect carpets and surfaces. Do not put cleaning products or the caddy on any surfaces without using a protective cloth first.

Always use a caddy for ALL cleaning products and NEVER put cleaning products, caddies, buckets or anything else directly on top of any counter surfaces without a towel underneath.

If you find something is broken or does not work, please report it to the chief stew and engineers immediately.

If you notice another crew member or an outside contractor has put something on the counter tops, remove it to the ground and find a towel to protect the surface.

If anything unusual happens in the interior of the boat, and the chief stew is not there to deal with it immediately inform them as soon as possible. Never assume that they have heard about it elsewhere. 

Cleaning caddies must not be left in guest areas overnight. At the end of each day, please bring it back to the laundry and refill all products and cleaning tools. 

Never leave any rubbish lying around. Always pick things up after yourself, don't leave it to someone else.

When you start a job, make sure you finish it properly. If you are unsure of anything, it's better to ask than to do it incorrectly.

Hopefully this will inspire you and provide you with some useful ideas to put together your very own (maybe first!) training manual for your steward/ess team.  Best of luck!

A last note

In my opinion, your training manual isn’t worth the paper it's written on if you do not take a few days to work through it with your team on board. It is crucial to make time for onboard training before your guest season kicks off – a day or two, hopefully more, would do wonders for your team’s basic knowledge of the operations on board and to know what is expected of them, improve communication and teamwork.

If time and budgets allow, another idea is to bring trainers on board – for cocktails, cigar, barista, wine, etiquette and general interior steward/ess training. Also remember that all work and no play will make Jack/Jane a very dull stew, so make time for team building and have some fun together! Maybe get a masseuse to come on board for massages or go for a team manicure/pedicure after the season. 

“Leaders are those who always empower others” – Bill Gates.

Post your comment

You cannot post comments until you have logged in.

No one has commented on this page yet.

RSS feed for comments on this page | RSS feed for all comments

Search articles with keywords

Sailing Gear Essentials: the Ultimate Packing List (and PDF)

When I first started, I wish I had an overview of what I need right now, and might possibly want in the future. So here's the list with all sailing essentials.

What gear do I need for sailing? You need clothes that dry quickly, deck shoes with good grip that don't leave marks, and multiple layers of clothing. You also want to bring water and sunscreen. Depending on your type of sailing and your role onboard, you need different kinds of specialty gear.

It really matters what sort of trip you're planning. Also, if you're the skipper, you're responsible for bringing a lot of additional skipper & boat gear. I've specified the complete list below for all different conditions and roles.

I've also made a printable checklist that you can download for free.

Download free sailing gear packing list

Interactive Sailing Packing List

On this page:

Gear essentials: quick summary, essential sailing clothes, skipper gear, gear you need if you own a boat, related questions.

What you need to bring depends on the sort of trip, the trip length, and your role.

I categorize gear into four types of gear:

Clothing - There are some basic rules for clothing, which I'll explain below. But the best way to know what kind of clothes to wear is asking the skipper or sailors that are regulars in the area. Weather conditions on the water are very different from land.

Crew gear - All other personal things like paperwork and toiletries. Only applies for trips of multiple days or international journeys.

Boat gear - Navigation equipment, electronics, and safety gear. Boat gear is always the responsibility of the skipper, so if you're joining as crew, you don't have to worry about this.

Supplies - You always need supplies, and with long trips, this can really add up. But with one-day trips, you don't really need to worry beyond water, since there will probably be restaurants and stores around. However, you never know: a simple trip around the lake can end up in spending the night there. Mechanical breakdown happens all the time, so perhaps you want to bring at least some food and extra water.

Below I'll go into more detail for each of the different gear categories. You'll also find all of these items on the downloadable checklist. But first, let's quickly take a look at the packing list for beginner day-sailors.

What you need to bring as crew on a 1-day sailing trip:

If you're tagging along for a short trip as (beginner) crew, you don't need to bring much. You need to wear appropriate clothes and bring a bottle of water and sunscreen. Appropriate clothes are:

• multiple base layers of clothing that are comfortable and dry quickly
• non-marking deck shoes that provide a good grip like sneakers or boat shoes
• sweater and (sailing) jacket
• sun protection, like a hat or cap, and long sleeve shirts

I'll go into multiple day trips below, but first I want to take a look at the stuff each skipper needs to consider when planning a trip.

Factors that determine the supplies and boat and crew gear

If you're the skipper, you're responsible for the boat gear and any necessary supplies. You need to decide what navigation equipment you need, and how much fuel, food, and what safety gear to bring. To make planning easier, I've created a system for myself.

There are basically three kinds of trips that determine what safety and boat gear I need to bring:

• freshwater trips - not a lot needed besides basic navigation tools
• coastal and offshore trips - more safety gear required by the USCG
• ocean passages - besides more safety gear, also more supplies and tools needed

Freshwater trips - Freshwater trips are the easiest to plan. There isn't a lot of safety gear required by the Coast Guard, and you don't need a lot of supplies or fuel, because there's always a gas station nearby. So no worries here. You just need to bring your basic navigation tools. Something like a compass and marine chart will do fine, or perhaps a chartplotter.

Coastal and offshore trips - For coastal and offshore trips you need to bring a lot more safety gear, especially on larger boats. You'll also want more navigation gear, and you'll need more anchors.

Ocean passages - Ocean passages are the ultimate planning challenge. Besides all safety gear, navigation, and so on, you also need to think about your supplies and bring extra tools. Once you're out there, you're on your own, so you need to be able to do minor repairs yourself.

Make sure to check out my Ultimate Guide to Required Safety Equipment on a Boat . There you'll find a USCG safety gear checklist for all different hull lengths.

Trip length

The second factor that determines required gear is the trip length. Obviously, the longer your trip, the more you'll need to bring.

• short trips (1-2 days)
• extended trips (2 - 14 days)
• ocean passage (multiple weeks)

I mention ocean passage again here because it's usually the longest kind of trip, but it also requires special planning. You need to bring a lot more fuel than on an ordinary two-week trip along the coast because chances are you won't find any gas stations in the middle of the Atlantic.

Also, you need to bring a lot more water onboard, and spare parts for minor engine and sail repairs. With long trips along the coast, you can always find a safe harbor with a store, or request Coast Guard assistance. They will probably be there within a couple of hours at most. But in the middle of the Atlantic, chances are nobody will come for at least a couple of days.

What you need to wear depends on your role and ambitions. If you're just tagging along as crew or a curious landlubber on a sailing yacht, you need to take a good look at your clothes, but you don't need to worry as much about specialty gear. If you're a pro sailor (or want to become one), you need special sailing gloves and wetsuits. And then there are foul weather clothes for heavy weather.

For sailing clothes, the rules of thumb are:

• you want to wear clothes that are appropriate to the climate
• you want to wear multiple layers because the temperature on the water can change quickly
• you always want to bring dry clothing
• wear clothes that dry quickly; neoprene and polyester are great for cold weather, linen is great for warm weather
• wear clothes that can't be caught in lines or winh; no scarfs or shawls, rather a large blanket or a thick coat for when you get cold

Beginner sailing outfit

• in cold weather, wear heavy, thick undergarments made from water repellant materials. Neoprene sailing socks are great, but wool works as well. Always bring plenty of spares.

Professional sailing clothes

• sailing gloves
• boat shoes or sailing boots
• water shoes
• polaroid sunglasses with croakies
• sailing hat, helmsman hat, or cap with retainer clip
• high-quality sailing jacket (inshore, coastal, and offshore jackets all have different linings)
• sailing trousers - this can be a polyester legging, made from wetsuit material, or a UV protective, water-repellent chino
• canvas sailing belt - works than a leather belt in wet conditions
• drysuit for cold weather

Foul weather/offshore clothes

• foulies (heavy weather rain suit)
• ocean trousers or salopettes

Crew gear is stuff every crew member needs to have, including the skipper. The safety gear is the responsibility of the skipper, the rest is up to you.

Safety gear

Each crew member should wear the following safety gear:

• life jacket - also called a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) - if you go sailing regularly, you might want to consider buying your own
• whistle for signaling when you go overboard
• waterproof headlamp for signaling when you go overboard
• For coastal and offshore sailing: harness and tether - clips you to a fixed padeye onboard to stay within reach when you go overboard

Toiletries (for multiple-day trips)

If you're going out for multiple days on end, be sure to bring your the following toiletries:

• toothbrush and toothpaste
• medications and perhaps medication for seasickness
• dry shampoo

If applicable, make sure to bring:

• passport for international trips
• diving certificate
• drivers license
• dry bag - to protect your precious gear
• swimming/snorkeling/diving gear
• fishing gear

Additional gear for multiple-day trips

• sleeping bag
• cellphone and charger
• electronics like an e-reader, tablet, laptop, camera, and chargers
• 12V to DC adapters
• power banks and spare batteries for all electronic equipment
• outlet travel multi-adapters for international trips

As skipper, you need to carry some tools to ensure a safe boat and the general safety:

• Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) to transmit location in case of emergency
• utility knife and marlin spike, or:
• mariners knife (has a marlin spike) - used to work on the rigging, splitting lines, and so on
• sailing watch - A digital sailing watch has at least an alarm, which you need for reminding you to do check-ups on the course, weather conditions, and so on. Most sailing watches also have a digital compass and barometer, which is great as a backup.
• captains log if you use one
• marine binoculars (with rangefinder)

The skipper needs some additional paperwork:

• International Certificate of Competence (ICC) - for international trips only
• USCG skipper's license
• VHF certificate
• sailing guides on the area
• legal paperwork for the boat and captain - like boat registration document, and a photo ID like a driver's license

Boat gear consists of cockpit gear, navigation, communication, and safety gear. For short inland trips, you only need some of that gear. You don't need a lot of navigation equipment since the waters are well mapped and finding your way isn't very difficult. First I'll give you the bare minimum, and then I'll specify each category for longer trips.

The bare essentials:

• boat compass
• marine chart
• required safety gear
• first aid kit
• small tool kit or multitool
• working anchor and rode

Cockpit equipment:

• wind vane and/or handheld wind meter
• Cockpit Mayday procedure card
• compass deviation card
• boat maintenance log

Navigation equipment:

Bring at least one (but preferably two) the following:

• handheld compass
• chartplotter - make sure you bring updated charts
• backup chartplotter - this can also be a laptop, tablet, or even smartphone
• sextant & up-to-date navigation almanac
• marine charts

I always want to bring at least two means of navigation. My favorites are the compass (by far) and the GPS since these are very reliable. I also plan to dive into celestial navigation, since this is a great backup, and it's more accurate than you might think.

You can get a cheap but reliable chartplotter and compass for less than $500 - in total. If you want to learn more, head over to the recommended gear section:

• Click here for my recommended chartplotter
• Click here for my recommended compass

For a complete overview of types of marine navigation, I recommend to check out my in-depth article about it .

Communication equipment:

• satellite phone
• marine VHF radio
• handheld depth sounder
• signaling flags for international waters

Safety gear:

• air horn or whistle
• bosun's chair for rig work
• radar reflector
• flares or LED signaling light
• emergency weather radio
• first aid kit - needs to contain at least
• fire extinguisher(s)
• life raft for offshore sailing

Leave a comment

You may also like, 41 sailboat cruising essentials for long trips.

In this post I list the items you are unlikely to have if you have never done bluewater or long-term cruising before. There are some essential safety product and …

Free Sailing Resources

How Far Can You Sail In One Day?

How Much Fuel Does a Sailboat Use?

Own your first boat within a year on any budget.

A sailboat doesn't have to be expensive if you know what you're doing. If you want to learn how to make your sailing dream reality within a year, leave your email and I'll send you free updates . I don't like spam - I will only send helpful content.

Ready to Own Your First Boat?

Just tell us the best email address to send your tips to:

Yacht Crew CV example

Are you hoping to work onboard a yacht this year as a valued member of the crew?

If you want to deliver a great holiday experience to the owner and/or guests of the yacht, this can be a very rewarding role. As long as you love the sea, of course!

Find out how to write a professional CV that’s going to get you aboard, using our detailed guide below, complete with a yacht crew member CV example to help you.

CV templates 

Yacht Crew CV example

Before you start writing your CV, take a look at the example Yacht Crew Member CV above to give yourself a good idea of the style and format that works best in today’s job market.

Also, take note of the type of content that is included to impress recruiters, and how the most relevant information is made prominent, to ensure it gets noticed.

Yacht Crew CV format and structure

First impressions count, so a sloppy, disorganised CV may cause your CV to be overlooked..

Instead, perfect the format and structure of your CV by working to a clear logical structure and applying some simple formatting tricks to ease readability.

Don’t underestimate the importance of this step; if your CV lacks readability, your written content won’t even be seen.

Tips for formatting your Yacht Crew CV

• Length: It’s essential to keep your CV concise, regardless of whether you have one year or thirty years of experience. Recruiters are frequently managing multiple roles and responsibilities and do not have the luxury of reading lengthy CVs. Therefore, limit your CV to two sides of A4. If you have little industry experience, one page is sufficient.
• Readability : To help busy recruiters scan through your CV, make sure your section headings stand out – bold or coloured text works well. Additionally, try to use bullet points wherever you can, as they’re far easier to skim through than huge paragraphs. Lastly, don’t be afraid of white space on your CV – a little breathing space is great for readability.
• Design & format: While it’s important that your CV design looks good, it also needs to be functional (which means easy for recruiters to read) Keep the design simple to achieve a good balance between looking good and reading well.
• Photos: You can add a profile photo to your CV, if you want to add some personality to it, but they are not a requirement the UK, so you don’t have to.

Quick tip: Creating a professional CV style can be difficult and time-consuming when using Microsoft Word or Google Docs. To create a winning CV quickly, try our quick-and-easy CV Builder and use one of their eye-catching professional CV templates.

CV structure

For easy reading, write your CV to the following CV structure:

• Contact details – Make it easy for recruiters to get in touch with you by listing your contact details at the top of your CV.
• Profile – A short and snappy summary of your experience and skills, showcasing what makes you a good fit for the position.
• Work experience / career history – Note down all your work history, with your current position first, then working backwards.
• Education – A short list of your academic background and professional/vocational qualifications.
• Interest and hobbies – This is an optional section, which you can use to highlight any relevant hobbies or interests.

Now you understand the basic layout of a CV, here’s what you should include in each section of yours.

Contact Details

Tuck your contact details into the corner of your CV, so that they don’t take up too much space. Stick to the basic details, such as:

• Mobile number
• Email address – It should sound professional, such as your full name.
• Location -Just write your rough location, rather than your full address.
• LinkedIn profile or portfolio URL – If you include these, ensure they’re sleek, professional and up-to-date.

Yacht Crew CV Profile

Make a strong first impression with recruiters by starting your CV with an impactful profile (or personal statement for junior applicants).

This short introduction paragraph should summarise your skills, experience, and knowledge, highlighting your suitability for the job.

It should be compelling enough to encourage recruiters to read through the rest of your CV.

How to write a good CV profile:

• Make it short and sharp: Recruiters are busy, so to ensure your profile is actually read, it’s best to keep it short and snappy. 3-5 punchy lines makes for the perfect profile.
• Tailor it: No matter how much time you put into your CV profile, it won’t impress if it’s irrelevant to the role you’re applying for. Before you start writing, make a list of the skills, knowledge and experience your target employer is looking for. Then, make sure to mention them in your CV profile and throughout the rest of your application.
• Don’t add an objective: Leave your career objectives or goals out of your profile. You only have limited space to work with, so they’re best suited to your cover letter .
• Avoid generic phrases: Clichés like “ blue-sky thinker with a go-getter attitude” might sound impressive to you, but they don’t actually tell the recruiter much about you. Concentrate on highlighting hard facts and skills, as recruiters are more likely to take these on board.

Example CV profile for Yacht Crew

What to include in your yacht crew cv profile.

• Experience overview: To give employers an idea of your capabilities, show them your track record by giving an overview of the types of companies you have worked for in the past and the roles you have carried out for previous employers – but keep it high level and save the details for your experience section.
• Targeted skills: Employers need to know what skills you can bring to their organisation, and ideally they want to see skills that match their job vacancy. So, research your target roles thoroughly and add the most important Yacht Crew skills to your profile.
• Important qualifications: If you have any qualifications which are highly relevant to Yacht Crew jobs, then highlight them in your profile so that employers do not miss them.

Quick tip: If you are finding it difficult to write an attention-grabbing CV profile, choose from hundreds of pre-written profiles across all industries, and add one to your CV with one click in our quick-and-easy CV Builder . All profiles are written by recruitment experts and easily tailored to suit your unique skillset.

Core skills section

Create a core skills section underneath your profile to spotlight your most in-demand skills and grab the attention of readers.

This section should feature 2-3 columns of bullet points that emphasise your applicable skills for your target jobs. Before constructing this section, review the job description and compile a list of any specific skills, specialisms, or knowledge required.

Important skills for your Yacht Crew CV

Seamanship – Utilising knowledge of navigation, boat handling, and general seamanship skills to safely operate and manoeuvre the yacht.

Safety and Emergency Response – Utilising knowledge of safety procedures and emergency protocols, including first aid, fire safety, and life-saving techniques, to ensure the well-being of passengers and crew in various situations.

Knot Tying and Rope Handling – Tying different types of knots and efficiently handling ropes to secure the yacht, handle lines, and assist with docking.

Maintenance and Repair – Completing basic maintenance and repair tasks such as cleaning, painting, varnishing, and minor repairs to ensure the yacht’s upkeep and smooth operation.

Customer Service – Providing exceptional customer service to yacht guests, anticipating their needs, and ensuring a pleasant and comfortable experience on board.

Hospitality and Etiquette – Utilising knowledge of proper etiquette, table setting, and service standards to assist with meal service, manage guest cabins, and create a welcoming environment.

Water Sports and Activities – Supporting with water sports activities such as snorkelling, diving, kayaking, and jet skiing, including knowledge of safety protocols and equipment usage.

Teamwork and Collaboration – Collaborating effectively with other crew members, including deckhands, engineers, chefs, and stewardesses, to ensure smooth operations and exceptional guest experience.

Weather and Navigation – Utilising knowledge of weather patterns, tides, and navigational charts to assist the captain in route planning, weather monitoring, and maintaining a safe course.

Language Proficiency – Maintaining fluency in English and additional languages as necessary, to effectively communicate with diverse guests and provide multilingual assistance.

Quick tip: Our quick-and-easy CV Builder has thousands of in-demand skills for all industries and professions, that can be added to your CV in seconds – This will save you time and ensure you get noticed by recruiters.

Work experience

By now, you’ll have hooked the reader’s attention and need to show them how you apply your skills and knowledge in the workplace, to benefit your employers.

So, starting with your most recent role and working backwards to your older roles, create a thorough summary of your career history to date.

If you’ve held several roles and are struggling for space, cut down the descriptions for your oldest jobs.

Structuring each job

Lengthy, unbroken chunks of text is a recruiters worst nightmare, but your work experience section can easily end up looking like that if you are not careful.

To avoid this, use my tried-and-tested 3-step structure, as illustrated below:

Begin with a summary of your role, detailing what the purpose of your job was, who you reported to and what size of team you were part of (or led).

Key responsibilities

Using easy-to-read bullet points, note down your day-to-day responsibilities in the role.

Make sure to showcase how you used your hard sector skills and knowledge.

Key achievements

Lastly, add impact by highlight 1-3 key achievements  that you made within the role.

Struggling to think of an achievement? If it had a positive impact on your company, it counts.

For example, you might increased company profits, improved processes, or something simpler, such as going above and beyond to solve a customer’s problem.

Sample job description for Yacht Crew CV

Work for a leading UK yacht manufacturing company, supporting the skipper in the delivery of new racing and cruising yachts to clients across Europe and North America.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct thorough pre-departure inspections, assessing the yacht’s seaworthiness, equipment functionality, and compliance with safety regulations
• Complete routine maintenance and inspections of rigging, sails, and other sailing equipment, ensuring optimal performance and addressing any issues promptly
• Educated junior crew on sailing techniques, equipment operation, and safety
• Assume daytime command of the vessel in the absence of the Captain, ensuring compliance with navigation regulations and safe passage planning

Quick tip: Create impressive job descriptions easily in our quick-and-easy CV Builder by adding pre-written job phrases for every industry and career stage.

Education section

Next up, you should list your education and qualifications.

This can include your formal qualifications (a degree, A-Levels and GCSEs), as well as sector-specific Yacht Crew qualifications and/or training.

While school leavers and recent grads should include a lot of detail here to make up for the lack of work experience, experienced candidates may benefit from a shorter education section, as your work experience section will be more important to recruiters.

Hobbies and interests

Although this is an optional section, it can be useful if your hobbies and interests will add further depth to your CV.

Interests which are related to the sector you are applying to, or which show transferable skills like leadership or teamwork, can worth listing.

On the other hand, generic hobbies like “going out with friends” won’t add any value to your application, so are best left off your CV.

An interview-winning CV for a Yacht Crew Member role, needs to be both visually pleasing and packed with targeted content.

Whilst it needs to detail your experience, accomplishments and relevant skills, it also needs to be as clear and easy to read as possible.

Remember to research the role and review the job ad before applying, so you’re able to match yourself up to the requirements.

If you follow these guidelines and keep motivated in your job search, you should land an interview in no time.

Best of luck with your next application!

How to Write the Perfect Yacht CV [With Template]

If you’re looking to craft the perfect yacht CV, you’ve come to the right place. As the Chief Stewardess onboard a 50m Super Yacht, I’ve been assisting Captains with hiring crew and gathering yacht crew CVs for 8 years.

With my experience, I am familiar with the type of yachting CVs that Captains prefer to see. It is crucial to make a great first impression to ensure that your yacht resume is given proper consideration.

In this article, I break down the essential do’s and don’ts of a Yacht CV.

Scroll down to the end of this article to find a basic Yacht CV Template to help get you started. And yes, it’s free!

You can use this template and edit it accordingly to create your own Yacht Captain CV, Deckhand CV, Yacht Stew CV, as well as an Engineer or Chef Resume. All that’s left is for you to email it to recruiters or hand out physical copies when dock walking.

Table of Contents

What is a CV in Yachting?

There are a few distinct differences between a regular CV and a CV in yachting.

• The main one is that you need to include a photo of yourself! If you do not include a photo, it is likely your yacht CV will be tossed in the bin
• Unlike other CV’s, you also need to include your date of birth
• You will be highlighting your skills and attributes specific to the job you are applying for. It is a great idea to make these edits to highlight what you have to offer
• As you travel to seek work, you will need to edit your location and availability

Layout of a Yacht CV

When a Captain has 20 to 50 yachting resumes on his desk, there is a general easy-to-read layout that they prefer to see.

• It is very important to keep your CV to 2 pages
• Use a simple, easy-to-read font
• If you want to be creative with your colors, go for it. Just make sure the Captain can easily read the font
• Keep your layout clear and simple, making sure to include all of the required information listed in this article
• There are numerous Yacht CV examples online for you to decide your preference. A great tool to use is Canva .

Your Photo for a Yachting CV

You may not be a Yachtie yet, but you need to act the part and look like one. Follow these guidelines for the perfect photo:

• SMILE! You want to look like someone the crew would enjoy having onboard
• Dress in something smart/appropriate, and sell yourself as the professional yacht crew member you want to be seen as. Ideally, a polo so you look like a Yachtie
• Take the photo from about the mid-waistline up
• Stand by a natural background of either a marina, the ocean, or some greenery
• Do not take a selfie! Have someone take this photo for you

Profile/Objective

This is a short paragraph highlighting the position you are looking for and any attributes and skills that make you a good fit for the job. Be very specific about what you write here, and be sure to include attributes that are beneficial to the job you are applying for!

This is the moment the Captain will decide if they continue to read the rest of your Yacht CV or not.

Personal Information to Add to your Yachting CV

Most yachts have very specific requirements when hiring crew, so do not leave out any of the below points:

• Nationality
• Visa’s held
• Tattoo (visible or not)
• Health Status & Smoker (Y/N)
• Languages spoken
• Drivers License
• Email & phone number
• Availability and current location

Yachting Experience

Here, you need to list all of the Yacht Jobs you have held. Be sure to include:

• The name and size of the Yacht
• The dates you were onboard
• The position you held
• Your basic roles, responsibilities, and duties while onboard
• If you have the space, you can include the locations where the vessel cruised

Some of you may not have any maritime experience, and that is ok. If you have done any day work, be sure to include that here and highlight your duties and the dates you were onboard.

Other Non-Yachting Experience

Here, you want to include any experience prior to yachting, even if it is not yachting-related.

Captains like to see any jobs/positions you have held in the past, as skills are always transferable. This gives some insight into what you have been doing leading up to the point of finding a job in yachting.

Qualifications to Include on your Yacht CV

List all qualifications you have relevant to yachting in your Yacht resume.

Remember that yachts like to see add-on skills, so things such as Scuba Diving Instructor, Yoga Instructor, Masseuse, and any other certifications you hold should be included.

Here, you just want to include your highest level of education and when you graduated.

Other Interests/About me/Hobbies

This section of your Yacht CV is your chance to list out a few additional standout qualities, attributes, or hobbies. This gives a bit of insight into who you are as a person and what you enjoy doing in your spare time.

This is very important, as anyone can write anything on a piece of paper, but a reference speaks volumes.

Even if the position you held was not maritime-related, a reference is also a good indication of your character and work ethic in any position you have held in the past.

You really want to get written references wherever possible.

How to Make sure your CV doesn’t get Trashed

• Take the time to write up a good Yacht CV. I can’t tell you how often I haven’t read further than the first line because of a sloppy, disorganized Yacht resume.
• SPELL CHECK! In an industry where you have to be meticulous in everything that you do, spelling and grammatical issues in your Yacht CV are not a good start.
• When you save and email your Yacht CV, be sure to have it saved in a Word and PDF format.
• When you are responding to a job posting, write a short and clear email to the person who put up the post and highlight why you are a good fit for the position and why you want to become a yachtie .

How to Introduce Yourself in an Email

Dear Captain/To Whom it may concern

Please find attached my resume and references in my application for the position of “Deckhand on a 50m Superyacht”. Although I am new to the industry, I believe I would be an asset to your team as I am motivated and driven to succeed in the yachting industry. I am also an avid wakeboarder and love being on the ocean, so I believe I will adapt well and learn quickly. I am not afraid of hard work, and I look forward to having the opportunity to speak with you further.

Thank you for taking the time to view my application.

Kind regards

Downloadable Yacht CV Template

Use this Yacht CV link to download a basic yachting resume, fill in your personal information, and get ready to land your dream job!

Now that you have crafted the perfect Yacht CV, it is time to land your dream job. For those of you wanting to know how to become a yacht deckhand , read here for more information.

For those of you looking to find out how to become a yacht stewardess, read this insider’s guide!

Hi, my name is Lisa, a Chief Stewardess in the yachting industry with 10 years of experience, as well as 8 years of hospitality experience prior to that. Being in the yachting industry has been a whirlwind of adventure, growth, challenges and some of the best experiences of my life, and I am excited to share my knowledge and experiences with all of you.

Ultimate Guide to Dock Walking: 10 Tips on How to Dock Walk

Yacht crew salaries: complete guide to what yacht crew earn, leave a comment cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• 0,00€ 0 items

Showing 1–16 of 29 results

CV Template : Neil Antibes

2 page Cv Template: Matt Bahamas

CV Template : Lily WestPalmBeach

2 page CV Template: Isabelle Portland

CV Template : Tia FortLauderdale

CV Template : Mark PalmaDeMallorca

CV template : Chad Montenegro

2 Page Template: Ryan Savannah

CV Template : Kate Atlantis

CV Template : Nick Newport

CV Template : Sara LaCiotat

CV Template : Jake Dubai

The Ultimate Dockwalker’s CV and business card package

2 page Cv Template: Madison Providence

2 page CV Template: Alice Venice

2 page Cv template: Sophie Bonifacio