Crew Life
Growing up in Johannesburg and a long way away from the ocean, it might be surprising to some that Wesley Walton would pursue a career on board superyachts. However since joining the industry seven years ago, the now chief officer hasn’t looked back.
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While it’s fair to say that the Côte d’Azur is not known for its wellness retreats, that is starting to change with the advent of Azur Wellness, which was set up by Toronto-born former superyacht chef Christine Paul at the beginning of 2021.
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Captain Maria Grazia ‘MG’ Franco is a stellar example of how hard work, talent, experience and perseverance can get you to the top. “I’ve had moments during my career where being a woman has been a disadvantage,” she says. “I would not use any of them as an excuse not to succeed.”
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Chief stewardess Gemma Harris has spent seven years working on board both sailing and motor yachts, and during this time she has seen firsthand the impact of the superyacht industry on the marine environment which prompted her to do something about it
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We have so many amazing discussions in our Facebook group, Yacht Stewardess and Steward Tips, on any given day. A frequent discussion is how to ensure that Russian guests have the best and most memorable trip possible.
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When it comes to hiring superyacht crew, it is important to find candidates who will not only perform their job to a high standard but who will also fit well with the rest of the crew, whilst living and working together in close quarters.
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The ability to encourage and aid strong leadership in crew regardless of their starting position on the yacht is vital to improving crew communication, cohesiveness, team efficiency and ultimately, the guest experience on board.
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As a crew member for more than 15 years, Emma Ross has been through her fair share of ups and downs. Long periods of time spent away from family, minimal privacy, breakdowns, drug addiction, deaths and suicide, Emma has seen it all. That’s where Seas the Mind comes in.
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A chance meeting with friends in a bar when she left school at 18 paved the way for Ella Te Aho’s career in yachting, and ever since she left Australia for Antibes for her first season temping and day working, she hasn’t looked back.
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If we were to throw a bunch of personality traits and interests into a big ol’ magician’s top hat and draw a few out at random, chances are we couldn’t build a profile as diverse as that of superyacht bosun Stuart Richmond.
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As we approach the end of the European charter season, keeping crew motivated, interested and on their best game is of vital importance, it’s this time of year when crew can feel stretched or fatigued.
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Travelling during her school holidays, weekends on the family boat and precious time spent wakeboarding with her brother are just three of the childhood experiences that planted the seed that Amelia Hudson’s dream future career may just lie in yachting.
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With the high season now upon us, yacht crews are at their peak in their efforts to provide the ultimate guest experience and the vital role of training is in full evidence.
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Had we had been asked this question a few years back, the answer would have been quite straight forward – the number one priority for most candidates when job searching on yachts or ashore would have often been salary.
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Captain Nicholas Doyle is a man of many talents. When he’s not behind the wheel of a luxury superyacht, he’s rebuilding classic sports cars or flying aeroplanes and helicopters. Here Nick gives an insight into the journey so far and shares his views on some hot industry topics.
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It’s no secret that quality and bespoke design are integral to the superyacht industry, and one company that prides itself on every detail of its trade is Hartnack & Co., a family-run business specialising in hand-crafted guest books, menus, portfolios and presentation boxes.
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After working in hospitality, Sarah McNally's leap into the role of stewardess was a natural fit. But it's also allowed her to find her creative side and she's now an accomplished florist. Here, she discusses the latest trends in superyacht flowers and her long term ambitions.
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Trans-ocean crossings are serious business. They can be carefully prepared and a great experience, but they can also be an encounter that hits you broadside with no prior warning, leaving you scrambling for what to do next.
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Marine Engineer Mustafa Kara describes himself as a citizen of the world with a voracious appetite for life and learning. Over Zoom we discuss his early years in Bodrum, how the commercial sector compares to yachting, and pays tribute to those who helped him along the way.
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Gender imbalance has long been a hot potato in yachting but it’s still surprising to discover that only 2% of superyacht captains are women. We spoke to three who have made it to the top to find out what it takes and what needs to change.Read More
In any normal year, new crew would head to South of France or Palma in order to pick up day work and meet captains face-to-face. However in the time of Covid, what’s been going on and what’s in store for the future of dockwalking?
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Teambuilding is a major consideration at any time of the year but particularly just ahead of the start of the yachting season when the onus is on getting every aspect of crew relations in harmony.
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Working rotation on a 100m+ charter yacht, Josh Nicholson is an experienced bosun with his feet firmly on the ground. Currently based in Palma, we discussed the impact of the pandemic, the mood on the dock and the secret to a successful career in yachting.
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While flowers play such huge part when it comes to creating the ambiance of a superyacht, with so much information to navigate, arranging the perfect display can be a challenge. Here we’ll discuss some expert ways to arrange and care for flowers and more.
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While colour and variety are of course important factors to take into consideration when perfecting the ideal flower arrangement on board, it’s also essential to consider how long your flowers will last.
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Whoever has responsibility for a yacht’s AV/IT systems has two tasks. The first is to maintain the functioning of all units associated with entertainment and with communications/connectivity. The second is to detect and prevent malicious interference with such functioning. Read More
Northrop & Johnson France’s senior charter broker Fiona Maureso is a well-known figure in the yachting industry so we asked her to share her insight on the guest experience and her view on the value of GUEST training for interior crew.
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Nearly five years ago, the IMO issued guidelines to all its member states aimed at introducing electronic certificates to the maritime industry. The aim was to reduce the administrative burdens caused by reliance on traditional paper certificates.
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As finance manager on board a cruise ship, superyachts first caught the eye of Samantha Morris when she was moored alongside in St Martin. Now a purser on a 130m+ vessel she's paying it forward to younger crew coming up the ranks.
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Poor crew retention and how to solve it has been a serious talking point for a while, not least here at OnboardOnline as we look at potential pathways to remedying this enduring and costly issue.
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