Crew
Adam Laithwaite had always sailed. And when his career as head of “arty farty marketing bollocks” ended prematurely, he had to decide what to do next.“ Thanks to my friend and a few pints of quietly disturbing local village cider ...
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Nowadays, before guests sip their first cocktail, the first and most common question seems to be: ‘Do you have internet?’ Internet has become a lifeline for some, and rather than surfing the waves, many spend hours surfing the Net...
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This year marks the 120th anniversary of the ingenious inception of Dr. Rudolf Diesel’s eponymous creation, and few inventions of similar vintage can claim credit for markedly improving the quality of life of the globe’s populatio...
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The act, or ‘art,’ of filling a space which is half the required size with twice the required amount of supplies, with the added psychic ability of the provisioner to ascertain with no prior knowledge whatsoever which particular s...
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Finally, after a longer than expected international ratification process, on 23rd August the Philippines became the 30th country to ratify Maritime Labour Convention 2006, setting in motion the 12 month run-up to its full implemen...
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Bringing together industry professionals at the 2012 Global Superyacht Forum generated intelligent debate surrounding the training of today’s superyacht crew. Off the back of a day of candid discussion in Amsterdam surrounding the...
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As the master of S/Y Douce France, Pascal Goger has seen more than his share of the world’s most remote places. The 52-year-old captain has been with the 42m (138 ft) ketch sailing catamaran almost since it was built in 1998. To t...
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Grant Atchison – Director at Moore Stephens IOM, considers the impact of MLC 2006 from an owner's perspective. Are owners being made adequately aware of these changes, and how will they effect crew employment?
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Recent years have seen a surge in Russian-speaking superyacht owners and charterers, bringing with it a range of new demands for captains and crew. One is communicating with them, as on the whole Russians tend to speak little Eng...
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The water was sparkling like a thousand diamonds in the early morning sun rising over the quiet anchorage. The guests were arriving up on deck, enjoying their first coffee while starting another day in paradise. The deck crew ju...
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Lots of crew magazines offer helpful hints and advice on how to prepare and behave in a job interview, but not much consideration has been given on the other side of the table: how do you interview a potential crewmember?
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Anyone working as an engineer in the marine industry, whether it be on yachts, commercial vessels, or anything in between, knows that organization, orders and tracking, spare parts and inventory are integral to a successful engine...
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What drives you can be the route to success, and there are many ways to gauge that success. Sure, money is one of them. So is position, size, program, type of yacht. But for the yacht crew I’ve known to be the happiest, the greate...
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Better known among her peers as "German Anni", this 15-year veteran of the superyacht industry got into it by accident. It started when Anni Riedel moved from Germany to the Caribbean, where she worked on land for a while. But the...
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Wine is becoming an increasingly important part of many superyacht trips, whether they are for charter or owner. An understanding of wine is often de-rigueur for many crew nowadays as a result of wine-knowledgeable guests, and the...
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The 25-year-old South Africa native left his hometown of Cape Town, South Africa, in May of 2011 and moved to Antibes. After a lot of dockwalking, he eventually landed his current position: second engineer on M/Y Shooting Star. He...
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Although perhaps not as exciting as a new delivery or christening, there are few events more satisfying to owners, captains, and crews than an uneventful return to their vessel’s home port; as the boat approaches its mooring, the ...
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Every year we see a massive influx of green crew looking to make their mark in the industry and yachting forums seem to have the same topic posted weekly: “I am looking for my first position on board, where should I go, what shou...
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The Chinese certainly had a knack for telling it like it is. And while we certainly don’t know exactly what the future holds, we do know that we are all living longer and as a result can look forward to many more years in retireme...
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Tender-handling on board a luxury yacht is one of the most dangerous activities owner and crew alike will undertake while yachting. Conditions are always dynamic, teak decks are wet, and a vessel's trim and list will change during...
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So, I have been in the industry long enough to have witnessed some interesting situations. Working for the ultra rich is always sure to prompt some interesting stories, and we all have them. I often get a call from a friend, crew...
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In today´s yachting industry time is of the essence. Busy programmes and tight yard periods keep the pressure on the team. As yachts increase in size and complexity so must the crew. Sometimes a captain simply doesn’t have the t...
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Changeovers: we’ve all done them at least once, and usually several times, as we progress in this industry. One of my greatest pleasures is witnessing and experiencing the profound pleasures of good crew work and a sound dynamic. ...
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How tips are split between a crew can make for a happy bunch of sailors or a divided pack of whispering gremlins. As per most things on a boat, this generally stems from el capitano’s orders. Tips either: go in the hat, are scaled...
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When, as a chef, I was asked to write an article on the finer points of the chef/crew relationship on board yachts, the initial rush of excitement I felt – and I mean the sadistic, puppy-kicking* kind of excitement a person may fe...
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Champagne – Known for centuries as the Wine of Kings and the King of Wines, any fine meal should start with a glass of Champagne as its apéritif. It is a perfect ice-breaker, delicious palate-whetter and will make a celebration ou...
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I'm frequently approached by Chief Stewardesses that wish to make the transition to Purser and need some tips to help them succeed in their first Purser position.
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