Crew Life

PYA Advice for Crew on Russian-Linked Vessels

Posted: 7th Mar 2022

Written by: Captain Rod Hatch

There are concerns among some of our PYA members regarding their legal and financial status if they are working on yachts which are Russian flagged or are owned by Russian individuals or Russian entities. Read More

Shirley Janssen Powering Luxury Hospitality

Posted: 3rd Feb 2022

Written by: Naomi Chadderton

With extensive experience organising corporate events and delivering custom incentive journeys for global companies, Shirley Janssen was surely destined to join forces with Luxury Hospitality. Read More

Diving Instructor Mellisa Altenburger on her Mission to Clean up the Oceans

Posted: 24th Jan 2022

Written by: Naomi Chadderton

While you might think Mellisa Altenburger’s love of the sea would have started from a young age, her fear of great whites meant that until she got her PADI Open Water Certification in 2014, she couldn’t even put her head underneath without having a panic attack. Read More

Ethical Yacht Wear Founder Lauren Wardley on the Importance of Giving Back

Posted: 12th Jan 2022

Written by: Naomi Chadderton

Passionate about ocean conservation and sustainability, Lauren launched Ethical Yacht Wear back in 2019, supplying unique crew uniforms that are 100% sustainable, all while giving back and removing plastic out of our oceans at the same time. Read More

Top Tips for Yacht Stewards and Stewardesses with Isobel Odendaal

Posted: 5th Jan 2022

Written by: Naomi Chadderton

In the second part of our interview with Isobel Odendaal, the owner and director of Super Yachting South Africa talks us through her top tips for both green and established stews and stewardesses. Read More

Isobel Odendaal of Super Yachting South Africa on 25 Years in the Industry

Posted: 29th Dec 2021

Written by: Naomi Chadderton

Isobel Odendaal is celebrating 25 years in the superyacht industry this year, and on speaking to the owner and director of Super Yachting South Africa, it’s clear that she has relished each and every one of them. Read More

ISWAN: A Lifeline for Crew over the Holidays

Posted: 17th Dec 2021

Written by: OnboardOnline

Any crew members struggling or feeling lonely this holiday period can access support day or night, from anywhere in the world, through the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network’s (ISWAN) free, confidential helpline service. Read More

Luxury Hospitality: A Year in Review

Posted: 15th Dec 2021

Written by: Karen Hockney

After a difficult year in which many businesses have had to adapt rapidly to stay afloat, Luxury Hospitality Management has adapted its crew training to accommodate the new normal and continues to go from strength to strength. Read More

Speaking with LH's Ceri McVittie, Head of Client Services

Posted: 9th Dec 2021

Written by: Sam Watson

Armed with tertiary qualifications in psychology and qualified in the use of psychometrics, Luxury Hospitality’s new head of client services, Ceri McVittie is an expert in understanding how people think, feel and behave. Read More

Superyacht Sector on Verge of Mental Health Crisis

Posted: 9th Dec 2021

Written by: Charlotte Flake

The superyacht sector is steering towards a mental health crisis with one-in-five crew members suffering from stress, anxiety or loneliness while on board, and one in three having faced similar problems in the past, according to a new report. Read More

How Chief Officer Wesley Walton is Championing Sustainable Yachting

Posted: 3rd Dec 2021

Written by: Naomi Chadderton

Growing up in Johannesburg, Wesley Walton joined the superyacht industry seven years ago and is now a chief officer working on rotation on the 58m Illusion V. Here he tells us about his role as a SEA ambassador with Seastainable Yachting and what he hopes to achieve. Read More

Haute Healing on the Côte d’Azur with Azur Wellness

Posted: 26th Nov 2021

Written by: Karen Hockney

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. Read More

Captain Maria Grazia Franco on Gender Equality in Yachting

Posted: 22nd Nov 2021

Written by: Naomi Chadderton

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.” Read More

Why Superyacht Stewardess Gemma Harris Founded Seastainable Yachting

Posted: 18th Nov 2021

Written by: Naomi Chadderton

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 Read More

A Guide to Russian Yacht Charter Guests

Posted: 12th Nov 2021

Written by: Isobel Odendaal

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. Read More

Top 10 Interview Questions for Yacht Crew

Posted: 20th Oct 2021

Written by: Jessica Mountford

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. Read More

Powering the Rise of Strong Leaders

Posted: 18th Oct 2021

Written by: Karen Hockney

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. Read More

Battling Mental Health On Board with Seas The Mind

Posted: 4th Oct 2021

Written by: Naomi Chadderton

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. Read More

Ella Te Aho on the Thrills and Spills of Being a Female Bosun

Posted: 10th Sep 2021

Written by: Naomi Chadderton

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. Read More

How Sport Prepared Bosun Stuart Richmond for a Career on Superyachts

Posted: 26th Aug 2021

Written by: Richard Hagan

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. Read More

Keeping Your Crew Motivated During the Season

Posted: 16th Aug 2021

Written by: Karen Hockney

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. Read More

Deck/Stewardess Amelia Hudson on Starting out in the Yachting Industry

Posted: 16th Aug 2021

Written by: Naomi Chadderton

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. Read More

When is the Best Time to Train Your Crew?

Posted: 14th Aug 2021

Written by: Karen Hockney

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. Read More

What is Most Important to Crew Candidates Now?

Posted: 26th Jul 2021

Written by: Luke Randall

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. Read More

Yachts, Planes and Automobiles with Captain Nicholas Doyle

Posted: 13th Jul 2021

Written by: Richard Hagan

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. Read More

The Devil is in the Detail: Hartnack & Co.

Posted: 8th Jul 2021

Written by: Gemma Fottles

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. Read More

Talking Flowers On Board with Superyacht Stewardess Sarah McNally

Posted: 10th Jun 2021

Written by: Sam Watson

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. Read More

Getting Personal: Inside LH's New Dynamics Questionnaire

Posted: 4th Jun 2021

Written by: Karen Hockney

Discovering your talents and being able to optimise them to create more motivation, stronger bonds and greater communication skills sounds like an obvious recipe for success in the workplace. Read More

Business Lessons from Trans-Ocean Crossings

Posted: 1st Jun 2021

Written by: Lance Mortlock & Tristan Mortlock

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. Read More

Inside the Engine Room with Marine Engineer Mustafa Kara

Posted: 17th May 2021

Written by: Sam Watson

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. Read More

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