In part 2 of our overview of ecological cleaning techniques, Isobel Odendaal sings the praises of vinegar and has tips for cutting chemicals and waste in the laundry. In addition to reducing harm to marine life and decreasing wate...
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Eco-friendly products are improving all the time, along with a growing readiness to consider alternatives to the plastics that pollute our oceans. Ex-Stewardess and interior trainer, Isobel Odendaal, shares her tips on using natur...
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Marble and stone care experts Isobel Odendaal and Dawn Riordan leave no stone unturned in this comprehensive guide to looking after the expensive and beautiful materials in your yacht's interior, from bar tops and shower floors to...
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The decision to adopt a new technology onboard is a significant decision. With any new product, component or software comes an inherent learning curve and with that, stumbles along the way. Engineering departments can be effective...
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During the summer in Antibes, a selection of junior and senior interior crew congregated at the Royal Hotel to participate in a day of training workshops offered by GUEST, the yachting industry standard for interior training. From...
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Not all water is the same and not for the reasons you might expect. The tap water I use to fill my fish tank is positively charged, which is why algae and water borne diseases can thrive. But the water inside the cells of my fish...
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Ever wondered what it would be like to cross the Atlantic on a superyacht? And what about crossing the Atlantic on a yacht that’s on an even bigger ship? Floating yacht transport ships carrying superyachts around the world has bec...
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When it comes to interior operations, there has never been a more powerful or simple-to-use piece of software that encompasses everything from SOPs, familiarizations and training to crew certificates and hours of rest. The Total S...
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Most of you will have heard about – or remember – the heady days of 1970’s boil-in-the-bag cooking, allowing us to conjure up tasteless pieces of cod in a watery white sauce in under five minutes. Today it's back in vogue under a ...
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NeKo certainly knows how to make an impression, and anyone who attended the 2014 MYBA Charter Show in Genoa will remember their spectacular stand and lively after show drinks along Porto Antico’s Molo Vecchia. Three years on, NeKo...
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We’ve had an interesting few months at Tante Marie Culinary Academy since starting delivery of the Assessment in Marine Cookery - a key requirement for the Ship’s Cook Certificate of Competency. At the same time there seems to hav...
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When it comes to high end hospitality, etiquette and manners are timeless fundamentals. But fashions change, and owners are also getting younger, perhaps with different expectations. Does this pose a challenge for interior trainer...
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Since as long as people have used the water for transportation there has been the need to rid vessels of all the waste that human bodies emit on a daily basis. In the early days a simple wooden platform over the side of the ship s...
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Scuba diving is one of the most rewarding activities you can do during a luxury yacht charter but it also presents unique dangers, and divers rely heavily on their training and equipment to keep them safe. Whether a novice or a se...
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As Christmas is fast approaching, this is one of the busiest times of the year for many yachts so we've put together some of our most popular Christmas ideas and suggestions from our Facebook group, Yacht Stewardess Tips.
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As regulations in the yachting industry increase, no department is immune. Under MLC 2006, as of 7 August 2014, it is a requirement for all chefs/ cooks onboard charter yachts with 10 or more crew to have an MCA Ships Cook Certifi...
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Yachts engineers, the technical knowledge and qualifications required, have come a long way since the turn of the century. Back in the day, with little or no regulations, the term engineer was used loosely in the yachting communit...
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Over the years we’ve seen a shift from selling superyachts to selling the ultimate experience which, by definition, puts the spotlight on luxury hospitality. However, according to Peter Vogel of Luxury Hospitality Management, the ...
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If you're a steward/ess choosing a selection of fine wines for your yacht it helps to understand the peculiar wine tasting terms on the label. Many are apt descriptions, but it's not always easy to imagine the taste of a wine on y...
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Since the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore certificate of competency (CoC) is a command certificate for small craft, the RYA insists that at least half the qualifying 2,500 nautical miles have been acquired on a small vessel under 24m and...
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The Big Green Egg stands alone as the single most versatile barbecue or outdoor cooker on the market, with more capabilities than all other conventional cookers combined. From appetizers to main courses and desserts, the Big Green...
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The annual refit or yard period of a yacht is a time that many yacht captains and engineers dread. With endless lists of requirements for cost approval and ever more mandatory requirements for commercial registrations, is it more ...
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Many years ago a female guest walked on board and announced that she was going to be seasick the entire trip and that her children were forcing her to come along on this charter. I had the unfortunate experience an hour or so lat...
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Caroline Rossy is one of those people who reminds you that everything in life is a choice, up to a point. An ex-stew, she knows a thing or two about the challenges of moving ashore and, recognizing a common problem, she put her ex...
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For several years the yachting industry has suffered a shortage of qualified engineers. Another problem has been the lack of transferability of engineering qualifications across different sectors of the marine industry. Marine Inf...
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When I first went to sea (don't ask when), we used things like Loran C and sextants, women were on the odd ship here and there, but the British fleet didn't start to accept them for many years to come. Being transgender, I have se...
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There seems to be some evidence that initial 2016 pay rates offered in commercial yachting are somewhat below the standard rates for the wider shipping industry. I would argue that the reasons behind this may potentially harm the ...
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Retired mariner, Horatio Hardy, is on a mission to find his itinerant nieces whose parents have been kidnapped off north-east Africa. The story continues as H is employed as Mate of M/Y Caviare, under the command of Captain ‘Skip...
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Q: Katie, Stewardess, 24: “I saved up for so long to come to Antibes and get a stewardess position, but now I have one I’m not enjoying it at all! It feels bad even admitting it - but I can’t bear the lack of freedom onboard and I...
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The Professional Yachting Association (PYA) recently signed a reciprocal agreement with WORLDCHEFS whereby each will recognise the other as an Associate Member of their respective organisations. PYA and WORLDCHEFS have agreed a re...
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