Crew Life

Abuse and Harassment among Key Challenges to Seafarers’ Mental Health

Posted: 10th Oct 2022

Written by: ISWAN

As the world tries to recover from the effects of the recent pandemic, other key challenges to seafarers’ mental health are coming to light, particularly abuse, bullying, harassment and discrimination. Read More

World Mental Health Day 2022: Making Crew Mental Health a Priority

Posted: 30th Sep 2022

Written by: Emma Kate Ross

This year, the WHO made the World Mental Health Day theme: “Make Mental Health and Wellbeing for all a Global Priority.” I think this especially important for the global citizens I know and love: yacht crew. Read More

Regina Petra Meyer: From Sailing Novice to Superyacht Crew

Posted: 1st Sep 2022

Written by: Regina Petra Meyer

There is no doubt that travel was my drug, at times a distraction, and my personal money pit. When others pursued higher education, took up lucrative careers and later began rearing offspring, I was either boarding or disembarking a plane. Read More

Captain Jonathan Copsey on Rising up the Superyacht Ranks

Posted: 6th Jul 2022

Written by: Naomi Chadderton

Captain Jonathan Copsey talks us through his passion for sailing, his transition to captain, and what characteristics he thinks are required to make it all the way to the top. Read More

A Complete Guide to Looking After Pets on Board: Part 2

Posted: 27th May 2022

Written by: Isobel Odendaal

Following on from part one of this article, Isobel Odendaal discusses tips and tricks for keeping pets happy and safe on board, including how to keep the yacht clean and poisonous plants to look out for. Read More

Taking Home Gold at MYBA with Chef Anders Pedersen

Posted: 27th May 2022

Written by: Naomi Chadderton

Highlighting the exceptional culinary talent that owners and guests can enjoy on board, there’s no higher accolade than taking the stop spot at the MYBA Chef's Competition, and in this year’s 48m and over category that award went to Chef Anders Pederson. Read More

A Complete Guide to Looking After Pets on Board: Part 1

Posted: 25th May 2022

Written by: Isobel Odendaal

For hundreds of years, anything from parrots to cats to dogs to monkeys (and everything in between) have loyally travelled with their owners at sea, relieving their loneliness, protecting them and keeping them company. Read More

Mental Health Awareness Week 2022: Exploring Loneliness Among Crew

Posted: 5th May 2022

Written by: Naomi Chadderton

You could say that the world that we live in is more connected than ever. We may be thousands of miles away from our friends and family yet we can communicate with them instantly via social media. Why then is loneliness so prevalent? Read More

Impact Crew Survey: The Realities of Crew Turnover

Posted: 29th Mar 2022

Written by: Karen Passman

We know that the rate of crew turnover is higher than most owners, managers and crew themselves would like. With it comes disruption, inefficiencies and the need to re-train; not to mention the cost. Read More

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

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

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