Personnel Agencies Speak-Out

How did you get into the Yachting Industry?

Everyone working within the yachting industry has been asked "How did you get into the business?", at least ten times. I know this to be somewhat accurate not only because I've been asked too many times to count, but also because I too ask this question of nearly every "yachtie" I meet. The answer varies from one having grown up a third generation Merchant Mariner (like Captain Eddie Seesholts, Crew Unlimited's former owner), to one having been approached by a yacht owner at a restaurant to help deliver his 42' sailboat from Key West to Miami after his family had their fair share of the sea. We all have a story about our first paid excursion, but for those that choose to stay in the industry, registering with an agency is not only your best option, but nearly inevitable.

For the novice, you should know that there are employment agencies that specialize in linking captains and crew with paying positions on motor yachts and sailboats all over the world.

Most agencies (and positions) are in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Antibes, France, though there are some in the Caribbean, on the U.S. West Coast, in Australia, and ours in Newport, Rhode Island, home of the America's Cup Races for over 100 years. The agencies generally require that you submit a resume detailing your work history and references, an application and photograph for your file, and copies of all licenses or certifications that you've attained. Should you have no formal yachting experience at all, we have better success placing individuals who have good mechanical aptitude or experience in the service industry, and a strong work ethic. Remember, this is not your vacation, but a real job.

For those that have already begun to make their living on the water, you probably already know what it takes to get a good job (and owner). However, you may wonder what it takes to get a higher position.

What our owners look for most is experience, education, competence, and loyalty. You should strive to learn more about your vessels, read your manuals, upgrade your license, learn to use computers for accounting, keep schedules, and use time and crew management. Get on the "Internet" and learn how to motivate your crew, how to negotiate pay raises and time off, and how to meet the needs of the owner and to assure that your needs are also being met. Furthermore, learn how to communicate more effictively; and study the areas you're crusing to, the new charter laws and current events all over the world. Invest your time in yourself. It is your career, your health, and your retirement. The good news is most of these can be done while on board. As most of you have noticed, many of the larger yachts in operation today are being registered off shore as opposed to the United States. This is so that owners may avoid some of the expense of luxury taxes, workman's compensation insurance, federal and state withholding taxes and unemployment taxes. These yachts may also hire crew of any nationality that they choose. In fact, many American-owned yachts are currently being manned completely by non-U.S. citizens. Surely a lot of foregin nationals are working for wages below what we would consider reasonable, but not so much as to lower the standards in the professional yachting industry. However, the job market is becoming progressively more competitive for the Captain and Mate positions aboard the larger yachts, not to mention all the other positions aboard. In contrast, United States registered yachts are not allowed to hire non-U.S. citizens unless they have work visas. The rest of the industry resents this, as do some of the other nationalities such as the British, Australian, New Zealander, and South African crew that have a great reputation in the industry for being hard working and loyal, while the American crew continue to have the reputation for jumping from job to job looking for the most money or the biggest boat. This is a major problem for us as the industry grows, because our licenses are becoming less significant and our reputations are at stake. Our crew have to be more professional if we intend to stay in the game, as 85% of the world's largest yachts are run by non-American Captains and crew.

Another major issue is the high turnover rate of Chefs and stewardesses. Generally they stay in the industry an average of 6 months to 2 years before calling it quits due to any number of reasons. Sexual harrassment and discrimination, extreme work hours, and captains that believe women don't belong on yachts are the major causes of such turnover. Aside from financial difficulties, high crew turnover is the number one reason for owners to sell their yachts and get out of boating all together! The interior crew work just as many hours as the exterior crew and deal with the owners at least twice as much.

Crew Unlimited

This page maintained by marinerbill@earthlink.net, last modified on 16 August '99.