Advice please from anyone working on super yachts or similar?

Its a funny industry.
I tend to agree with Dylan, my idea of hell. each to their own.
I spent some time in Sail training some years ago and was approached a few times with tempting offers to jump ship. I never did.
But it struck me reputation and recommendation appears to be very important. once you have this established jobs find you.
Finding the first job to get the good reputation is the hard part.

Sound like your Daughter has already got the first job.
Is she wanting a change from inside to on deck?

Although I've never entered the professional yacht industry.
I cross paths from time to time with those on the way in and out.

I have a few connections for N America. not much knowledge about the British or European scene.
From what I can gather its very much a personal contact and reputation.
Crewing agencies, there's lots.
The one where I have a connection does not charge crew. They make their cut from the vessels requiring crew and have relation ship with local training centers.

For the bigger boats. internationally recognised certification is very important, STCW 95.
The big thing is in addition to the Skipper or Watch keeper. STCW 95 Qualified Bridge Look outs are required. to meet minimum safe manning regs. there are a no of different qualifications which will meet this requirement and vary depending upon Flag.
In addition the marine Emergency Duties titles are probably different depending upon where issued.
Basic safety,
Survival craft.
Fire Fighting.

Plus a Valid Sea Farers Medical.

The tough one sea time. Most require the Bridge lookout to have a minimum of about 60 days qualifying time.
There is a provision for trainee bridge lookouts.
Who have the course but not the time.

Over here entry level positions often are trainee and quite often are combined steward deck hand opportunities.

It is worth while enquiring if her duties on previous boat could qualify as sea time and getting a testimonial From the skipper.
If they were entirely indoors they won't.
if she did any line handling, steering or look out it might be acceptable.

Having a bit of experience, The required pieces of paper. A recommendation. will make her a much more desirable employee than the average dreamer.
The RYA system is entirely different I don't know much about it.
 
Google with bring up many crew agencies. Most, but not all, of the yachts insist that the crew have no tattoos or body art.

The rule that I see is no visible tattoos when wearing crew uniform. So some kind of sleeve tattoo is a no, but if you've inked your favourite haircut from 1D on to your bum you should be ok.

From experience, register online with the big agencies just before you travel to (for example) Antibes, then get interviewed, then dockwalk and do the daily agency milk round. If you're any good you'll get placed quickly enough, especially if all your tickets and medical are up to date and you've got prior experience.

The relevance of day skipper will be down to what her ambitions are. It's more common to see people with yachtmaster these days, as mentioned by another poster.
 
If funds allow, it might be worthwhile having a punt on a plane ticket to Antigua fairly soon, and signing up with the crewing agencies there.
Vast amounts of aspiring professional crew arrive in the Caribbean at the beginning of the season after crewing on deliveries across the Atlantic and then they get thrown off once the vessel reaches Antigua or St Maarten.

But I have been told that by the middle of January many of those who have not found a position on a yacht have given up or run out of funds and returned home, yet there still seems to be a high turn around of crews, hence there could be an opportunity there now.
Although it does depend (as always) on a bit of luck, and being in the right place (watering hole) at the right time (there are many happy hours).

It also helps if Samantha's daughter fits the image of the stereotypically attractive yacht crew.......
I tried to get into this game 20 years ago, and was told that I was 'too old' (huh? at 31?) to be a deckhand, despite having all the necessary bits of paper then including YM Offshore with a commercial endorsement. But I think the age reason was a polite way of telling me that I didn't fit their stereotype requirement.
 
If funds allow, it might be worthwhile having a punt on a plane ticket to Antigua fairly soon, and signing up with the crewing agencies there.
.


or in April. I was there in 2011; everyone I know who wanted work got it. Most yachts leaving at the end of the season needed crew. Once on the good impression/recommendation/reputation seemed to work for most of them. They ranged from highly experienced to some experience



http://www.amazon.co.uk/Year-Sea-Sailing-Around-Atlantic/dp/1492921904
 
All crew, from entry level positions like deckhand, steward and stewardess and chef and crew chef should have STCW'95 BST and they should also have the ENG1 Medical certificate. Sailing qualifications are not needed unless you are first mate or skipper of a mega sailing yacht. Mega motor boats obviously need power qualifications for those jobs mentioned. One site to look at: http://www.flyingfishonline.com/news/3265.asp?gclid=CIqr7qb6_bsCFQXLtAodQkkAIg
 
I agree with your warning about the super rich.....I call them the new rich. I have friends that have crewed for the super rich and it is demanding at times. I haven't crewed in many years, age has caught up with me, but worked for the old rich and was treated with respect and dignity. Was called by my first name and the crew of one vessel was even invited to the daughters sixteenth birthday party. I remember once when the owner needed to pass through the crews quarters and galley.....he called down to recieve permission from the crew to pass.
 
She has exactly the right quals for interior, except that she could get an edge by doing the PYA's new GUEST qualification.

Even for an interior person, the PB2 is nice because it means she can drive the tender occasionally. (And when she's working hard for 30 days without a break, she'll love the 30mins escape of taking the trash ashore in the tender!)

Alternatively if she wants to work towards running the boat then she will need commercial yachtmaster just for starters

Antibes and Palma are the places and she should register with agencies, prepare a good CV, get a local SIM card, and dockwalk in April/May with copies of CV. There is an awful lot of luck involved of course, and as others have said there is stereotyping and folks with the right "look" get hired. Antibes is bigger in terms of hiring opportunities than Palma.

I've been in Antibes 12 years. If she is going to arrives in town alone PM me and I'll e-introduce her to the stewardess on my boat who is a lot of fun and will introduce her to Antibes folks and show her the bars and places to hang out, just to help her break the ice so to speak
 
I know four or five lads that went over to superyachts from cruise ships when they went STCW95 and were crying out for guys. Only one stuck it out more than a year. One even smacked the owner's jaw then simply dived off and swam into harbour whilst at anchor in Monte Carlo. Apparently despite being a fully qualified Chief Engineer the owner screamed at him to empty the bins calling him a dog, lol. From what I hear it is far from the glamorous lifestyle its made out to be. She would be better at 19 getting a Deck Cadetship with P&O cruises or Cunard and getting proper tickets in a job where once qualified she will be respected and will get to travel. Superyachts never go anywhere.
 
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