Crew Info Captain
Crew Info Captain
CAREER ADVICE
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“I think a lot of mates with about five years of demanding sea experience and good work habits have the
ability to be great captains,” says one owner, who has three large yachts.
The most important experience is time on yachts, as opposed to other types of vessels. “We have very little
luck with a captain looking to join a yacht with zero yachting experience,” says Ian Pelham, director of
Preferred Crew, a crew agency in Fort Lauderdale.
The yachting industry is quirky and far removed from the predictability of the commercial world. Pelham
gives the example of a cruise ship, as he once ran a fleet personnel department for a cruise line: “A captain on
a cruise ship has a number of perks, including a cabin steward who cleans the personal space of the captain,
there will be mess stewards who will serve and clean up the crew areas for the officers. Generally there is
solid rotation — you know exactly when you are to join and when you heading on vacation. When on vacation
you do not get calls from the owner asking where you put the ‘good’ whisky when the cousins were aboard.
On a yacht, even the big ones, the captain has to be ready to step in at any level, including cleaning up, to
make sure the owner has a great time. Most commercial captains just have not had that kind of experience.”
Blazy adds, “[A commercial captain’s] experience is often best suited to the Passenger Code vessels over
3,000GT, where the duties and working conditions in terms of rotation are often similar. There is, however,
a huge learning curve in terms of standards and customer expectations.” She recommends these captains
gain experience on yachts before assuming the top role. “For the more junior candidates who are happy to
start again from the lower ranks on board the yachts there is a big advantage; often they are bringing great
transferable skills and relatively high tickets for the deck teams, and so are able to climb the ranks rapidly.
Those with the ability to be flexible in terms of outlook and approach will always do well,” she says.
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“Owners are generally looking for someone who will give them the ultimate holiday experience while
making them feel safe on board,” Blazy says.
When it comes to specifics though, each owner will want a captain that precisely fits with their vessel size
and itinerary. “Different programs call for different personalities,” Pelham says. “I have seen captains who
are extroverts, introverts, confrontational, compromising, joyful, serious, etc., who have each been very
successful in their individual programs. I also believe that this is part of what makes a captain a fantastic fit
for one program and a complete miss on another.”
Despite being some of the wealthiest people on the planet, most yacht owners care deeply about the costs, so
financial accountability is a big part of being a successful captain.
“It’s a big responsibility for the captain to take care of the owner’s large asset. Good common sense is
required,” says one large-yacht owner. “Fuel costs and dockage fees need constant awareness. Transiting the
yacht at 12 knots instead of 22 knots from Nassau to Lauderdale protects the owner’s assets. Of course there
are some owners who just don’t care about costs, but a majority do!”
This owner also expects his captain to spend time in the yard with the yacht, not consider it vacation time, in
order to keep track of the yard’s billable hours, and to have some good mechanical knowledge so they can
“withstand the salesmen/ consultants suggestions about replacing everything on your yacht.”
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Of course, that isn’t good news for anyone looking for his or her first captain role. Pelham recommends
emphasizing the experience on your resume that matches where you want to be. “Think about what you did
as a mate on your previous yachts. Then pick those things that you will be doing as a captain on your next
yacht, and highlight those aspects,” he says.
Blazy says the most common path on the bigger yachts is when the chief officer grows into the junior captain
role, “moving forward steadily in terms of drive time and responsibility, covering for the senior captain while
he is away. There is a mix of confidence and humility that is at play, and the timing will depend on the
individual person and the owner’s expectations.”
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