ONBOARD Magazine - spring 2023

Taking
the leap
Make sure you partner with an
experienced and proactive recruitment
company as part of your career
progression, whether climbing the
ranks onboard or even if you are
thinking of moving ashore
Words: Claire Griffiths
Experts estimate that there are around 12,000 active
superyachts of 24m+ currently cruising the world’s
seas. A conservative estimate of the number of jobs
that represents is approximately 48,000 which doesn’t
include the 1,200 yachts in build or on order, due for delivery
between now and 2027. Factor those jobs into the equation
and we can add between 6,900-11,800 additional new jobs.
That’s a lorra jobs.
As the Mediterranean season prepares to kick off, ONBOARD
Magazine calls up the agency experts to find out the whos,
wheres, whys and whats that will come into play to source the
crews that will cruise this summer.
One big change to the season this year is the easing up of Covid
19 restrictions and vaccinations. But what else is afoot this year?
First up, have owner requirements noticeably changed over the
past twelve months?
Monique Dykstra is Managing Director of Saltwater Recruitment.
Both she and Cara Lees, founder of Cara Lees Yacht Crew Ltd
don’t see any particular change to make their ears prick up;
longevity is always the number one most desirable factor in a
candidate’s CV, followed closely by the desired experience level on
a relevant size vessel Dykstra explains. Lees adds, “One aspect
that I’ve observed on some occasions, is the request for crew
to have qualifications that are higher than are actually required
for a particular role.” She adds, “The crux of effective crew
recruitment lies in identifying the perfect match for each position,
not solely based on qualifications and staffing requirements, but
also on how they could elevate the overall experience for owners
and guests. The underlying emphasis is on versatility.”
All agents chime with Jacob Hardy’s observation, Managing
Director of One Ocean Marine, that skill set requirements have
changed: owners, (and therefore captains and management
companies) want more bang for their buck; crew with additional
niche skills, such as yoga instructors, nutritionists, hair stylists,
water sports instructors, etc. “This is particularly the case with
charter yachts,” says Hardy.
Don McKee of YOA Agency regrets that the number of crew
that match these criteria appear to be currently quite low.
Says Frankie Mason, of Bespoke Crew, “We recently placed a
stewardess that was a professional makeup artist and this has
helped her land her dream role.” Other additional skills in demand
are photography/videography, dive masters, florists, musicians and
personal trainers. Having that additional ‘superpower’ is an
asset to any crew and will help a CV stand out from the crowd.
40 | SPRING 2023 | ONBOARD