Yachting: A Fulfilling Career for Adventure-Loving People

Yachts are specially designed large sailing vessels used for cruising purposes. Yachting is a very fulfilling career for those who seek fun and adventure while earning for a livelihood. Yachting can be a pursued as a serious profession as well as a hobby.

Yachting is the only profession which offers a potential combination of great salaries, global tour and adventurous geographical explorations. Hence this profession is best suited for people who are having a pleasant personality, who are well-spoken and well-mannered, bold, and adventurous, physically and mentally fit and above all having a good presentability.

All the positions in a yacht require a long term commitment of at least one year, in certain cases six months as a cruising normally takes at least six months to one year. The nature of the work requires the crew stay in the yacht during the entire period of cruising and after that they are given at least one month off before beginning the next session of cruising.

All positions are highly paid. Usually candidates with a hospitality background are preferred for these positions as yachts are mainly used for pleasures trips and client expectations are very high in this field. So candidates who are well trained in the hospitality sector are given preference over others during recruitment.

The organizational structure of a yachting company is like this: yachting firm owns the yacht and captain and his crew are recruited by the firm. Captain is the sole authority of the yacht operations as well as his crew members and is answerable to the yachting firm. Captain is assisted by an officer called chiefmate and other crew members who includes chief engineer and assistant engineers, deckhands, stewards and stewardesses, pursers, chefs and gallery assistants.

Captain: This is the most senior level position in a yacht and is a highly paid position. Captain must have good professional experience in yachting and must have a valid license from the recognized authority.

Chiefmate: This is also a senior level position which requires relevant professional experience in yachting. Chiefmate must also have a valid license.

Engineers: Chief Engineer is a senior level position and should be a valid license holder. He is assisted by a group of assistant engineers who are junior officers and are responsible for the maintenance work of the all equipments and machines of the vessels.

Stewards and stewardesses: These are junior level positions and may not require any licenses but they must be properly trained in yachting and must have proper professional qualifications. Their major responsibilities are housekeeping, cleaning and other services required by the clients.

Chefs: Chefs are responsible for food and catering services and are normally assisted by a group of cooks and assistants.

Deckhands: These are the junior most positions in a yacht and are responsible for all client services such as helping them with their baggage, setting their rooms etc.