First job
Builds on: L3.1, L3.2. Short on rules, long on practice.
Why location matters
Yachts hire people they can see. A captain short of a deckhand the week before a charter will take the competent, presentable person on the dock over a strong CV in Johannesburg. For a first job, being in the right place at the right time beats almost everything else.
The hubs
| Hub | Why | Visa for SA nationals |
|---|---|---|
| Antibes and the Côte d'Azur | The Med's crew capital; large yachts, many agencies, crew houses | Schengen (L3.1) |
| Palma de Mallorca | Big refit and charter base; many yachts crew up here | Schengen (L3.1) |
| Fort Lauderdale | The US and Caribbean hub; refit yards and agencies | US visa (L3.2) |
Pick one hub and commit to it for the time your visa and budget allow. Flitting between hubs burns money and resets the relationships you have started.
Timing
Yachts crew up before their busy season:
- Mediterranean: spring, ahead of the summer charter and owner season.
- Florida and the Caribbean: autumn, ahead of the winter season.
Arriving at the start of the rush gives you the most chances. Arriving in August, when the Med is fully crewed and busy, is hard going.
CAUTION - Count your days and your euros On a Schengen visa you have at most 90 days in any 180. Set a budget and a date by which you will either be working or go home, and stick to it.
Dockwalking done properly
Dockwalking means walking the quays and asking yachts for work. Done badly it annoys crews; done well it gets jobs.
- Go early, between about 08:00 and 10:00 when crews are starting work, not at lunch or in the evening.
- Dress in clean, plain clothes: shorts or chinos, polo shirt, deck shoes.
- Ask at the passerelle, briefly: are they looking for daywork or crew? Leave a CV with a photo.
- Respect "no crew wanted" signs and busy crews.
- Follow up with agencies in the afternoon.
Daywork
Daywork is paid casual work on a yacht, often washing down, varnishing, polishing or helping with provisioning. It is the usual first step. Treat it as a job interview: be early, work hard, finish tidily, and ask the bosun at the end if they need anyone else.
WARNING - Work only on the yacht Casual jobs ashore on a visitor visa are unlawful in both the EU and the US. Daywork on a yacht is different in character, but ask the captain how it is being handled.
Crew houses
Crew houses offer cheap shared rooms near the marinas. Their real value is the network: job leads, daywork tips and introductions. Budget for them in euros or dollars, and remember that the rand does not go far.
Crew agencies
Register with several reputable crew agencies in your hub, in person if possible. Agencies are paid by the yacht, not by you. Keep your profile updated with each new certificate and reference. How to present yourself to them is covered in L4.2.
TIP - Go with a mate, not a crowd Dockwalking with one friend is fine. Four South Africans at one passerelle looks like a coach tour and gets a polite no.