43° 35′ N 7° 07′ EGuide · For crew
How to Work on a Yacht: Certificates, Documents and Where to Dockwalk
Yachting is a global job. Here is what you need before you start, and the ports where sailing yachts hire crew through the year.
By Lawrence Walker, former Chief Officer on sailing superyachts
Wherever you come from, the path into yachting is much the same: the right certificates, a good CV and being in the right port at the right time. This guide covers all three, with a focus on sailing yachts. For a step-by-step plan for your first job, read how to get a job on a sailing superyacht.
Certificates: sailing licences and professional training
National sailing licences, such as a Spanish Patrón de Yate, an Italian patente nautica or a French permis bateau, show that you can sail, and captains value them. Working as professional crew on a commercially operated yacht usually also needs international seafarer training:
- STCW Basic Safety Training from an approved training centre.
- A seafarer medical certificate: the ENG1 or an equivalent accepted by the yacht's flag state.
- For officer and engineer roles, a professional certificate of competency, such as MCA Yachtmaster or Master (Yacht), or an AEC and yacht engineer tickets.
See what each position needs on our crew roles pages.
Documents to have ready
- A valid passport, with at least a year left, and the visas the yacht's programme needs (for example Schengen, or a US B1/B2 for the Americas).
- A seafarer's discharge book or sea-service testimonials, to record your time at sea.
- Copies of all certificates with expiry dates, in one PDF.
- A one-page yachting CV in English, with a professional photo and two references.
Where to dockwalk
Dockwalking means walking the docks with your CV and asking yachts for work. These are the main hubs, and when they are busiest:
| Port | Region | Best time |
|---|---|---|
| Palma de Mallorca, Spain | Mediterranean | March to May; refits in winter |
| Antibes and the French Riviera | Mediterranean | March to May |
| Barcelona, Spain | Mediterranean | Winter refits to spring |
| Monaco | Mediterranean | Spring; September for the yacht show |
| Italian refit yards (La Spezia, Viareggio, Genoa) | Mediterranean | Winter to spring |
| Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain | Atlantic | October and November, before transatlantic crossings |
| Antigua (English and Falmouth Harbour) | Caribbean | November to April |
| St Maarten / St Martin | Caribbean | November to April |
| Fort Lauderdale, USA | Americas | All year, mostly motor yachts |
| Newport, Rhode Island, USA | Americas | Summer, a classic sailing yacht hub |
Sailing superyacht regattas are also good places to meet captains: for example the St Barths Bucket in March, The Superyacht Cup in Palma and the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta in Porto Cervo in June, and Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez in the autumn.
The yachting year
- March to May: the main hiring season in the Mediterranean, as yachts finish refit.
- June to September: Mediterranean summer season. Fewer openings, mostly urgent replacements.
- October and November: yachts prepare to cross the Atlantic; delivery and crossing crew are in demand.
- December to April: Caribbean season, then crossings back to the Mediterranean in April and May.
Dockwalking tips
- Go early in the morning, neat and in plain clothes, with printed CVs.
- Ask for the captain or the mate, keep it short and respect a “no”: the crew are working.
- Offer day work. A good day on deck is often how people get hired.
- Stay a few weeks. Captains hire people who are there when a place opens.
Why English matters
Crews and guests are international, so English is the working language on almost every yacht. A good level of spoken English opens many more doors. Other languages are a real plus, especially with owners or charter guests who speak them.
Next step
See open positions or register with Sailing Match: we recruit for sailing yachts only, and it is always free for crew.
38° 54′ N 1° 26′ EQuestions
Questions
Is a national sailing licence enough to work on a yacht?
It shows you can sail and captains value it, but professional crew on commercial yachts usually also need STCW Basic Safety Training and a seafarer medical, and officers need a professional certificate of competency.
Where is the best place to find yacht work?
In the Mediterranean, Palma de Mallorca and Antibes in spring; in the Caribbean, Antigua and St Maarten in winter; Fort Lauderdale all year, mostly for motor yachts.
Do I need to speak English to work on a yacht?
In practice, yes. English is the working language on almost all superyachts. Other languages are a plus.