Mental Health at Sea: A Guide for Yacht Crew

• Long hours and broken sleep, especially in charter season and on passages with night watches.
• Little privacy: shared cabins and the same people every day, at work and at rest.
• Distance from home: missed birthdays, relationships under strain, few chances to see family.
• Pressure to perform: high guest expectations, a strict hierarchy and the feeling that you cannot say you are struggling.
• Uncertainty: seasonal contracts, job searches and not always knowing where you will be next.

In yourself or in a crewmate, notice when these last for more than a couple of weeks:

• trouble sleeping, or sleeping much more than usual;
• feeling irritable, flat or anxious most of the time;
• pulling away from the rest of the crew;
• drinking more to cope;
• losing interest in things you used to enjoy.

None of these make someone weak or bad at their job. They are signs that something needs attention.

• Protect your rest. Hours of rest under the MLC are a right, not a favour. Keep a routine where you can.
• Stay connected with people at home, even with short, regular messages.
• Move and get outside on your time off: a swim, a walk ashore, some stretching on deck.
• Have one person to talk to on board, and speak up early, before a small problem grows.
• Watch alcohol, especially on days off after long weeks of work.

The culture on board starts at the top. Check in with your crew one to one, respect rest hours, deal with conflict early and make it normal to ask for help. A crew that feels looked after works better and stays longer.

Crew placed by Sailing Match get free, confidential support from our clinical psychologists, who understand life at sea, by WhatsApp and in one-to-one sessions. More on our mental health page.

If you or someone on board is in immediate danger, tell the captain and contact emergency services straight away: 112 in the EU, or radio medical advice through the coastguard when at sea.