41° 08′ N 9° 32′ EGuide · For crew
Sailing vs Motor Yacht Crew: Which to Choose?
Both are yachting, but the job, the team and the life on board are very different. An honest comparison to help you choose.
By Lawrence Walker, former Chief Officer on sailing superyachts
Many crew start on motor yachts simply because there are more of them. But if you love sailing, a sailing yacht can be a very different and rewarding career. Here is what really changes, from people who have worked on both.
The work on deck
On a motor yacht, the deck team looks after the exterior, the tenders and toys, and the guests. On a sailing yacht you do all that and sail the boat: hoisting and trimming sails, tacking and gybing, working the winches and keeping watches on passage.
There is also more rigging, more varnish and more maintenance of sails, deck hardware and hydraulics. If you like being hands-on and outdoors, that is a big part of the appeal.
Smaller crews, closer teams
Sailing yachts usually carry fewer crew than motor yachts of the same length. Roles are less rigid: a deckhand may help in the interior, a stew may grind a winch, and the engineer often works on deck too.
That means more responsibility and more variety, but also less personal space. How you get on with others matters even more than on a large motor yacht.
Passages and itineraries
Sailing yachts tend to make longer passages and many cross oceans every year: Mediterranean in summer, Caribbean in winter, sometimes further. Expect night watches and days at sea between destinations.
Motor yachts often stay within one region and move in shorter hops, with more time in port and more guest activity.
Skills and certificates
The basics are the same: STCW and ENG1. On sailing yachts, sailing qualifications such as RYA Day Skipper or Yachtmaster and real sailing experience count for much more, especially on deck. Our guide on getting a job on a sailing superyacht goes into detail.
Career path and pay
There are fewer sailing superyachts than motor yachts, so there are fewer jobs, but also fewer candidates with real sailing skills. Good sailors are in demand, and crew often stay longer on sailing yachts.
Pay depends mostly on the size of the yacht, the role and the programme rather than on sail or motor. Deck crew who keep sailing and earn their Yachtmaster can progress to mate and captain on sailing yachts.
Which one is right for you?
A sailing yacht is probably right for you if you:
- love sailing and want to do it every day, not only see it from the deck;
- like varied, hands-on work and a small, close team;
- enjoy passages, night watches and ocean crossings.
If that sounds like you, 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 it harder to find a job on a sailing yacht?
There are fewer sailing yachts, so fewer jobs. But fewer candidates have real sailing experience, so if you can sail well you stand out.
Can I move from motor yachts to sailing yachts?
Yes. Yachting experience helps, but you will need to show real sailing skills: racing, deliveries, sailing qualifications or time on smaller sailing boats.
Do sailing yacht crew earn less than motor yacht crew?
Not as a rule. Pay depends mainly on the yacht's size, the role and the programme, not on whether the yacht has sails or engines.