I heard about yachting from various people throughout undergrad and continued thinking about it for years knowing it would be the perfect job for me. In 2021, two years after graduating from college, I decided to finally pull the trigger and booked all my courses for that fall in Fort Lauderdale. By November, I had my first permanent job.
My goal in yachting is to become the captain on a larger (180-foot-plus) charter yacht.
If I weren’t on a yacht, I’d be on a different boat. Probably driving the 82-foot harbor cruise boat I captain in Buffalo, New York, while working towards being a tug boat captain, harbor pilot or captain on one of the cross sound ferries on Long Island, NY.
The most important thing I’ve learned on board is that we are capable, mentally and physically, of much more than we give ourselves credit for.
Time in current position: four months
Time in industry: two years in yachting, four in maritime overall
Yacht: 122-foot Numarine Amore
Previous yachts: Excellence and Asani
Nationality: American
The toughest part of the job is not going home to your friends and family each night. In most other careers, you leave your coworkers behind and get to lean on your loved ones for support. Yes, I’ve made some of my best mates in yachting, but they can’t replace your family.
For those looking to get started, visualize what you want from yachting, and then back-cast to where you are now. If you want a few years of fun and money, great! If you want to progress to higher positions, plan out the steps you need to take now to make that happen.
ALWAYS be on time. Be someone other crew can rely on. Make other people’s jobs easier, not harder. Take out the galley trash, clean up after dinner on trip. Be a team player.
The best part of the job is the opportunity to be active every day. I’m so grateful to have a job that keeps me active and healthy.
Outside of yachting, my most significant achievement is earning my MBA and winning multiple awards and scholarships. Within yachting, being the chase boat captain on a 36-foot Intrepid for a 164-foot mothership has without a doubt been the most fun job I’ve ever had, and I am super grateful for that experience.
Aquapel on windows is a pain in the butt to apply, but won’t catch the window blade like Rain-X, makes it way easier to rinse salt off and will last longer than a season. Also, using the hottest water to fill a vinegar bucket is a must.