The yachting industry is remarkably unique. In no other occupation are individuals from often vastly different backgrounds thrust into an environment where they live and work in close proximity with each other. All the while being surrounded by some of the most stunning natural environments you’re likely to see.
An atmosphere on board can vary greatly from high excitement, high stress, long days, early mornings, late nights to slow days at sea and mundane days in a shipyard (perhaps not so much for engineers). The variables are many. It’s what makes working in the industry so enjoyable and so addictive.
Every vessel is its own ecosystem. With each humming to a different frequency. This is no more evident than the all-too-common use of social media nowadays by prospective crew to ask for feedback on a particular vessel that they may be considering a position with.
“Does anyone have any information on yacht ABC?"
What are they really looking for? Well, they aren’t looking to understand how well the fuel transfer system is configured or if the bow thruster is adequately powered to dock the boat in high winds. They are looking to understand the onboard culture.
Who is Responsible for It?
The onboard culture of a vessel is no different to that of one in an office building or sports team. It’s a non-tangible layer that sits over the top of everything that occurs in that space. It is an easy assumption to make that the culture of a vessel is driven solely by the Captain, and to a large degree that is the case. A captain is often the one who sets the tone and standard of a vessel. Everything from how they communicate to how they carry themselves both professionally and privately, can all play an important role in creating a culture on board.
That said, there is also a strong case that the onboard culture of a vessel is largely impacted by all crew at all levels. Take for example a 40-meter motor yacht. Within that vessel may be ahead of department for the deck and interior. A mate will likely have a deckhand that works with them while the chief stewardess will likely have a junior stewardess working underneath them. The deckhand may aspire to become an engineer so the engineer becomes a mentor of sorts. The mate could wish to one day become a captain, so naturally the captain becomes their North Star. Head of department positions are entrusted with the responsibility to impart the vessel's standard and ultimately the culture on other crew. Whether or not that is clear during the interview process, that is the reality of impact of these positions.
How this influence takes place can be through obvious forms and others more discrete. The old adage actions speak louder than words is extremely relevant for life on board a vessel of any kind. So much of the learning that takes place on a yacht is observing and replicating what you have seen. This is why the use of Standard Operating Procedures are so prevalent. Similarly, there are many no procedure-based processes that occur on board that may not be so obvious, but equally contribute to onboard culture. Etiquette relating to how to conduct yourself at meals, how to behave when you’re up early in the morning and how to respect a cabin mate are all things you learn by observing. It may not be written in ink that you shouldn’t create a ton of ruckus the minute you wake up out of respect for the people who might be sharing a cabin with, but that’s undeniably the expectation. I earned the nickname "elephant feet" for the first few weeks of my first job. I soon learned the art of walking on the soft part of the foot. A skill I believe should be part of the STCW-95 course syllabus..
Onboard culture is also effectively taught by how a crewmember engages with guests, third party contractors or anyone who steps on board who isn’t crew. Learning how to build a relationship with a supplier or contractor is a skill that is underestimated, and if handled correctly, can make your role a whole lot easier.
Upsides of Creating a Good Onboard Culture
Being part of a program that has a good onboard culture is one of the most rewarding environments to be in. Colleagues begin to feel like family. If you are lucky, you will form bonds with people who will remain a part of your life well beyond your yachting career. Likewise, we all know crewmembers who have formed lifelong friendships and even ended up as happily married couples. Experiences are heightened when they are shared with family, and with lasting memories as a frequent consequence. A good onboard culture smooths out the peaks and troughs of working in the fast-paced yachting industry. It creates a more resilient team, a supportive place to call home and makes whatever comes at you seem a lot more manageable.
Everyone on board has the opportunity to contribute to the culture onboard — and it is an opportunity. There is no standard template vessels must adhere to with culture but each vessel represents a chance to create an environment that gives more than it takes.