sailing yacht crew positions

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Yacht Crew Job Board

With Bluewater's expertise in crew training and yacht crew recruitment, finding your ideal yacht crew vacancy is simple. We offer yacht management services to a variety of exclusive superyachts. Our team excels in sourcing top-notch yacht crew positions, spanning from 25-meter private yachts in the Bahamas to 50-metre charter yachts in the Mediterranean to luxurious 100+ metre superyachts navigating the globe extensively.

54 yacht crew jobs available now.

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Alongside sourcing the latest yacht crew jobs worldwide, Bluewater offers a range of specialised yacht crew training courses. Whether you're new to the superyacht industry seeking entry-level qualifications, an experienced deckhand or engineer aiming to advance your career, or a dedicated crew member looking to enhance your resume with certifications like HELM (Human Element Leadership and Management), Yachtmaster, or OOW (Officer of the Watch), explore our comprehensive yacht crew training options.

Working on a Luxury Yacht

Working as a crew member on a superyacht is undeniably one of the most rewarding yet demanding professions, calling for hard work, dedication, and professional training. The opportunities within the yachting industry are vast, and at Bluewater, we are committed to helping every crew member discover their ideal yacht crew position. Our recruitment division focuses on finding the perfect yacht for crew members and provides unparalleled professional support. Our recruitment experts guide crew members through every step of their yachting career journey, ensuring they receive the best possible assistance.

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54 JOBS FOUND

• Permanent, 32 days leave
• Qualifications: STCW, ENG1
• Experience: some experience
• Salary: 3000 $USD

• Qualifications: STCW, ENG1, PBL2
• Experience: 1 Season +
• Salary: DOE
• Qualifications: STCW, ENG1, PBII, Yachtmaster Offshore (ideally)
• Experience: 1 year mínimum
• Salary: depending on experience in $US
• Rotational (3 Months On : 1 Month Off)
• Qualifications: STCW, ENG1, Food Hygiene Level 2
• Experience: 1 Year +
• Salary: 3500EUR
• Experience: 3 Years +
• Salary: 4000EUR
• temp 2 months
• Experience: housekeeping
• Salary: 3000 a month
• 3 on 1 off rotational
• Experience: 1- 2 years
• Salary: 4300 USD
• 4:2 rotation
• Experience: 2 years
• Salary: 3500 euros
• Qualifications: Chief mate 3000
• Experience: 3 years +
• Salary: 7000 euros
• Salary: 4000 to 4500EUR (DOE)

Positions on a Racing Sailboat

‍ The success of a racing sailboat depends entirely on the ability of each person on the boat to know and execute their role in high-pressure situations.

While boat-dependent, all positions are some combination of the responsibilities of driver, bow, tactician, trimmer, and pit. The driver makes the final decisions and steers, while the other crew members play various roles providing information, trimming sails, and keeping the boat moving fast.

The fundamental responsibilities of sailboat racing do not change, regardless of the number of people aboard. Someone in a one-person dinghy has to be able to keep track of the course, make tactical decisions, trim sails, steer, watch for new breeze and other boats, and ensure that they are set up for the next leg. On a larger boat, with more sails, more controls, and more required coordination, these jobs still exist and are distributed amongst various crew members. We will go through the basic crew setups of various one-design racing boats from one through four crew members to develop how the increase in crew and complexity begins to distribute the responsibilities of making the boat go fast across the team. Then, we will make some general claims about bigger boats, but as everything gets more confusing in the larger crews, we will not specify too much.

Over years of racing boats of all sizes, I’ve seen these crew roles respond to personal skills, different boat setups, strange habits, and teamwork to the point where everyone can respond to different events seamlessly. Sometimes these roles are perfectly well-defined, but sometimes a quick-thinking crew will switch positions on a dime to make up for a mistake in an entirely unorthodox way that is somehow perfect. On smaller boats, people have different priorities and different ways to work through all their responsibilities, but on all the best boats it is the people who know how to excel in their role, and how to make life easier for all their teammates by knowing exactly what they need, who make a sailboat go. Let’s get into it!

Table of contents

‍ The One-Person Dinghy: It’s All on You

You could argue that sailing, at its most basic, boils down to one sailor, a handful of lines, and a tiller against the breeze and water. Perhaps it would be a ridiculous argument, as sailing has always relied on people working together, but there is something to seeing who can go out there and be the one to make it work the best. When all the responsibilities for every inch of the boat fall on one person, it is interesting to see who has everything in sync the best. There is no specific title for this position, but I suppose you could call them

The Single-Handed Sailor

There are fundamentally three aspects to sailboat racing: boat speed, boat handling, and tactics. The single-handed sailor has to excel in each dimension. The best case study for a single-handed boat is the ILCA Dingy, once known as the Laser, but other notable racers include the Opti, Finn, RS Aero, Moth, and Wazsp classes.  

Boat speed comes down to trimming the sails properly for the angle to the wind. This means adjusting not only how far in and out the sail is, but also tuning specific control lines to give the sail the ideal shape for wind strength and direction. Making micro-adjustments to sail trim while dealing with all the other aspects of the race may not seem like much, but they can make the difference between winning and falling behind. While on larger boats there are entire positions dedicated to this, the single-handed sailor has to deal with this the whole time.

Other factors in boat speed concern steering through the wind shifts and wave sequences properly and keeping the boat flat by hiking out. This often includes being able to shift weight in precise ways to keep the boat optimally balanced and cutting through the waves.

Boat Handling

While boat speed forms the basis of all sailing, it is also crucial to know how to maneuver the boat through course changes. Windows in sailing races are small, and being able to get a boat into a lane is often a fraught affair. Having the confidence to trim the sails properly and maneuver sharply while still maintaining speed is a huge boost to a racer. Turning points at marks or directional switches while tacking and gybing are where many of the gains in a race come, and a clean tack coming into the top mark on port can mean the difference between leading the fleet and having to duck behind a parade of 30 boats. Being able to put on the brakes and accelerate quickly is key in tight spaces along the start line, and is a weapon for the best sailors.

Singlehanded racers have total control over their boat handling. Changes in direction come down to perfect synchronization of sail trim, steering, and body weight, and the single-handed sailor has to account for how every single adjustment affects these maneuvers. Some of the best boat handlers grow up racing single-handed boats; the feel developed sailing solo is hard to beat but requires years of fine-tuning and muscle memory.

All the speed and maneuverability in the world does not do much if you don’t know where to put the boat. Like any sport, the fundamentals are simple, but becoming a master takes a lifetime. The single-handed sailor must hold the entire course, the regularity of the wind shifts, the tendencies of the current, the positions of the other sailors, and their own plans in the front of their minds while pushing the boat as hard as possible.

While this is no place to discuss the intricacies of upwind tactics or the fastest lines on a downwind in different boats, the singlehanded sailor has to be able to think and make decisions tactically then execute those decisions themselves. This is such a large task that bigger boats will often have someone whose entire job is just to call breeze and tactics.

The single-handed sailor is without a doubt a jack-of-all-trades. We will discuss various terms for different crew-members on bigger boats, and while you could use the terms ‘skipper’ or ‘driver’ for the single-handed sailor, this does not quite say it all, so we save these positions for the bigger boats. We will not explicitly break the other boats down by who is in charge of boat speed, boat handling, and tactics, but roles can generally sort into various levels of responsibility for these categories.  

The Two-Person Racer: The Best (or worst) Way to Get to Know Another Person

On a two-person boat, of which common examples include the various 420 classes, the Olympic Classes (470, 49er, Nacra 17) among many others, responsibilities are slightly split, but this distribution comes with the tradeoff of greatly increased complexity and coordination requirements. Double-handed boats tend to have at least two, and often three, sails, require more involved tuning, move much faster, and occasionally require single or double trapezing. The very best doublehanded pairings move as one, but this type of coordination requires both sailors to have an intimate knowledge of their role and the dynamic balance of the boat. Without further ado, the common positions:

The Skipper (Driver)

The skipper of the boat steers the boat. On different types of boats, they have different trimming and setting responsibilities, most often including the mainsheet--though the 49er is a notable exception. You can call them either a skipper or a driver, but you rarely say that ‘you skipper;’ instead, you would say that ‘you drive,’ so the latter term has begun to stick as the position as well.

As they are the person driving the boat, the driver tends to make the final tactical decision. They do this in collaboration with the crew, who is often going to be feeding information about the course and competitors to the driver, but the final decision comes down to the person holding the stick (forgive the vernacular, if you may).

Different double-handed teams often have different dynamics. In some, the driver will primarily be focused on tactics, while the crew has to keep their head in the boat making it go fast, while in others the skipper lets the crew make such calls while focusing on the breeze right in front of them, it all depends. Boat handling requires nigh on perfect coordination, and skippers must keep their crews alerted to any upcoming maneuvers.  

The unsung heroes of many a double-handed pairing, a good driver can sail well with an ok crew, but a crack crew can take a skipper with some potential to the top of the fleet.

Responsible for trimming the headsail and setting and managing the spinnaker on boats that carry them, the crew’s primary roles is to keep the boat going fast. They often can make the small sail trim and control adjustments that the driver cannot. Especially upwind, the crew scans the course for new breeze, other boats, lay lines, and any information that the skipper could need to make the best decisions possible.

A good way to consider some, but not all, skipper-crew relationships is that the crew can get all the micro-considerations out of the way so that the skipper can focus on the big picture. The small picture adjustments in terms of sail control and angle of heel keep the boat moving and the skipper zippered into the feel of the course. In turn, this allows the skipper to plan ahead and keep the crew involved in decision making, making sure that they don’t screw their crew with a crash tack or sudden gybe.

Still, on some teams, the crew makes all of the outside the boat decisions while the driver just drives the boat as fast as they can. This often works with spacier skippers, of which there are many, and highlights the value of a strong-willed crew. Crews are often on-the-water coaches for high-strung skippers and are key to the success of a team. On more athletic boats, a crew can crucially contribute to boat speed and handling through trimming, ooching, and body-weight adjustments.

All of this is to say that a crew, both as a single person on a double-handed boat and as an ensemble on larger boats, is never to be considered an accessory to the skipper, but are crucial parts of a competitive racing team.

The Three or Four Person Boat: I Thought That Was Your Job!

Having outlined the general dynamics of a skipper-crew pairing, it is not particularly helpful to discuss exact boat setups and interactions. From here, we will provide terms and positions with general roles. These are all subject to change, but once you reach boats of three or more people, roles become highly specialized, as boats of this size begin to get complex enough that you cannot do everything on your own. Let’s run through the general roles that must be filled on boats of up to four, with the knowledge that these can be switched around and combined depending on skill, boat setup, and breeze.

Things change yet they stay ever the same. The bigger the boat, the more boat the driver has to deal with, but the role does not fundamentally change. The driver still has their hand on the stick, and, despite the best attempts of various crewmembers, still is the final decision maker on the boat. Sometimes they will trim the mainsheet as well, but other times they will leave this to a member of the crew

The bigger the boat, the less running around the skipper does and the more focused they are on sailing the perfect line through the fleet. Even their ability to scan the course and make tactical evaluations wanes on the bigger boats, as they must put more trust in their crews to make the right reads. They are still ultimately responsible for putting the boat in the right spot, but they are ultimately unable to control everything that is happening on the boat.

Debatably the easiest analog to the crew on a double-handed boat, the bow is, if nothing else, the most likely person on the boat to get soaking wet. Sitting the farthest forward, they are occasionally responsible for trimming the jib--particularly on three-person boats--but primarily have to deal with setting the spinnaker and dealing with front-of-boat controls.

They can play a role calling tactics, breeze, and other boats, but because they are so often busy with the chaos of boat handling in crucial spots and are often far away from the skipper, they mostly need to focus on their role setting the chute and managing the complications near the front of the boat.

Trimmer/Tactician

Often sitting at the hip of the skipper, different boats have different assignments for their trimmers, which can range from main-trimming across the whole course to only touching the spinnaker off the breeze to controlling the jib instead of the bow. Regardless of the particulars, they need to make the adjustments that keep the boat moving fast, and need to be continually in sync with how the skipper wants to sail.

The person in this position is often responsible for communicating details about the course and from the rest of the crew to the driver. Their role gives them more time to look around and make fine adjustments, rather than having a continuous responsibility, so they are in the perfect position to survey the information at hand and collaborate with the skipper on decision making.

On three-person boats, this is generally one person playing both roles in active collaboration with a driver. On certain four-person boats, this can lead to two trimmers who alternate between calling tactics and trimming different sails depending on the leg. Other times, this role is fully bifurcated, with one person trimming and another entirely responsible for looking around and making calls, with only a menial role controlling the sails, but this looks different on every team.

While Nascar has its pit crews, beginning at four-person boats, sailing just has its pit person. As boats get bigger, sails and various lines are more prone to twists, knots, and the generalized snarls that give sailors across the world excuses to flex their famous propensity for swearing.

The pit is responsible for eliminating, or at least minimizing, these disasters via preventative prep. They do not have a conventional job trimming sails, per se, but they are the ones who make sure that everyone else can the sails set cleanly. They prefeed sheets, ‘run the tapes’ on off-the-breeze sails to make sure they aren’t twisted and are notorious neat freaks. They often are responsible for raising and lowering sails around mark roundings; these events are almost always chaotic and never go according to plan, so it is the pit who has to coordinate the chaos as much as possible and clean up the mess in time for the next explosion. Unheralded, often stuck below decks, the pit can be the difference between a boat running smoothly and a stream of curses over a huge gash in a thousand dollar spinnaker.

Now This Is Getting Ridiculous: The Road to Specialization

As of this point, we have covered the key roles on just about any sized boat. As you get to bigger and more specialized boats, the situations will call for more and more crew members doing increasingly focused work. While having talented sailors on a larger boat is no less important than having them on a smaller dinghy, there are simply not that many parts that have to be moving all the time to fully occupy more than a few people at a time.

Still, when they are needed, during gybes, mark roundings, sets, and douses, these extra crew members are crucial. On certain boats, there is an entire position dedicated to trimming the twings during gybes; the position is only slightly more serious than the sound of the ropes. Still, the other crew members are so busy during the gybes that they need the extra pair of hands. Furthermore, having a sharp sailor in a position like that ensures another pair of eyes and hands to spot problems and step in if needed. Knowledge and quick action are unlikely to go unappreciated on any boat, even if it is only in a very specific setting.

There is, however, one more term for extra crew members on boats of this size, and it is distinctly unspecialized: meet the ‘rail meat.’ On sufficiently big boats, where heeling is slow but a fact of life, every now and then you just need a big ole guy to sit on the edge and hang out to windward. A flat boat is a fast boat, and sometimes you just need someone hanging out over the rail, skilled and mobile or not.

Finally, on high-performance boats, like America’s Cup boats or the new-fangled SailGP league, rail meat is replaced by ‘grinders,’ who specialize in turning hydraulic cranks like they’re in a CrossFit gym. Sometimes drawn from other sports, famously including rugby players on New Zealand’s America’s Cup team, grinders may not have the tactical acumen to step into a single-handed boat and win the day, but they are key pieces to winning teams and are no less a sailor than anyone else.

Hopefully, next time you go down to the water and someone tells you they need someone to run their bow, this has done enough for you to know exactly what you’ve gotten yourself into! Happy sailing!

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Gabriel Hannon

I have been sailing since I was 7 years old. Since then I've been a US sailing certified instructor for over 8 years, raced at every level of one-design and college sailing in fleet, team, and match racing, and love sharing my knowledge of sailing with others!

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Yacht Crew Positions and Salaries

The organisational structure onboard a superyacht follows a strong hierarchy based upon a military model. Exact job duties and lines of authority are set and strictly adhered to. This hierarchy is followed on the vast majority of yachts; however, responsibilities of the crew on smaller yachts are often merged.

There are four departments on yachts with clear organisational structure:

• Deck (including Bridge) – Safety, passage delivery, maintenance of the yacht's exterior, guest outdoor activities
• Engineering – Safety and smooth operational running of the yacht
• Interior – Housekeeping, guest wellbeing, activities, accounting
• Galley – Food preparation, stock control, hygiene, galley maintenance

The top of the hierarchy on each yacht is the Captain , who reports to the yacht owner either directly, or through a representative or a yacht management company.

Salaries vary and depend on the yacht size, use, type and location, as well as the experience and qualification of the crew member. We included typical salaries of crew based on the data available from reputable industry sources, as well as our research of over 60,000 crew registered with us.

Deck Positions

The primary duty of the Captain is the overall safe manning and operation of the yacht. Yacht Captain is responsible for the vessel, yacht crew, owner and guests, including personnel management, shipyard/project management, legal and regulatory compliance, accounting, achieving owners' objectives, and answers to the owner regarding all decisions.

First Mate / Chief Officer

The First Mate or Chief Officer is the right hand of the Captain. Takes command of the yacht from Captain when required. Shares Captain's responsibilities as required.

Bosun / Lead Deckhand

Bosuns are usually experienced Deckhands with additional responsibilities. They are in charge of Deckhands onboard the yacht and often spend a lot of time with guests during outdoor activities. The Bosun is normally the main tender driver.

Responsible for the maintenance of the exterior of the yacht and keeping it in pristine condition at all times. Deckhands also assist in maintaining, cleaning and operating yacht's tenders.

Engineering Positions

Chief engineer.

Responsible for the Engineering Department and for all technical aspects of the boat and its equipment. The Chief Engineer's duties include overseeing all mechanical and electrical operations, ensuring all planned maintenance takes place and liaising with subcontractors.

Second / Third Engineer

The Second and Third Engineers report directly to the Chief Engineer. They assist in maintaining all mechanical and electrical operations of the yacht.

ETO / AV/IT Officer

Electro-Technical Officer (ETO) and AV/IT Officer are in charge of daily maintenance of all electronic, computer, audio/visual and communications equipment and their efficient operation. This includes the radio, radar, telephones, satellite communications, navigation systems, computers, Internet connection, interior equipment (TVs, sound systems), etc.

Electrician

The Electrician is responsible for maintenance of all electrical circuits onboard the vessel, circuit breakers, switches, lighting, batteries, etc.

This is an administrative position on large yachts. The Purser is responsible for all operations in the interior department, including inventory, purchasing, provisioning, accounting, organising guest activities, and assisting the Captain with the yachts paperwork.

Chief Steward(ess)

Duties are similar to those of other Steward(ess)es onboard the boat, but on a more senior level, including managing the interior department and training. Small yachts with less crew do not have a Purser. The Chief Steward(ess) is in charge of all the responsibilities normally carried out by the Purser on large yachts.

Steward(ess)

Steward's or Stewardess's main responsibility is to maintain the interior of the yacht and provide the highest standard of care to the owner and guests. They serve food and drinks, prepare guest activities, pack and unpack luggage and are on call for anything that the guests want anytime day or night. On some yachts, they help the deck crew moor the yacht.

The Head/Executive Chef onboard a luxury superyacht is a culinary trained professional responsible for the overall management of the galley department on larger yachts, including guest and crew meals, provisioning, food safety, maintaining strict hygiene standards and financial/budgetary administration.

Assists the Head Chef in all aspects of galley duties. The Sous Chef may be required to independently provide crew meals or guest meals at the direction of the Head Chef.

Crew Chef / Cook

Large yachts employ a separate crew and guest chef. The Crew chef provides meals for the crew.

Other Positions

Many yachts, especially the large ones, have several additional positions. These are often combined with primary roles, e.g. Stewardess / Masseuse or Deckhand / Dive Instructor . The most common are:

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What Each Crew Position Wants You to Know

August 2, 2017

This article is a guide to show how small improvements can make a big difference for your fellow crew. Read on to learn what your crew wants you to remember each race!

While it’s important to master your position on the boat, it’s equally as important to understand what’s going on in other domains and what you can do to make your teammates’ life easier and help the boat sail smoothly.

We reached out to a mix of successful sailors to find out what they want the other crew members to keep in mind to help them execute their job the best they can. Here’s what they had to say.

“The race is not over until the spinnaker comes down. It is easy to switch to recovery mode right after crossing the finish line, but this can be costly with a messy takedown, ripped or wet sail. To go along with this, after races finish send the jib bag up before the food bag! It’s frustrating for the bow when I’m are ready to flake the jib and everybody is eating.

I am happy to see the tactician’s general awareness of the bow team. We understand tacking mid jib-flake can’t always be avoided, but a quick cleanup with everyone cooperating makes life much easier. Lastly, my lifeline is the pit position, I like when this person is attentive and stays by their position until the bow team finishes cleaning up between races!” Anonymous bowman

“The mast is a lot easier when trimmers have patience on the set. They can pop the spinnaker open by sheeting too early and make the mast and foredeck look terrible! My key teammates are sewer and pit: a spinnaker set never works well if the trimmers, mast, sewer and pit are working independently, but when we hit on all cylinders, the set will be a thing of beauty. The other critical players to a happy mast are the tactician and helmsman. If the boat isn't in proper orientation to the wind when it is time to take the spinnaker down disaster can strike. A great bow/mast team will make it work, but a little waggle to help collapse the spinnaker goes a long way for a clean drop.” Andrew Spaulding*

“Be mindful of where things are thrown. For example: a jib change on the run, I may not be the one putting the old jib or bag down below, so I ask teammates to be mindful of the flaked kite halyard. I flake it once and then spend the rest of my run focusing on weight placement, pole position, finding the leeward marks and it becomes time consuming to have my head in the boat for longer than necessary.

The pit is in the middle of two groups. When it comes to maneuvers, the bow and brain trust may not always be on the same page, and I often have to decide which one to follow. If the back of the boat is calling for something that the bow is not ready to do; I can't force the issue. I can facilitate it, convey the sense of urgency, but I can't take the spinnaker down or jibe it by myself. This communication becomes easier if I receive clear and timely information from either end of the boat.” Scott Murin

Headsail Trimmer:

“Acknowledgment of communication. If I ask a teammate to do something, they should either act on it immediately or answer ‘copy’. If there is no acknowledgment, the person making the request often asks two or three times getting louder each time. I often see this situation and, my ultimate pet peeve is when the teammate finally answers and says ‘I HEARD YOU!’ When people say “copy” I can leave the task with them and move on. My other suggestion is to make habit of saying the person’s name before making a request so their attention is grabbed and time is not wasted by repeating what they didn’t hear before their name was called (this could be the difference between a collision and a race win).” Morgan Trubovich

“A briefing with the days goals. There should be a morning discussion describing the weather, potential courses, and anything else important. After the team is on the same page, people can break into groups depending on who they need to interact with throughout the day. I talk to my offside trimmer and grinders about what situations may come up and then I talk to the main trimmer about possible sails and boat settings.

It is also important to have quiet and calm maneuvers. I like to have ongoing discussions about what’s to come so when the boat is actually turning everyone has already anticipated their weight placement and I can focus on feeling the sheet run through my hands.” Dave Gerber

Main Trimmer:

“The most important thing is pressure calls and relatives. A main trimmer is ‘head in the boat’ which only gives them so much feel, so consistent and accurate information are crucial for boat speed. I am happy with simple dialogue with the tactician to know what modes are expected. If we develop standard steps, it becomes easy to be on same page.

The jib and main must also cooperate, they are constantly working together to make the boat do what the tactician wants. As a main trimmer, I let the jib do what they want and communicate when they are hitting the main or when they can be tighter. It’s good to develop concise key words and terminologies for any maneuver where the main has to be fine-tuned; some examples: high build, high kill, half tack, speed build, or racing.” Luke Lawrence

“I love it when new crew get onboard, listen to the race conversation and offer input where it might be lacking or where he/she can contribute value.  For example, if no one is calling breeze on the rail, it’s great to have a crew take the initiative to make very concise and valuable breeze calls (Puff on in 3, 2, 1….).   It’s also great when new crew take a few minutes to observe, listen and see what info or help might be needed instead of diving right in without first watching or thinking. It's valuable when a crew member offers input and "finishes the sentence."  How many times have you heard someone say "...the right has a lot of pressure...." AND what??? Inquiring minds want to know. Finish the sentence: "... and they look strong/are headed/etc."   Completing the sentence and picture for the tactician, driver and speed team is extremely helpful.   A positive attitude and imploring the “5 second rule” (does what I’m about to say make sense and is it valuable? Am I finishing the sentence with my comment? ) make any crew a welcome addition to my boat." Ms. Sailsalot

“Come with a game face on. There is always time for bar talk, but it shouldn’t be before racing. I appreciate team members who get to the boat and prepare their position for racing. When people scatter and aren’t responsible for their area it takes away from what I need to be doing as a tactician and the performance suffers.” Geoff Ewenson

“Clear and short communication. I am happy when the trimmers and I are in sync with what steps we will take as conditions change. It is helpful for me to understand which way the trimmer is likely to move the leads, etc. as the breeze changes. For me, tactical input and observations are certainly invited before situations happen, especially 10 minutes before a start.” George Szabo

Boat Captain:

“Ask questions at the right time. I love when people want to learn and be involved with how the boat comes together, but choose a time when not much else is going on, probably not when I’ve just sat down to service a winch. I love it when each crew member takes responsibility for their station and addresses problems early, and to take it one step further if they are part of the solution whether it be a short term regatta fix or the long term ultimate fix, it’s fun to bounce ideas off others.

My life becomes easier when teammates self-delegate. I think of tasks as skilled and unskilled; if you are unsure how to help with the skilled boat work, there are always unskilled items that can be taken care of. Examples: filling water bottles, organizing down below, grabbing food and clean up. And if you still don’t know what to do, ask yourself, ‘If I were running this boat, what would I want done right now?’” Kyle Kant

*Editor’s Note: Shortly after publishing this piece, our team received the very sad news of Andrew Spaulding’s untimely passing. He was much loved by the sailing community and our team’s deepest sympathies go out to his friends, family and everyone who’s lives were touched by his wonderful spirit.

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Deep Water Happy

How to find positions as crew on boats.

• On September 2, 2019
• By Kimberly

During sailing schools, students ask me how they will get more sea time, how can they find boats on which to crew, how can they get experience on crossings, and now there are websites and apps to help with exactly that.

Recently, I wrote about the apps for finding a boat – with or without a captain – for rent. It was great fun looking at vessels for rent in exotic locations. But now, time to look at some websites that will help you find either crew or captain for your boat, or, positions for you as crew or captain on someone else’s boat.

This was my first experience looking at the crew-finding apps. Crewbay helps you “find professional crew” who wish to be paid to crew. The next choice is “find recreational crew” for people who just wish to get on a boat. After that, the next two choices are “find professional boats” which displays paying jobs and “find recreational boats” which shows crew opportunities.

Once you click a little deeper, for instance in the “recreational crew” area, you find position details of onboard expense expectations, vessel information, skipper information including photos, and contact method.

On “professional crew,” type of work, salary, expenses information, and even interview information appears. The site lists type of position, for example “cook” and type of work – temporary, seasonal, and so on, as well as availability – dates of potential employment.

Again, the site lists vessel, skipper, and photos, as well as how to apply. There are no fees.

Under “find boat,” “recreational” yields “view opportunity,” and “professional” offers “view job.” Once in the vessel section, viewers see from where the boat is coming and to where it is sailing next.

If you choose the professional section, you can find anything from internships with expenses paid, to jobs with salaries.

Participants must be older than 18 years, and every position on a vessel you have ever heard of is a selection. It’s worth signing up just to see the list! Bosun, Captain, Deckhand, Nanny, Hairdresser, Purser… the list is huge.

The search criteria that captains and crew us to find each other also offer similar opportunities, based on the search criteria, in which they might be interested. So, even if you overlooked something that might be of interest to you, it’s probable that you will have the opportunity to see it.

An upcoming update to the service in a month or two (as of December 2019) will allow captains and crew to filter results so they view exactly for what they are looking.

findacrew.net

“ findacrew.net ” – that’s pretty simple! It’s not an agent, but a network for members to find crew positions on boats, or for owner’s representatives and owners to find crew for their boat. Categories are recreational, professional, commercial, and shore-based. They are the worlds largest international online boat and crew network, with active members in over 200 countries.

Boat owners and representatives can communicate with crew anywhere in the world. There are no contracts; it’s free for crew and boat, with no commissions, registration fees, or fees to list, search, view or maintain a profile.

Both parties can exchange contact information and messages as long as one party has a Premium membership. Free members, can exchange contact details with any matching Premium members who have contacted them or replied to them during the last 45 days.

A paying Premium membership on findacrew.net includes Personal Identity Verifications. All members (Free & Premium) can send requests and view unlimited contacts per day with those who share it.

Find a Crew™ is owned by NAUTYCAL Pty Ltd on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia.

CrewSeekers

CrewSeekers seems pretty serious – crew looking for paying boats, and boats looking for paid crew.

Their into page says “Yacht Crew Wanted; Amateur and professional yacht crewing positions available worldwide, from daysailing to transocean for all experience levels.”

Indeed, viewers can find sailing opportunities as yacht delivery crew, by varied vessel types, at all experience levels, mile-building voyages, short-notice sailing, environmental and wildlife vessels, coastal yacht cruising, professional sailing jobs, ocean sailing voyages, and yacht delivery crew.

They have a fantastic article “How much should crew contribute ” that is very comprehensive on the topic. The post explains the UK distinction between commercial and pleasure vessels, and includes some US Code of Federal Regulations information.

Another great section is “ Making life aboard safe and enjoyable. ”

Yacht crew can look all they like, then in order to contact anyone, they must pay for the service. It’s free to look around and see if there’s anything in which you are interested. Yacht owners may register and post available crew positions for no charge.

Crewfinders

With over 30 years in the business of matching crew with yachts, Crewfinders is one of the most well-established crew finding agencies, with a physical location in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This is the company to approach if you want the premium entre to the yachting world. Crewfinders has an actual office, with friendly pups, and meets you in person and connects you personally with yacht positions. This is personalized service; the ultimate in boat/crew matchmaking.

Before the Internet was even “a thing,” Crewfinders was working hard out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Their reputation for double-blind matching was matched by very few.

These ladies have all the information, and you can’t skim over “ Five Tips for Yacht Job Resumes ,” by Captain Linda Turner, owner and crew placement officer since 1982. Crewfinders was one of the very first agencies I contacted once I earned my license and was ready to get to work. My first two professional captain jobs were landed through Crewfinders.

Other very helpful information on their site is “ Average Starting Salary Guidelines ,” in case you’re considering working in the field. Even freelance daily salaries are listed.

There is no fee for crew to register, the owner, captain, or agent for the boat pays the fee. Reading through their Yacht Jobs & Employment FAQS will answer questions you didn’t know you had.

Other Methods

There are other ways to find positions as permanent, seasonal, or even daily crew. Scour your local yacht club’s website for crew positions. Check on local cruising and racing websites for links to crew placement.

Visit marinas and talk to boaters. Swing by boater lounges and spread the word that you are looking – offering a business card with your phone number is a good idea.

Volunteer for charity races in order to meet captains and crew and hopefully earn a spot on the boat in the next race. Always be that crew member who shows up early, offers to help, brings some food and/or beverage, and is willing to demonstrate a willingness to work.

What to Bring the Captain When You Score a Day Spot On Board!

Bring something for the host or hostess, just like on land.

You can’t go wrong with a bag of ice, or maybe some of the house beverage, whether alcoholic or non. Something consumable is good. How about reef-safe sunscreen from  Stream2Sea  to share! Even the bottles are environmentally friendly; totally biodegradable. Stream2Sea  has generously given me a discount code “KimW” for you to use at the checkout at checkout to save 10%.

Some other ideas are snacks in a plastic lidded container. Pick one that don’t need refrigeration or plates to share with everyone. Something that can be eaten with your fingers and does not make a mess or melt when left in the sun.

What to Read Next

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Updated December 14, 2019. Updated December 17, 2019.

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Better Sailing

Sailing Crew Roles and Names

The skipper is responsible for the safety of the yacht and the crew’s welfare. However, sailing a boat successfully requires teamwork from the skipper and the crew. This will ensure that all maneuvers—such as leaving a mooring, hoisting sails, changing tacks, reefing, or entering a marina—can be completed with maximum enjoyment and minimum stress.

Boat Captain/Skipper

It may come as a shock, but the skipper is not necessarily the helm. This crew member must ensure that the boat is ready for sailing. He or she needs to make sure that all members of the crew are accounted for. They also need to make sure that food and fuel are sufficient, and sails are ready for hoisting. The skipper is in charge of keeping communications open onboard and help other crew members if needed. Also, they are usually responsible for talking the whole crew through maneuvers as they are about to happen and making sure that all crew members are ready.

What Makes A Good Skipper?

• Responsibility : The skipper is responsible for all aspects of the running of the yacht, its safety, and the crew’s wellbeing.
• Skills : He or she should be comfortable with sailing and navigation skills, inspire confidence in their crew, and be a good communicator.
• Delegation : A good skipper should keep on top of all his or her duties and give the crew tasks that are appropriate to their experience.
• Patience : He or she should be patient with inexperienced crew members and be able to run the yacht with a light touch while retaining respect and authority. 
• Briefing : It is the skipper’s role to plan the passage in detail before setting sail. 
• Involvement : A good skipper will also encourage the crew to get involved in passage planning and navigation and will always listen to their opinions.

Tactician 

The tactician’s role is to get the boat around the racecourse as fast as possible. For that, he needs to take into account the wind, tide, and other competitors, as well as the crew’s ability. They also need to make sure that the boat has the correct course. In short, the tactician is the brains of the sailboat. The tactician must communicate with the helm and skipper to run through maneuvers.

The Helm (Driver)

The Helm is often mistakenly perceived as the skipper. This crew role is to steer the boat where the tactician says and to keep sailing as fast as possible. The helm is also helping with other tasks, but they must focus on the job at hand as much as possible. The helm and the tactician must be in close communication with each other.

Head Sail Trimmers

This crew role is for two members, one who will cut release the sail when going through the tack while the other pulls in the full sail. The crew member releasing can then assist with tailing the sail or trimming it – which is a good example of teamwork. Also, the trimmer should keep adjusting the sail, depending on the point of sail, and should be very focused on that task. Also, the trimmers are in charge of trimming the spinnaker sail and guy when going downwind. Main communication is kept between each other, boat captain and tactician. Pre-start these guys will have a lot to do!

This crew member is in control of all sail hoists and drops depending on the wind. The bowman spends most of their time on the foredeck (the deck at the forward part of the sailboat), preparing for spinnaker hoists, gibes, and drops. 

This crew member is a combination of both the bowman and mastman. They are in control of all of the running rigging which comes into the cockpit. This is a vital role and always in the middle of the action. Pitmans must keep communication is between bowman, mast man, and skipper—the eyes and ears for the foredeck crew.

This position is reserved for the stronger members of the crew. A mastman’s foremost task is to assist with the speedy hoisting of the sails during maneuvers. The mast man and bowman go hand in hand and help each other on hoists and drops. The main communication is with the bowman, pitman, and skipper.

No sailing team is complete without its ballast crew members that help to balance the boat in order to reach its top possible speeds and maneuverability. These members of the crew are called ‘ballast’ and are key when racing for the mark. Ballast crew members have the best seat in the house.

What Makes a Good Crew Member?

• Key qualities : All crew members require a positive attitude, sense of humor, and the ability to get along with others in the confined space aboard a cruiser. 
• Willingness to Learn : Good crew members are willing to learn and to take an active role in all aspects of running the yacht.
• Attentive : Diligent crew listen to the instructions carefully and ask questions if they do not understand anything.
• Working As a Team : All members of the crew must remember that they are part of a team. A happy gathering in the cockpit at the end of the passage is an indicator that each member of the crew has done their job.

Peter is the editor of Better Sailing. He has sailed for countless hours and has maintained his own boats and sailboats for years. After years of trial and error, he decided to start this website to share the knowledge.

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An Overview Of The Essential Crew Positions On A Boat

Here’s a summary of the main crew roles you’ll find on board a boat.

The Captain

Otherwise known as the Helmsman or Skipper , the captain takes the lead on board and is responsible for guiding the ship and its crew to its destination.  A captain should be the most knowledgeable sailor on board, and also exhibit significant qualities of leadership – after all, it’s his direction and leadership that guides the crew in the successful sailing of the ship.

The captain makes many on board decisions himself, and if he needs to consult his crew – perhaps regarding navigation or racing tactics –  he’ll have the final say over any decisions made.

The First Mate

The first mate is the captain’s right hand man.  His role differs depending on the size of the ship and the number of crew on board.  On a small sailing vessel, there may only be the captain and a couple of others – in which case the First Mate’s role will be almost more deckhand-esque than anything else.

On board larger ships, however, the first mate generally has more responsibility.  Most of the crew will report directly to him, and he’ll be in charge of the cargo, the safety and  the security of the ship.

The engineer performs a vital role on board any powered vessel – it’s his responsibility to make sure all electrical and mechanic equipment is functioning properly.  His most important task is to keep the main engines at full operational capacity, but he’s also responsible for repair and maintenance of other equipment such as on board jet skis, remote controls and televisions.

The Bosun is essentially a senior deckhand. He’s tasked with the overall responsibility for the state of the boat, and as you’d expect, is also in charge of the deckhands junior to him.

A ship’s cook plays a crucial role – he’s responsible for keeping guests well-fed and happy, and providing the crew with the right sustenance so they can do their jobs effectively. There are a couple of peripheral skills a ship’s cook needs over and above a chef in a restaurant.

Firstly, he has to carefully select the right ingredients for the voyage – he needs to consider how long they’ll last, and pick “nutrient dense” foods that pack a nutritious punch in small amounts of space.

He also needs to be able to cook in a somewhat unpredictable environment, given the tendency of a ship to buck and sway on the waves. The cook has to take extra care with knives, pots, pans and safety protocols in the ship’s kitchen.

Deckhands are the workhorses of the boat’s crew.

Deckhands have a range of general responsibilities, and their main task is to keep the boat in ship-shape. This includes cleaning, painting, general maintenance and possibly driving tenders or kit such as jet skis for guests.

They may also be required to assist with cleaning, cooking and serving food.

A deckhand is an entry level crew position, and it’s a great place to start if you want to gain experience, work your way up the hierarchy and develop more specialised sailing skills further down the line.

Any of these positions take your fancy?  If so, check out one of our  Competent Crew course s – they’re the best place to start in order to get your foot in the door for a professional role on board.

And if you like the thought of captaining your own ship, check out the RYA Day Skipper course, which is your fast-track introduction to the role.

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Sailing Positions

Positioning in sailing has to do with where your sail is facing and how it is being affected by the wind. In order to keep direction and speed, someone must be paying attention to the speed and direction of the wind and adjusting the sail accordingly. Even a slight miscalculation could be disastrous in sailing. Below, we will take a look at the different positions, duties, and jobs one can have on a sailboat.

Sailing Duties

The people who work on a ship can differ depending on the type of ship. The crew on a crew boat consists of eight people all sitting in a row on the boat. This is different from the crew on a yacht, which includes spinnakers, helmsman, bowmen, and more. Though their duties are different, the objective of both sets of crew is to work with the wind and tides to get to the next destination as quickly and easily as possible. With a yacht, this means dealing with a sail while a crew boat needs to paddle.

While the titles and roles of the various crew members on a sailing boat may vary depending on the league, race, and type of vessel, here are a few common positions you will hear of in sailing:

Tactician/Trimmer

A sailing tactician, also sometimes referred to as a “trimmer,” checks the wind shifts and adjusts the course of the boat accordingly . In races, their job is to guide the boat and the other crew members along the racecourse in order to get them to the finish line as fast as possible. They must take into account the angle of the sail, wind, and tide and then choose which side of the line to favor. Even a small miscalculation by a tactician can mean the end of the race for a whole team. 

Trimmers are often referred to by whichever sail they are in charge of: for instance, the trimmer who works the mainsail will be referred to as the “mainsail trimmer,” while a trimmer who works the foresail will be called a “foresail trimmer.” Trimmers may also be referred to by where on the boat they are stationed (e.g. “port trimmer” and “starboard trimmer”).

A driver, also sometimes referred to as a “helmsman," keeps the boat pointed in the direction that the tactician suggests. As their name suggests, the act of keeping the point pointed in the best possible direction is known as “driving.” Drivers are also responsible for making sure a maximum safe speed is maintained throughout the duration of the race.

A mastman is the main crewmember who assists with the quick hoist of a sail during maneuvers.  This sailor is typically the strongest member of the crew, because they must be able to easily move the sail during strong wind shifts. A mastman will work closely with the bowman and keep in communication with the pitman and captain.

The understudy, also known as the second officer, is the second-in-command and helps manage the crew.  While the tactician or first officer is in charge of navigating the boat in the correct direction, the understudy helps manage the bridge team and makes sure the deck team is acting in accordance with the first officer’s orders. Understudies will also learn the jobs of the mastman, bowman, and pitman to fill in where necessary. Understudies are most often seen on large yachts and superyachts.

The bowman is the crew member that is in charge of the sail . This is a very important job, because once a tactician signals, a bowman must be ready immediately to angle the sail or raise/drop it at a moment’s notice. If a sail is not raised, dropped, or moved in time this can mean a drastic drift off course.

The pitman is similarly-named (and has a similar function to) the pit crew in many automobile racing sports.  On a sailboat, however, the pit crew on a sailing boat is often just one person. The pitman is responsible for resolving any in-race issues with the boat that could cause a disaster or a loss while the race is underway. 

Common things that the pitman may have to deal with are unexpected knots or entanglements in the rigging and ropes of the vessel, which can make it hard to raise or shift the sails as needed. Pitmen will also prefeed sheets and “run the tapes” on sails that are off the breeze to make sure that they do not get tangled. The pitman is also commonly charged with raising and lowering sails when the boat is rounding a mark. 

What are the positions in sailing?

In sailing, position titles can vary based on what type of sailing you are performing, but the most common positions are tacticians/trimmers, a driver, a mastman, an understudy, a bowman, and a pitman.  These positions divide up the various roles and duties on a sailboat, including guiding the ship, raising and lowering sails, undoing tangles and knots, steering, and calling maneuvers.

What is a sailing team called?

A sailing team’s name can differ among boat types. Normally they are called a “crew,” specifically on crew boats where the members are very close together and are forced to work as a team more than any other boat. Teams in a competition can also just be called “sailing teams” at international competitive events such as the Olympics.

What are the positions on a yacht?

Yacht crew positions include pitman, mainsheet trimmer, bowman, helmsman, spinnaker guy trimmer, and spinnaker sheet trimmer. The crew positions on a yacht are more complicated than that of a crew boat or a smaller sailing boat. While there are only six members, as compared to eight on a crew boat, they have more complicated responsibilities dealing with the mainsail as well as other factors involved in a yacht.

Pages Related to Sailing Positions

• How Does Scoring Work in Sailing?
• What Is Sailing?
• History of Sailing
• Sailing Equipment List

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Whether it be on a luxury sailing yacht or weekend trailer sailer, a monohull or a multihull, the feeling of moving along the water using only the power of the wind is addictive. Working on a sailing yacht is an adventure in itself, providing you with a rewarding way to experience some of the most beautiful places in the world. Different skills are required for different yacht sizes and journey types, so you should do some research into what you are looking for and what you are able to offer if you are looking to work on a sailing yacht. Find a Crew™ is used by many professional and recreational sailing yachts around the world to look for a variety of crew positions. If you are only interested in working on a sailing yacht, you can fine tune your profile to indicate this so that you are only matched against sailing yachts.

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Winner of European Yacht of the Year 2023. She is a new breed of luxury 50 foot yacht, offering effortless shorthanded sailing capability.

A magnificent, award-winning sub 60 foot sailing yacht, offering luxurious living space and outstanding shorthanded sailing capability.

A beautifully proportioned 60 foot, luxury liveaboard bluewater cruiser, offering effortless shorthanded sailing capability.

A superb sub 70 foot ocean sailboat offering versatile luxury living space and impeccable sailing performance.

An inspired 75 foot yacht, offering infinite configuration options, generous luxury living space and flexible crew quarters.

Oyster 885SII

The remarkable, iconic 90 foot sailboat, perfect for relaxed luxury voyages of discovery.

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