Super yachting can be an extremely lucrative career path to take if you set yourself some good goals to begin with. It is one of the most lucratively paid careers in the world if you work hard and stay focused. It’s not just the monetary compensation that’s attractive; super yachting also offers incredible benefits and perks, such as free travel to some of the most spectacular places in the world, amazing networking, relationship building and surreal adventures. So, how does one go about getting into Yachting?

Sign up for the right super yachting courses

While previous experience in the hospitality, fitness and sailing industry in SA is helpful and will definitely help you with your confidence skills and all the different personalities you will have to detail with, it won’t help you find work on the superyacht. It’s absolutely essential to invest in yourself and specialised training in order to find work on superyachts, especially given how competitive the industry is nowadays. If you are looking for work as a deckhand, you will need to complete a standard set of Royal Yachting Association courses (RYA) as these are the only courses the super yachting Industry recognise. Besides completing your RYA courses, you will also need to do the STCW 2010 11-day training course, which is compulsory for anyone working on any sea going vessel. Apart from the standard compulsory courses required to work on superyachts, there are additional training courses and career progression courses offered by SYSA, which we recommend you do after a season or two on the superyachts.

Does SYSA guarantee jobs for their students?

Just like most training institutions, SYSA cannot guarantee a job after our students complete their courses with us. We do, however, guide and support you through the whole process and tell you exactly what you need to do in order to find work, but in the beginning, when you have no experience, you have to physically go to where the superyachts are and start from scratch. It’s a high-risk, high-reward industry, and if you have the right mindset and attitude, you can go far. We are always on the lookout for opportunities, however, and offer these to SYSA students first. Getting hired for yacht jobs isn’t always easy, and we try our best to provide enough resources to kick-start our students’ careers. Look at our blog, where we discussed tips for creating the best superyacht crew CV and dock walking.

So, how do you find a job?

In the super yachting industry, networking is key to success in finding work. Get involved with industry events, online and in person, and try to meet as many people as possible; you never know when or where your next opportunity will come from. It’s all about being in the right place at the right time. Attend yacht shows, learn everything you can about the industry, and always look for ways to further your career. This can also be a “dock walking” – handing out your CV and meeting industry professionals. We also encourage you to work with yacht crew agencies that have a proven track record of placing crew around the world. The super yachting industry is competitive, and you must put yourself out there to find a job consistently. Keep preserving and have patience, and whatever you do, don’t give up!

When you do find that job, it will change your life.

Working on a yacht allows you to experience the lifestyle of a select few. You will often have access to state-of-the-art equipment and luxury facilities (when no guests are on board). It’s mostly expense-free living whilst you get to travel the world. The salaries are very lucrative. Most of our students have gone on to earn over R50 000 a month (tax-free) with minimal if any, monthly expenses. When compared to the entry-level salaries of other positions and the cost of a university degree (over three years), it comes as no surprise that many young people are looking to pursue a career in yachting. They can save a lot of money with the bonus of seeing the world. We have students working worldwide, including Alaska, Miami, Dubai, Europe, Australia and more. The experience you will get from seeing different places and meeting different people is invaluable.

Super yachting is an excellent career choice for anyone willing to put in the hard work, dedication, time and perseverance it takes to be successful in the industry. It’s not easy in the beginning, but if you can get into the industry, the benefits are once-in-a-lifetime experiences, travelling to parts of the world only 1% of the population get to see, amazing personal growth, incredible opportunities to save huge amounts of money for your future and the chance to forge life long friendships and amazing connections.
If you’re interested in pursuing a career in super yachting, take a look at our courses and contact Georgina at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.