Ship to Shore: How to land a shore-based role in yachting

Ship to Shore: How to land a shore-based role in yachting 

By Georgia Tindale 

If you’re reading this article, chances are, you are interested in working within yachting. From landing a job as a stewardess, chef, AV/IT officer or even a superyacht captain, there is a wealth of opportunities available for those willing to launch themselves into this hugely exciting industry. 

However, for a current crew who are feeling ready to move across into a shore-based role, how easy is it to make this shift? For those who have worked on board for many years, the idea of securing a role on dry land can be daunting. Thankfully, help is at hand! We hear from Volga Diaugo, Owner’s Representative and co-owner at The Doc Yacht Services, who previously worked as a stewardess, to discover her top tips for moving from ship to shore. 

What were the best and worst bits of working as a crewmember?

I worked as a stewardess on board the 49.07-metre Trinity yacht Zoom Zoom Zoom as well as on various other boats. It is the best job to do when you are young because you can go around the world and see everything. I got to travel across Europe, America, the Caribbean and the Bahamas and so I have a lot of wonderful memories.

On the other side, it is definitely not an easy job! You have to be available 24/7. On board, you don’t get to have a private life because you are always living the life of other people: guests, owners and so on. I think every single crewmember has the idea that they want to stay at home and sleep in their own bed after a certain time!

How did you make the transition to a shore-based role?

First I worked as a freelance stewardess for different boats, before joining The Doc Yacht Services where I am now co-owner and Head of Sales. I had already participated in the building of a boat, and my experience as a stewardess also helped a lot, because I know everything about a boat from the inside. 

I now act as an owner’s representative for a few different boats, mainly for Russian speaking owners because it is important for them to have someone that speaks their language as many of them do not speak English. 

Am I correct in thinking that you managed the first Benetti Diamond 44-metre yacht?

Yes, we managed all of the yacht’s construction, as well as cooperating with the owner after the construction was complete to ensure that the boat was ready to go. This included working with port authorities, assisting with immigration paperwork for crew, aiding with the technical services for the boat and much more.

As owner’s representative, I have the owner’s back and ensure they never have to deal with any problems on board. I am there from the signing of the contract, right through to the delivery of the boat and always take a 360-degree approach.

 

What are the best and worst bits of your current role?

There is a lot of job satisfaction. You feel very valued because you know how necessary you are for the owners. I work with very important, wealthy people and I feel thankful that they trust me. 

Of course, there are a lot of hard moments because you need to be available every single minute. I move around a lot, I drive a lot and I don’t sleep a lot! It is a difficult job because you need to communicate with different people and make everything come together, which can sometimes seem impossible. On shore, you are much freer psychologically, than when you are working as crew, but the job is more difficult to do physically.

In terms of salary, when you first move to a shore-based role it is usually half of the salary you were making before as crew, and you need to understand this before you do it. Of course, you can develop your position over time, but it can be difficult for people when they have become accustomed to a really high wage. 

What would be your advice to people who are looking to move from a crew role to a shore-based position? 

Don’t be afraid to try. It can be difficult to make that first step and feel intimidating when you look ahead, but it is so much easier once you have. Use the websites which list available jobs and send your CV out to lots of places. 

If they are not successful initially, how should crewmembers develop their skillset so that they can secure a role in the future? 

Never stop learning. There is a lot of new information all around us every single day, so study, study, study, and this will help keep you moving forward. 

Keen to find out more? 

If we’ve piqued your interest and you’d like to look for the latest shore-based job openings, take a look at our Yotspot jobs listings today.