What they don’t tell you about yachting…
When you think about the world of yachting, you think about big boats, expensive furniture, exotic locations, fine art, precious marble, big celebrity parties. And what’s even better… that the average person like you and I would have the privilege of working in that kind of environment and being able to witness just a glimpse of the life of the ‘elite’ rich and famous.
In today’s society, “yachting” is sold to so many young adults either leaving school or university or even those who are just looking to change their career up. It’s an exciting topic and something to really look forward to. Albeit an exciting thought, you should know about the ins and outs of what people are NOT told about when entering the world of yachting.
Starting off in the industry is such an exciting time. You’re in a country you most likely haven’t been to before, experiencing traveling in a different form altogether, but with that comes much to learn. Whether you’re on the interior, down in the engine room or out on deck, the amount of information that’s piled onto you in the first couple of days can be daunting. It’s totally okay to feel overwhelmed and as if you just simply aren’t cut out for the job at hand, 99.9% of yachties have walked in your shoes! Just keep pushing and know that every setback is a new opportunity to grow, and every mistake you make just makes you stronger and more knowledgeable. Life will still go on, even if you don’t remember where every fire extinguisher is located or which colour polo top you’re supposed to be wearing after day 1, hang on in there, you’ve got this!
Conflict in the workplace is a universal occurrence. Luckily with a 9-5 job, you’re able to head home after a tough day to destress and talk to loved ones or friends in person about the situation that’s annoyed you at work. With no opportunity to get yourself out of the environment for a short while to decompress, yachting is a little different. I quickly learnt that to be happy and proficient in your work, conflict between crew members needs to be resolved swiftly and you need to “get over it” almost immediately. Captains and heads of department do not have time to deal with petty conflict, so, if you and your HOD have a disagreement, the best thing to do often is put it behind you and move on with your day. Each new day is a new opportunity to grow and learn from the previous day’s disagreement. If you still feel strongly about something that’s happened, bring it up in a calmer environment later, or with someone more senior.
Sometimes things don’t work out on board and you’re either asked to leave or decide of your own accord that it’s time to move on. Making sure to really read through your contract and repatriation agreement is of the utmost importance. As a “greenie” to the industry things didn’t work out on my first boat after 4 months and unbeknown to me, I wasn’t due to be sent on a flight back to my home country. I missed reading through my repatriation section in my contract which left me stranded with nowhere to go in the middle of Greece. While that doesn’t sound like such a horrible place to be, if you’re new and don’t have money saved up to get yourself back home, things like this could end up becoming a nightmare.
Wanting to vent about problems at work, whether it be the program, crew disagreements or you just simply being unhappy is completely normal. You’re allowed to feel sad and down sometimes. Expressing your emotions and feelings is allowed. However, be careful as to who you share your thoughts with and where you’re talking about these topics. “The walls have ears” is probably some of the best advice I could give you. Keep your thoughts to yourself in places such as the crew mess and social areas on board, crew don’t want to hear about your argument with your chief stew or chief officer, and it just brings down the “vibe” on board. Rather go and sit in your cabin or step off the boat after work to decompress. If in you are in your cabin, make sure to keep your voice down as sound travels, and the walls… they really do have ears!
This last piece is probably the most important piece of information I could give to you… most greenies will take any job that’s offered to them in the beginning and stick it out through some really tough situations. While I do agree that in the beginning one should take what they can get, keeping yourself in a toxic environment can be extremely detrimental to not only your physical health, but your mental stability too. You do not need to stay in an environment that’s condescending, disrespectful and negative. Your crew should be able to work together in an uplifting environment. In such a fast paced and stressful workplace, there’s no time for negative and exhausting attitudes. If you find yourself changing into someone you never thought you would be, make a change! There are so many boats out there that would be grateful to have you on board, always remember that while the grass might not always be greener on the other side, you most certainly do not need to be unhappy where you are!
Emma Pittard
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@emminthewild
@emmonayacht
