How to get a yacht job with no experience
Researched reference · Published 2026-07-06. AtlantisDesk compiles this from public industry and government sources; we are not, and do not claim to be, former yacht crew.
Figures verified July 2026 — costs, salaries, visa and certification rules change; verify with official sources before relying on them.
A practical, step-by-step reference to landing a first superyacht job when you have never crewed before — from certificates to dockwalking.
What “green crew” means
In yachting, green crew usually means someone who holds the entry certificates but has no superyacht sea time yet. The two typical entry roles are junior (green) deckhand on the deck side and junior steward / stewardess in the interior. You are not expected to have crewed before — you are expected to have the paperwork in hand, look professional, and be in the right place at the right time.
The path, step by step
- Get your certificates first. STCW Basic Training and an ENG1 medical are a near-universal prerequisite — most agencies and captains will not look at you without them.
- Build a professional one-page yachting CV with a clear head-and-shoulders photo.
- Relocate to a crew hub during the season. Being physically in a hub in peak season is widely described as the single biggest factor in getting hired.
- Register with crew agencies such as Yotspot, bluewater and YPI Crew.
- Dockwalk and pick up daywork. See daywork, day rates and seasons for how this works and when to do it.
- Convert daywork into a first permanent junior role as boats crew up for the season.
How long does it take?
There is no guaranteed timeline. Industry sources describe anything from a few days to a couple of months on the ground in peak season, and that is anecdotal — treat any specific “X weeks” claim with caution. Your certificates, your CV, the season, and how long your savings last all affect it.
Common mistakes
- Arriving in the wrong season or the wrong location.
- Turning up without certificates already in hand.
- Being unwilling to daywork or to cross between deck and interior tasks.
- A weak CV or unprofessional appearance.
- Underestimating the cost of living in a crew hub while you look.
Read next
- STCW Basic Training explained
- The ENG1 seafarer medical
- Yacht crew salaries by role
- Daywork, day rates and yacht seasons
Sources and further reading: Yotspot, Flying Fish, Dockwalk.
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