New to Yachting — Yachting Europe Academy

Placed by YE Recruitment.

Where to begin

So you want to work
on a yacht.

Good. It's one of the most rewarding careers you can have — incredible destinations, strong pay, a tight-knit crew and a life that looks nothing like a desk job. But getting in without knowing how the industry works can be slow, expensive and frustrating.

We built the Introduction Course to change that. It's the fastest, most direct route from zero experience to your first position on a private yacht — because we're the team that actually does the placing.

No sailing experience required. Most crew started exactly where you are now.

Any background works. Hospitality, sport, engineering, cooking — every department has a place for you.

You don't need to figure it out alone. We work with owners and captains daily — and we put our crew in front of them.

The life on board

The Mediterranean
in summer. The Caribbean
in winter.

Private yachts go where their owners want to go. That means some of the most beautiful places on earth — and you're working there, not visiting. Palma, Monaco, the Amalfi Coast, Antigua, St Barts.

The work is real and the hours can be long. But the lifestyle, the pay and the crew community make it genuinely unlike any other job available to someone starting out.

Accommodation Included on board — your cabin, meals and travel covered

Salary Tax-free income, tips common on private vessels

Season Med Apr–Oct, Caribbean Oct–Apr, year-round for some

Crew Close-knit teams — most crew cite this as the best part

The Path In

From curious to
first season.

Getting into yachting isn't complicated — but it has to be done in the right order. Most people waste money on certifications before they understand the industry or know which department they want to work in. Our course fixes that.

Understand the industry

Learn how private yachting actually works — the fleet structure, the seasons, the hierarchy and what captains and owners look for in first-time crew. Most people skip this and pay for it later.

Choose your department

Deck & Navigation, Interior & Hospitality, Engineering & Technical, or Culinary & Galley. Your background and interests will point you in the right direction — and we'll help you decide.

Get certified and CV-ready

Each department has a specific set of entry-level certifications. We tell you exactly which ones, in what order, at what cost — and we give you a CV template built to yacht industry standard.

Get introduced to a captain

When a position opens that suits your profile, our placement team contacts you directly. No job boards, no cold applications. A direct introduction — because we work with the captains and owners ourselves.

The Introduction Course

Everything in
one course — properly.

One online course covers all four steps above. You choose your department track, get your CV built to standard and enter the YE crew database automatically — all in one place, at your own pace.

100% online — study on any device, start anytime
4 role tracks: Deck, Interior, Engineering, Culinary
CV built to yacht industry standard
Automatic entry into the YE crew database
Three tiers — self-paced through to 1-on-1 support

See the Course

Common Questions

Things people ask
before getting started.

No. Most entry-level crew positions on private yachts — especially in Interior, Culinary and Engineering — require no sailing ability at all. Even on the Deck track, you start as a deckhand doing cleaning, maintenance and line handling. Sailing competence comes later with experience and certifications.

Most entry-level positions require you to be at least 18. There is no upper age limit — captains hire on attitude and skills, not age. That said, the majority of first-time crew entering the industry are between 18 and 30, and the physical demands of some roles (particularly Deck) mean younger applicants have a natural advantage.

The main upfront cost is your entry-level certifications — primarily your STCW Basic Safety Training, which is required for all crew and typically costs €400–600 depending on provider and location. Beyond that, each department has a small number of additional certifications. Our course tells you exactly what you need and recommends vetted providers so you don't spend money on courses that won't help you get hired.

It varies. Most people who complete the course, get their STCW and have a strong CV are in position within one to three months of actively looking. The pre-season period (January–March for the Mediterranean summer season) is the best time to be job-ready. Our placement team actively introduces registered crew to captains — which significantly speeds up the process compared to applying cold.

Interior tends to have the most open positions at entry level, particularly for people with a hospitality background. Culinary is competitive but chefs with strong references are always in demand. Deck has many applicants so a good CV and willingness to do daywork first helps. Engineering requires more technical knowledge but qualified engineers are genuinely scarce — making it the most in-demand track once you have your certifications.

The adventure starts
with the right first step.

So you want to work
on a yacht.

The Mediterranean
in summer. The Caribbean
in winter.