Dovaston Crew
In this months article on careers in the superyacht sector, Phil Edwards, managing director of Dovaston crew agency focuses on the positions of Captain and deck officers. Phil, an ex-captain himself, has inside knowledge of life in charge of a luxury yacht and is keen to stress the advantages of the private sector over the merchant industry.
The captain’s role carries serious responsibility regardless of size or status, however there are some definite bonuses in the super yacht world. The yachts get to cruise to some of the world’s most glamorous locations, marinas in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and the Pacific. Even time spent in the home ports can be pleasant, common locations include Palma , Majorca; Antibes on the Cote d’Azur and Fort Lauderdale in the states. As well as all the traditional roles of the Master the superyacht Captain is expected to act as host during a charter and local expert for both owners and guests.
“The captain needs to carry out detailed research on fine dining and entertainment both home and away” explains Phil “It’s tough at the top!! Being in charge of a private yacht is never boring , as well as the official duties captains may well find themselves working with local yacht agencies to organise limousines, helicopters, tour guides, special food, anything in fact that the owners or guests may require but always to the standard they expect. Flying in ice sculptures and finding 3,000 red roses for a surprise birthday party were just two of the challenges I was given; on a superyacht nothing is too much trouble”
On the bigger yachts the Captain will be supported by two or three officers all of whom will be expected to contribute to the high standard required by the owners. Merchant crew are particularly valued for these positions, their high levels of professionalism and training are well regarded, especially as more boats are being covered by commercial shipping rules and conditions. For a deck officer the private sector can provide a comfortable working environment whilst working towards their Captain’s ticket. Conditions for crew aboard a superyacht are almost as luxurious as for owners with gourmet food considered the norm.
One of the key elements of success in the private sector is matching the right crew with the right owner. The private sector can be tremendously challenging in terms of high standards and expectations. Owners and Captains that have the same outlook can form partnerships that last for years across several changes of boat. The team at dovaston are expert at finding the right match for both boat and crew. They have detailed knowledge not only of positions available but of the ethos and atmosphere aboard.
If you think you may be interested in a move to the superyacht sector why not send an e-mail to info@dovaston.com where the team will be happy to answer any of your queries and share their wealth of knowledge. Unlike a lot of crew agencies, dovastons are committed to working as hard for their crew as they do for their boats. This is why they were so keen to form their partnership with Nautilus as they recognise the benefits that the union can bring to the crew they represent.
For more details please visit : http://www.dovaston.com
Call Us : +34 971 677 375
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