How to Become Yacht Crew - Complete Beginners Guide (2026)

Step-by-step guide to becoming yacht crew with no experience. STCW training, ENG1 medical, costs, timeline, and how to land your first yacht job in 2026.

Quick Facts

• Minimum requirements: ENG1 medical + STCW Basic Safety Training
• Training cost: €1,500–€4,000 (basic to comprehensive course)
• Timeline: 1–3 months from training to first job
• No prior experience needed for entry-level roles
• Peak hiring: March–May (Med season) and October–November (Caribbean season)
• Entry-level salary: €2,500–€3,500/month with free accommodation and food

Becoming yacht crew requires three things: an ENG1 seafarer's medical certificate, STCW Basic Safety Training, and the determination to find your first position. The entire process typically takes 1 to 3 months and costs between €1,500 and €4,000.

Step 1 — Get Your ENG1 Medical Certificate

The ENG1 is a seafarer's medical certificate issued by MCA-approved doctors. It confirms you're medically fit to work at sea and is the first document you should obtain before spending money on any training courses.

Get your ENG1 FIRST. There's no point completing an STCW course if you subsequently fail the medical examination. The examination costs approximately £100-£150 and is valid for 2 years.

Step 2 — Complete STCW Basic Safety Training

STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) is the internationally recognized safety certification required for all professional seafarers. Without it, you cannot legally work on a commercially registered yacht.

The course takes 5 consecutive days and covers: Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities, and Elementary First Aid. Cost: €800–€1,500 depending on location.

Step 3 — Consider a Professional Training Course

While ENG1 + STCW is technically all you need, a professional deckhand or stewardess course dramatically increases your chances of landing a job. These courses typically last 3-4 weeks and cost €2,000-€4,000.

They teach practical yacht-specific skills: line handling, tender driving, silver service, yacht housekeeping standards, and more. Crucially, training schools provide industry contacts and networking opportunities that can lead directly to job offers.

Step 4 — Build Your Yacht Crew CV

A yacht crew CV should be exactly one page, include a professional headshot, list your certifications prominently, and highlight any hospitality or relevant transferable skills.

Keep the design clean, simple, and professional—yacht captains review dozens of CVs and appreciate clarity over creativity.

Step 5 — Find Your First Job

Online platforms — Register on 1crew3 and similar platforms, set up job alerts, and apply promptly to new listings.

Dockwalking — Physically walking the marinas in yachting hubs and handing your CV to crew on yachts remains one of the most effective methods for first-timers.

Crew agencies — Register with multiple agencies in your target locations.

Networking — The yachting industry is surprisingly small, and word-of-mouth is powerful.

Best Locations to Start

• Antibes, France — The yacht crew capital of the Mediterranean. Best time: March-May.
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida — The biggest yachting hub in the Americas. Best time: October-December.
• Palma de Mallorca, Spain — A growing yachting hub with excellent training facilities. Best time: March-May.

How Much Does It Cost?

Item	Cost
ENG1 Medical	€100–€175
STCW Basic Safety Training	€800–€1,500
Professional Course (optional)	€2,000–€4,000
Living expenses while job hunting	€1,000–€3,000
Total (minimum)	€1,500–€2,500
Total (recommended)	€4,000–€8,000

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Spending money on training before getting your ENG1 medical
2. Only applying online and not dockwalking
3. Having a generic CV instead of a yacht-specific one
4. Arriving in a yachting hub at the wrong time of year
5. Being too picky about your first position
6. Not having enough savings for the job search period