WONDER WOMAN
Your First Big Break Oh the nerves and the excitement! Where do I start?” The who, how, what, when, where - the thousands of questions, which all lead to your first yacht. Breaking into this mega-diverse industry is not as easy as many hope it to be. We’ve all heard of people who’ve endlessly applied to insane amounts of different crew agents and done some serious networking in crew houses and crew bars. You even hear of those going to the extent of performing the dreaded “dock walk”. And then, you receive a phone call. Finally your big break. The details are blurry, because all you can really think about is, “finally, I have got myself a job on a yacht...who cares about the rest!” You arrive with eyes wide open and in awe of all the glistening yachts surrounding you. You begin to haul your oversized luggage down the dock, and realise that there’s a chance you may have packed way too much. In time, perhaps, you’ll master the art of packing less and shopping more- with anything practice makes perfect! This skill takes a little time to acquire. With your over-over sized luggage and butterflies in your tummy, you step onboard. There is so much to absorb in a short period of time, and often you’re thrown in at the deep end, left to sink or swim. There are new crew to live with, in an oh-so small environment and you get to become ‘family’ very, very quickly. The beauty of it all is meeting people of different ages from all over the world, with their diverse cultures, traits and personalities, some stronger than others. All these factors
Written by the Talking Stew
become irrelevant when it comes to the first crew meeting...“Just as a reminder, we are here to perform our duties to the highest standards possible”. As the first charter begins, everyone is “big smiles”. The owner arrives and all that runs through your head is “please don’t spill the wine...hope they like me...please don’t spill the wine...hope they like me”. Welcome to the world of “the yachtie”. Indeed, you do travel the world, different ports, countries and cultures, yet you may only get to enjoy them through your porthole window (if you’re lucky enough to have one!) Long hours, endless cleaning and sleep deprivation...the reality hits you fast. But yes, this is my dream job. The day does finally arrive when the charter is over! As you wave goodbye to the owner and his guests, you manage to find that last smile you have left in you; the crew is already planning cocktails and a big night. Just when you thought you could go on no longer, the thought of the after-charter party suddenly sends electricity through your body and you feel like Wonder Woman! This lifestyle is definitely the ultimate definition of the good ol’ “work hard, play hard” cliché. It may not be for everyone, but it is addictive.