MY JOURNEY TO CHIEF STEWARDESS
June 22, 2021DOCK WALKING
Dock walking, or what I like to call "walking miles before earning smiles", is a great way to find work if you are serious about working on a superyacht, and the best way of obtaining your first yacht job with little or no experience. What about COVID-19 and how has this affected the process? It certainly has had an impact, however, we are finding that many new crew are still gaining employment from Cape Town via crew agencies, using their foreign passports or other creative means.
Essentially, dock walking is exactly that: walking along a dock where superyachts are moored, looking for work onboard. The goal is to be able to secure day work or even permanent work, gain valuable experience, network with permanent crew or simply to leave your contact details behind.
Superyachts are often in need of day workers to assist them in their daily tasks. What is day work? Simply put, it is temporary work paid for on a daily basis. Ideal times to look for day work are when yachts are doing pre-season preparation, quick turnarounds between charters are required, or when the yacht is getting ready for a boat show.
The interior departments often require day workers to assist with tasks such as polishing silver, detailing guest cabins, laundry, inventories and provisioning.
Keep an open mind when it comes to dock walking, don’t be afraid to get thrown into the deep end, get your hands dirty or get stuck into doing some less desirable tasks. Don’t be too selective or pass up any opportunity to get your foot in the door!
Getting a seasonal or full-time job on a yacht with no experience will involve networking and the best way to do this is onboard a yacht with an existing crew.
Dress to Impress – You want to look like a yacht crew member ready for a day’s work, so a white or navy t-shirt/polo shirt with khaki shorts/skort is the ideal uniform. Make sure to invest in a comfortable pair of shoes since you may be doing a lot of walking!
Your yachting CV is your main weapon and best marketing tool in this very competitive industry. The objective is to make sure you stand out from the crowd, so ensure that you have the correct format and the latest, most updated version printed, at least 10 copies in a protective sleeve.
- Make sure that there are no errors on your CV, attention to detail is super important in this industry!
PS: Each Stewardess Co. student is provided with a professional yachting CV template for FREE. - Always be contactable, you never know when you’ll be called about a job! Ensure that your phone is fully charged and that you pack a power bank.
- Dock walk alone! Chances that you will get hired in a crowd is slim, your chances are a lot better on your own.
- Dock walking days can be long and strenuous, make sure to pack a bottle of water and some healthy snacks.
- Pack a change of clothes – you may need to get dirty and don’t want to ruin your pristine dock walking attire.
- Strike at different times – While morning (7:30am – 8:00 am) is typically the best time to dock walk, you might also try at the end of the workday between (4.30 pm -5.00 pm) as the vessel may be looking for extra help for the following day. Try refrain from approaching boats during lunch hour, as this is when the crew have their break and will be less inclined to talk to you.
- Do not take rejection personally – Sometimes, yachts are fully crewed, and they just don’t need extra help. Try not to get discouraged and remind yourself that tomorrow is a new day. Perseverance and remaining positive go a long way during your job hunt!
Seek out medium to large yacht ports/marinas. There are numerous yacht ports to visit and it used to be as simple as walking down the quay. In some ports, security has tightened due to the ISPS regulations and public access is no longer a simple process.
Tip: Download the app called “MarineTraffic” to see where yachts are in real time.
Dock walking is illegal in the USA unless you are a US citizen or are a green card holder, be sure to familiarize yourself with local laws.
Europe
- French Riviera
- Italian Riviera
- Palma de Mallorca (Spain)
USA
Good manners, positive attitude and a big smile are key elements to your success!
Never try to board a yacht without permission. Politely ring the intercom at the passerelle and a crew member will be notified of your presence. Technology onboard a superyacht is often the latest and greatest. There is a good chance that you were already spotted on CCTV so don’t forget to smile and don’t do anything inappropriate, like adjusting your underwear or scratching your nose.
Yacht crew have quite a busy schedule onboard, so be patient, polite and friendly when you interrupt their workflow. Some crew will be more approachable than others, remember to stay professional at all times and offer your availability should some “day work” come up, smile and head on to the next yacht.
Don’t be picky when it comes to which yachts you approach. Experience is valuable no matter the look or size of the vessel!
NEVER approach a yacht with Guests on board.
NEVER approach a yacht that is busy coming in or leaving a port. The crew will be very busy and concentrating on the task at hand. They would not want to be disturbed or interrupted.
Make sure you have a good understanding of what the structure and positions onboard a yacht are before you approach any boat. Yachts have a strict hierarchy system and it is important that you are aware of how the chain of command works.
Crew houses are a great place to base yourself and network with fellow yachties that are literally in the same “boat” as you!
Crew houses simulate the living conditions onboard a yacht and are a great way to gain a better understanding of what it is like to live with people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures.
Be polite, respectful, tidy and help out where you can!
Make friends with your flatmates and neighbours. They may get a call or two for day work and put you forward if they are busy or unavailable.
In summary, dock walking is a numbers game and can take time. Be sure to put the hard work in, treat each day like it’s your lucky day and wear your smile like a crown. Persistence and professionalism are key. Never be late and remember to update your CV after each day of work opportunity. Although not always possible, try and secure a written reference after your day work stint.
I am a firm believer that there is a job out there for all those willing to put the time in and who want it most.
Good luck and fair winds.
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