Finding qualified crew is easy. The real challenge is finding crew who align with your program, stay long-term, and ease your workload.

Choosing the right placement agency can make all the difference. Large agencies might flood you with resumes, but quantity doesn’t guarantee quality. Smaller, owner-operated agencies depend on each successful placement to survive. Their reputation — and their business — hinges on finding crew who actually get the job done. 

Smaller agencies also offer clear advantages: more personalized service, hands-on guidance, and genuine investment in each placement. Most agents have onboard experience, giving them insight into the skills, attitudes, and resilience needed for a crewmember to succeed. As yacht owners focus on longevity, finding the right fit and reducing job turnover become essential.

These boutique agencies embody these advantages — small teams led by experienced former crew who deliver reliable, long-term hires.

Cara Lees Yacht Crew

One of the most significant advantages of smaller agencies is the personal touch.

“At larger agencies, crew can sometimes feel like another CV in a database. My approach is far more personal and relationship-driven,” says Cara Lees, who opened her UK agency in 2021. “That’s the advantage of working with an independent agency: it’s bespoke, responsive, and human.”

With 40 years of practical, hands-on experience across roles both on board and in recruitment ashore, Cara brings deep insight into team dynamics and the personalities that thrive in a service-driven environment. Her own negative experiences with large agencies, coupled with those she witnessed through her captain husband, inspired her to create an agency built on the principles she values most: integrity, transparency, and respect.

Cara takes the time to understand each vessel’s culture, expectations, and leadership style — and what the captain and owner truly want. Trust and open communication, she says, are the foundations for “long-lasting placements and strong, professional relationships.” As an owner-operator, she can be more agile and flexible — adjusting quickly to changing schedules, timelines, and requirements — and is directly available when clients need her.

Although cost-cutting is common throughout the industry, rushing recruitment often leads to costly turnover. Cara’s process is intentionally thorough — face-to-face conversations, reference checks, and candid discussions that reveal who a candidate is beyond the CV. “Every position on board is vital to the smooth running of a yacht, and every placement receives the same care and attention,” she says.

Crew Pacific

Joy Weston of Crew Pacific in Cairns, Australia, shares a similar philosophy — but brings her own distinct approach. Personalized service has been a core part of her business from the start — she opened in 2001 after identifying a niche in the South Pacific for personalized recruitment and high-quality superyacht training.

Joy focuses on pinpointing what captains and yacht owners truly want, beyond simply matching people to positions. “We focus on understanding the unique culture of each yacht and matching crew not only by qualifications and skills but by personality and attitude,” she says. “We know how important crew dynamics are to the overall morale on board and the experience of the owners.”

Vetting is vital, and she is strict about following through. “If a candidate cannot provide referees or written land-based and yacht-specific references, I won’t assist them with employment,” Joy says. “A lack of references or excuses about yacht policies is a major red flag.” 

All candidates are evaluated, whether in person or over video calls, for their presentation, body language, and communication skills. These intangible factors are crucial for matching crew to the right yacht. “We hold our crewmembers to the highest standards,” Joy says, putting forward only candidates who are fully capable of doing the work.

Following Seas Recruiting

Linda Leathart brings two decades of hospitality, yachting, and recruitment experience to Following Seas Recruiting. She began working in crew placement in 2008 and, as a former crewmember herself, understands the realities of life on board.

She thrives on the personal, hands-on approach that boutique agencies do best, treating each placement as a mission to match the right person with the right program. For Linda, this work is more than just a job — it’s a passion rooted in the belief that the right opportunity can change a life. 

She once discovered a machinist with the exact skills she needed living in a remote South African town, far from the world of yachting. Linda recognized his potential, guided him through the necessary steps, and placed him on a yacht, opening the door to a long-term career. He still tells her she changed his life. Stories like his are why she loves her work. 

This commitment shapes her recruiting style: whether she’s conducting exhaustive research for a high-profile client or tapping into her global network for referrals, she takes the time to understand a yacht’s culture, chemistry, and long-term needs. She recommends only candidates she truly believes in, which is why captains trust her judgment.

The boutique scale of Following Seas also means more meaningful time with candidates — offering guidance, real conversations, and career support that lead to stronger, longer-lasting placements. It’s never about volume; it’s about knowing that she has made an impact on people’s lives and careers.

The advantage is clear: For crew, smaller agencies provide access, genuine connection, and career guidance; for captains and heads of departments, they offer carefully screened hires that strengthen team dynamics and support smoother operations.

You’ll receive fewer CVs — and that’s the goal. Each one is carefully evaluated for skills, personality, longevity, and cultural fit. Instead of wasting hours on interviews, you’ll only meet candidates who genuinely match your needs. Throughout the process, you’ll work directly with the agency owner, ensuring consistency and a more personal, efficient experience that results in an excellent hire.

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