You have just finished your first busy season as a crew member and now have more experience, new skills, a good reference to offer your new employer.   The first thing to do is to weigh up your options and make a list;   Caribbean/ Pacific season?   Do you want to carry on and obtain another position on board, travel to the Caribbean or some other exotic destination and leave the Mediterranean winter behind?   If you enjoy travelling and enjoyed your first season and want to extend your yachting career. There is no need to sit and wait and spend all your hard earned wages waiting for the next Med season to kick off. You could find another position on a large vessel and go over to the Caribbean either on its own steam or on the Dock express. You will...

Last week a deal was finally reached to bring peace between the two sides of the British channel. Hostile French fisherman attacked British boats with insults, rocks, smoke pellets, and petrol bombs at the end of August just twelve nautical miles off the coastal stretch of Normandy. A tense two weeks later and all has been resolved. Although boat captains have vowed to fight back should they find themselves in the same treacherous waters. Although an agreement has been drawn up it has yet to be signed. Captain Anthony Quesnel, returned to land after a night at sea with almost a tonne of Sole, Plaice, and Mackerel. But alas, abiding by the French rules and regulations, there wasn't a scallop in site. This is due to their breeding season which will last until the beginning of O...

Did you hear about the Brit who fell off the back of the Norwegian cruise ship last week?  She was rescued apparently unharmed, but only after 10 hours of treading water, floating (and singing!) to stay alive.   Obviously, accidents do happen but any accident on board is one too many. Safety of the family, guests, charterers and crew on any vessel is paramount. From the single deckhand relocating a tender to the 70-crew running the 164m superyacht Eclipse.  If you're new to superyachts, you'll have to get up to speed with the yacht's safety procedures, PDQ!  Every yacht should have clear safety regulations and guidelines for how people behave around the vessel, regular drills to perfect and update safety procedures, tutorials on how to use sa...

For the luxury superyacht event of the year, all eyes turn to the Principality of Monaco next month for The Monaco Yacht Show 2018. The ultimate superyacht showcase runs from the 26th to the 29th September, situated in one of the premier superyacht locations, amongst the glamour and glitz of Port Hercules. This year's Monaco Yacht Show will host some of the world's most influential leaders from the yachting industry; from superyacht builders, award winning designers, luxury suppliers and brokers, to the latest must-have accessory manufacturers, whether it's water toys, tenders, luxury cars, helicopter or simply a private jet you're after. Attendants will range from yacht owners, potential superyacht buyers, charterers and key decision makers from lux...

I interviewed with a website just before the books Kickstarter launched to speak about the project. Please click the link to view. A cookbook with a mission   We use cookies to enhance your experience. To review, reject or delete these cookies click here

A brief mention from an interview I did with a reporter while working at Zakouma National Park in Chad. The article is mostly about the revival of the park after decades of decline due to poaching in the area. Tourism is now successfully up and running; I used to manage the camp. Click the link to view. In Chad, the Elephants (So Many Elephants) Are Back     We use cookies to enhance your experience. To review, reject or delete these cookies click here

There's been a buzz in Bristol harbor this week, with the surprise arrival of the 68m superyacht Archimedes, named after the most-famous mathematician and inventor in ancient Greece. Quite a surprise for local residents who spotted her glossy (and ice-strengthened to withstand any weather conditions!) Corinthian blue hull gliding up the 10k river Avon last Sunday. The towering yacht reported to be worth £75million and weighing in at 1,100 tonnes has been sitting in stark contrast to the city's docks.  With crowds gathering ever since she docked, some angry at the extravagance it represents, bearing placards in protest and some in awe of its beauty. Owned by 80-year-old US billionaire, philanthropist, and supporter of young people's health and e...

Paul Edmonds, superyacht Captain turned GB Triathlete gives his top tips for keeping fit whilst working onboard superyachts: Set yourself a goal. Whether it's a race or event, you need something to train for and get you out the door when your motivation is low. Plan ahead. Think about when your breaks will be over the coming days/weeks and work out when you'll be able to fit in exercise.  Could be anything, for example: a swim, cycle, run, yoga etc. Make it a community affair! Find other people to train with, whether it's on your yacht or on the one docked next to you. If you've committed to meet on the dock for a morning run, it's harder to wriggle out of it if you know someone's waiting for you! Commit to something together - it's m...

There is a group in Fort Lauderdale trying to smooth out some of the issues faced for both the visa / entry and cruising permit.  To a certain extent both sides could do with being brought up to speed, immigratoin have budget and training restraints which limits what their front line officers decide. Also often captains and crew are poorly prepared, which there is no excuse for as there are lots of resources including USA agents who can help to make the entry more seemless.   B1B2 Visa: 1) Paper work - kill them with paper work, the crew member entering should have EVERYTHING.  ALL relevant boat papers and registration, flag document, a specifc letter from captain or management stating why you're coming to the USA, how long you intend to stay and details of where you wi...

We want to see photos of your Summer 2018 underwater adventures!  Are you busy with the seabobs, or have you launched the submarine yet? Are your guests obsessed with scuba, or have you made friends with any marine life this summer? Simply share your snap on our Facebook page here! The winner will be chosen by our Admin team who are looking for something exciting, fun and different! The winner will be announced on Friday 7th September. Happy snapping! (photo courtesy of last year's 'Preparing for Summer Season' winner, Japie Wiedeman)