We love our jobs as yacht crew, the sun, the sea, the stories. But let’s not pretend it’s all beach bonfires and Instagrammable sunsets. Long hours, tight quarters, stressful guests, no personal space, it’s a pressure cooker with epaulettes.

So how do you handle it without losing your job or your marbles? 

Easy(ish): Be the crew member people want to work with. Not the one they fantasise about locking in the laz with a mop and no escape route.

Whether you’re green as seaweed or have a few seasons under your belt, these are your non-negotiables.

You don’t have to be best mates with everyone, but you do need to understand they’re human. Maybe the stew who snapped at you hasn’t slept in three days. Maybe the deckie’s got drama back home. You don’t need to fix it. Just don’t add to it.

Not the fake nod-while-scrolling kind. Proper eye contact, actual acknowledgement. Whether it's a new procedure or someone venting about a guest who asked for “warm water, but like, emotionally,” listening builds trust. And trust is priceless at 3am in a storm when you're passing lines blind.

Even when you're exhausted. Especially when you're exhausted. Muck in. Ask what needs doing. Chip away at the chaos together. You’ll earn crew karma and get to your off-duty nap faster. Win-win.

“Please,” “thank you,” “you okay?” – basic human decency. Just because you’re elbow-deep in sewage or folding your 83rd beach towel doesn’t mean you get a pass on politeness.

If you know the Chief Stew is dealing with a meltdown over a particular guest’s pillow fluffing demands, and the deck team is ankle-deep in tender maintenance, ask if you can help. Proactivity is sexy. So is being useful.

Yacht life is full on. But if you can keep your sense of humour, dodge the drama, and avoid turning into a sulking goblin, you’ll be golden. No one expects constant cheerfulness, but a bit of good energy goes a long way.

Seriously. That’s it. The golden rule. Don’t dump your problems on others. Don’t expect applause for basic tasks. Don’t leave your socks on someone else’s bed. Just… don’t.

You’ve got the basics down? Good. Time to go from “not annoying” to “absolute legend.”

Yachting is chaos in formalwear. Itineraries change. Weather turns. Kids appear. Tenders flood. The chef quits. Whatever the madness, you roll with it. Flexibility isn’t optional; it’s obligatory.

Scenario: The boss arrives a day early with twice the kids and zero warning. Interior's ready. Deck's disassembled the furniture. Do you a) say “glad I’m not deck, lol” or b) help them reassemble like a caffeinated IKEA tech? Be option B.

You don’t have to bow and scrape, but don’t go rogue. Want to help another department? Ask your HOD first. It’s not about control – it’s about keeping everyone in the loop.

Don’t just help when someone’s watching. The best crew do the right thing because it needs doing. One day it’ll be you knee-deep in stress, and someone else will be the hero with the spare hand and the spare KitKat.

You don’t need forced “team bonding” sessions with PowerPoint and trust falls. Go for dinner. Hit the beach. Watch a movie. Share a hangover. Friendships forged in port = smoother sailing on board.

Doesn’t matter if you’ve done four seasons, know the laundry system inside out, and can fold a fitted sheet one-handed. You still carry boxes, wipe tables, and help tie tenders. The moment you think you’re too good for a task? That’s when you stop being good crew.

Being a great crew member isn’t about being the loudest, the flashiest, or the most technically skilled. It’s about being reliable, kind, adaptable, and present. It’s about knowing when to step up, when to step back, and when to just say “you okay?” at the right time.

Get this right, and you won’t just handle yacht life – you’ll own it. More importantly, you’ll be remembered. In a good way. The “we’d hire them again in a heartbeat” way.

So be that crew member.

And you won’t wake up with your pillow mysteriously duct-taped over your face.

 ✨ For more no-nonsense tips and honest advice at every stage of your yachting journey, check out Superyacht Life: How to Start, Succeed, & Stay Sane by Erica Lay - available 1st October on Amazon.