If you haven’t already booked your flights and bought tickets for the Ft Lauderdale Boat Show, add it to your to-do list!

This year’s show happens October 31 - November 4, 2018, and it’s hands-down the biggest opportunity in the U.S. to build your network, find a job, and learn about the industry.

But don’t just show up and hope for the best!

We’ve got 7 tips for how you can make the most out of your Boat Show experience - including planning a working pub crawl!

1. Stay in a crew house

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again - staying in a crew house is the BEST way to network with existing crew and yachties.  Read about crew houses here.

Crew houses may fill up early for the boat show, so do your research ahead of time and make sure you’ve got a reservation.

And give yourself a buffer -- arrive early and plan to stay a few days after the show, to maximize your time to connect with your new network and...

The Crew Grapevine, Antibes

We’ve talked about some of the most exciting spots in yachting worldwide, and the best techniques for jumpstarting your career.  

When you travel to a yachting hub, staying in a crew house is a great way to fast-track building your network and meeting other yacht crew.

But beware -- staying in a crew house is not only a place to sleep, it’s the first day of an extended interview for a superyacht job.

Here’s how you can make the best impression and set yourself up for success!

Act Like A Guest

You might feel like one of the crew (or wish you were), but the truth is, you’re a guest here.

Be on your best behavior and act like you’re staying at someone’s home.

This means keeping your space tidy, cleaning up after yourself in the bathroom, the kitchen, and the common areas, and making sure you’re not causing a burden on others.

After all, especially if they’re working long days...

If you’re aspiring superyacht crew, one of the best ways to stand out as a new candidate is to showcase skills that set you apart.

No matter what your position onboard, one skill that’s greatly appreciated by captains and yacht owners is being comfortable with technology.

And one of the best new tech talents in demand is that of a drone pilot.

As recreational drones with onboard cameras have become more popular and more affordable, they’ve also become more useful for a full range of purposes.

How can your drone skills help the yacht? Here are a few ways:

Lighten The Load

Historically, yacht crew and specifically deck crew have roped up and rappelled down the sides of yachts to inspect hard-to-reach areas on the boat.

While some jobs will still require in-person labor to clean, repair, or upgrade the boat’s equipment, putting a drone out to capture video or imagery of the site in question can make...

One of the best perks of working as superyacht crew is your access to the amazing variety of watersports toys -- and the perfect bays and harbors to put them to use.

To be sure, you won’t be surfing or jet skiing when the guests are onboard, but all of those times when your yacht is anchored (and you’re miles from a town or any type of gym), the ocean is your open playground.

Here are a few of our favorite ways to get active on the water at FreshYacht HQ!

Find Your Balance

Standup paddleboards (SUPs) are all the rage lately -- and it’s easy to see why.

Whether you’re challenging your balance while you paddle the bay, or taking the SUP out for some yoga or pilates on the water, you’ll be giving your core a burner of a workout as you try to keep from falling into the water.

SUPs are also great for a toning workout for the arms, shoulders, and back. Whether you’ve got inflatable or rigid SUPs on board, it might soon...

Marijuana.

Whether you like it or not, it’s a topic of much debate, particularly as recent years have led to a number of U.S. states and other countries decriminalizing the drug -- at least in certain circumstances.

In Canada, pot is already legal for medicinal use, and will become legal for recreational use in the fall of 2018.

The U.S. states of Colorado, Washington, Oregon, California, and several others have made the drug legal for recreational use, while even more allow it for medical use.

But it remains illegal according to Federal Law, leaving many would-be users confused and unsure of how to proceed.

In the U.S., since Marine Law falls under Federal jurisdiction, this means that the drug is still a no-go.

Across Europe and the Caribbean, laws vary from tough enforcement to legal use, or essentially ignored laws that prohibit the drug in theory, but rarely in practice.

And while the consequences can be severe for crew if they’re found with drugs...

Once you’re working on a superyacht, you’ll find that money flows freely into your bank account as you’re well compensated for your hard work!

Without rent or other standard expenses, it’s easy to start saving a nice lump of cash -- but it’s also simple to see it all disappear through irresponsible spending.

Don’t let your hard-earned funds disappear!

Here are four DO'S and DON'TS for your yacht crew income.

 
DO make it automatic!

Establish one -- or several -- savings accounts that are automatically paid each time you receive your salary.

Not sure how to start?

General guidance suggests you transfer 10% of your monthly income to a savings account.

Want to go beyond this?

Set up transfers to retirement accounts or a specific savings fund (for a future home purchase, or a specific bucket-list trip, or something else you really want to buy!), and watch the money accumulate month after month!

DON’T ignore your tax...

Curious about how you can break into yachting with no experience?

Today, we're sharing some great tips from an expert! We sat down with Suzanne Porta, a former yacht stewardess who went on to launch her own crew placement agency. She was happy to talk with FreshYacht to share her experience, explain the three most important characteristics for a new crew member, and give her best advice on how to network successfully!

Suzanne, thanks for chatting with us today! Can you start off by telling us your story of how you came into yachting, and what you do now?

 Like many Americans, I came into the yachting industry by chance. I grew up in New York, and was working in Manhattan in the high tech industry. After the World Trade Center came down on 9/11/01, I donated my nearby apartment to first responders, and I moved out to stay with family in Sag Harbor, New York.

Sag Harbor is a charming little town that’s an absolute hub for boats in the summer. I opened up a...

You’ve done all of your training, you’ve landed some daywork, but now it’s finally time for your big interview! It’s your chance to land a contract or long-term position on a superyacht, and you want to make your best impression.

 It’s important to prepare for your interview and be sure to take into account the unique tips and strategies that will prepare you for a successful superyacht interview, and set you apart from your competitors!

Know Your Boat

Take the time to learn about the boat before your interview. What are its specifications and features?

How many crew are onboard? What is the typical guest profile? Does it have any particular reputation within the yachting world?

Having this information will help you ask smarter questions and prepare your best answers for the interview.

If you know that the boat is running a fancy new electronics system and you’ve got a background in sound and video, you’ll be able to...

If you’re looking at a yachting job, you may have lots of questions and concerns - how can you stand out from the crowd? What if you don’t like your coworkers? Does the work get boring after awhile? Do you need to rely on a crew agency to find a job?

We’re here today with Carrie, a 10-year veteran stewardess who now works for a yacht brokerage. She’s here to reassure you that if you take the leap and go for it, you’ll have an experience you won’t regret!

Carrie, before we dive in, tell us a little about your background and how you came to yachting.

Carrie:

I’m from Chicago originally and had a background in business. I had no idea that yachting was even something you could do, but I met some yachties when I was traveling in Florida, and they got me interested in the field.

I started doing some research, and then I just decided to dive in and go for it! I worked for 10 years as a stewardess, traveled a ton, and...

If you’ve been following us here on the FreshYacht blog for awhile now, you might be getting excited for the big opportunity ahead of you --- the chance to start a new career working on a Superyacht, touring the world, and making some serious cash.

You’ve been encouraged by our detailed guides on Dockwalking and managing your finances, inspired by our interviews with stewardesses, deckhands, and bosuns, and motivated by our guides to the best ways to spend your time in some amazing destinations!

Well, if you're thinking "yes, I'm in! What do I do now?" 

We are happy to introduce our new course; Superyacht Jobs; How To Get A Job On A Superyacht.

This three-week course is available twice a year and teaches you the step-by-step process to get your first job on a yacht. 

Superyacht Jobs is currently closed for registration but will open again later this year. Jump on our waiting list and we'll be sure to let you know when it launches...