My First Year As A Super Yacht Steward

 Finally time to relax after working hard on my first season – on a private yacht in The Mediterranean. I cannot believe how fast the last 10 months have gone, it’s flown by so quick! I cannot believe all the amazing people I have met so far and all the stunning places I have been!

Serving Looks

Hello, welcome back to TheDylansWorld. My name is Dylan and I started working in the yachting industry in December 2021 (7 weeks after doing my STCW & Interior Course). After almost 7 years working in retail and one year of running my own business – I needed a good career to jump into and focus on, something that would light a fire under me.

Back in 2014 I worked for Hilton Hotels as a room attendant while studying Social Sciences at college. That lasted about a year as schedules didn’t line up with my studying. That’s when I moved into retail and got trapped in the industry. I then realised that the hotel industry is great and something I would like to get back into.

jump ahead a few years.

2021: Covid-19 hit us, stuck at home for like 6 months not needing to work, was so annoying but I also thrived off of this. I set up my own business selling handmade bathroom cosmetics, I absolutely loved every moment of this. Learning all the fundamental things that make a business work was super interesting. I took it upon myself to research everything. My most favourite part was learning how to create sustainable environmentally friendly packaging and my quirky way of stamping the packaging really impressed me. I currently don’t run the business now, but I would never say never to kick starting again, it was really a great moment in my life, I really did feel proud and accomplished. 

While stuck at home during the pandemic, I started watching that reality tv series – Below Deck. The series reminded me of my hotel work and how I always thought of returning to that industry. I looked to my partner James and said, I could easily do that. He isn’t much of a reality tv fan but he fell in love with watching Below Deck. After the first few seasons, James kept saying you could easily do that – I seen money signs in his eyes upon seeing how much could potentially be made while working a great job.

After a while I started looking into the yachting industry and loved the sound of it. I sit at my laptop – pen and paper at hand. I start taking notes about everything you need to work at sea, everything you should know and learn. Being hotel trained already made me super confident into thinking this is a career move I could easily do. I came across a great company Flying Fish UK, they offer interior courses, deckhand courses and STCW. Obviously you don’t have to do the courses, you could just do the STCW and hope someone takes a chance on you without the extra courses. But it is advised that having the backing of the courses can jump you ahead of someone who may not have the interior or deckhand course. So I add everything into a list, tally up the total and bring it all to my partner to discuss. 

Now I will mention, looking back at this – I did not realise the extent of being away from a long term partner for months at an end. Not to mention how much I extremely miss my two dogs, Socks & Dexter. Honestly missing so much time with them, hurts! However, when you’re super busy on season – you don’t have the time to sit and miss everything back home. You’re stuck in this loop of sleep, eat and work. But as we always say – it’s a short term pain for long term gain. 

“Book the course” James says, I look in excitement. I can’t believe how supportive and amazing he is when it comes to doing things.

So I book the 2 week interior & STCW course in June 2021 for October 2021. The STCW was week 1, Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, First Aid, Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities, Security Awareness, Designated Security Duties and VHF Short range certificate along with powerboat training and licence! The STCW was quite fun and challenging at times, but being part of a group of others that you can confide in was such a great help. My birthday fell upon the fire fighting practical assessment day. Who else can say they spent their birthday fire fighting? it was such a great day and definitely one I will remember. 

The interior course was in week 2, this was extremely fun, full of knowledge and great tips. Barista training, wine appreciation and cocktail mixing course, ironing, packing, flower arrangement training, napkin and paper folds. It was such a great experience and doing the course gave me such great confidence to get into the industry. 

7 Weeks after my course, I was shortlisted for a few jobs, had 3 interviews and was finally offered a position on a 70+m private yacht. My first offer, I was super excited and couldn’t believe my luck!

December 13th 2021: I arrive in Malta to join the vessel. Picked up at the airport from a deckhand and driven to the yacht. As we approach, he says “There she is”. I look up and boom – SHE IS HUGE. I didn’t expect how stunning and big the yacht would be. As someone from the north east of Scotland, I’m only used to seeing oil ships that are big but to see a pleasure vessel as big as on of those oil ship – I was SHOOK. 

Our season started on and off in April 2022, I was ready. If you know me – you’ll know that I thrive from being super busy. I enjoy having so much to do, staying busy not only passes the time on the yacht but I makes the day more fun. I hate having to stand around doing little, I don’t know why but I just need to be busy doing something. The work itself is extremely demanding, you barely have time some days to think and other days you can be relaxed. No two days are the same. I honestly found something I enjoy so much that I am hungry to continue to learn and grow within the industry.  

This year, I’ve visited more countries in a summer that I have in my whole life. Where have I been you wonder? … Malta, North Africa, South of Spain, North-East Spain, South of France. My ultimate favourite place, I can’t choose 1… I loved Puerto Banus and Monaco the most. They were breathtaking to see in person. 

I am now on ‘holiday’ for just short of a month home in Scotland. I flew from Barcelona and met up with my partner James in London for a long weekend together. It was a great time and well over due. I will upload a London blog soon and show you all what we got up to. When they say distance makes the heart grow fonder – there is never a truer saying! Looking back on the last 10 months, I can’t believe how strong and determined I have been. Not only did I set out to start a new career, but I have fallen in love with the yachting industry and I am super excited to continue to grow and work hard at being the best Stew I can be!

Also if you haven’t watched Below Deck yet – Do It! 

Thank you for taking the time to catch up with me, let me know your thoughts in the comment section and don’t forget to follow the blog for more posts like this. 

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