Housekeeping/Stew - Permanent - €tbc - General (Europe)
This is a rather unique role for which we are looking for exactly the right person. Qualifications or previous experience are less relevant than compatibility with the owner's family and the existing crew. It is a professional contracted role but not in the formal superyacht sense. Salary will depend on experience.
The owners wish the crew to feel very much part of the yacht 'family'; to have fun together with them and as a crew, to go to the beach with them, explore and share the adventures ahead. They have three young boys (aged 5 and twins of 2). We eat together, share duties, look after each other and work hard together. We like to maintain high standards of safety and general housekeeping so the right person needs to be selfless, self-starting, fun, open minded and happy living with others of a similar mindset in close company. Mutual trust and respect is critical.
The role specification is intentionally generic as it will evolve and change depending on the circumstances. The owners would prefer to find someone committed for the longer term who can be a 'constant' for them and the children as they grow up and return to the yacht year after year. It is probably not a job for someone looking for a 'gap-summer'. The owners want to invest in their crew and prefer continuity.
Duties will include overall responsibility for housekeeping, cooking for crew and the family (wholesome and varied fare and assisted by other crew at times), deck duties, watchkeeping by day and night when passage-making, helping on deck during sailing and berthing, being prepared to help with children and gently setting and policing sensible standards of cleanliness and communal living on younger less experienced crew. The yacht's work routines are driven by the demands of the sea but there is a generous leave entitlement and opportunities for time off (ashore and afloat) when the programme permits. All hands 'muck-in' with general crew duties and general maintenance.
We are a well-found and well maintained private classic wooden 38m ketch rigged motor-sailor with a fascinating history. We sail with a crew of up to five: an experienced Captain, this role, a 1st Mate (who deputises as relief Captain) and up to two younger less experienced crew. Crew accommodation is in comfortable but small twin bunk cabins each with en suite shower and heads facilities. Living space is a shared crew mess and the yacht as a whole. We would consider male or female candidates.
Desirable factors might include some musical ability, being prepared to read bedtime stories to the kids and any form of artistic ability. Good humour, patience, common sense and kindly non-judgemental tolerance of others are key. English is the first language onboard but Swiss-German would be a bonus. Full accident and medical insurance is provided for all crew.
There will ideally be a period of handover from the previous role incumbent who is reluctantly leaving us only because she now wishes to pursue a more formal superyacht career progression. She will be missed and has left a hard act to follow but we are confident that the right person is out there somewhere.
Our itinerary this year will be to finish the winter maintenance period in Genoa by mid March and we will then set sail to spend the summer in the Baltic. There will be opportunities along the way to visit the Balearics, Gibraltar, Atlantic coasts of Portugal and Spain, Galicia, possibly Brittany and the UK south coast before spending the rest of the summer in Denmark and Sweden (possibly Finland too). The owners will join us at various stages along the way.
The owners have strong environmental credentials and ambitions so this is not a role for someone who depends on plastic bottled drinks, unlimited internet, constant air conditioning, mod-cons or unlimited resources. In return we offer a safe, comfortable and well-provided boat with owners and crew who prefer to talk with each other rather than their phones and to explore the opportunities found on route. It is a happy boat.
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