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Where do yachts go in winter? | Winter Yacht Season Explained

yacht crew sat with their backs to the camera

Traditionally, the yacht season is imagined in the Mediterranean, calm seas and blazing sun. But what happens to yachts and their workers when the weather turns and the Med cools over?

What To Do Between Yacht Contracts?

One way ‘yachties’ spend their time during the winter season, is on land. Spending time with family, friends, and pursuing hobbies that were neglected during the working months.

Docking up is also a perfect opportunity to focus on personal and professional development. Renewing STCW and other seafaring qualifications at maritime training centres like the Maritime Skills Academy or working on interests outside of the maritime industry.

If you are planning to spend the next few months away from the water, discover insightful tips on how best to spend your time in our recent blog.

Mediterranean Winter Yacht Contracts

Yacht season in the Mediterranean peaks from April to October. The months when the sun is at its warmest and the seas are at their steadiest.

As unlikely as it may seem, Mediterranean contracts can extend into the winter months. It can be a common occurrence for yachts to keep their summer crew under contract while the yacht is docked and undergoing winter maintenance. Duties may change and accommodation may be rearranged but the general upkeep of the yacht will fall to the crew.

Some yacht owners may choose to continue voyaging well into the winter months. Requiring a well equipped and prepared crew, to deal with more intense weather conditions. Typically, yachting the Med in winter is a quieter and more relaxed experience because the weather has mellowed and most yachts are turned down for the season.

Caribbean Winter Yacht Contracts

Once the Med has chilled over and yacht contracts have come to an end, the majority of yacht owners and crew migrate to the Caribbean for the winter months. Peak season in the Caribbean is November to April, so joining a yacht crew in that area for the winter months is an ideal way to continue working in the industry in the off-season.

How To Get a Winter Yacht Contract

The best way to land a contract on board during the winter months, whether that be in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean, is to keep your details and documents updated, submitting thorough and high-quality applications for roles that you have relevant experience in.

image of yachts in marina with palm trees

If you are struggling with creating an up -to- date and well written CV, browse through our yacht CV guide, Or read suggestions from our yacht recruitment team for standing out as a yacht candidate.

By signing up to the Viking Crew website, you will have access to all your personal details, documents and CV in one place. This is the best way to submit high -quality applications quickly.

Winter Yacht Jobs

Are you looking for a yacht job over the winter season? Search for our current vacancies and submit an application.

Alternatively, contact our team to see which positions may suit you.

What to do now that the yachting season is over? 

Now that the summer yachting season has finished and you’re on your way back home, you might be wondering what to do for the winter? You could be looking forward to a break before heading back for your next contract in the spring, but there’s plenty to do, so don’t get too comfortable! 

How long is the Yachting season? 

The yachting calendar is divided into two halves, with the summer season running from May to October, typically stationed in the Med, and the Winter season from November to April, which ventures further towards the Western Hemisphere to exotic destinations such as the Caribbean. 

If you’re fortunate enough to have a summer and winter contract to look forward to, then you won’t have much downtime. But if you’ve just finished your summer contract with a free calendar for the next five to six months, you might be stuck for what to do.

What to do on the yacht off-season?

Life onboard can be fast paced with little downtime as your priorities are looking after your guests and maintaining the vessel. So, suddenly slowing down can be a shock to the system.

Image of yachts in harbour with blue sky

To keep your momentum up and get you through the colder months as you reminisce about the long summers sailing around Greek islands, we’ve detailed some helpful tips on what to do now that the yachting season is over.

Refresh your training

It’s a good start to begin with some admin and review your certificates. Does your STCW Training need updating before you go back to sea? Or perhaps you’d like to expand your skills in your time off, in which case you’ll need to find a training centre that can offer what you’re looking for.

Keep old hobbies and make new ones

To help you settle back into the routine of being on land, keep up any good habits you formed while away. This could take the form of journaling, meditation, or regular exercise. Alternatively, if you have been wanting to learn how to knit a scarf, bake a recipe you saved, or learn a new language, now’s the perfect time!

Find a seasonal or temporary role

The downtime might be tempting for five months, but accepting a temp role during this time will help you keep a steady income and help you stay disciplined with the routine of working.

What to do after yachting 

Not everyone returns to sea after their charter has ended. If you’ve decided it’s time to leave the sea and journey back to work on land, then perhaps a career in recruitment is your answer. With your knowledge and expertise of how the roles onboard work, and the desired skills by captains and chiefs of staff, you could help others find their feet in the industry by joining a recruitment agency.

No matter what you decide to do with your new-found freedom, it’s essential that you take measures to have some well-deserved rest and relaxation before returning to work. Make sure to spend time with family and loved ones, as well as catch up with friends you won’t have seen in months.

To find more helpful blogs and advice about working at sea, check out our other articles here.

5 Key Things Yacht Recruiters Look for in Candidates

Whether you’re new to the maritime industry or are deciding to apply for a new role, it’s fundamental that you’re well prepared and know what the recruiter is expecting of you.

We asked our Yacht Recruitment Manager, Rebecca Adams, for five key things she looks for in candidates when applying for roles that help them stand out from others and secure their next dream role on board.

Having worked in maritime recruitment for more than 18 years, Rebecca’s experience solidifies her as an expert when it comes to hiring the correct candidates, and following her advice will certainly lead to better chances of acing your application.

1. Confidence in interviews

Being confident in the industry is a must. Someone who can speak comfortably and confidently to the recruiter will demonstrate a desire for the position. You need to be able to hold conversations with new crew members, your head of department, and your Captain. You may even be working directly with owners and guests and must be able to always show confidence and professionalism. 

2. Enthusiasm 

In such a competitive industry, if you see a position you’d like to apply for, demonstrate your interest by calling the recruiter. Explain why you are the right person for the job and highlight the skills and experience you want to elaborate on. This is also your opportunity to ask further questions and learn more about the role, so we can ensure it’s a good match for you.  This also shows the recruiter that you are interested and have read about the position for which you are applying.

3. Honesty 

The industry can be surprisingly small. Where reputations and trust are everything, honesty is always the best policy. It won’t take long to determine if someone is stretching the truth on their CV or omitting key details of their past experiences.

4. Realistic expectations

Being such a competitive industry, your job expectations must be in line with your experience. For example, a third officer wouldn’t be able to apply for a Captain’s position or a stewardess for an engineer without the correct qualifications and experience.

5. Respect

How you treat your recruiter matters.  It can be frustrating whilst job hunting, and recruiters are there to support you in your search, so be sure to treat them with respect. Working in yachting is a high-pressure, close-knit environment, and how you communicate gives us a good insight into your attitude and professionalism towards your fellow crew members. 

What is the best way to prepare before an application?

Before applying for a role, ensure that your documents and certification match the criteria outlined in the job advertisement. We advertise the hiring criteria as per the client’s requests or as outlined in the minimum manning document.

For example, if we have requested that a B1/B2 visa is in hand, it will be because there is no time to apply for one prior to the position starting, and it is essential to the vessel location.

Or when we are advertising a specific licence, this will be due to the regulations set in the Minimum Safe Manning Document. Therefore, if you are only working towards it, this will not be enough; it needs to be in hand.

If you are in need of maritime qualifications or refreshers, the Maritime Skills Academy have a wide range of courses on offer. Browse them here.

How to create a CV for the yachting industry?

Tailor your CV to the position you are applying for, tweaking and elaborating on different aspects where necessary to match the role and job description. Cover letters can also be helpful. 

Attention to detail-make sure that the CV is well presented, spell checked, and contact details are all correct, including references. If you are looking for advice on creating a CV for the yachting industry, read our guide here!

Including a professional photograph is a great way for recruiters to see you are a genuine applicant. However, it is important that this photograph is both professional and recent.

If, for example, you are using an image that is five years old, and you have had face or neck tattoos in the meantime, then you could be disappointed when you reach the interview stage.

Yachts can be specific about certain appearance aspects such as tattoos and piercings, so it is essential that these are both visible in your photograph and disclosed in your CV.

Yacht Job Vacancies

Although the yachting industry is highly competitive, it is also fast paced. Job opportunities come and go quickly so keeping track of the current vacancies will give you the best chance of success. If you would like to keep track of our current listings, visit our job search page.

We hope that putting Rebecca’s tips into practice will give you the best chance of success and wish you the best of luck with your applications!

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