Dockwalking 101: How to Actually Find Work on the Docks

Dockwalking means turning up at the marinas in person, introducing yourself to crew and handing over your CV, and it still works: Yotspot says it “remains one of the most effective ways for beginners to find daywork.” Flying Fish adds that crew “start looking for work anytime between February and May,” when most yachts return to the Mediterranean from the Caribbean (checked 9 October 2026).

Dockwalking is exactly what it sounds like: turning up at the marinas where the yachts are, introducing yourself, and handing over your CV in person. In an industry built on trust and timing, being there in the flesh still beats a hundred online applications.

Does dockwalking still work in 2026?

Yes, but access is tighter than it used to be. Yotspot says it remains one of the most effective routes for beginners, while Dockwalk magazine (15 December 2024) notes that “the days of easy access are behind us” because of gated ports and security, and that in Palma “you can’t just wander into the STP yard.” The same guide also points out that most yachts don’t use crew agents when hiring green crew, and calls dockwalking the best way to get your first yacht job. Yotspot names Antibes and Monaco, Palma in spring, Fort Lauderdale and Newport, and Antigua at the start of the Caribbean season as the main hubs (checked 9 October 2026).

Can I dockwalk on a New Zealand or Australian passport?

Check before you fly, because work rights decide where you can dockwalk. Dockwalk magazine says that to dockwalk in Palma or Antibes “you need to hold an EU passport or a valid Schengen work visa,” and that foreign nationals need a green card or US passport to dockwalk in the US, where a B1/B2 visa does not give permission to seek work. The visitor rules point the same way: Smartraveller lists tourism, family visits, business for your Australian employer, events, medical treatment and transit as the purposes covered by Australians’ 90-day visa-free Schengen stay, and job-hunting is not on that list, while the French Embassy page for New Zealanders covers how long you can stay as a visitor, not working. We are not immigration advisers and have not verified how each country treats yacht crew, so ask the relevant consulate and a crew agent before you go (checked 9 October 2026).

When should I dockwalk, and what should I wear?

Crew are up at dawn washing down, and that's when they have a minute to chat before the day gets busy. Dress smart-casual, clean and tidy — you're auditioning the moment you walk up the passerelle.

How should I behave when I approach a yacht?

Ask if they need any daywork, leave a CV, thank them and move on. Don't loiter, don't oversell. A good attitude and a tidy first impression get remembered when a spot opens up.

How often should I go back?

Carry plenty of printed CVs, keep a list of who you've spoken to, and go back. Persistence without being a pest is the whole game. Most first jobs come from a face the crew already half-recognise.

“It never felt like a course or a programme — it felt like having someone in your corner who genuinely cared about where you ended up. Nick showed me I already had more to offer than I thought. Six months later I was a deckhand. I’ve sailed to Fiji. I’m 19.” — Freddie MHospitality → Deckhand · sailed to Fiji · age 19

When and where is the work, season by season?

March to May - the Mediterranean ramp-up. Antibes and Palma fill with boats fitting out for summer. This is the best window of the year for first-timers: crews are hiring day workers for washdowns and detailing, and day work is how first jobs happen. Dockwalk magazine also puts March to May as the best time to dockwalk in the Mediterranean, and Quay Group says that for a first role it “can be busier in March/April/May and November/December.”

June to August - mid-season. Boats are out cruising with guests. Fewer permanent openings, but crew injuries and walk-offs create sudden gaps. Stay visible and answer your phone.

September to November - the crossing shuffle. Yachts reposition to the Caribbean and hire delivery crew. Saying yes to a crossing is a classic way in.

December to February - Caribbean season. Antigua, St Maarten and Fort Lauderdale become the dockwalking hubs while the Med sleeps. Not sure which window suits you? See Mediterranean vs Caribbean yacht season.

What do I actually say on the dock?

Keep it to fifteen seconds. Something like: "Morning - sorry to interrupt. I'm a green deckhand, STCW and ENG1 done, staying locally and available today. Any chance you need day workers this week? Here's my CV." That's it. No life story, no begging. Crew respect people who are polite, brief and ready to work the same day.

If they say no, ask one follow-up: "No worries - anyone else on the dock looking?" Deck crews know which boats are short-handed, and referrals move faster than CVs.

Is day work really the interview?

Most first contracts start as a single day of washdowns. Turn up ten minutes early, bring your own sunscreen and water, put your phone away, and do the boring jobs properly. Bosuns compare notes across boats; a good day worker's name travels down the dock faster than any agency submission.

What are the unwritten rules of dockwalking?

Never step on the passerelle uninvited, never dockwalk in jandals, and never hand over a creased CV. Dress like crew: polo, shorts or chinos, clean trainers. And keep a simple log of every boat you speak to - who, when, what they said - so your follow-up a week later feels sharp, not random. Before you fly, make sure the paperwork is done: STCW and ENG1 explained, and here's what the work pays once you land it. Want a hand with the rest of it? That's exactly what our programme covers - or grab our free First Season Checklist to make sure nothing's missed.

Dockwalking FAQs

What is dockwalking?

Dockwalking means visiting yachts in marinas in person, introducing yourself to crew and handing over your CV to ask for daywork. Dockwalk magazine describes it as approaching yachts directly while they are docked, introducing yourself and expressing your interest in joining their crew.

Does dockwalking still work?

Yes, though access is tighter. Yotspot says it remains one of the most effective ways for beginners to find daywork, while Dockwalk magazine notes that gated ports and security make it harder than it once was.

When is the best time to dockwalk?

March to May in the Mediterranean, according to Dockwalk magazine. Quay Group says first roles can be busier in March, April, May and November, December, and Flying Fish says crew traditionally start looking between February and May.

What should I wear to dockwalk?

Dress like crew: a polo shirt, smart shorts or chinos and clean trainers, hair tied back, ready to do daywork if it is offered, as Dockwalk magazine suggests.

Do I need a visa to dockwalk?

Check before you go. Dockwalk magazine says dockwalking in Palma or Antibes requires an EU passport or a valid Schengen work visa, and that foreign nationals need a green card or US passport to dockwalk in the US. Smartraveller's list of purposes for Australians' visa-free Schengen stays does not include seeking work. Ask the relevant consulate.

“He wanted to make the most of his gap year — not the ordinary version of it. Three months later he’s working on multi-million dollar yachts in the Med, watching the sun set over the Balearic Sea, living a life most people only dream about.” — Antoni MHigh school → full-time in Palma · age 19

Nick - Founder, Maiden Voyage Superyachting Services

Nick studied at university in Dunedin before finding his way onto superyachts with zero prior experience and sailing around the world. He's worked in recruitment and education, watched good candidates get overlooked for doing the wrong training in the wrong ports, and now coaches young Kiwis through the same journey: honest, one-on-one and industry-backed.