Getting Hired
Why Superyachts Love Hiring Kiwis (And Why You’re More Ready Than You Think)
In short
Captains rate New Zealand crew for their practical, no-entitlement attitude. Most Kiwi first-timers already have transferable skills — they just need the right certificates, a strong CV, and to be in the right port at the right time.
Superyacht crew are judged on reliability and work ethic, and Kiwis have a good reputation for both: an industry source quoted by Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology said that “Kiwis and Aussies are generally well-regarded.” That reputation is worth cashing in, because Foreland Marine's 2026 guide puts an entry-level deckhand at EUR 30,000 to 36,000 a year on a 24 to 40 metre yacht (checked 9 October 2026).
One caveat: that quote comes from a 2013 Nelson Mail interview, and we found no survey measuring whether captains prefer Kiwi crew, so treat it as reputation rather than statistics.
Walk down any dock in Antibes or Palma and you'll hear it: captains love Kiwi crew. It's not luck — it's reputation. New Zealanders turn up with a practical, can-do attitude, a willingness to muck in, and none of the entitlement that gets people sent home early.
Do I already have transferable skills?
If you've grown up around boats, the bach, fishing or the outdoors, you already have more transferable skill than you realise. Hospitality, trades, farm work, sport — captains read all of it as proof you can work hard in a team and keep your head when things get busy.
Not sure yet if this is the right move for you?
Book a free discovery call
“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
Am I ready without yachting experience?
The truth is most first-timers are more ready than they think. What's missing isn't ability — it's knowing how to package what you've already got, get the right tickets, and be in the right place at the right time.
That's the part we help with. Sort your STCW and ENG1, build a CV that speaks captain - our tips for landing your first job cover that - and target the right season - then dockwalk in person. Back yourself — the industry is genuinely looking for people like you.
Thinking about a career on superyachts?
If you want to talk through your options — no pressure, just an honest conversation about what's possible — get in touch.
Book a discovery call →Prefer email? Get in touch directly.
“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 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.