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The First Season Checklist.

Everything you need sorted before you fly for your first superyacht season - certificates, CV, packing list and budget - pulled together from everything we've written on the subject. Pop in your email and it's yours.

What's inside

The two certificates you need before any boat can hire you
What to put on a one-page yachting CV
A full packing list for tiny, shared cabin space
What to actually budget, in NZD, before you fly

You're in. Here's the full checklist - worth bookmarking this page.

Certificates & paperwork

STCW Basic Safety Training certificate - book 4 to 8 weeks ahead in spring, courses fill fast before the Med season
ENG1 seafarer medical certificate - book this early, in case anything flags that needs time to resolve
A valid passport

Your CV

A one-page yachting CV, photo top-right, clean and skimmable
Plenty of printed copies to hand out while dockwalking
A simple log to track every boat and marina you speak to

What to pack

A soft, collapsible bag - not a hard suitcase, there's nowhere to store one aboard
Neutral, plain basics: white and navy polos, plain shorts
Good boat shoes or deck trainers with non-marking soles
A smart outfit for interviews
A reusable water bottle and good sunglasses
Reef-safe sunscreen and seasickness remedies
A small kit of your own toiletries
A power bank

What to budget

Roughly NZD $1,600 to $2,200 for the STCW
Roughly NZD $350 to $450 for the ENG1
A buffer for 2 to 6 weeks of crew-house rent while you job hunt, typically EUR 25 to 45 a night

Before you fly

Check the season: March to May is the best window in the Mediterranean, as Antibes and Palma fill with boats fitting out for summer
Finish your certificates well before the season starts, not during it - see our full STCW and ENG1 guide
Read our dockwalking guide for exactly how the first weeks on the ground actually go

Want a hand with the rest of it?

Book a free discovery call and we'll be honest about whether yachting is right for you.

Let's talk