crew training

“Smile and the world smiles with you.” It may be an overused quote, but that doesn’t mean it’s not true. More importantly, it’s a truth captains and owners can apply to their crew to keep guests onboard happy.

Palma, Mallorca will host the eighth annual Future of Superyachts conference on June 18 and 19. Hosted by Quaynote at the five-star Nixe Palace Hotel, this two-day conference offers industry professionals multiple opportunities for networking and learning more about the current hot topics.

On-the-job experience isn’t the only thing you need to get ahead in this ever more competitive industry. Training and certifications can give you that extra edge over the rest of the field, and in the past few years multiple schools have begun offering courses geared toward superyacht service.

In addition to a vast array of boats and displays from international exhibitors, the Antibes Yacht Show, April 18 to 21, offers great opportunities for continued education. Among the programs available is a series of seminars organized by The International Superyacht Society.

Staying ahead of the job market is a constant struggle in any field. As a captain or crewmember, how do you make yourself stand out from the hundreds of others applying for the same position? One way is to earn certifications like the ones offered through the Maritime Training Academy (MTA), a partnership of The MPI Group and Maritime Services International.

The Crew Coach, a crew training and development company owned and run by Allison Rentoul, has signed an exclusive partnership with Camper & Nicholsons to provide team workshops and professional development for Camper-managed yachts.

The US Superyacht Association has put together a great schedule for captains and senior crew attending the 2013 Captains’ Briefing in St Maarten, January 16 and 17. Aside from information seminars, the two-day meeting includes time for socializing.

Think twice about what you post online. Social media is here to stay and though it's a good way to stay in touch with friends and family and expand your network, there are reasons to worry. Do you know who will re-tweet or like your page? Once your news is out, there is really not way to know where it will end.

If you're looking for the next advancement, from Raymarine, wait no longer. Also, in this issue see FLIR's new high-res thermal night vision unit with color camera, an affordable weather monitoring system, and how Perini Navi is reaching out to captains and crew.

Captain’s Log Editor Kenny Wooton contacted the Professional Yachting Association with questions about its Industry Standard for Interior Crew Training and Certification (ICTC). PYA president Andrew Schofield and Honorary Secretary Joey Meen replied by email. They requested their responses be published verbatim.

A question posted on the ISS forum on LinkedIn about an initiative by the PYA to institute interior crew certification has generated strong comments. Some are focused on the general need—or not—for formal certification, and others have weighed in on some of the particulars of the PYA proposal. Few disagree that interior crew in the evermore demanding superyacht arena should be well trained.

In the most recent roundup of industry news, read more about a new dockage deal at IGY St Lucia, the accreditation of Ft Lauderdale-based Maritime Professional Training, the efforts of the Caribbean Marine Association to ban TBT-based anti-fouling paint, and an open house to be hosted for Captains in Nice on May 10th.

Captains will find plenty of avenues for distraction from making nice with brokers at this year’s revitalized Newport Charter Yacht Show. Show organizers have scheduled a series of seminars tailored for skippers attending the event, June 18-21, in the historic Rhode Island town.

The Professional Yachting Association (PYA) wants to know what’s on your mind and they’re throwing a few prizes on the table to hear it. In an effort to improve service to members and the industry in general, the association has set up an online survey. Those who complete the survey will be entered in a random drawing to win one of three iPad 3s or other prizes.

More than 70 yachties gathered in St. Maarten in early February for the IGY Rybovich Crew Olympics. They participated in a water-balloon toss, a lime and spoon race, a tug of war, a paddleboard race, a dance-off, a kite-flying competition and, of course, a competition for best costumes.

The Azimut Benetti Group holds its 12th annual Yachtmaster event in Perugia, Italy, March 7-10. The annual invitation-only event is open to captains of Azimut Benetti yachts 85 feet and larger and is a great opportunity to network and learn about some of the builder’s latest initiatives and technologies, as well as provide feedback and comments.