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TCR is following the training of an aspiring yachting who is taking
the Blue Water Yachting Summer School course, aimed at 16- to
18-year-olds who would like to become professional yacht crew. Here is his seventh installment: Summer School Summary
One week after the end of Bluewater Yachting’s Summer School and here is a look at the beginning of life as a yachtie.
Job-hunting is certainly the main focus of life in Antibes, whether this be through dockwalking throughout the day, visiting different recruitment agencies or just networking in the evenings – everything is geared towards discussions of yachts and employment opportunities.
Many say that the yachting industry is one of numbers, especially for those newbies looking for work. Trying to cover as many bases as possible means visiting and emailing crew agents, (of which Blue Water is one), dockwalking different ports throughout the day and socialising in the crew houses and yachtie bars throughout the evening.
Staying in a crew house is undoubtedly a key part of this networking, especially if you head down to Antibes alone with limited contacts. It allows you to both meet like-minded people and draw from their experiences in the industry. Ultimately, everyone in Antibes is friendly and while yachting is certainly competitive (especially in a year such as this where the economic turmoil of the past 18 months has hugely affected the industry and many people have struggled to find long-term work) jobs very often come through contacts and friends. As such therefore there is little evidence of backstabbing for the sake of work. (People joke about pushing employed deckhands off keys but I’ve never heard of anyone actually getting wet!)
As such the vibe in Antibes, for someone new to the industry, is generally awesome and this seems to be not just my impression but also that of others who I’ve spoken too.
Oli
Watch the accompanying vlog for the Summer School Summary...
Related Links
Read Oli's Introductory Blog
Read Oli's Powerboat II Blog
Read Oli's Jetski Blog
Read Oli's VHF Blog
Read Oli's STCW 95 Part I Blog
Read Oli's STCW 95 Part II Blog
Blue Water Yachting website | profile
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