Crew Archives - Page 2 of 3

Are the Pocket Superyacht owners employers or clients?

In our online course “How To Find Work On Pocket Superyachts” we are offering ways for Pocket Superyacht crews to increase their professional approach. This is why we discuss the question: Are the owners employers or clients? In theory, the owners are your employers but: what happens if you look at them as your clients? -And for now, I am not talking about the type of contract you have with them- What is the difference? An employer does not only pay your salary, he or she will give you instructions and feedback, have staff meetings with you, evaluate your work and help to improve your performance where possible. Clients, however, hire you because you are an expert in your field and because you know -better than them- how to perform the job. They expect to do much less follow up. And this is exactly the point. When owners come on board their yacht, the last thing they want is another staff meeting or looking into the operations and evaluating them. How do I know that? Because, this is exactly the service that we offer with Invisible Crew Management. We keep owners at bay from the organisation and the hassle around […]

Bad owners, bad crew

I have often heard a description of Invisible Crew come back as “They put good crew together with good owners.” Now, I am not against that idea as it is positive and probably true. But it would imply that there are bad owners out there. Bad Owners It’s true that some people are harder to please than others, but what it all comes down to is one word: expectations. Especially in our niche, the Pocket Superyachts, there we often see new owners who have never had crew working for them before. Some of them might be sailors themselves and, in their opinion, have done the job of crew, for free and in their spare time! Others might never have had crew or house staff work for them and are either uncomfortable with expressing clear demands from the crew. Worse even, is when they expect a level of formality and service that is unpractical and detrimental for the harmonious atmosphere within the confines of a Pocket Superyacht. None of these situations result in a positive outcome. We need to have all questions answered to find fitting crew. I literally have one client who doesn’t care about the exterior cleanliness of the […]

What is Invisible Crew up to this summer?

Writing for The Islander Magazine is not only great exposure, the actual writing is a good moment to reflect on how things are going with Invisible Crew. My lean little company is gaining momentum largely thanks to the great crew that I work with, the partnering companies with which we are creating ever closer bonds and a few individuals in my close circle. However, at this time of the year I probably wouldn’t take an hour to have get an overview of all the things that are going on. They tend to just flash through my mind like a train passing by at full speed. The 85ft Royal Huisman Ebb Tide is nearly ready for the season while going through its first crew change in four years, the time that it has been under Invisible Crew’s management. Fons is handing over the helm, or better, the control over the engine room, to his fellow countryman Hans who will keep the yacht running smoothly with his Dutch craftsmanship. We hope to do more work with Fons in the future and we welcome Hans! The CNB76 Aenea is keeping us busy booking berths in highly coveted marinas at busy times of the […]

Yacht crew couples on Pocket Superyachts.

The multifaceted job of yacht crew couples on Pocket Superyachts. Great news for Invisible Crew as the niche of 50ft to 100ft luxury yachts a.k.a. Pocket Superyachts is on the rise. (60ft is the new 50ft by the way) Unfortunately it seems to become harder and harder to find those yacht crew couples that have the knowledge, experience and passion to run these type of yachts. We are always looking for the full package. Especially for sail yachts, the variety of skills and knowledge required is vast. The captain of a 70ft luxury-charter-sail-yacht has got to be (in no specific order of priority) a good navigator, boat handler, engineer, people’s person, communicator, negotiator, accountant, doctor, waiter, water sports instructor, safety officer, sailing instructor, dishwasher and more… He’s got to have the energy to get up before the guests to chamois the deck, serve breakfast, prepare the water toys, take the guests snorkelling, check the engine, raise the anchor, hoist the main, plot a course, drive the boat, (or even more tiring, assist the guests while they are helming), drop anchor, shake cocktails, take the kids on the ringo or knee- or wakeboard, set the dinner table, unblock the toilet, (wash his hands!) […]

training crew yachts article islander magazine

The rules are very black and white and grey on Pocket Superyachts

One of the reasons why Invisible Crew is specialised and passionate about the Pocket Superyacht niche is its personal nature. The confined space of a yacht smaller than 100ft dictates that the contact between crew and owner is more amicable and less formal than on larger yachts. One would think that such interpersonal dynamics make the job easier but it’s quite the opposite. Over the years I have witnessed how these dynamics result in blurred lines. The lines can’t be any more blurred than when alcohol comes into play. Sometimes playing hard is actually working hard. Without a fault, any owner I have worked for has invited me to join his family or guests when they went out for dinner and the occasional party that follows. I’m not complaining when I say that I have been forced to join in with the excesses numerous times. I would almost say it is part of the job. However, what’s also part of the job, is getting up in the morning before everyone else. One owner I worked for took us (a crew of 4) on a bender one evening. The next morning, as a logical result, we weren’t as fresh as usual. […]