A Day in the Life of the Deck Department on a 80+ meter M/Y
- Info Compass Rose Crew
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read

Today I thought I would share what a day in the life of the deck department looks like when we have guests onboard a 80+ meter M/Y. The operation is very different when we don't have guests on, where the work is more maintenance focussed as opposed to operations focussed.Â
When guests are onboard, the deck team runs a 24-hour operation. From early morning setups to midnight detailing, every task, whether visible or behind the scenes, shapes the guest experience. Here’s a look into what a typical day might look like for the deck department.
00:00 – 07:00 | Night Crew
While guests sleep, the night team quietly sets the stage for the coming day: They follow a job list set out by the Bosun the day before which is usually along the lines of rinsing and spot washing the boat to remove any salt or dirt. As the morning approaches they will begin uncovering furniture and setting up the decks for guests. Once there is enough light to see more clearly the detailing will begin, all watermarks removed from glass, teak and paintwork detailed and stainless polished.Â
When the first day shift crew starts they will begin opening up platform doors, launching tenders ,setting up the beach club and getting watersports equipment ready to go.Â
By the time the guests step out on deck for their morning coffee, the boat is gleaming in the morning light.Â
07:00 – 11:00 | Early Mornings
Guests often like to go for a water sports session either before or just after breakfast. Some water sports that may be on offer include: wake surfing, or wakeboarding, e-foiling , kite surfing, sailing, wing foiling, jet skis, inflatable towables, stand up paddle-boarding, kayaking, or maybe just some snorkelling. A deck crew will often have dedicated water sports instructors who can help guests from the basics to more advanced techniques.Â
The deck crew will always assess weather conditions before guests get in the water and ensure it is safe to do so. When guests are in the water we will always have competent crew following in a rescue boat. It's essential that deck crew are confident driving tenders in all weather conditions and are able to safely retrieve guests from the water.Â
11:00 – 16:00 | Guest Movements
The rest of the day is largely dependent on guest movements. Sometimes there will be meetings onboard which require additional tender runs, or more water sports onboard, a beach day, shopping trips or other shore based excursions. Yachts often offer an array of equipment for shore based excursions , things like: bicycles, scooters, motorbikes, hiking gear, racket sports equipment, golf clubs, it really depends on the guest preferences but there is a lot on offer. All of this equipment is the responsibility of the deck department to ensure it is being maintained and in perfect working order.Â
The yachts that I have worked on tender to relocate every couple of days which involves a big push from the deck department. Tenders need to be recovered, inflatables packed down, shell doors closed, and anchor heaved. Deck crew must move quickly and safely during these operations.Â
Once a new anchorage is found, the entire cycle restarts: drop anchor, open platforms, launch tenders, and set up inflatables. These movements can happen multiple times a day.Â
16:00 – 18:00 | Helicopter Operations
On yachts with helipads, this can be the most dangerous part of the day. A helicopter movement involves the entire deck crew and a large portion of the total crew. The deck crew must prepare the vessel for helicopter operations which includes covering all furniture, ensuring decks are stowed and there is no foreign object debris (FOD) on deck as these things can fly into the rotors of the helicopter and cause a failure of the engines. Helicopter preparations also include packing away inflatable docks or jungle jims, closing platform doors and preparing a rescue boat. Once the decks have been checked and the vessel ready, deck crew must fill the roles of : HLO (Helicopter Landing Officer), two HDAs (Helideck Assistants), two firefighters in full gear, two crew in the rescue boat, and a bridge team managing the vessels position with regard to the wind. The pilots often prefer to land into the wind, so we position the vessel accordingly. The bridge as well as HLO is in comms with the helicopter and must inform the helicopter when the ‘Deck is Green’ meaning they are clear to land.Â
Shortly after the guests have got into or out of the helicopter, we will do the reverse: unstow decks, open platforms, setup docks, and reposition the vessel. The process is precise, high-stakes, and time-critical.
18:00 – 22:00 | Sunset & Evening
As the day winds down, there’s often another burst of activity: guests will enjoy a sunset water sports session and perhaps go ashore for dinner or cocktails. The deck crew will do tender runs and run daily maintenance on the water sports equipment: rinsing, cleaning, charging batteries and checking for damage.Â
When dinner begins or guests go ashore, the yacht finally settles. For the deck department, this is catch-up time: detailing, rinsing salt from high-traffic areas, and preparing the night job list.
22:00 – 00:00 | Handover to Night Crew
As guests enjoy their evening or head to bed, the deck crew will hand over to the night crew who will continue with maintenance and packing away water sports items. They will then crack on with the night list which usually involves cleaning up from the day before and preparing for the following day. The night crew will also carry out deck rounds and fill in the log book every hour - logging weather information and monitoring for any unexpected weather systems.Â
Safety Above All
Beyond the daily routines and guest service, the deck department carries a huge responsibility for safety. Every activity on deck comes with risk, and professionalism is what keeps things running smoothly. Water sports require constant weather checks, appropriate PPE, and confidence in both tender handling and rescue boat operations. Anchoring is strictly a two-person job, with strict SOPs (Standard operating procedures) anchors can be extremely dangerous if mishandled. Helicopter operations are among the highest-risk evolutions onboard and demand absolute focus and flawless teamwork.
Even the night crew, while rinsing down decks, are primarily there for safety and security: monitoring weather conditions, checking the yacht’s position, and ensuring decks remain secure. Being on a yacht at sea is a 24-hour operation, and vigilance never stops.
The Rhythm of the Deck
From moonlit wash downs to sunset toy pack-downs, the deck department never stops. The hours are long, but the reward is seeing guests step out onto a flawless deck, unaware of the work that goes into keeping it that way. For those who thrive in high-energy, detail-driven environments, there’s nothing quite like it.