The Best Part of Yachting Isn’t the Travel, It’s the People!

Yachting has a lot of positives and I think everyone has different reasons for getting into the industry and different reasons for staying. Today, I want to share my favourite thing about yachting: the people.

There’s a lot of talk out there that friends and colleagues should be kept separate. I don’t agree with this at all. If you can have friends in the place where you spend the majority of your time, why wouldn’t you? Yes, finances, hierarchy and work stress can complicate things but in my opinion, that’s what makes friendships stronger.

In yachting, you spend even more time with your colleagues than people working a 9–5 ever will. You live together, eat together, work together, travel together. Because of that, making friends onboard isn’t just a nice bonus, it’s essential. Friends make good days better and bad days bearable.

Working on a yacht isn’t just about having a job; it’s about being part of a community.

We all have specific roles to play and every role matters. Whether you’re a bed-making ninja, a watersports instructor, a laundry master or an engineer keeping the air-conditioning running in the middle of summer, everything contributes toward the same shared goal: keeping the boat running smoothly and delivering the best possible guest experience. A small mistake in any department can have a ripple effect and ruin an entire trip. When things go well, it’s because everyone pulled together as a team.

That shared goal gives a sense of meaning to the work. You’re not just ticking off tasks, you’re contributing to something bigger than yourself and that feels good.

Of course, not every day onboard is easy.

We all have rough days and anyone who’s spent time on yachts knows exactly what that feels like. Being part of a team means that when someone else is struggling, you take it upon yourself to help lift them up. Sometimes that support is big but often it’s something small, like making someone a cup of tea after a long day (preferably a rooibos). Simple gestures like that can make a massive difference.

That kind of support isn’t just professional, it’s human. You’re not only showing up as a crew member, you’re showing up as a person. After a long, hard day, there’s nothing more soothing than sitting down, having a laugh with the crew and sharing a moment of connection. Those are the moments I absolutely love about yachting.

Humans are social creatures. We need people around us. We need to feel supported physically, mentally, emotionally and we also need to feel like we’re supporting others. That’s what being part of a community really means: giving and receiving support.

And then there are the good days.

The good days onboard are made even better by sharing them with the crew. The end of a long charter or a busy season is always worth celebrating. A dock BBQ (braai), a crew dinner or a night out together is the perfect way to mark a job well done. We laugh, share stories from the season and toast each other for the teamwork that got us through it.

Those shared ups and downs are what bring people closer together.

Travel plays a big role in this too. Travel is one of the biggest drawcards of yachting and for good reason. You get to see places you might never otherwise experience! Solo travel can be incredible but there’s something special about travelling the world as a group. You arrive in a new place already belonging, already surrounded by people to explore with. New cultures, new food, new memories, all shared.

The older I get, the more I believe that the meaning of life is people and our relationships with them.

The best moments of my life have always involved friends, family, or my partner. Having people to laugh with, to explore with and to support you through difficult moments makes everything richer. In yachting, you experience the full spectrum of human emotion, together.

That’s why it’s so important not to take this time for granted.

Yachting is transient. People come and go, contracts end, paths change. You can become incredibly close to someone, spending every day together for months or even years and then one day they leave. Sometimes they move to the other side of the world and you may never see them again. It can be heartbreaking.

That’s all the more reason to be grateful for the people around you now. Appreciate them while they’re here.

If you don’t get along with your crew, I genuinely think you’re missing out on one of the best parts of yachting. A good crew is make-or-break. The right environment can turn a tough season into a memorable one and the wrong one can do the opposite.

For me, the people, the crew, will always be my favourite thing about yachting. We’re more than colleagues. We’re a community.