Leading Advice: Elevating Life Onboard - Journal By Yatco
Behind every polished deck and seamless itinerary are crew who work, laugh, and sometimes cry together.
How to improve life onboard for the crew…
Empathy at the Helm
When asked what he’d change with a magic wand,
. “They’re not machines. We take young, sometimes vulnerable people far from home without replacing their support networks. With a magic wand, I’d give crew stronger psychological safety and real career paths.”
shares a moment that says it all: “One of my stews came back from seeing her family and was sad. We ended up crying together over coffee. That’s leadership too.”
78% of Captains believe empathy and patience are the most important traits for leaders at sea.
Retention is Everything
builds retention around what crew actually value—real incentives like extra leave, bonuses, or flexible cover. “I’ve brought in cover so a great crew member can go home for three months for family reasons and return. It’s not worth losing good people over solvable issues.”
focuses on respect: “You maintain an ecosystem of healthy respect for each other. That comes from the top down.”
. “We don’t call it rotation because people online get picky, but it gives structured time off. Crew can book holidays, courses, and see their families.”
Having individual development plans helps crew understand how they can grow.
builds realistic timetables: “If crew express interest in an area, they’re supported. Set a clear path and goals—and everyone can work their way up.”
, who manages 65 crew, says every day is “a puzzle to solve,” balancing last-minute changes with moving dozens of people across borders.
Several captains agree: new crew now join with more knowledge, more certificates, and better preparation. As
puts it: “They’re savvy enough to be in online forums. They come in better prepared than they used to.”
Seven out of ten Captains tell new crew the same thing: never give up.
The Mentor’s Role
constantly promotes junior crew into leadership roles: “Giving them responsibility and respect helps them grow.”
believes in “controlled steps, feedback, responsibility that grows.”
recalls telling a young deckhand:
“You’ve got all this potential. You may not see it, but I do.”
One in three captains credits a mentor or chief engineer as the most important influence in their career.
Empathy, however, doesn’t mean lowering standards.
sees leadership as being clear and fair.
agrees—balancing kindness with accountability is vital.
Generational shifts bring new challenges. As
notes, “Today’s crew value their personal lives more. That can be positive, but it changes the rhythm.” Captains are adapting.
“Work Hard, Learn Fast”
, mentoring means structured progression: “Controlled steps, feedback, responsibility that grows.”
Below deck, motivational mottos multiply. One captain has
painted above the mess. Another shares this favourite reminder:
“Fail = First Attempt at Learning.”
keeps it simple: “It costs nothing to be happy,” she tells her crew, especially when days get long.
Not all wisdom is serious—the little things matter. Keeping spirits high is just as important as ticking checklists.
swears by good food as part of morale.
reminds his team: “The job is too big to sweat the small stuff.”
Saying Yes to Opportunities
Sometimes the simplest advice is the most powerful.
“Say yes to opportunities, even when they feel uncomfortable.”
captures the spirit of yachting perfectly: it’s “a 20-armed octopus—chaotic, but endlessly fascinating.”
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