Skipper Jobs at Seafarer: What a Season as Flotilla Crew Is Like
Careers · Flotilla crew
A flotilla skipper is part sailor, part host, and part local manager. Here’s what our skippers, first mates, engineers, and instructors really do over a season, told through the crew guests keep asking for by name.
If you’re ready to apply, our sailing jobs page lists every current vacancy and the application form.
In short
Skipper jobs at Seafarer mean leading a flotilla of up to 12 yachts for a full season, from mid April to late October. You run the daily briefings, help guests in and out of harbour, lead the social side, and act as our local manager, supported by a first mate and an engineer. You’ll need RYA Yachtmaster Offshore with a commercial endorsement, ideally with professional skippering or flotilla experience.
Up to 12
yachts in a flotilla
Apr–Oct
full season
Nov–Mar
online interviews
3
crew per flotilla
On this page
Life on board
A day on the flotilla
No two days are the same, but most follow a rhythm that guests quickly come to love.
Morning
The briefing
The skipper briefs the whole flotilla on the weather, the route, and the day’s stop, with tips on where to swim, anchor, and eat.
Under way
On the water
The lead crew stay on hand by radio, help anyone who needs it, and the engineer sorts any running repairs.
Arrival
Into harbour
The crew are on the quay or in the tender, helping each yacht berth or anchor safely.
Evening
Ashore
The first mate organises group meals, excursions, and the flotilla’s social events, and the whole crew join in.
Turnaround day is the busiest of the week. The whole crew check and prepare the yachts, the first mate makes up grocery welcome packs and provisions the lead yacht, and transfers to and from the airport are arranged with our local agents.
The roles
Skipper jobs and other flotilla roles
Flotilla skipper
Our flotilla skippers are, in many ways, our local managers. You run a flotilla of up to 12 yachts, lead the first and daily briefings on the yachts, safety, navigation, and the route, help guests berth and leave port, and lead the social events. You also manage local spending to budget and send weekly accounts and reports to head office.
Joseph Rich has led our flotillas for three seasons and is one of the most experienced flotilla skippers around. In 2026 he ran our Northern Sporades flotilla with first mate Taylor, and guests keep mentioning them by name.
You’ll need: RYA Yachtmaster Offshore with a commercial endorsement, ideally with previous professional skippering or flotilla experience.
Flotilla first mate
The first mate helps the skipper with briefings and mooring, and organises everything off the water: group meals, excursions, and activities. On turnaround days you prepare the yachts with the crew, make up the welcome packs, and liaise with our local agents on airport transfers.
Taylor Lee has been first mate for three seasons, most recently alongside Joseph in the Sporades.
You’ll need: experience in line with RYA Competent Crew or above. For first mates who do a full season, we provide RYA Day Skipper training with Seafarer Training.
Flotilla engineer or mate
Engineers keep the fleet running, with day-to-day maintenance and running repairs to engines, electrics, electronics, and plumbing. You also help the skipper and first mate, join the client briefings, and, with the right skills, give informal sailing tips on guests’ yachts and help with deliveries.
You’ll need: RYA Day Skipper as a minimum (Coastal Skipper is an advantage), a mechanical bent, and a basic understanding of electrics.
RYA cruising instructor
Our instructors teach RYA courses from Start Yachting to Day Skipper, with up to five students a week, at our training centres in Greece and Croatia. The tuition yachts usually follow the flotilla route, so students join in with the flotilla in the evenings. You’re on the water for three weeks out of four, with a day off each week and the fourth week ashore.
Danny Norcott skippered our flotillas for several seasons before qualifying as an RYA Cruising Instructor. He now teaches at our RYA training centre in Greece, in the Ionian, where his local knowledge is a big part of the course.
You’ll need: RYA Yachtmaster Offshore with Commercial and Cruising Instructor endorsements, ideally with Mediterranean sailing experience.
Where it can take you
From the Adriatic to Thailand
Bertie Thompson ran our Split flotilla in 2025, then took his skills to Phuket as skipper for our Thailand flotilla and cabin charters. He’s back in Croatia for the summer, and returns to Thailand from early March to April 2027.
Many of our crew come back season after season, and some move on to new sailing areas or new roles.
In guests’ words
What guests say about our crew
Seafarer Flotilla Holidays are absolutely brilliant. Joseph and Taylor are superb lead crew and made our holiday so memorable.
We had a wonderful trip. The boat was fab as were Seafarer lead crew Bertie and Daisy.
Hospitality is at the heart of every role: making people feel welcome and looked after, so they go home with stories to tell.
The details
The season, the package, and what we look for
Most roles run for the full season, from mid April until late October. We also have a few roles for the July and August high season, which can suit students, and we keep a list of contract crew for short-notice work.
Your package includes
- A monthly salary
- Return flights from London (other European airports can be available)
- Accommodation ashore or afloat (flotilla crew usually live on a lead yacht)
- Emergency medical insurance while overseas
- Uniform and a pre-season training programme
- Discounted holidays for family and friends
- Help with visa applications, if needed
What we look for
- Over 18, in good health, and well presented
- Service focused, enthusiastic, and sociable
- Patient, flexible, and good at solving problems
- Happy to work long, sometimes antisocial hours
- Ready for hands-on, physical work when it’s needed
Not a holiday
The days are long and the work is hands-on, but most of our crew say it’s the best job they’ve had. Applications are welcome from all ages.
Next steps
How to apply
Read the job descriptions
Check the full role details and qualifications on our sailing jobs page.
Send your CV
Fill in the application form on the jobs page and attach your CV, with a covering letter if you like.
Interview
We hold online interviews between November and March, and occasionally a face-to-face interview in London.
Looking for short-term work? Join our contract list on the jobs page with your daily or weekly rate and where you’re likely to be over the summer.
Common questions
Skipper jobs at Seafarer: your questions answered
What qualifications do I need for a flotilla skipper job?
RYA Yachtmaster Offshore with a commercial endorsement, ideally with previous professional skippering or flotilla experience.
How long is the season?
Most roles run for the full season, from mid April until late October. A few roles cover the July and August high season only.
Do I need sailing qualifications to be a first mate?
Sailing qualifications are useful but not essential, as long as you have experience in line with RYA Competent Crew or above. First mates who do a full season get RYA Day Skipper training with Seafarer Training.
Where do flotilla crew live during the season?
Flotilla crew usually live on one of our lead yachts. Other roles have accommodation ashore or afloat, depending on the position.
When do interviews take place?
We hold online interviews between November and March, with an occasional face-to-face interview in London.
Join the crew
See our current vacancies
Read the full job descriptions and apply online. Interviews for the 2027 season run from November to March.
Call or email us
Monday to Friday 09:00 to 19:00 · Saturday 09:30 to 17:00
Book with confidence. Seafarer has run sailing holidays since 1995, and every payment you make to us is financially protected: ATOL licence 9511 for holidays with flights, ABTOT member 5660 for holidays without.