About
Cara Lees
Cara Lees has been working and involved in the yachting industry for over 30 years. Gaining her experience in varied roles onboard and moving up the ranks from ‘the complete greenie’ on a 68ft sailboat, to more recently Purser on an iconic 75m motor yacht, a position that she held for many years. She also has several years of experience working in yacht crew recruitment with a highly respected and global reaching crew agency.
Throughout her time working onboard luxury yachts, both private and charter, she has developed an enviable wealth and depth of knowledge in all aspects of daily life in this unique setting – including understanding the ideal crew dynamic. She now brings this experience and knowledge to the recruitment of top-class crew.
Cara is dedicated to finding the right person for the right job, is passionate about her role in this and thrives on the engagement with clients and crew alike.
It is this experience and integrity that places Cara Lees Yacht Crew Ltd at the forefront of the sector. Cara is proud to base her business on a platform of professionalism, honesty, transparency and unrivalled personal relationships.
Personalised service
We make it our mission to ensure we find the perfect crew member for your crew ‘profile’.
Comprehensive checks
Proper reference checks, leaving no stone unturned, ensuring no surprises at sea.
There for you
Always on hand to ensure you can continue operating without impact.
“I pride myself on being able to make crew recruitment personal and in turn making sure we build long term relationships with clients & candidates alike. This ensures we are placing the right crew on the right yachts.”
What people are saying
“I have worked with Cara Lees for several years, relying on her expertise to source quality crew for our 80m motor yacht. Cara has a genuine understanding of the industry, the demands of operating a large yacht, and the importance of finding individuals who are not only suitably qualified but also the right fit for the existing team.
Her personal approach, attention to detail and understanding of our requirements have consistently delivered excellent results. In particular, she has played an important role in helping us build a stable senior crew, with several Heads of Department remaining with the yacht long-term.
Cara is professional, discreet and dependable, and I would have no hesitation in recommending her recruitment services.”
“Cara has assisted us with crew recruitment over the past few years, including the appointment of our current Captain. She takes the time to understand the role and the requirements of the yacht, and we have always found her approach personal, professional and straightforward.”
“Cara provided an excellent recruitment service in helping us find a Captain for our private power catamaran. She took the time to understand our particular requirements, not only in terms of qualifications and experience, but also the importance of finding someone who would be the right fit for our family and cruising plans.
Throughout the process, Cara was professional, attentive and responsive, presenting suitable candidates and making the entire experience straightforward and efficient.
I would happily recommend Cara Lees Yacht Crew to any yacht owner looking for a reliable and personalised recruitment service.”
"After over 20 years in the yachting industry, I have witnessed many changes in the way things are done. Some good, some not so good! One very noticeable change has been the introduction of a variety of crewing agencies. Many of these have completely lost the personal and professional touch. And no longer listen to what the client actually needs. Therefore, it is such a relief to see such an industry professional opening her own agency. Cara is highly organised, knowledgeable about her clients and market, incredible at maintaining communication throughout the process end-to-end and balances professionalism and warmth perfectly. Cara brings an "old school" professionalism back to the industry, which has been missing for many years. She will work hard to find the right candidate, with the right skills and personality for the position you have, and that is the right fit for your yacht.
I would recommend Cara to anyone who is seeking to work with a highly capable recruitment professional who is trustworthy, hard-working and works with integrity and enthusiasm".
David Wilkinson"I highly recommend Cara for anyone looking for a job in yachting, her experience is incredibly valuable and she will spend the time to help you find your dream job ”
Becky Smeaton"It has been a pleasure to work with Cara, she fully understands the requirements asked of her”
Pere Gazic