How a Yacht Crew Agency Works

A yacht crew agency finds crew for yachts, and helps crew find yachts. Whether you are an owner, Captain or management company looking for crew, or a crew member looking for your next position, this page explains what an agency does, what the process involves, and what to ask before you work with one.

What a yacht crew agency does

A crew agency, sometimes called a crew agent or placement agency, sits between yachts and crew.

For the yacht, it searches for, speaks to and checks candidates for a position, so the Captain or owner is not working through a pile of CVs alone.
For crew, it holds your CV and details and puts you forward when a yacht’s position suits your experience.

Agencies can place crew in every department on board: deck, engineering, interior and galley. If you are not sure what each role involves, read our guide to yacht crew positions and ranks.

If you are looking for crew

Cara Lees Yacht Crew works like this:

1. We get to know the yacht and the position. Most enquiries come through the form on this website. Cara then replies and arranges a convenient time to talk, to get a comprehensive overview of what you are looking for. Owners usually prefer this personal conversation, and the process is much the same for Captains and heads of department. If you would rather brief us in writing, we also have a form we can send you. We know your boat profile, who we have placed on board and the team dynamic, so we can find crew who fit it.
2. We search until we find the right people. An ongoing and extensive search is carried out until the right candidate or candidates are found for each position.
3. We interview. Each candidate of interest is interviewed in line with their skill set. We look for a clear understanding of their goals and what they want from a position, including location and time of year, as well as the qualities of a good crew member.
4. We check. All relevant certificates are checked to make sure they are correct for the role, verified and in date, and we carry out reference checks. Always safety first.
5. You receive an honest view of every candidate. Each crew member we put forward comes with an honest review, so you can decide with confidence.

Contact Cara about a position or read more about hiring crew.

If you are looking for a yacht job

Registering with an agency is the first step. At Cara Lees Yacht Crew:

Your CV is read by a person. Every CV is reviewed by one of the team before you are sent login details for the candidate portal.
Upload it as a Word or PDF file, clearly titled, for example your name cv.pdf. Our yachting CV format guide shows what a yachting CV should include.
Keep your profile and documents up to date. From the candidate portal you can update your profile, add documents and track your applications, and Crewdentials keeps your qualifications in one place.

An agency places crew when a yacht’s position matches their experience, so a complete, up-to-date profile gives you the best chance of being considered. New to yachting? Start with yacht jobs with no experience and then register your CV.

Will an agency charge crew?

No reputable agency should. Under MLC 2006, the international convention on crew working and living conditions, a recruitment and placement agency must not charge crew for finding them work. Our statement of conformity says the same: there is no charge to crew for providing employment, or to register on the website. Read it in full: Statement of Conformity with MLC.

What MLC 2006 means for an agency

MLC 2006 sets rules for agencies that recruit and place crew. Our statement of conformity commits Cara Lees Yacht Crew Ltd to, among other things:

not keeping a blacklist to stop anyone getting work
making sure the crew we place are qualified for the job, and carrying out reference checks
keeping an up-to-date register of the crew we place
examining and responding to any complaint, using our complaints procedure
protecting the confidentiality of crew’s personal data

Cara Lees Yacht Crew is an MCA certified recruitment and placement agency, and our statement of conformity sets out how we meet these rules.

Questions to ask any yacht crew agency

Whether you are hiring or looking for work, these are fair questions to ask:

Are you compliant with MLC 2006, and can I read your statement?
Do you charge crew anything to register or to be placed?
How do you check references and certificates?
Who will I be dealing with, and how do I reach them?
How is my personal information stored and protected?
How do you handle complaints?

Talk to Cara

Cara has over 30 years of experience in the yachting industry and founded Cara Lees Yacht Crew in 2021. You can get in touch, call +44 7480 400115, or email info@caraleesyachtcrew.com.