What will the student gain through doing this course?

The various modules described in the course highlights are intended to prepare you not only for work in the industry but also for life as a whole. The skills learnt during the 4 weeks living aboard a small vessel will assist in developing teamwork, interpersonal skills, diplomacy, problem solving, responsibility, negotiating skills and discipline. These skills lead you to successful interaction with people of different ages and backgrounds and will form a mature well-rounded individual with an honest work ethic. The course is excellent preparation for the work environment especially in the boating industry overseas. This is a very up-market and disciplined lifestyle where the employers are caring and the society is drug free. Self-discipline, self confidence, perseverance and rapid personal growth are among the proven results of time spent working in this industry. In addition the overseas travel and work normally associated with this industry develops a global perspective, improves experience, self-confidence and a network of friends and contacts which will stand you in good stead for future international job opportunities.

What are the first steps in getting a crewing position?

The overwhelming majority of boats large enough to employ crew are American owned but registered outside America for logistic purposes. This means that the mind-boggling numbers of boats in South Florida, the area we know best, are able to sign on non-American crew under maritime law. Captains are understandably reluctant to take on anyone until they have had a chance to assess them and every aspirant crewmember starts by doing shore-based hourly paid day work. After a week or two a sound work ethic and good networking skills will ensure that one becomes known as a desirable candidate and a position as a signed-on crewmember is the result. It must be stressed that, although the local authorities turn a blind eye, day work while shore based is essentially unauthorized although a widespread practice.

What are the initial job opportunities?

As with all careers, everyone starts at the bottom of the ladder. The typical first job is to do the menial physical cleaning tasks. Walking the docks in search of that all-important first chance is frustrating, hard work in itself but tenacity and the ability to handle disappointment will be rewarded. This experience alone is a great eye-opener for young South Africans. People who create the right impression while cleaning and polishing will earn around $10 to $15 an hour for a 5 to 10 hour day. They can expect to be recommended for other work, which will lead to the ultimate of being signed on as a crew member. In other words, the way you handle your first job will get you the next one.

What is the next step?

The ultimate objective is to be signed on as a crewmember at which stage salaries are significantly higher, $1 500 to $2 000 per month, and living expenses are all-found. If chartering tips are good and generally clothing, toiletries and medical expenses are paid so money earned goes straight into the bank. At the end of the charter season successful crew can expect their services to be renewed and they are normally given an air ticket anywhere in the world for their holidays. None of this happens without determined effort, tenacity, networking and the ability to live up to the very high social standards required in one of the most status conscious industries in the world. Not easy to achieve but a rewarding and lucrative for those who make it.

Will the academy issue you with a Certificate of Competency?

Beware the "Certificate of Course Completion". This is worthless and you will be laughed off the quayside from the Caribbean to the Med! A Certificate of Competency recognized by the MCA, however, will give you the edge over someone without one. It allows you to stand watch on a craft up to (200 tonnes - or greater than 27 metres).

Does this Certificate of Competency cost extra?

No, not at PYT. It's the whole purpose of the 28 day course and what you get when you pass the exam at the end.

Do I need to be specially talented or an academic genius?

No. If you can pass your matric, you can expect to successfully complete this course. You don't need to be super-fit nor do you have to be academically inclined and there are no formal entry requirements for the course. Certification requires that you can swim, are medically fit and not colourblind and have a reasonably good level of hearing.

Is the academy recognised and approved by the MCA?

The MCA is the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, a worldwide body that sets the standards and monitors the training of ALL PROFESSIONAL ACADEMIES throughout the world. RYA, IYT and SAS are sailing organizations that administer recreational sailing training. Only an MCA recognised Certificate of Competency will qualify you to legally work as a deckhand and stand a bridge watch.

Where will I stay when I'm not crewing?

Wherever megayachts are based there are facilities for crew. These usually take the form of crewhouses, which are basic, but comfortable, safe and relatively inexpensive places to stay. Often these have good relationships with the yacht owners and management companies and know where the jobs are.

Is it hard work?

Yes. The reality is this is a job and not a holiday and it is a very disciplined industry. Also, like any job in any profession, you will be starting at the bottom of the ladder and you will come across clients and colleagues that are extremely demanding and others that are a real pleasure to be with. However, the benefits are immediate (earn $ fast) and enduring (see the world and build up hundreds of travel stories to tell your friends and family).

Will the academy get me a Visa?

No, nor will any other yachting academy.

As with any legitimate employment overseas, there is certain documentation required and although we will not guarantee you a visa, our course does provide the guidelines for your visa application. NB Therefore it is your responsibility to obtain a visa, and for any international travel you will of course require a valid passport.

Will the academy guarantee me a job?

Some schools will tell you that you will walk into a good job. This is highly unlikely. You will start at the bottom, no matter how good looking, skilled, talented, charming or entertaining you think you may be. So, the short answer here is, no academy can guarantee you a job.

However, because PYT principals and instructors (and only those at PYT in SA) have first hand knowledge of the major megayacht industries through regular annual visits to the major events in the Med, the United States and the Caribbean, we will give you some tips to give you the best chance of making a flying start.

What will my qualifications be?

Passing the exams in the course will qualify you for the MCA Certificate of Competency and an STCW '95 safety certificate. These will legitimately allow a skipper to employ you for certain tasks. As you can figure out, if you don't have these qualifications, you will be worth little because you simply won't be legally allowed to perform certain tasks as a crew member!

What will I be allowed to do?

Only with the MCA Certificate of Competency and an STCW '95 safety certificate qualifications will you be allowed to:
1. Be employed on the yacht.
2. Stand watch
3. Operate the tender (a pretty serious motor yacht in itself, maybe 30 to 40 foot with up to 100hp outboard engines, and actually the boat used to ferry the rich and famous from the shore or quay to their megayacht, or to another megayacht).

Which makes you rather worthless without them, doesn't it?

What will give me an advantage in getting a job?

We like the way you think by asking this question - so that's a good start. Having extra skills that are useful on board and will make for a better experience for the charter guests/owners will make you much more marketable.

So if you can:

" help out in the water, say assist in scuba diving, wakeboarding, waveskiing, sailboarding, waterskiing;"

provide therapies such as manicures, pedicures, massages, aromatherapies, make up;"

look after children with teaching, childminding and entertaining skills;

then all of these will make you more valuable than someone with none of the above.

Of course, being the hospitality industry, it is essential to have social skills and graces, be cultured, have good upbringing and good manners.

Are South Africans welcomed?

Yes, definitely. South Africans generally have an appealing work ethic that employers find attractive and valuable. A country farm boy or girl with a "can do" attitude is far preferred to someone with a unionised "not my job" conditioning. Remember, a skipper is looking for someone that jumps to it and gets the job done, not someone who thinks they are a legal expert in constitutional and labour rights.

Will I actually get to sail on the course?

Our 28 day course has a bit of everything you need to prepare for your gap year or new career. It's four weeks of fun, hard work and meeting new friends. You'll live on our 34ft training yachts moored just 200m from our Academy and sail most days to accumulate the 500 nautical miles (with a few nights at sea) that you need in your log book.

How important is mileage?

Not at all, once you have your 500nm (which you do on our course).

Some sailing schools will lure you with the promise of extra sailing - but, remember, you are paying for this in time (possibly a whole week when you should be doing your STCW '95) and money, and it is of absolutely no benefit to do more than 500nm for now. You only need more when you do the next level of training (a more advanced Yachtmaster Limited) in about twelve months time. The 3000nm you require you will get very quickly when you start working on board.

Importantly, it will be at someone else's expense - in fact they'll even pay you while you're getting it!So the short answer is: rather use your time and money to learn things now that will help you get your first job!

Will I be able to race yachts if I do the course?

This course is not about yacht racing because megayachts are about as close to racing as a Rolls Royce is to a Grand Prix car - not very close at all. Your training will make you a handy crew member on anybody's yacht and racing skills need to be developed over a period of time.

Does the academy have payment options?

This is a world class course and the only beginner's course South Africa recognised by the MCA. Therefore the standards are high, the facilities are comprehensive and the training staff all experienced professionals. That means that it may seem expensive, however, it's not, due to the earning potential it gives you. Because of the qualifications and level of training, a PYT graduate with the right attitude should be able to start working quickly enough to pay back the course cost within a couple of months. In fact, the course costs less than an average month's salary! That means that we can usually suggest ways to fund the course.

PARENTS -
IS THIS A GOOD OPTION FOR YOUR CHILD?

Consider that they can:
Work in a respectable industry
Earn Euro or $ quickly to repay tuition fees
Travel the world
Meet important people
Become independent
Return to SA with savings
Broaden horizons
Undergo personal growth
Develop people skills
Build character
Appreciate the value of discipline

There are many good books that compare the traditional career path with a more progressive and contemporary approach to working and life.

One of the better known is Robert Kiyosaki's bestseller Rich Dad, Poor Dad which not only covers this subject, but primarily offers highly valuable and very practical solutions to creating and managing financial wealth.

A key message in his book is that one is never too young to begin building an asset base (he started at about 15) so that one is in a position to identify and jump at opportunities when they come along.

Doing a basic crew course at PYT is probably one of the best springboards to do so. Within a year, one can have qualified, learnt new life and social skills, developed and matured, earned enough to pay for one's tuition, flown home on holiday and saved enough to buy one's first property or start a small business in SA.

Not to mention that all this is being achieved in some of the most popular and glamorous destinations around the world, in a highly respectable industry!

In the meantime, one's peers will have completed only one year of tertiary education

Proud to be an SA company