10 Yacht Crew CV Mistakes That Get Your Application Rejected

Yacht crew positions receive 50-300 applications per opening. Captains and hiring managers scan CVs for 10-15 seconds before deciding: shortlist or reject. One preventable mistake, expired certification, unprofessional photo, inflated experience, and your CV hits the reject pile.

This guide breaks down 10 critical CV mistakes (and how to fix them) so your sailing CV stands out for the right reasons.

The Error:

Your CV lists STCW Basic Safety or ENG1 medical certificate that expired months or years ago. You haven't noticed, or you're hoping employers won't check dates.

Why It Kills Your Application:

Maritime law requires current certificates. Hiring managers assume:

• You're not serious about yachting (if you were, you'd maintain current certs)
• You can't start immediately (need to renew before employment)
• You lack attention to detail (didn't notice expiry dates)

Insurance policies mandate valid STCW and ENG1. Captains can't hire you with expired certs; it's not their choice.

The Fix:

1. Check all certificate expiry dates before submitting CV

• STCW: 5-year expiry
• ENG1: 2-year expiry (1 year if over 60)
• First Aid at Sea: 3-year expiry

2. Renew certificates 2-3 months before expiry

• Don't let them lapse (renewal easier than new application)
• Book courses early (popular dates fill up)

3. If recently expired, acknowledge it:

"STCW expired October 2024, renewal course booked January 2025" - Shows awareness and proactive action

4. Use verified CV platform:

• Crew the Boat flags expiring certificates automatically
• Verification system ensures hiring managers see current dates

The Error:

Your CV includes:

• Holiday selfie cropped awkwardly
• Nightclub photo with drinks visible
• Group photo with friends (hard to identify you)
• Low-resolution grainy image
• Or worst: no photo at all

Why It Kills Your Application:

Yacht crew are guest-facing. Captains assess professionalism and presentation. Unprofessional photos signal:

• Lack of seriousness about yachting career
• Poor judgment (you thought nightclub photo was appropriate?)
• Unfamiliarity with industry standards (didn't know photo was required)

The Fix:

1. Invest in professional headshot photography

• £50-100 for session
• Multiple poses for different applications
• High-resolution digital files

2. Photo requirements:

• Shoulders-up framing
• Neutral background (white, grey, marine blue)
• Smart-casual attire (polo shirt, blouse, not suit or t-shirt)
• Smiling, approachable expression
• High resolution (300 DPI minimum, 1200px width)

3. DIY option (budget approach):

• Use modern smartphone camera
• Natural outdoor lighting (avoid harsh shadows)
• Plain wall background
• Ask friend to take photo (not selfie)

The Error:

Your experience section lists "3 years yacht crew" with no mention of:

• Total sea miles logged
• Miles as skipper vs crew
• Notable passages or cruising grounds
• Qualifying passages (60NM+, overnight)

Why It Kills Your Application:

Three years employed doesn't indicate actual sailing experience. You could have:

• 3 years × 2,000 miles/year = 6,000 miles (experienced)
• 3 years × 200 miles/year = 600 miles (minimal actual sailing)

Captains need sea miles data to assess competence. Without it, they assume minimal experience or that you're hiding something.

The Fix:

1. Add sea miles summary section:

2. Include in experience descriptions:

• "Completed 15 coastal passages totalling 800 miles"
• "Offshore delivery Plymouth to Brittany (600 miles over 4 days)"

3. Track miles from day one:

• Use digital logbook or spreadsheet
• Log every passage immediately
• Calculate running totals monthly

The Error:

You claim:

• RYA Yachtmaster when you hold Day Skipper
• STCW when you've only done online theory (not practical course)
• Yacht experience on boats you never crewed
• Skipper miles when you were crew

Why It Kills Your Application:

Yachting industry is small. Captains know each other, verify references, and contact previous employers. Dishonesty = instant blacklist across entire industry.

Even if you get hired, lies surface during employment:

• Captain asks you to demonstrate navigation (you can't, don't have Yachtmaster)
• Insurance checks certifications (your STCW doesn't exist)
• Previous employer is contacted (says they never employed you)

Result: Immediate dismissal, reputation destroyed, blacklisted from agencies.

The Fix:

1. Radical honesty:

• List exact qualifications held (Day Skipper, not "working toward Yachtmaster")
• Distinguish skipper vs crew miles clearly
• Only list yachts where you actually crewed

2. Frame progression positively:

• "Building qualifying miles toward Yachtmaster Offshore (currently 1,200 of 2,500 miles)"
• "Completed Day Skipper, planning Coastal Skipper course spring 2025"

3. Provide verifiable references:

• List previous employers with contact details
• Offer skipper references for passages claimed

4. Use verified CV platform:

• Crew the Boat verifies certificates with issuing bodies
• Verification badges prove credentials are genuine

The Error:

Your CV uses generic corporate language:

• "Team member" instead of "deckhand" or "steward"
• "Shift work" instead of "watch-keeping"
• "Trip" instead of "passage"
• "Boat maintenance" instead of "teak care and varnishing"

Why It Kills Your Application:

Incorrect terminology signals:

• Unfamiliarity with maritime industry
• Limited actual sailing experience
• Career changer who hasn't learned yachting culture

Captains want crew fluent in maritime language: it indicates you'll integrate quickly and communicate effectively.

The Fix:

1. Learn and use proper terminology:

2. Use position-specific language:

• Deck crew: Teak care, varnishing, line handling, foredeck work, tender operations
• Interior crew: Table service, laundry management, guest liaison, provisioning

3. Reference maritime standards:

• RYA qualifications (not "sailing license")
• STCW certification (not "safety course")
• ENG1 medical (not "fitness certificate")

The Error:

Your CV is:

• 5+ pages listing every job since age 16, or
• Half a page with minimal detail

Why It Kills Your Application:

Too long: Captains won't read 5 pages. They scan for key info (certifications, experience, sea miles) in 10-15 seconds. Buried information = missed information.

Too short: Insufficient detail to assess competence. Captains assume you lack experience or are hiding something.

The Fix:

1. Target length: 2 pages

• Page 1: Personal details, certifications, core experience
• Page 2: Additional experience, skills, education, interests

2. Entry-level exception: 1 page acceptable

• If you have limited experience (1-2 positions, new to yachting)
• But still include all required sections

3. Content priority (include in order):

• Personal details + photo
• Certifications (STCW, ENG1, RYA, additional)
• Professional experience (last 5-10 years, reverse chronological)
• Sea miles summary
• Skills and languages
• Education (brief)
• Personal interests

4. What to cut (if over 2 pages):

• Jobs over 10 years old (unless highly relevant)
• Detailed responsibilities for ancient positions
• Excessive personal interests (limit to 4-5 bullet points)

The Error:

You send CV with:

• No cover letter at all
• Generic template: "I am writing to express interest in yacht crew positions. I am hard-working and enthusiastic."
• Copy-paste same cover letter to 50 different yachts

Why It Kills Your Application:

Generic applications signal:

• Low effort (you're mass-applying without research)
• No genuine interest in this specific yacht
• Lack of professionalism

Captains receive hundreds of applications. Tailored cover letters stand out.

The Fix:

1. Always include brief cover letter (3-4 paragraphs)

2. Tailor to specific yacht/position:

• Reference yacht name and size: "I'm applying for deckhand position on M/Y [Name] (52m)"
• Mention specific cruising area: "My Mediterranean experience aligns with your summer season operations"
• Explain relevant fit: "My RYA Coastal Skipper qualification and 2 years racing in Solent tidal waters match your requirement for competent deck crew"

3. Opening paragraph template:

"I'm applying for [Position] on [Yacht Name] ([Size]m) for [Season/Duration]. My [Qualification] and [X years] experience in [Relevant area] align with your requirements for [Specific need]."

4. Middle paragraph:

• Highlight 2-3 relevant achievements or skills
• Connect to yacht's needs (deck/interior, cruising area, guest service)

5. Closing paragraph:

• Availability and enthusiasm
• Professional closing

The Error:

Your CV lists contact email:

• partygirl123@hotmail.com
• sexysailor69@yahoo.com
• cooldude1990@gmail.com

Why It Kills Your Application:

Unprofessional email address signals immaturity and poor judgment. Captains question: "Will this person represent my yacht professionally with charter guests?"

The Fix:

1. Create professional email:

• Format: firstname.lastname@provider.com
• Example: sarah.jones@gmail.com
• Alternative: firstinitiallastname@provider.com (sjones@gmail.com)

2. Use modern email provider:

• Gmail, Outlook, ProtonMail (professional)
• Avoid: Hotmail, Yahoo, AOL (outdated associations)

3. Update CV and job applications:

• Replace old email everywhere
• Forward old email to new (don't miss responses)

The Error:

Your CV doesn't state:

• When you're available to start
• If you have commitments (notice period, courses booked)
• Geographic availability (willing to relocate, travel)

Why It Kills Your Application:

Captains often need crew immediately or for specific season (Med summer, Caribbean winter). If they don't know your availability, they assume:

• You're not available soon enough
• You're casually browsing, not seriously seeking work
• They'll waste time contacting you only to find you're unavailable until next year

The Fix:

1. State availability clearly in CV:

• "Available: Immediate"
• "Available: April 2025 (completing current contract March 2025)"
• "Notice period: 2 weeks"

2. Include geographic flexibility:

• "Available: Mediterranean summer season (May-October)"
• "Willing to relocate: UK, Mediterranean, Caribbean"

3. Mention commitments upfront:

• "Pre-booked: RYA Yachtmaster exam June 2025 (1 week)"
• "Available except: July 10-20 (family wedding)"

The Error:

Your CV lists impressive certifications and experience but provides:

• No certificate numbers (can't be verified)
• No previous employer contact details
• No skipper references
• No way to confirm claims

Why It Kills Your Application:

Captains need to verify credentials before hiring. If verification is difficult:

• Time-consuming (must chase you for details)
• Risky (unverified credentials may be fake)
• Easier to hire someone else with verified CV

The Fix:

1. Include certificate numbers on CV:

2. Provide references section:

3. Use verified CV platform:

• Crew the Boat verifies certificates with issuing bodies
• Verification badges on profile
• Hiring managers see verified status immediately

4. Proactive verification offer:

• "Certificate verification documentation available on request"
• "Happy to provide issuing body contact details for certification confirmation"

Join Crew the Boat and build professional yacht crew CV with:

• Automatic certificate expiry tracking
• Verification badges proving credentials
• Maritime CV format guidance
• Professional profile optimised for yacht crew applications

• Professional Sailing CV Guide - Complete maritime CV structure and examples