Become a yacht chef

The Blog

Everything I wish I knew before starting — how to break into yachting, land your first job, and thrive in the galley.

Getting Started

How to Become a Yacht Chef With No Experience

First, the good news: this is the beauty of yachting — it can give almost anyone a chance to prove themselves. I've worked alongside brilliant yacht…

Read More
Getting Started

What Qualifications Do You Actually Need to Become a Yacht Chef?

Let me clear this up properly, because there's a lot of confusion (and a lot of people trying to sell you courses you don't need).

Read More
Getting Started

How Long Does It Take to Become a Yacht Chef? (And Can You Do It in 3 Weeks?)

Straight answer: it depends entirely on where you're starting from. Here are the honest timelines I've seen play out over 14 years in this…

Read More
Getting Started

How to Find Your First Yacht Chef Job

I've literally been hired every single way possible — through an agent, word of mouth, a fellow yachtie, LinkedIn and even Instagram. So take it from…

Read More
Getting Started

How to Get References for Your First Yacht Chef Job

The classic catch-22: boats want references, but you need a boat to get references. Here's how to break the loop — because everyone in this industry,…

Read More
Getting Started

How to Stand Out as a Yacht Chef Candidate (CV, Portfolio & More)

Hundreds of chefs apply for the good boats. Here's what actually separates the hired from the hopeful — from someone who's been on both sides of…

Read More
Getting Started

How to Network Your Way Into a Yacht Chef Position

Yachting is a word-of-mouth industry wearing a professional costume. Jobs are posted, sure — but the best ones are filled by "I know someone"…

Read More
Getting Started

Is Becoming a Yacht Chef the Right Career Change for You?

This is the question underneath all the others — so let's answer it properly. Not with a personality quiz, but with the honest questions I'd ask…

Read More
Money & Training

How Much Do Yacht Chefs Make? A Real Salary Breakdown

This is the question I get asked more than any other, so let's get straight into it — no fluff, just what I've seen across 14 years working on…

Read More
Money & Training

Is Yacht Chef Training Worth the Cost?

Fair question to ask someone who sells a course — so let me answer it the way I'd answer a mate over a beer, including when you shouldn't pay for…

Read More
The Job Itself

What Do Yacht Chefs Actually Cook? A Day in the Galley

People picture a yacht chef plating one beautiful dinner a day. Let me walk you through what a charter day actually looks like.

Read More
The Job Itself

Cooking in a Yacht Galley: The Challenges Nobody Warns You About

Every land chef who steps into a galley has the same moment: where's the rest of the kitchen? Here's what cooking at sea actually demands — and…

Read More
The Job Itself

What Do Luxury Yacht Owners and Charter Guests Actually Expect From Their Chef?

You're cooking for people who eat at the best restaurants on earth as a matter of routine. Here's what they actually expect — and what they…

Read More
The Job Itself

Provisioning at Sea: How Yacht Chefs Source Food Around the World

On land, your produce arrives at the back door at 7am. At sea, keeping a five-star kitchen supplied anywhere on earth is half the job — and honestly, one…

Read More
The Job Itself

What Skills Do Yacht Chefs Need Beyond Cooking?

Here's something that surprises people: cooking is the entry ticket, not the job. The chefs who last out here all share five qualities — versatility,…

Read More
The Job Itself

How to Learn Gourmet Cooking for Yacht Chef Positions

First, let's define the target properly — because "gourmet" on yachts isn't what most people think.

Read More
The Lifestyle

Yacht Chef Lifestyle: What It's Really Like Living on a Boat

Instagram shows you the sunsets. Let me show you the whole picture — because I love this life, but you should choose it with your eyes open.

Read More
The Lifestyle

What's the Hardest Part of Being a Yacht Chef?

I want to be as real with you as possible, because yachting is not for everyone, and it's better to know what's coming before you sign on. Most…

Read More
The Lifestyle

How to Handle the Isolation and Mental Side of Yacht Chef Life

Let's have the conversation the brochures skip. The mental side of this job is real, it catches good people off guard, and talking about it honestly…

Read More
The Lifestyle

Can You Travel the World as a Yacht Chef? (Yes — Here's What That Looks Like)

This is the question with the happiest answer. Yes — your job is literally travelling the world. Let me tell you what that actually looks like, because…

Read More
Choosing Your Path

Yacht Chef vs Restaurant Chef: What's Actually Different?

I spent 8 years in land kitchens before 14 at sea, so I've lived both sides of this properly. They share knives and heat — beyond that, they're…

Read More
Choosing Your Path

Yacht Chef vs Stew: Which Crew Job Is Right for You?

Two of the most common ways into yachting, two very different daily lives. Having spent 14 years in the galley alongside some brilliant interior teams,…

Read More
Choosing Your Path

Private or Charter Yacht: Which Should a Chef Choose?

I get asked this constantly, and I've done years of both — three years private with the same family, then charter on boats up to 88 metres. Here's…

Read More
Choosing Your Path

Motor or Sail Yacht: A Chef's Honest Comparison

I've worked both — sail and motor, 15 to 88 metres, private and charter — so here's an honest insight into what the choice actually means for the…

Read More
Choosing Your Path

Can You Transition From Land Cooking to Yacht Cooking?

Yes — nearly every yacht chef I know started on land, including me. Eight years in land kitchens before I ever cooked at sea. But the transition has…

Read More

Part 1: Becoming a Yacht Chef — What to Expect

Versatility, flexibility, composure, organisation and humility. These are the qualities that will make you a great yacht chef in this…

Read More

Part 2: Becoming a Yacht Chef — How I Got My First Superyacht Job

What might make you stand out in the crowd of hundreds of yacht…

Read More

Part 3: Becoming a Yacht Chef — Courses, Certificates & Experience

I'm going to explain the slightly more serious side of yachting and what you'll need as the basics before even thinking about applying for a…

Read More

Where, When and How to Look for a Yacht Chef Job

I've literally got a job every single way possible — through an agent, word of mouth, a fellow yachtie, LinkedIn and even Instagram. You are now on show to the…

Read More

Motor or Sail Yacht? A Chef's Perspective

I'm going to give you an honest insight into both options — from someone who has actually worked on…

Read More

Provisioning for a Yacht Charter

How to manage an easy going family run yacht or a busy charter…

Read More

Pre-Charter Preparation — How to Get Ahead Before Guests Arrive

How to get ahead of your guests and get as much mise en place…

Read More

A Chef's Life

How I became a yacht chef

Read More