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Resolutions, detoxes and diets...How's it going? Are you living in a haze of green smoothies and dawn yoga sessions, or have you fallen off the wagon and eaten half the crew mess Pringles? The Weight of Expectations - Yacht crew & eating disorders To All news 8 April 2021 If you’re locked down in a port or shipyard, maybe getting fit is the only thing you can do right now, but fad diets are ever present, aren't they? In this privileged world of yachting, food is abundant, there are lunch and dinner buffets, crew mess cupboards bursting with snacks, leftover guest lobster… and it’s ironic that amidst all this glorious food, many of us are trying very hard not to eat it. Continue reading here . Author: The K Flag More news Launch of a New AV/IT Training Programme to Address Growing Skills Gap Onboard Superyachts The Professional Yachting Association (PYA) spearheaded the development of a series of courses to deliver fit-for-purpose AV/IT training, aligned with real onboard needs. The courses will be provided through IAMI GUEST Accredited training providers. Antibes (France), 21 Jan. 2026 - Yacht agents and captains are reporting a growing demand for crew with Electrical Technical Officer (ETO) certification. However, while an ETO Certificate of Competency is a degree-level qualification focused primarily on high-voltage electrical systems, the operational reality onboard many yachts tells a different story. Read more Real Life On Board Competition - Superyacht Reality Project The PYA, with the backing of the Raising The Bar think tank, invites yacht crew worldwide to contribute to Superyacht Reality – Real Life On Board, a global photo and video competition designed to reflect the authentic experience of working on superyachts. This initiative aims to support career awareness, promote realistic expectations of life at sea, and share the everyday moments that define professional yachting — from teamwork and skills development to the challenges and rewards of working on board. The competition starts on 19th January 2026, ends on 22nd March 2026, and the winners will be announced the following week. Read more PYA Christmas Ball 2025 Highlights The 2025 PYA Christmas Ball took place on 5 December at the Hotel Martinez in Cannes, bringing Captains, crew and well-known leading industry professionals together for a 1960s-themed evening. We started with a cocktail reception, with live musicians playing as guests arrived in retro attire. After months of preparation, we were truly delighted to see how much our members and partners enjoyed this special night. The PYA Christmas Ball remains a cherished tradition, bringing our community together to celebrate, connect, and create lasting memories. Read more

Last month’s news was that the crew on the 31m M/Y La Dolce Vita had to abandon their burning yacht off the Florida Keys before fire totally gutted it and the yacht sank. Other than the watches on their wrists and the smartphones in their pockets, they may not have managed to take many other of their personal belongings with them when they abandoned the yacht. Repatriation of Personal Possessions To All news 13 April 2021 Last month’s news was that the crew on the 31m M/Y La Dolce Vita had to abandon their burning yacht off the Florida Keys before fire totally gutted it and the yacht sank. Other than the watches on their wrists and the smartphones in their pockets, they may not have managed to take many other of their personal belongings with them when they abandoned the yacht. This was not a unique occasion when yacht crew have been unexpectedly separated from their personal effects in a traumatic manner. A brief online search will reveal a series of other yacht fires and founderings, including some very large yachts. Recently, the 75m S/Y Enigma burned out and sank off Langkawi. The 60m M/Y Yogi sank in heavy weather in the Aegean in February 2012. The Yogi episode was spread over several hours before the crew were lifted off by helicopter, and they reportedly had time to assemble all their belongings to take with them. In other incidents, the speed of abandonment was such that few of the crew members’ personal effects left with their owners. Bicycles, surfboards, parachute packs, and even laptops are unwelcome candidates as survival equipment in a life raft. The above examples illustrate one category of separations between crew and their possessions, namely accidents to vessels. Accidents to individuals, leading to unexpected hospitalization and/or repatriation, are another category. Fatalities, occurring either onboard or during the period of service, are a third category. The Covid-19 crisis has brought to our attention a fourth category of enforced separation of seafarers from their belongings. A combination of quarantine/isolation/lockdown restrictions, plus limited or total unavailability of air travel to particular destinations, has meant that some of our PYA members have been unable to rejoin their yachts after a period of leave and have consequently been paid off. The return of their belongings has not always gone smoothly. The foregoing serves to show that there exists a niche area of crew welfare that is often overlooked and unprepared for until a critical situation arises. Whenever seafarers are separated from their onboard personal possessions for whatever reason, there are specific regulations and protocols to follow. The particular duties and responsibilities of owners/managers and masters, and the rights of the seafarer concerned, will be found in the flag state shipping regulations (for instance the UK Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014, Part6). In some instances the seafarer’s rights under such regulations may be embodied in, appended to, or referred to in the SEA. With regard to the UK Statutory Instrument referred to above, note the following paragraph: (13) The seafarer or the next of kin, as the case may be, must reimburse the shipowner for the reasonable delivery costs if demanded. A similar clause may be found in the regulations of other flag registries. There is no guidance as to the grounds for reimbursement of such delivery costs. Justifiable grounds could be extreme misconduct on board, leading to instant dismissal and police escort to the airport, or criminal conduct leading to imprisonment under the regime of the port being visited, such as possession of drugs or pornography. No matter who pays for the shipment, a proper accounting of all left-behind possessions is called for in all circumstances. In the event of personal belongings having to be shipped to a former crew member, or their next of kin, the circumstances leading to separation from those belongings, whether fire, foundering, sickness, injury or death are certain to create stress for those involved. The last thing that anybody needs is to compound the stress by controversy over the belongings which have been left behind on board. The best precaution to take in order to avoid a dispute over such possessions is to maintain onboard an electronic register into which each crew member can enter all relevant details regarding their personal belongings. Entries should include a photograph of each item (face and back of the case of expensive watches,) photograph of proof of purchase, make, model, serial number, a brief description, and any other pertinent information (such as provenance). The electronic format allows for easy updates as crew change or they buy themselves new toys, and remote cloud storage safeguards the list in the event of catastrophic annihilation of onboard records. The full list should be password protected, with at least one person ashore, possibly the DPA, having access. With this data always retrievable, appropriate action can be taken in the event of shipment of one person’s belongings, or a post-loss insurance claim by all crew members. If no central registry is kept on board, it would behove each individual crew member to maintain their own personal inventory in a similar remotely stored manner. In all instances, the Master or a delegated officer should verify the existence of all items listed. More news Launch of a New AV/IT Training Programme to Address Growing Skills Gap Onboard Superyachts The Professional Yachting Association (PYA) spearheaded the development of a series of courses to deliver fit-for-purpose AV/IT training, aligned with real onboard needs. The courses will be provided through IAMI GUEST Accredited training providers. Antibes (France), 21 Jan. 2026 - Yacht agents and captains are reporting a growing demand for crew with Electrical Technical Officer (ETO) certification. However, while an ETO Certificate of Competency is a degree-level qualification focused primarily on high-voltage electrical systems, the operational reality onboard many yachts tells a different story. Read more Real Life On Board Competition - Superyacht Reality Project The PYA, with the backing of the Raising The Bar think tank, invites yacht crew worldwide to contribute to Superyacht Reality – Real Life On Board, a global photo and video competition designed to reflect the authentic experience of working on superyachts. This initiative aims to support career awareness, promote realistic expectations of life at sea, and share the everyday moments that define professional yachting — from teamwork and skills development to the challenges and rewards of working on board. The competition starts on 19th January 2026, ends on 22nd March 2026, and the winners will be announced the following week. Read more PYA Christmas Ball 2025 Highlights The 2025 PYA Christmas Ball took place on 5 December at the Hotel Martinez in Cannes, bringing Captains, crew and well-known leading industry professionals together for a 1960s-themed evening. We started with a cocktail reception, with live musicians playing as guests arrived in retro attire. After months of preparation, we were truly delighted to see how much our members and partners enjoyed this special night. The PYA Christmas Ball remains a cherished tradition, bringing our community together to celebrate, connect, and create lasting memories. Read more

The PYA would like to advise all seafarers that the MCA has published MIN 543 to implement new arrangements for the verification of Sea Service Testimonials (SSTs) in the yachting sector. MIN 543 - Changes to sea service verification by the MCA To All news 13 April 2017 The PYA would like to advise all seafarers that the MCA has published MIN 543 to implement new arrangements for the verification of Sea Service Testimonials (SSTs) in the yachting sector. The MCA is transferring the task of verifying SSTs from their own staff to an approved 'Verifying Organisation', which the PYA has been since 1994 - when it was first approved by the MCA to verify sea service on its behalf. As from the 24th May 2017, all seafarers in the yachting sector who wish to apply for an NoE or for the renewal of a CoC will be expected to have their SSTs verified PRIOR TO SUBMISSION to the MCA. What does this mean for crew and how can the PYA help both members and non-members? There will be no change in the procedures for PYA members who are already using a PYA Service Record Book and who, as at present, will need to submit only a correctly entered SRB to the MCA. However, the PYA is now approved by the MCA to verify sea service for non-members , for which there will be a charge of €50 per testimonial. Both members and non-members can upload their sea service testimonials directly to a secure online area, where they can log in to see the status of verification for each piece of sea service. A preferred method of sea service verification by the MCA MIN 543 also requires compliance with quality management protocols and makes the processes undertaken on its behalf now subject to strict audit and control measures by the MCA. Note that the PYA has been authorised by the MCA to verify sea service on its behalf for 23 years - no other verifying organisation has this track record. The MCA has stated in the MIN that failure to submit pre-verified sea service under these revised arrangements "will cause severe processing delays of around 160 days." They have strongly recommended that seafarers in this industry use the services of the PYA (or other verifying organisation), as a "preferred method of sea service verification of the MCA" . More news Launch of a New AV/IT Training Programme to Address Growing Skills Gap Onboard Superyachts The Professional Yachting Association (PYA) spearheaded the development of a series of courses to deliver fit-for-purpose AV/IT training, aligned with real onboard needs. The courses will be provided through IAMI GUEST Accredited training providers. Antibes (France), 21 Jan. 2026 - Yacht agents and captains are reporting a growing demand for crew with Electrical Technical Officer (ETO) certification. However, while an ETO Certificate of Competency is a degree-level qualification focused primarily on high-voltage electrical systems, the operational reality onboard many yachts tells a different story. Read more Real Life On Board Competition - Superyacht Reality Project The PYA, with the backing of the Raising The Bar think tank, invites yacht crew worldwide to contribute to Superyacht Reality – Real Life On Board, a global photo and video competition designed to reflect the authentic experience of working on superyachts. This initiative aims to support career awareness, promote realistic expectations of life at sea, and share the everyday moments that define professional yachting — from teamwork and skills development to the challenges and rewards of working on board. The competition starts on 19th January 2026, ends on 22nd March 2026, and the winners will be announced the following week. Read more PYA Christmas Ball 2025 Highlights The 2025 PYA Christmas Ball took place on 5 December at the Hotel Martinez in Cannes, bringing Captains, crew and well-known leading industry professionals together for a 1960s-themed evening. We started with a cocktail reception, with live musicians playing as guests arrived in retro attire. After months of preparation, we were truly delighted to see how much our members and partners enjoyed this special night. The PYA Christmas Ball remains a cherished tradition, bringing our community together to celebrate, connect, and create lasting memories. Read more

The PYA in collaboration with Seascope France will launch a webinar this November covering lithium-ion battery awareness and a new training course based on the MCA’s MGN 681. © Jéan Cloete PYA to launch Lithium-ion Batteries webinar with Seascope France To All news 9 November 2023 The PYA in collaboration with Seascope France will launch a webinar this November covering lithium-ion battery awareness and a new training course based on the MCA’s MGN 681. The discussion will welcome a number of experts from across the yachting industry familiar with lithium-ion battery systems and their implementation on board yachts of various sizes. The webinar will also explore the important areas that underpin safety on vessels and the often overlooked component of lithium batteries including their role in the yachting industry. “Leading yacht industry experts will be taking part in our latest webinar with Seascope France to better understand the safety aspects of yacht management and lithium-ion batteries. This discussion follows a number of fires on yachts in recent months and will enable yacht crew to learn valuable insights on safety procedures. We want to thank Seascope France for working with us to arrange our latest webinar which will bring in-depth knowledge to the industry,” said Christophe Bourillon, CEO for the PYA. Yachting industry experts with years of experience in areas such as health & safety, fire & rescue training, the merchant navy, surveying and maritime law will share their unique insights. Discover our guest speakers Mr Kevin Howlette, Director of Ferndale Fire Ltd. and Emergency Fire & Safety Ltd Kevin is a Health & Safety Consultant who specialises in fire and rescue training. His companies specialise in providing cutting-edge solutions for extinguishing Lithium Ion Battery Fires, including robotics. Ferndale Fire Ltd is a Joint Venture between Emergency Fire & Safety Ltd from Belfast and Ferndale Lane Investments Ltd from Cork, London and Dublin. Working both locally and widely abroad, Kevin, a former member of the NIFRS, has extensive health and safety knowledge in the fire & rescue sector and a proven track record for managing and delivering training in his field. Master Mariner Gerard Pollock, who developed the course around the MCA’s MGN 681 Gerard Pollock is a Master Mariner who began his career in the merchant navy before entering yachting 20 years ago. Gerard has worked on several prominent yachts, including as Master on MY Musashi. Since moving ashore in 2016, Gerard has worked as a Port State Control Officer before joining the Pacific Maritime Safety Programme as a Maritime Advisor to governments in the South Pacific. Gerard is also an author and writes on maritime safety and regulation. His third book is due out from Witherby’s later this year. Captain Herbert Magney Herbert Magney is an active captain of a 135' private yacht and in the U.S.C.G. Auxiliary. He works with Sectors Miami and Boston Commanders in the Accident and Incident Investigation Branches. After launching a working group initially made up of members of the ISS, Captain Magney has worked with several flag and class surveyors plus various law firms, insurance underwriters and insurance providers. He has also led the creation of On Board Safety Management Plans and On Board Training for large and small vessels of various types of construction. Allan Love, MCA Policy Lead – Fire Safety & Engineering Allan Love represents the MCA on policy and works within the UK Technical Services Ship Standards. He is the main author for The MAC’s MGN 681. To take part in this webinar, you can reserve your place by booking via our event page . If you would like to host a webinar with the PYA, please contact us on info@pya.org with the subject ‘Webinar Partner’. We look forward to welcoming you to our latest webinar hosted by the PYA and Seascope France. To access our previous webinars, you can visit our website to see the latest discussions in the archive . More news Launch of a New AV/IT Training Programme to Address Growing Skills Gap Onboard Superyachts The Professional Yachting Association (PYA) spearheaded the development of a series of courses to deliver fit-for-purpose AV/IT training, aligned with real onboard needs. The courses will be provided through IAMI GUEST Accredited training providers. Antibes (France), 21 Jan. 2026 - Yacht agents and captains are reporting a growing demand for crew with Electrical Technical Officer (ETO) certification. However, while an ETO Certificate of Competency is a degree-level qualification focused primarily on high-voltage electrical systems, the operational reality onboard many yachts tells a different story. Read more Real Life On Board Competition - Superyacht Reality Project The PYA, with the backing of the Raising The Bar think tank, invites yacht crew worldwide to contribute to Superyacht Reality – Real Life On Board, a global photo and video competition designed to reflect the authentic experience of working on superyachts. This initiative aims to support career awareness, promote realistic expectations of life at sea, and share the everyday moments that define professional yachting — from teamwork and skills development to the challenges and rewards of working on board. The competition starts on 19th January 2026, ends on 22nd March 2026, and the winners will be announced the following week. Read more PYA Christmas Ball 2025 Highlights The 2025 PYA Christmas Ball took place on 5 December at the Hotel Martinez in Cannes, bringing Captains, crew and well-known leading industry professionals together for a 1960s-themed evening. We started with a cocktail reception, with live musicians playing as guests arrived in retro attire. After months of preparation, we were truly delighted to see how much our members and partners enjoyed this special night. The PYA Christmas Ball remains a cherished tradition, bringing our community together to celebrate, connect, and create lasting memories. Read more

The 2023 PYA Christmas Ball is returning to the Martinez in Cannes on December 8th to celebrate industry-wide achievements over the last 12 months, attended by delegates from across the yachting world. PYA to launch annual Christmas Ball at the Martinez in Cannes To All news 27 November 2023 The 2023 PYA Christmas Ball is returning to the Martinez in Cannes on December 8th to celebrate industry-wide achievements over the last 12 months, attended by delegates from across the yachting world. This year, we are recognising the significant progress made by the industry to address crew and wellbeing issues, technological innovations and wider initiatives that are shaping the future of yachting. More than 200 representatives from around the world including no fewer than 60 yacht captains will attend. The PYA is also welcoming for the first time the participation of the Italian Yacht Masters , an association which aims to promote and develop activities related to seafaring and boating. This includes the professional tradition of the Italian Mega Yachts Captains and educating new generations to a high standard of professionalism and an impeccable code of honour. Some of our special guests from IYM include Captains Luca Triggiani, Pietro Giordano, Paolo Bozzo Costa, Roberto Sanna, Marco Nocenti, Alessandro Flora, Manuel Mariotti and Pierluigi Ippoliti. Additionally, Captain Matthaios Gaitis from the Hellenic Yacht Masters’ Club (HYM) will join us for this year’s celebration. Crew members, business leaders, pioneers of maritime exploration and engineering will also gather at our event in Cannes for this year’s special masquerade-themed evening and black-tie dinner. “We are grateful for all the support we have received throughout the year as the PYA prepares its annual gala event - the Christmas Ball. Following the success of our recent Sea Changes Forum and industry networking events, we’re especially excited to be welcoming guests who are representing the yachting industry from all corners of the world. This year we have made tremendous progress as an industry, and we will be commemorating those achievements as we prepare for bigger and more ambitious initiatives to come in the New Year,” said Christophe Bourillon, CEO for the PYA. Set in the prestigious ballroom of the Hotel Martinez on the Croisette, our esteemed guests and partners will enjoy a night of entertainment including our opening cocktail reception with a photocall and networking followed by a dinner with gourmet food, live music, a dancing party and our annual raffle competition - offering unique prizes from our partners to lucky guests. Christmas Ball Sponsors We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our sponsors this year for their continued support - enabling PYA to put together this unique event and making it a truly memorable occasion. Premium Yacht Sponsor : Fort Insurance Fort Insurance is an Independent Superyacht Insurance Broker. They are committed to finding their clients the best possible cover at the most competitive prices. Their team of industry-leading experts combines decades of experience allowing them to help you choose the insurance policies suited for you by doing a thorough assessment of your specific needs. Their global panel of insurers allows them to find the best solutions available in the insurance market, whether it’s in continental Europe, Lloyd’s of London, the Americas, the Middle East or Asia. Burgess Founded in 1975 and now with 14 offices worldwide, Burgess is the global superyacht industry leader, uniquely specialising in yachts of over 30m (100ft). Renowned for its professional yachting services, the company leverages its expertise to guide clients through every aspect of the yachting experience, including sale and purchase, new construction, charter and operational yacht management. Nautech Group Shipyard Founded in 1998 in Marseille, Nautech is one of the oldest shipyards in France, dedicated to the refit and repair of luxury yachts and superyachts. The foundations of Nautech in Marseille were laid in 1998 when the opportunity was taken to create a refit and repair Shipyard at a location of strategic and commercial importance. Marseille has the most westerly drydocks in the South of France and is a genuine centre of maritime maintenance operations. Over the years, Nautech has continued to expand. Nautech has developed a loyal superyacht clientele who are looking for convenient and flexible shipyard services in the South of France and the Caribbean. MYBA MYBA , The Worldwide Yachting Association is an internationally renowned professional organisation, founded in 1984, whose Members are involved at all levels within the Superyacht Industry. Members of MYBA are widely represented in all fields of brokerage, charter, technical management and construction of large yachts. GWS Global Wine Solutions are the leading supplier of fine wines and spirits to the yachting industry, with offices in all the major yachting hubs worldwide. They understand the unique requirements of the superyacht community and have an unwavering commitment to excellence, an extensive global network of suppliers and producers, and a passionate team of experts who can curate a portfolio of wines that rival the most exclusive cellars in the world. How you can participate A limited number of tickets are being made available through the PYA for guests to book their seats at one of our dinner tables. To register your interest, please contact office@pya.org with the subject ‘PYA Christmas Ball’. Tickets are extremely limited therefore we recommend you contact us early to book your place. Sponsors can also get in touch if interested in having a presence at our event this year. More news Launch of a New AV/IT Training Programme to Address Growing Skills Gap Onboard Superyachts The Professional Yachting Association (PYA) spearheaded the development of a series of courses to deliver fit-for-purpose AV/IT training, aligned with real onboard needs. The courses will be provided through IAMI GUEST Accredited training providers. Antibes (France), 21 Jan. 2026 - Yacht agents and captains are reporting a growing demand for crew with Electrical Technical Officer (ETO) certification. However, while an ETO Certificate of Competency is a degree-level qualification focused primarily on high-voltage electrical systems, the operational reality onboard many yachts tells a different story. Read more Real Life On Board Competition - Superyacht Reality Project The PYA, with the backing of the Raising The Bar think tank, invites yacht crew worldwide to contribute to Superyacht Reality – Real Life On Board, a global photo and video competition designed to reflect the authentic experience of working on superyachts. This initiative aims to support career awareness, promote realistic expectations of life at sea, and share the everyday moments that define professional yachting — from teamwork and skills development to the challenges and rewards of working on board. The competition starts on 19th January 2026, ends on 22nd March 2026, and the winners will be announced the following week. Read more PYA Christmas Ball 2025 Highlights The 2025 PYA Christmas Ball took place on 5 December at the Hotel Martinez in Cannes, bringing Captains, crew and well-known leading industry professionals together for a 1960s-themed evening. We started with a cocktail reception, with live musicians playing as guests arrived in retro attire. After months of preparation, we were truly delighted to see how much our members and partners enjoyed this special night. The PYA Christmas Ball remains a cherished tradition, bringing our community together to celebrate, connect, and create lasting memories. Read more

The recent Yachting Aftersales and Refit Experience (YARE) event in Italy brought captains, yacht managers and other stakeholders, together for a lively discussion on a critical topic: The Human Capital – Finding the Right People. YARE 2024: Captains Brainstorm Solutions for Finding the Right People To All news 3 April 2024 The recent Yachting Aftersales and Refit Experience (YARE) event in Italy brought captains, yacht managers and other stakeholders, together for a lively discussion on a critical topic: The Human Capital – Finding the Right People . The session, hosted by CEO Christophe Bourillon and Operations Manager Kim Llorente from the Professional Yachting Association (PYA), tackled challenges faced by captains who are increasingly responsible for managing complex crew needs, but may not have all the necessary resources. The 90-minute session proved to be an excellent discussion that brought up not only issues that seem to be more and more recurring among captains, but also some innovative ideas and solutions. Here are the key takeaways: Standardization is Needed: Captains are calling for a more standardized approach to everything from crew recruitment and training to crew and yacht management. This would help streamline processes and ensure a higher level of professionalism across the industry. Captains Need More Support: The role of captains has grown significantly, and they often lack the proper training and tools to manage crew effectively. The industry needs to invest in education (for both crew and owners), workshops and training on self-development and mental health, and clearer communication to manage expectations. The PYA will build on the YARE discussions and initiate some of these ideas starting from the participants in the room and sharing the projects with anyone in the industry who wishes to be involved and be part of the change. If you want to join these discussions, please email us at info@pya.org If you want to bring substantial contribution, please consider becoming a member or partner of the PYA here https://www.pya.org/plans More news Launch of a New AV/IT Training Programme to Address Growing Skills Gap Onboard Superyachts The Professional Yachting Association (PYA) spearheaded the development of a series of courses to deliver fit-for-purpose AV/IT training, aligned with real onboard needs. The courses will be provided through IAMI GUEST Accredited training providers. Antibes (France), 21 Jan. 2026 - Yacht agents and captains are reporting a growing demand for crew with Electrical Technical Officer (ETO) certification. However, while an ETO Certificate of Competency is a degree-level qualification focused primarily on high-voltage electrical systems, the operational reality onboard many yachts tells a different story. Read more Real Life On Board Competition - Superyacht Reality Project The PYA, with the backing of the Raising The Bar think tank, invites yacht crew worldwide to contribute to Superyacht Reality – Real Life On Board, a global photo and video competition designed to reflect the authentic experience of working on superyachts. This initiative aims to support career awareness, promote realistic expectations of life at sea, and share the everyday moments that define professional yachting — from teamwork and skills development to the challenges and rewards of working on board. The competition starts on 19th January 2026, ends on 22nd March 2026, and the winners will be announced the following week. Read more PYA Christmas Ball 2025 Highlights The 2025 PYA Christmas Ball took place on 5 December at the Hotel Martinez in Cannes, bringing Captains, crew and well-known leading industry professionals together for a 1960s-themed evening. We started with a cocktail reception, with live musicians playing as guests arrived in retro attire. After months of preparation, we were truly delighted to see how much our members and partners enjoyed this special night. The PYA Christmas Ball remains a cherished tradition, bringing our community together to celebrate, connect, and create lasting memories. Read more

The PYA is very pleased to share with you the good news that the French government has agreed to remove a significant portion of the yachting sector from its Décret Etat d’Accueil legislation, and the famous Cabotage Declaration issue we have been dealing with since the end of last year will no longer apply to commercial yachts that comply with the “70% rule”. Decret Etat d'Accueil To All news 20 June 2016 The PYA is very pleased to share with you the good news that the French government has agreed to remove a significant portion of the yachting sector from its Décret Etat d’Accueil legislation, and the famous Cabotage Declaration issue we have been dealing with since the end of last year will no longer apply to commercial yachts that comply with the “70% rule”. The letter recently sent to MYBA by Franck Dosne, Director of the Ports of Nice and Cannes. 201606 Letter from Director of ports of Nice and C (14) .pdf Download PDF • 93KB This law would have obliged Captains of all foreign flagged commercial yachts under 650 GT to complete official forms and supply supporting documentation to the authorities 72 hours prior to the start of any single voyage commencing in French waters. In addition to the usual ship documents and crew list, this legislation would have also required a copy of each crew member's SEA, a copy of each crew member's last pay slip and proof of each crew member's social security contribution. Having been alerted by MYBA to this potential minefield for yachts operating out of French ports, the Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie leapt into action and the PYA, ECPY, GEPY and IYM quickly joined forces. Together, we lobbied the French government, with the support of MYBA’s French lawyers, Ince & Co. During two round-table meetings with various government bodies and numerous exchanges on the subject, we were able to make the case that the new legislation, in force since 1st November 2015 and applicable to all commercial maritime activity, should not apply to charter yachts whose main activity takes place outside French territorial waters. Congratulations and thanks are due to all those involved in achieving this extremely positive result, with special recognition to Franck Dosne, Director of the Ports of Cannes & Nice. It is testament to the power of joint lobbying that we were able to achieve this very positive result, in a relatively short space of time. This is yet another example of the type of work PYA does behind the scenes for the benefit of all those working on large yachts. More news Launch of a New AV/IT Training Programme to Address Growing Skills Gap Onboard Superyachts The Professional Yachting Association (PYA) spearheaded the development of a series of courses to deliver fit-for-purpose AV/IT training, aligned with real onboard needs. The courses will be provided through IAMI GUEST Accredited training providers. Antibes (France), 21 Jan. 2026 - Yacht agents and captains are reporting a growing demand for crew with Electrical Technical Officer (ETO) certification. However, while an ETO Certificate of Competency is a degree-level qualification focused primarily on high-voltage electrical systems, the operational reality onboard many yachts tells a different story. Read more Real Life On Board Competition - Superyacht Reality Project The PYA, with the backing of the Raising The Bar think tank, invites yacht crew worldwide to contribute to Superyacht Reality – Real Life On Board, a global photo and video competition designed to reflect the authentic experience of working on superyachts. This initiative aims to support career awareness, promote realistic expectations of life at sea, and share the everyday moments that define professional yachting — from teamwork and skills development to the challenges and rewards of working on board. The competition starts on 19th January 2026, ends on 22nd March 2026, and the winners will be announced the following week. Read more PYA Christmas Ball 2025 Highlights The 2025 PYA Christmas Ball took place on 5 December at the Hotel Martinez in Cannes, bringing Captains, crew and well-known leading industry professionals together for a 1960s-themed evening. We started with a cocktail reception, with live musicians playing as guests arrived in retro attire. After months of preparation, we were truly delighted to see how much our members and partners enjoyed this special night. The PYA Christmas Ball remains a cherished tradition, bringing our community together to celebrate, connect, and create lasting memories. Read more

Become Research Partner The PYA launched a groundbreaking study to explore the impact of sexual harassment on yachting crew across the industry. The survey was conducted with PYA members and provided an insight into prevalent wellbeing issues that have been affecting a number of yacht crew professionals over the past several years. Sexual harassment has been one of the difficult subjects to tackle in the industry where there have been diverging standards and practices on how to address it. There are misconceptions on what constitutes as sexual harassment, what the procedures are and many yacht crew are unaware of their rights - or how they can seek help. Explore some of the key takeaway findings from our Sexual Harassment in Yachting 2018 study below. (Research partners can request access to full statistics by contacting their PYA representative. If you would like to partner with us on an upcoming research project, explore our research opportunities here.) Exploring the impact of sexual harassment in the yachting industry A number of fielding questions was asked to respondents to learn more about their current yachting experience and the types of yachts they had been working on: How long have you worked on board a yacht? 44% of respondents said they had worked on board a yacht for less than 1 year. 39% of respondents said they had worked on board a yacht for 1-5 years. 11% of respondents said they had worked on board a yacht for 6-10 years. 5% of respondents said they had worked on board a yacht for 10-20 years. 1% of respondents said they had worked on board a yacht for 20+ years. What is the length of the yacht? 12% of respondents said they had worked on board a yacht that was less than 30m in length. 46% of respondents said they had worked on board a yacht that was between 30 to 50m in length. 26% of respondents said they had worked on board a yacht that was between 50 to 75m in length. 13% of respondents said they had worked on board a yacht that was between 75m to 100m in length. 2% of respondents said they had worked on board a yacht that was between 100m to 125m in length. Less than 1% of respondents said they had worked on board a yacht that was in excess of 125m in length. Respondents were then asked a series of questions relating to sexual harassment and complaint procedures in the yachting industry. (Some questions have been redacted. Please contact us if you wish to access the full data which includes over 30 questions and responses): Were you given a copy of the yacht's Complaint Procedure when you joined? 51% of respondents said they had been given a copy of the yacht's Complaint Procedure when joining. 49% of respondents said they had not been given a copy of the yacht's Complaint Procedure when joining. Does the yacht have a written policy regarding sexual harassment? 34% of respondents said the yacht had a written policy regarding sexual harassment. 36% of respondents said the yacht didn’t have a policy regarding sexual harassment. 30% of respondents said they were unsure whether the yacht had a policy regarding sexual harassment. Are you aware of the rights of you and your fellow crewmembers and the current flag-state legislation covering sexual harassment on board your yacht? 44% of respondents said they were aware of their rights and those of their fellow crew members and the current flag-state legislation covering sexual harassment on board their yacht. 56% of respondents said they were not aware of their rights and those of their fellow crew members and the current flag-state legislation covering sexual harassment on board their yacht. Have you ever personally been the recipient of unwanted physical contact whilst working on board? 39% of respondents said they had personally been the recipient of unwanted physical contact whilst working on board. 61% of respondents said they hadn’t personally been the recipient of unwanted physical contact whilst working on board. Research conducted by the Professional Yachting Association Dates: March 13th - September 25th 2018 Sample size: 633 Estimated margin of error: 4% Sexual Harassment in Yachting 2018 Study Become Research Partner Carry out research

Alcohol and drug addictions have been prevalent in the yachting industry for many years now, although with addiction still heavily stigmatised, many crew have suffered in silence without access to adequate help.  The Crew Mess Launches to Offer Support for Crew with Addiction To All news 29 October 2020 Alcohol and drug addictions have been prevalent in the yachting industry for many years now, although with addiction still heavily stigmatised, many crew have suffered in silence without access to adequate help. The high-pressured nature of the working onboard for extended periods of time at sea, plus the presence of large cash tips at the end of charters, has led many crew to turn to drugs and alcohol as a means of coping and ‘letting off steam’. With this in mind, a group of industry professionals has recently launched The Crew Mess , providing a free and direct support service for drug and alcohol addiction amongst crew. The team comprise of experienced and ex yachting professionals, so they’re able to relate to the struggles of crew in need and can arrange for a drug or alcohol intervention on board a vessel or at a crew member's home. Andrew Roch, director of The Crew Academy and one of the founders of The Crew Mess, explained that his own path to recovery had inspired him to offer the same, free-of-charge ‘hand holding’ service to those crew suffering from addiction. He also noted that the website had been motivated by a series of lockdown wellbeing sessions that The Crew Academy had carried out during the summer, where it had uncovered many worrying stories of addiction and realised that there wasn’t enough support for crew in need. 'The industry has a tendency to stigmatise those suffering with addiction or mental health and wellbeing, so we hope by providing a free direct service for yacht crew suffering from addiction, those who are suffering are encouraged to reach out and make a change’. The team aims to get crew back to the point where they’re able to return to work under captains who would sponsor them. At the same time, they would provide fellow crew members with training on how best to support them as they settle back into working life. If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction, please contact the team at The Crew Mess to get help: helpinghand@thecrewmess.org and secondchance@thecrewmess.org . More news Launch of a New AV/IT Training Programme to Address Growing Skills Gap Onboard Superyachts The Professional Yachting Association (PYA) spearheaded the development of a series of courses to deliver fit-for-purpose AV/IT training, aligned with real onboard needs. The courses will be provided through IAMI GUEST Accredited training providers. Antibes (France), 21 Jan. 2026 - Yacht agents and captains are reporting a growing demand for crew with Electrical Technical Officer (ETO) certification. However, while an ETO Certificate of Competency is a degree-level qualification focused primarily on high-voltage electrical systems, the operational reality onboard many yachts tells a different story. Read more Real Life On Board Competition - Superyacht Reality Project The PYA, with the backing of the Raising The Bar think tank, invites yacht crew worldwide to contribute to Superyacht Reality – Real Life On Board, a global photo and video competition designed to reflect the authentic experience of working on superyachts. This initiative aims to support career awareness, promote realistic expectations of life at sea, and share the everyday moments that define professional yachting — from teamwork and skills development to the challenges and rewards of working on board. The competition starts on 19th January 2026, ends on 22nd March 2026, and the winners will be announced the following week. Read more PYA Christmas Ball 2025 Highlights The 2025 PYA Christmas Ball took place on 5 December at the Hotel Martinez in Cannes, bringing Captains, crew and well-known leading industry professionals together for a 1960s-themed evening. We started with a cocktail reception, with live musicians playing as guests arrived in retro attire. After months of preparation, we were truly delighted to see how much our members and partners enjoyed this special night. The PYA Christmas Ball remains a cherished tradition, bringing our community together to celebrate, connect, and create lasting memories. Read more

The PYA is excited to announce their participation in a panel discussion on “Crew Careers, Retention, Health and Wellbeing” at the upcoming Superyacht Breakfast Seminars by Estela Superyacht Agency during the Palma Boat Show. PYA to Address Crew Concerns at Palma Boat Show Panel To All news 10 April 2024 The PYA is excited to announce their participation in a panel discussion on “ Crew Careers, Retention, Health and Wellbeing ” at the upcoming Superyacht Breakfast Seminars by Estela Superyacht Agency during the Palma Boat Show . This free event is a great opportunity for crew members, yacht managers, and yacht recruiters to gain insights, contribute and network with industry leaders. Christophe Bourillon , CEO of the PYA, will be contributing to the discussions alongside other experts, including Captain Carsten Franik and Captain William Kaye . The panel will address common misconceptions about working on board, explore challenges faced by crew members, and brainstorm solutions for a better future in the superyacht industry. When: 26th April 2024, between 8:00 - 10:30 Where: Restaurant Varadero, Palma de Mallorca Don't miss this chance to be part of this important conversation. Sign up for the event here: https://bit.ly/ESTELASeminars2024 The full program is available here: https://estelashipping.es/book-your-place-at-estelas-free-breakfast-seminars/ If there is anything you would like us to bring forward, or would like to meet us while in Palma, please send an email to info@pya.org We encourage you to share this event with anyone who might be interested. More news Launch of a New AV/IT Training Programme to Address Growing Skills Gap Onboard Superyachts The Professional Yachting Association (PYA) spearheaded the development of a series of courses to deliver fit-for-purpose AV/IT training, aligned with real onboard needs. The courses will be provided through IAMI GUEST Accredited training providers. Antibes (France), 21 Jan. 2026 - Yacht agents and captains are reporting a growing demand for crew with Electrical Technical Officer (ETO) certification. However, while an ETO Certificate of Competency is a degree-level qualification focused primarily on high-voltage electrical systems, the operational reality onboard many yachts tells a different story. Read more Real Life On Board Competition - Superyacht Reality Project The PYA, with the backing of the Raising The Bar think tank, invites yacht crew worldwide to contribute to Superyacht Reality – Real Life On Board, a global photo and video competition designed to reflect the authentic experience of working on superyachts. This initiative aims to support career awareness, promote realistic expectations of life at sea, and share the everyday moments that define professional yachting — from teamwork and skills development to the challenges and rewards of working on board. The competition starts on 19th January 2026, ends on 22nd March 2026, and the winners will be announced the following week. Read more PYA Christmas Ball 2025 Highlights The 2025 PYA Christmas Ball took place on 5 December at the Hotel Martinez in Cannes, bringing Captains, crew and well-known leading industry professionals together for a 1960s-themed evening. We started with a cocktail reception, with live musicians playing as guests arrived in retro attire. After months of preparation, we were truly delighted to see how much our members and partners enjoyed this special night. The PYA Christmas Ball remains a cherished tradition, bringing our community together to celebrate, connect, and create lasting memories. Read more