Quarterdeck Academy
- Feb 15, 2017
- 4 min read
How epic does that look!?
In March 2016 I decided to take a hiatus from NYC to sail and travel more! I wondered how I could do this.. and then came across Quarterdeck and The Yacht Week on social media. I found out that if attended Quarterdeck Academy and passed, that I could not only work for The Yacht Week - I could also become crew for the largest flotilla and charter companies around the world.
✈️⛵️ I went to Academy in April and passed, embarking on the best Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter (& counting) of my life. Hosting dinner parties, cooking for over 10 epic crews, and sailing to gorgeous exclusive islands was the DREAM. Not only did I live in Croatia and Greece all Summer working for The Yacht Week, but I traveled with friends to: Barcelona, Ibiza, Madrid, Amsterdam, Paris, London, Munich, Naples, Florence, Rome, Positano, and Capri & more.
❤️️ That isn’t even the best part. THE BEST PART: the Incredible, Ahhmazing, Authentic, Gorgeous, Vibrant souls that I met and get to work with..Imagine being in a community where everyone is as like minded as you about traveling around the world and living life to the fullest while enjoying every second. The QD/Yacht Week fam is like the best friend fam and support system that you could ever ask for - and I can’t rave about them enough.
✨ After the epic Summer season of hosting, I decided to become a Skipper too. I moved to South Africa and studied at Sail Due South for 2 months this Fall and got my Yachtmaster Coastal Certification! I love being able to fill in as any position needed! Chef, Event Staff, Hype Girl, Skipper, or Recruitment Manager, I got you covered!
There are TWO options for those wanting to join in on the adventure:
Hostess Academy
Experience: Background in hospitality, events or customer service and a solid foundation of cooking skills & hosting dinner parties for your friends! This should all be complemented with an outgoing and energetic personality!
The Rundown: During Hostess Academy you'll complete a program that will turn you into a professional maritime hostess. During the 9 days you will complete cooking course modules, practice catering for up to ten guests, learn about crew management, leadership, contracts, insurance, life onboard a yacht and sailing skills. After successfully passing Hostess Academy you will be offered contracts with our partners around the world based on availability and performance.
Tips: Academy is basically like a 9 day interview with the most amazing people you will ever meet. When I went it was amazing because my friends from it became like family and they first core group that you will have as your support system for the summer! The first few days are lecture based on land and for the rest of the time you are on the boats and the hostesses and skippers are all on the same boat together. For us, there were about 2-3 hostesses and 5 skippers on each boat. The skippers get examined while the hostesses cook for the boat as if they were guests. You present your food in creative ways and set the table all cute with flowers and platters. Bring knives, peelers, muffin tins, and anything else to make your life easier! They will have different items on each boat and sometimes some boats have items that others don't. The hostesses are given a budget and you work with the girls on you boat to plan what you will make for the week and you switch off cooking each day! I would have more than 7 lunches and 7 dinners downnnn that are colorful and vibrant that you will be bomb at to make on academy. You won’t cook this many meals on academy, but its good to know just in case they don’t have the ingredients you want to have as back up. On top of knowing those recipes inside and out, I would bring a cookbook of endless recipes that you researched on Pinterest or Yummy. Don’t forget the Vegan, Veg, dairy-free, and gluten-free ones!!
Skipper Academy
Experience: Skippers are responsible for the safety and well-being of their crew, as such they are required to have a strong foundation of sailing experience before applying.
Don’t have the required experience but think this could be the best job in the world? Check out www.quarterdeck.co for the certifications accepted or feel free to ask me!
The Rundown: Skipper Academy is an intensive 9 day course teaching experienced sailors the necessary skills and tools needed to qualify as a professional skipper. We build on existing strong foundations students are expected to have and teach them how to apply their knowledge as skippers. Theoretical scenarios, practical applications and mentoring is the trio to success, our instructors will equip aspiring skippers with everything they need to be able to work effectively in the charter industry.
Need your sailing license?
Check out our partners at Sail Due South in South Africa or MT Power and Sail in Barcelona!
Applications for Quarterdeck Academy open December 1st!
As Recruitment Manager of Quarterdeck I want to help you have the best job ever! If you know anyone that would want to join our team, please contact me at molly.a@quarterdeck.co with any questions about the application process!
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