superyacht crew training australia

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Superyacht Crew Training

Get a headstart in the superyacht industry..

Over the last couple of decades, the superyacht industry has experienced remarkable growth.  This surge has resulted in increased regulation and created a burgeoning demand for  qualified and well-trained crew.

Working aboard a superyacht is often described as a dream job.  You can travel to some of the world’s most exotic and remote locations aboard a magnificent luxury yacht equipped with an array of fabulous toys (think Jet skis, powerboats, helicopters, and even submarines!). 

Along the way, you’ll meet amazing people from diverse backgrounds , and as if that weren’t enticing enough, you’ll also be rewarded with a generous, tax-free salary . Who wouldn’t want this?

Despite the allure of working on a superyacht and its many perks, it’s also important to acknowledge that this career path also comes with its challenges .

You must expect to spend extended periods away from home , and the nature of the job often involves long hours and irregular schedules, especially during peak seasons, which can sometimes lead to a lack of personal time or work-life balance.

To help you get the best possible start in the industry, Flying Fish offers industry-specific training courses to give you the  essential qualifications you need to secure your initial role on a superyacht and to provide you with a springboard to this exciting new career.

Superyacht crew courses

Professional Yachtmaster / Cruising Instructor Internship

This internship offers seasoned watersports instructors an unparalleled chance to embark on a comprehensive two-year work-study journey, culminating in certifications as a Yachtmaster Ocean and RYA Cruising Instructor. Set in an idyllic location, this program promises an enriching, career-enhancing experience in an inspiring environment. It is also a highly cost effective way of training.

Enquire for details

STCW Superyacht Deckhand

Our Superyacht Deckhand course at Flying Fish UK is packed full of the essential qualifications and skills required by the deck crew on a superyacht. It provides a superb springboard into your first job.

STCW Superyacht Steward or Stewardess

Our Superyacht Steward/ess course at Flying Fish UK provides the essential skills and qualifications needed to start working as a Superyacht Steward or Stewardess. It's the perfect springboard you need to enter the industry with confidence.

STCW Basic Safety Training

STCW Basic Safety Training is required by anyone wishing to work on a commercial vessel greater than 24 m in length. If your aim is to work on superyachts this course is an essential part of your training.

ACMA Marine Radio License (VHF, HF, GMDSS)

This one-day Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) approved course teaches you to use VHF (Short Range) as well as MF and HF (Long Range) radio for distress, urgency, safety, and general calls. The course includes GMDSS and DSC

RYA Powerboat Level 2

This course provides intensive training in the practical skills and theoretical knowledge the small boat driver needs. You will learn to drive our rigid inflatable rescue craft.

Basic Yacht Maintenance

This course provides a grounding in the essential maintenance tasks required to keep a modern cruising yacht on the water.

Essential Navigation and Seamanship - Online

This self-paced online course provides a beginner's introduction to the navigation theory and safety knowledge required to go boating safely at sea.

16 hours - self-paced

Yachtmaster Ocean Fast Track

The Yachtmaster Ocean Fast Track in Sydney first trains you for your RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate. Then, you go on to learn celestial navigation and complete an ocean-qualifying passage in preparation for the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean oral exam.

Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased Theory

The RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Shore-based week teaches you ocean passage planning and celestial navigation, including the use of a sextant. You will leave the course confident that you have the knowledge and skills required to navigate an ocean passage using traditional methods.

Yachtmaster Ocean Theory & Qualifying Passage

This course prepares experienced skippers for the prestigious RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence. The programme combines the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory course with an exhilarating Pacific ocean qualifying passage.

Yachtmaster Offshore Fast Track

The Flying Fish Yachtmaster Offshore Fast Track in Sydney takes you from novice sailor to the RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence.

Yachtmaster Shorebased Theory

Upon completing this course, you will have a thorough knowledge of all the theory required for the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence.

Which course do I need?

Our STCW   Superyacht Deckhand  and  STCW Superyacht Steward/Stewardess courses include all the essential skills and qualifications you need to start your first job on a superyacht in one convenient package.

 These courses are run by our UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) approved partners at Flying Fish UK in the picturesque town of Cowes on the Isle of Wight, UK.

If you just want the bare essentials, all crew require  STCW   Basic Safety Training  to work on board. Deck crew also need  RYA Powerboat Level 2  and a  Marine Radio Operators certificate. If you don’t have a yachting background, we also strongly recommend an  RYA Competent Crew  course to put some salt in your veins and make sure you know your port from your starboard.

If you have career aspirations and want to one day take a command position on a superyacht, the  RYA Yachtmaster Offshore  is your essential first professional qualification.

As a qualified RYA Yachtmaster, you can also find work as a yacht instructor, charter skipper, or delivery crew . This way you can log valuable command time, before moving on to larger vessels where you will undertake further training for MCA Officer of the Watch, Master 500gt, and eventually Master 3000gt.

With  MCA Master of Yachts 3000gt,  you can apply for the best command jobs in the superyacht industrSTCW

Try Yachting

Discover yachting, how much will you earn on a superyacht.

There are worldwide job opportunities on yachts and superyachts, including roles for captains, deck officers and crew, chefs and steward/ess, bosuns and engineers. 

Deck crew who are dual qualified as jetski, diving, windsurfing or dinghy sailing instructors are also often in demand. As are interior crew who are qualified yoga instructors or massage therapists. 

There are also a range of shorebased indsutry support jobs in management, sales, administration, guest services etc.

Superyacht crew salaries are usually tax-free,   with virtually no living expenses to worry about. Generally, the bigger the boat, the better the pay. 

If your boat is doing charter work, the crew can also make large tips on top of their salary.

The salary guidelines below are based on the yachting market as of September 2023.  Actual salaries will always vary depending on a candidate’s specific experience, training, certification, additional skills, and a particular yacht’s needs.

Superyacht salaries by role

The Captain | €80,000 to  € 180,000 p/a

The Captain takes responsibility for navigation and passage-planning, leads the crew, manages the boat’s finances and looks after the owner’s family and guests.

First Officer   | €54000 to 84,000  p/a

First Mate assists the Captain as second-in-command.

Chief Engineer   | €80,000 to  €12 0,000 p/a

The Chief Engineer ensures that every piece of equipment on board is maintained in an operational state.

Security Officer | €40,000 to 60,000  p/a

The Security Officer designs the yacht’s safety and security plan, defends against threats to life and property.

Chef   | €65,000 to  €96 ,000 p/a

The Chef manages and runs the galley, prepares meals for guests and crew.

Cheif Stew | €36,000 to 48,000  p/a

The Chief Stew takes responsibility for housekeeping and guest entertainment, manages the steward/ess team.

Steward/ess   | €25,000 to  €30 ,000 p/a

Interior Crew ensure that guests have an enjoyable time on board, serve meals, look after guest accommodation and keep the interior spotlessly clean.

Deck Crew | €32,000 to 40,000  p/a

Deck Crew assist with all tasks on deck, maintain the gym and swimming pool, drive the yacht’s tenders.

Other opportunities for qualified Yachtmasters

Flotilla Skipper   | €180 to €300  p/w

Mediterranean flotilla work is less well paid but the lifestyle is great and it’s a fantastic way to build experience and command time.

Couples   | $55,000 to $95,000 p/a + Tips

A couple working together on a busy charter boat in the Caribbean can benefit from joint earnings. You can expect to add to this with tips, especially from American guests.

Delivery Skipper   | $6,000 to $10,000 p/m

Delivery skippers earnings vary but they usually benefit from travel costs to and from the delivery on top of their earnings.

Yacht Instructor   |  $60000 to $75,000 p/a

Casual seasonal instrcutors can work for charter companies or sailing schools, earning £90 to £150 / day in the UK or $300 to $400 / day in Australia.

A full-time RYA Yachting Instructor can expect £20,000 to  £ 30,000 annually in the UK or $60,000 to  $ 75,000 in Australia.

Find your next adventure

explore our full list of courses in the course catalogue.

try our course search to find what you're after.

Middle Harbour Yacht Club, Lower Parriwi Road, The Spit, Mosman, NSW 2088.

Official RYA training centre

Flying Fish Sail Academy teach the world recognised RYA methods.

Australian Sailing

We're partnered with Australian Sailing.

Flying Fish Sailing teach the world recognised RYA methods.

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TRAINING FOR CREW IN AUSTRALIA

All crew members regardless of their role onboard are required to complete the STCW95+10 training modules. It must also be refreshed every 5 years. The 1995 STCW Convention, amended by the Manila Amendments 2010 establishes a baseline standard for the training and education of seafarers throughout the world.  STCW 95+10 stipulates the required competencies associated with different tasks, the knowledge and understanding required to perform them, methods for demonstrating competence and criteria for evaluating it.

As you now know STCW95+10 certificates expire after 5 years so you will need to complete Refresher Training before it can be renewed. STCW95+10 Refresher Basic Safety training is now mandatory.  This is a 2-day course of practical training for Personal Survival Techniques and Basic Fire Fighting.

So you'd like to work on Superyachts? Great, it's an amazing job where you get to see so much!  Becoming a Deckhand is your entry to working on Superyachts. This 6-day Superyacht Deckhand Training Course is an internationally recognised professional qualification. Your certificate will be accredited by International Yacht Training (IYT) Worldwide, who has recognition with 25 governments across the globe. This course has dual certification, which means that you will also qualify to receive an Australian Certificate I in Maritime Operations to apply for a General Purpose Hand (GPH) NC.

So you'd like to work on a Superyacht? Great, it's a fabulous career and you will need the right training for a good start and to be competitive for the best jobs!  The Superyacht Stewardess courses we offer are an entry level into the world of working on superyachts. Successful completion of this course will recommend you to work as interior crew yacht steward/ess on superyachts of any size anywhere in the world. We recommend training in our 10-day Advanced Professional Superyacht Hospitality Steward/ess course if you are new to the Superyacht Industry and wish to expand your knowledge and skills base required for superyacht hospitality.

Superyacht Crew International acts as your booking agent to the right training course for your needs. We can assist you to find the right Powerboat course in Sydney via our various training partners.  You may also need the Marine Radio operators’ certificate and again, we can steer you in the right direction. You’ll need intensive training in the practical skills and theory knowledge needed by the small power boat driver and/or radio operator, as the case may be. WHY USE US TO BOOK YOUR COURSE?  When you book through SCI you'll receive our professional opinion about the effectiveness of your CV.  This 30-min phone or Zoom session is worth $100 and it's yours FREE when you book a course with Superyacht Crew International. 

So, you would like to work on Superyachts!  It's a great idea to learn about the Superyacht industry so that you start off effectively.  Clue up about the professional Superyacht industry:  Learn a brief history, the different types of yachts and modes of operation, the roles of the people who make it happen and future trends in the industry. Most importantly, learn what it’s like working on a Superyacht! We tell you about chartering with guests, cruising with owners and the differences, the types of jobs you can get and the expected (high) standards of conduct, the skills and qualifications you will need and how you can get on a career path.

So you aspire to become a HoD? or you have reached this senior role and want to excel? It's time to Step Up! Superyacht Crew International has developed this course with the aim of addressing the obvious need for senior crew to be well-armed with the necessary skills that will assist them to progress their careers by developing more effective leadership ability through improved ‘people skills’.  This enables them to lead their team and to communicate effectively with other crew, owners and guests.  The catchphrase ‘people skills’ is often bandied around and mostly rather misunderstood!

So you are joining a build and want to know exactly what's going on?  Great, you'll be able to Step Up effectively with some highly useful information.  All crew aim to part of a superyacht new build at some point in their career. Maybe it’s the many elements of creativity about the process.  Maybe it’s the opportunity to be land-based for a while and a huge change from normal yachting daily operations.  Whatever the reason you are involved in a Superyacht new build you’ll want to be familiar with the expectations that the Build Captain will have of you.  Your aim is to build the best yacht for the Owner and all the crew that will subsequently work onboard that yacht!

Superyacht Crew Academy

4.8 Average rating: Read reviews

The Superyacht Crew Academy was established in 2002, and is Australia’s leading Superyacht and maritime education provider. Providing training in a number of different fields, they are accredited to provide MCA-approved IYT international certification, as well as the Australian AMSA certification, which is required to work in Australia. The Superyacht Crew Academy operate entry level courses, including the internationally mandatory STCW95+10 Basic Safety Training, and Deckhand and Stewardess courses, through to the more advanced Master of Yachts and Celestial Navigation courses. AMSA courses, including General Purpose Hand, Coxswain, Master <24m, MEDII & MEDIII, are also offered as part of their curriculum. Our Fastrack program is also held twice a year, training you from zero experience to the Superyacht Master of Yachts 200 ton Captain ticket in 11 weeks, for crew wanting to jump start their Superyacht careers.

It does not matter if you have years of boating experience behind you, or you have never set foot aboard a boat; the Superyacht Crew Academy can get you qualified, competent and job-ready to start your career in only a matter of weeks. The Academy will take you through all the relevant training and certification required to be totally capable, employable and a valuable crew member on board a Superyacht. All our courses are taught by highly experienced, certified trainers, who will provide you with the relevant skills and knowledge to excel in any role.

Obligation-free and cost-free Superyacht industry consultation is also available for anyone wishing to pursue a career onboard. Team members take you through all the details required to make an informed decision about your future one-on-one, and discuss the Superyacht industry, which career path would suit you best, and how to get started and settled in Australia or overseas.

With Superyacht and maritime training courses operating every 3 weeks throughout the year, the Superyacht Crew Academy is the best start in the Superyacht and maritime industries, wherever in the world that you choose.

STCW Training Centres

Superyacht Crew Academy have their training centre located in Warriewood, NSW, Australia.

Terms and Conditions

View the training school's Terms and Conditions .

Customer Reviews

Superyacht Crew Academy reviews as published on Google:

Billy Heath

Average rating: 2 months ago

Warning not AMSA recognised for STCW 95! Only place in Australia that isn’t, if your vessel requires it in Australia it is completely invalid. Really good courses apart form that

Average rating: 3 months ago

Done the STCW refresher. All training held by the team here was executed at a high level of professionalism and quality. Although the fire training a decent journey, the facilities out there were worth it .

Anastacia Buhagiar

i had a really great experience with the super yacht crew academy and would recommend it to anyone wanting to join the industry

Emily Hamilton

Average rating: in the last week

Awesome! Great content and even better staff!

Lia Alzamora Valdez

I did stcw with these guys and it wa Sam amazing experience 100% recommended. They were so helpful and kind

Chris Smith

Average rating: 2 March 2024

Great facility, informative training, passionate trainers.

Caine Linhart

Average rating: 15 December 2023

Lovely people, very inviting environment. Would highly recommend

Michelle Maricic

Average rating: 10 October 2023

I did the STCW95+10 with Superyacht Crew Academy. It was a great course, very thorough with the information, the practical days were very good, you will learn a lot from this course.

Lara Carpenter

Average rating: 25 July 2023

I did the IYT Interior course with Berna and it was so informative. Berna is still extremely passionate about the yachting industry and taught us absolutely everything we need to know. She really went above and beyond. Came out of the course feeling so much more confident. Would highly recommend doing this course to anyone starting out in yachting.

sarah woodger

Average rating: 1 April 2023

Great training, super friendly and helpful staff with a welcoming atmosphere. Best place to go to for super yacht training, if i ever need to do additional training in the future I wouldn’t go anywhere else.

Willow Lewis

Average rating: 3 February 2023

I recently completed my Master 24. All the staff were very professional & helpful. From Kristy being a great help with my course enrolment to, to Peter my Master 24 teacher with extensive knowledge and to Roberta & Greg with great professionalism & tips in the Superyacht industry! I throughly enjoyed my time here and I would highly recommend anyone to upskill or wanting to work overseas!

sam stevenson

Average rating: 20 February 2022

Great school to do your entry level Superyacht tickets at. I attended here 4 years ago, and it set me up for the future.

Average rating: 16 February 2022

Done my coxswain through super yacht crew academy and I first I thought this school was really great until it started getting towards the end of my course and I started to notice the teachers losing interest in our group as another group had started so they were juggling both. Eventually I was told that I had finished my course but then a few weeks later got called in to say I had more to complete, I went in and then got told again that was it and I was finished, few months went buy and I sent them an email asking when I was gunna receive my certificate and if I had actually fully finished the course as the way it ended seemed strange as I just got never contacted again. All that work and effort and money to just be not responded to is pretty disappointing!

Average rating: 16 June 2021

NOT AMSA APPROVED OR RECOGNISED!!! It is very important to note that the STCW training provided by Superyacht Crew Academy is NOT recognised in Australia by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. Whilst it can help you with a career in some countries outside of Australia, it is not recognised within Australia, rendering it more or less useless if you want a career here. I have just lost a great position within a company in Australia because my STCW certification is not valid. I can't understand why a training organisation in Australia would offer certification that isn't valid within it's own borders. Please consider this before enrolling with this organisation. When I explained the situation to them, and with them having known full well that I've come from the construction industry with no prior knowledge of the maritime industry, I was offered no compensation, instead I was told that I knew what I was signing up for which clearly I did not. I feel in my personal opinion that I was taken advantage of and after speaking to some of my other classmates I have confirmed that they were not aware either. Now we need to pay for and sit this course again with an AMSA approved rto to get our certifications recognised. On a side note, when we questioned why we hadn't received our LONG RANGE OPERATOR CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY (LROCP) 6 months down the track, we were informed that the exams hadn't even been submitted to the Australian Maritime College and I personally had to make my way back down to Sydney to sit the exam for the second time.

Gerhard Meiring

Average rating: 15 December 2020

SCA was excellent from registration through to wrapping up 2 and a half weeks of hands-on courses. The breadth of experience the instructors shared with the classes throughout the STCW, Deckhand and Powerboat courses was honest and realistically portrayed the industry and what to expect as a newcomer. Very much worth the cost for the practical experience gained from ex crew members themselves. Thanks team!

Tayla McIntyre

Average rating: 11 December 2020

Such an incredible experience with the most amazing and helpful instructors. Would highly recommend Superyacht Crew Academy to help you start your journey in this industry!

Cormac Brown

Average rating: 11 July 2019

Completed Master 200 Ocean with Superyacht worth every dollar spent. Cheers

Temperament Enterprise

Average rating: 12 October 2018

Did my MOY 200t limited here, excellent school, great instructors!

korhan ozakman

Average rating: 8 February 2018

Very grateful for the team at super yacht crew academy ! From day one the support and guidance start to get you ready for an epic journey of adventure and personal growth in the industry. And still 8 months on the team help me and support me in the journey ! Could not ask for a better academy to get the ball rolling . Much appreciated super yacht crew academy ! Ahoy legends !!!!!

Average rating: 4 April 2017

Really enjoyed the training, it was of the highest standard and very realistic! I recommend spending the extra money and doing the additional training ( deckhand and stew courses) as you learn so much more. Stuart and the entire team went above and beyond even allowing me and a few of the other deckhands to get some additional hours onboard the tenders after the course was completed. Within a day after the course I had day work and within a week had a job on board a yacht and had advice through the entire process.

Declan Verlin

Average rating: 28 March 2017

Amazing training facility! The guys and girls made me and the others in my group feel like we were part of a little family during our time at the academy. Stuart went above and beyond to help me with my CV, knowledge and even gave me a few connections to find work over in Antibes! I'll be back for my Master of Yachts for sure!!!

View more reviews Write a review

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Welcome to MYS Superyacht Crew

Superyacht Recruitment and Superyacht jobs since 1997, we specialise in placing qualified superyacht crew in Australia, Pacific and worldwide

Our goal is to meet the growing demand for experienced and professional Superyacht Crew in Australia and around the world. Placing Superyacht Crew worldwide, we have been Australia’s Leading Superyacht Recruitment Agency since 1997, understanding both the requirements of owners and the concerns of crew. From ensuring we find suitable, qualified candidates for your yacht or residence to advising crew with their next career steps, we will assist every step of the way.

A branch of Major Yacht Services, Australia’s leading Superyacht agency we have assisted more than 750 visiting superyachts to Australia. Being ex-crew members ourselves we understand the complexity of the roles on board and will appropriately match candidate’s skills and personality to ensure that perfect fit for both Owners and Crew alike.

Our Head office is based in Sydney and being a proud member of the AYSS we have worldwide representation & partners.

What positions do we recruit for?

We Specialise in Superyacht Recruitment for the following core Superyacht Jobs

• Captain Positions
• Officer Positions
• Engineer Positions
• Chef Positions
• Stewardess Positions
• Deckhand Positions

We also provide Superyacht Recruitment for such specialty positions as Dive Instructors, Nurses, Beauticians, Masseuses, Private Jet Hostesses, Private Residence Staff, House Managers, Housekeepers, Private House Chefs, Personal / Executive assistants, Gardeners, Project Managers and New Build Engineers

Our company uses the MLC ( Maritime Labour Convention ) as its guideline when undertaking all its recruitment services.

https://www.amsa.gov.au/international/mlc/

From Australia to Europe, New Zealand to the Caribbean our positions and candidates span the globe and are ready to assist with all your superyacht recruitment needs.

Get in touch today to see how we can assist you with your superyacht crew or employment needs

Sydney – Australia – New Zealand – Pacific – Fiji – French Polynesia – Europe – Fort Lauderdale – Caribbean

Asia – Middle East – North Africa

We have used MYS for all of our requirements since our 44m was Launched last year, This has included a complete crew placement for our new boat, All customs clearance arrivals and departures from Australia for our vessel, Fuel Bunkers at the most competitive price, Supplying local produce at wholesale rates, and the list goes on.

– Captain Paul Maguire, Project AY-54

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Copyright 2024 MYS Superyacht Crew. All Rights Reserved.

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• Travel Updates

British lookout and engineer on doomed Bayesian superyacht placed under manslaughter probe along with ‘silent’ Captain

The captain of doomed superyacht Bayesian, which sunk off the coast of Sicily killing seven, has “gone silent” after being placed under investigation.

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Two British people are being investigated over the sinking of doomed superyacht Bayesian which killed seven people.

Ship engineer Tim Parker Eaton and sailor Matthew Griffith are being probed by Italian prosecutors for culpable shipwreck and multiple manslaughter.

It comes after the luxury yacht owned by tech tycoon Mike Lynch capsized off the coast of Sicily last week, a judicial source told Reuters.

Mr Griffith is understood to have been on watch duty the night of the tragedy, while Mr Parker Eaton is suspected of having failed to protect the AU$27 million vessel’s engine room and operating systems when it was hit by a storm in the early hours of August 19.

Reports suggest crew bedrooms have been searched, with at least two phones seized.

It comes after the boat’s captain James Cutfield, 51, was placed under investigation for the same offences on Monday.

The New Zealander was quizzed the following day but refused to answer questions as he was too “shaken up”.

Speaking to The Times on Tuesday, Mr Cutfield’s lawyer Aldo Mordiglia said his client “exercised his right to remain silent”.

“There were two reasons. He is understandably very shaken up, and secondly, us lawyers were only appointed yesterday and we need to acquire information we do not have in order to defend him,” Mr Mordiglia added.

Prosecutors are also preparing to investigate Dutch first officer Tijs Koopmans, according to Italian media.

Under Italian maritime laws, the full responsibility for the welfare of a ship, its crew, and passengers lies with the captain of a vessel.

Being under investigation in Italy does not imply guilt and does not necessarily mean formal criminal charges will follow.

The 56m Bayesian was carrying 22 people when it sank within minutes of being hit by a downburst – a strong, localised wind – while anchored in Porticello near Palermo around 4am last Monday.

Fifteen of those on board were rescued on a life raft, while the yacht’s cook Recaldo Thomas was discovered dead in the water shortly afterwards.

Specialist divers recovered the bodies of billionaire Lynch, 59, and four of his guests, from the first cabin on the left.

They were identified as Morgan Stanley International chief Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy, and Clifford Chance lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda.

Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter Hannah was discovered in the third cabin.

Officials said the victims had scrambled to reach air pockets in the yacht, which sank 50 metres stern-first before rolling onto its right side on the seabed.

Investigators are understood to be rifling through CCTV footage and photographs taken by locals on the night of the storm to understand why the boat sank so quickly.

At a press conference at the Termini Imerese Courthouse on Saturday, Chief Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said there may have been “behaviours that were not perfectly in order with regard to the responsibility everybody had.”

His team will probe if hatches were left open, allowing water to flood in.

They will also look into whether the crew raised the alarm before escaping.

He vowed to “discover how much they knew and to what extent all the people (passengers) were warned.”

Mr Cartosio added: “There could be in fact the question of homicide. But this is the beginning of the inquiry, we cannot exclude anything at all … We will establish each element’s (crew) responsibility.

“For me, it is probable that offences were committed — that it could be a case of manslaughter.”

It comes as former Bayesian captain Stephen Edwards, who was in charge of the vessel between 2015 and 2020, says he is “one hundred per cent” sure the hull would not have been left open at night – adding that there are no opening windows or portholes on board.

Writing on Scuttlebutt, he said the boat was “sound and seaworthy by design” but that heeling her to more than 45 degrees “could result in flooding and subsequent loss if the flooding could not be controlled”.

He suggested the weather conditions could have created these “extreme circumstances” with little warning or time for the crew to react.

The surviving passengers, including Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares, 57, left Sicily in a private jet on Sunday, with most of the crew also set to leave after being grilled by investigators.

More Coverage

He said one person was on watch in the cockpit at the time of the accident.

Authorities now face a delicate task in extracting the wreck from the sea intact so that it can be properly investigated.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished with permission

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Superyacht Training: Interior Courses

Add a Training Centre

Interior courses for yacht crew such as Stewards, Stewardesses, Pursers, and other similar superyacht professionals.

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Australian Superyacht Crew

Sydney, Australia

Located in Sydney Australia, we offer AMSA-approved STCW Basic Safety Training courses.

Courses are held in: Australia

More details

Flying Fish

Flying Fish Australia delivers STCW Basic Safety Training courses in Sydney. To work on a superyacht these are the minimum qualifications you need.

Magnums Academy

Antibes, France

Magnums Academy, highly regarded for its Butler Service training, offers a range of GUEST accredited yacht service and hospitality programs, focussing on the highest standards and attention to detail, Bespoke, Onboard or classroom programs in Antibes available.

Courses are held in: France, United Kingdom, Australia

Superyacht Crew Academy

NSW, Australia

The Superyacht Crew Academy was established in 2002, and is Australia's leading Superyacht and maritime education provider. Providing training in a number of different fields, they are accredited to provide MCA-approved IYT international certification, as well as the Australian AMSA certification, which is required to work in Australia. Superyacht Crew Academy operate entry level courses, including the internationally mandatory STCW95+10 Basic Safety Training, and Deckhand and Stewardess courses, through to the more advanced Master of Yachts and Celestial Navigation courses. AMSA courses, including General Purpose Hand, Coxswain, Master < 24m, MEDII & MEDIII, are also offered as part of their curriculum. Our Fastrack program is also held twice a year, training you from zero experience to the Superyacht Master of Yachts 200 ton Captain ticket in ll weeks, for crew wanting to jump start their Superyacht careers. It does not matter if you have years of boating experience behind you, or you have never set foot aboard a boat; the Superyacht Crew Academy can get you qualified, competent and job-ready to start your career in only a matter of weeks. The Academy will take you through all the relevant training and certification required to be totally capable, employable and a valuable crew member on board a Superyacht. All our courses are taught by highly experienced, certified trainers, who will provide you with the relevant skills and knowledge to excel in any role. Obligation-free and cost-free Superyacht industry consultation is also available for anyone wishing to pursue a career onboard. Team members take you through all the details required to make an informed decision about your future one-on-one, and discuss the Superyacht industry, which career path would suit you best, and how to get started and settled in Australia or overseas. With Superyacht and maritime training courses operating every 3 weeks throughout the year, the Superyacht Crew Academy is the best start in the Superyacht and maritime industries, wherever in the world that you choose.

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Superyacht Australia

Ocean alliance launches innovative charter experience platform.

SNAPSHOT: Ocean Alliance is proud to announce the launch of the Charter Experience Hub, an innovative and interactive platform designed to make the charter planning process more streamlined and enjoyable. 

HIGHLIGHTS: —-

• Centralised Coordination: Centralised platform for all elements of charter planning and coordination.
• Enhanced Communication: Real-time charter planning ensures seamless communication between all parties.
• Fun & Interactive Platform: Bespoke video series throughout the platform to guide charterers on how to maximise their experience.
• Developed In-House: Created by Ocean Alliance’s tech team, guided by real-world charter planning scenarios.
• Pilot Launch Success: Successfully piloted since June 2024, showing marked improvements in planning efficiency and client satisfaction.

Australia’s leading superyacht charter firm, Ocean Alliance, has introduced the Charter Experience Hub, an interactive online platform to transform the charter planning process.

The Charter Experience Hub centralizes all aspects of the charter planning process, reducing reliance on cumbersome email exchanges and ensuring seamless communication between brokers, charterers, captains, and crew. Real-time updates and live documents minimise the risk of miscommunication, keeping all parties informed and reducing arduous back-and-forth communication.

A bespoke video series created by Ocean Alliance features throughout the platform to guide clients. In this series, a range of yachting experts share their insights into how to get the most out of your charter experience. Particularly for new charter clients, this provides a fun and engaging way to better understand each different aspect of a charter and the roles of the crew members onboard.

“We’re thrilled to introduce the Charter Experience Hub, designed to make charter planning as interactive and enjoyable as possible,” reflects Joachim Howard, Founder & Managing Director of Ocean Alliance. “The positive feedback from clients and captains has been encouraging. After a meticulous period of development, we are delighted to already be seeing the positive impact this has on charter coordination.”

Dan Farrell, Captain of charter yacht DE LISLE III, was among the expert opinions consulted in the development. “As a charter captain for over 10 years, the Charter Experience Hub by Ocean Alliance is a game changer for the industry and show’s their dedication to be ahead of curb and improve everyone’s process chartering a yacht,” shared Dan.

“It is a great tool to help us streamline the planning process while also extracting as much valuable information about the group as possible. It was great to have been consulted during the development and to now see how it is already improving the experience for both our team and the guests.”

Ocean Alliance specializes in crafting tailored itineraries. The Charter Experience Hub uses exchanged information to customize every charter to meet the specific desires of each group. The launch of the platform marks a new innovative era of charter planning and will continue to be developed and enhanced through feedback from charter clients and brokers.

About Ocean Alliance Founded in 2012, Ocean Alliance is Australia’s most trusted superyacht charter and brokerage company with unrivalled knowledge of local and international yachting destinations. As a Corporate Member of MYBA, Ocean Alliance works to industry’s best standards of service for its clients.

Find out more about Ocean Alliance here

Video/imagery: Charter Experience Hub Imagery

Media Contacts: For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact Joachim or George on the following: Joachim Howard – Managing Director [email protected] +61 (0) 405 767 869 Or George Bains – Content Director [email protected]

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Who was onboard tech mogul Mike Lynch's Bayesian yacht?

Topic: Disasters, Accidents and Emergency Incidents

Six people are missing, including a man dubbed the British Bill Gates, after a luxury yacht sank off the Sicilian coast.

British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch — freshly acquitted from a decade-long trial — had invited his work colleagues aboard a trip through the Mediterranean coast when a freak storm saw the yacht sink within moments.

Fifteen people escaped from the sinking vessel. The search for the missing continues.

Here's what we know so far: 

What happened?

The Italian coastguard said the yacht — the Bayesian — was anchored off the shore of port city Porticello, near the Sicilian capital Palermo, when it was hit by bad weather sometime after 4am on Monday, local time. 

Eyewitnesses said it vanished quickly beneath the waves shortly before dawn.

Managers of the sailing vessel Bayesian, Camper & Nicholsons, confirmed to the ABC that the Bayesian encountered severe weather and subsequently sank. 

"Our priority is assisting with the ongoing search and providing all necessary support to the rescued passengers and crew," they said. 

"The wind was very strong. Bad weather was expected, but not of this magnitude," a coastguard official told Reuters.

Sicily's civil protection agency head, Salvo Cocina, said a waterspout — a tornado over the water — could have struck the yacht.

"They were in the wrong place at the wrong time," Mr Cocina added. 

Storms and heavy rainfall had swept down Italy in recent days after weeks of scorching heat, lifting the temperature of the Mediterranean Sea to record levels and raising the risk of extreme weather conditions, experts told Reuters.

"The sea surface temperature around Sicily was around 30 degrees Celsius, which is almost 3 degrees more than normal. This creates an enormous source of energy that contributes to these storms," meteorologist Luca Mercalli said.

Rescuers recover the body of one of the people aboard the Bayesian.  ( AP: Lucio Ganci )

Captain Karsten Borner of the Sir Robert Baden Powell vessel told journalists he noticed the Bayesian nearby during the storm, but after it calmed he saw a red flare and realised the ship had simply disappeared.

Mr Borner said he and a crew member boarded their tender and found a lifeboat with 15 people, some of them injured, who they then took aboard and alerted the coast guard.

Search crews, including helicopters and divers, are continuing to search the wreckage, lying at a depth of 49 metres.

Specialist divers reached the ship on Monday but access was limited due to objects in the way, the fire brigade said.

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch is deploying a team of four inspectors to Italy to conduct a preliminary assessment.

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development office said it was "providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families".

Sicilian prosecutors have also opened an investigation into the event. 

Who is missing?

Lawyer Chris Morvillo (left), entrepreneur Mike Lynch, and Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer are among the missing. 

There were 12 passengers and 10 crew members aboard the yacht. 

Mr Cocina said the crew and passengers hailed from a variety of countries, including Britain, the United States, Antigua, France, Germany, Ireland, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain.

Of the 22, one man is confirmed dead and another six people are still missing. 

They are believed to be inside the hull, fire rescue spokesperson Luca Cari said.

Fabio Cefalù, a fisherman who said he responded to a flare from the vessel but found it sunk, said he stayed at the site for three hours without finding anyone.

"I think they are inside, all the missing people," he said.

Rescue teams recovered the body of the yacht's onboard chef on Monday, identified as Antiguan citizen Ricardo Thomas.

The still missing people include: 

• Mr Lynch's 18-year-old daughter, Hannah 
• Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of global financial services company Morgan Stanley International
• Chris Morvillo , a lawyer at the British multinational law firm Clifford Chance. He worked on Mr Lynch's lawsuit against Hewlett-Packard
• The identities of the remaining two missing are still unconfirmed

Who was rescued? 

Fifteen people escaped from the sinking ship. 

Eight have been hospitalised and others were taken to a nearby hotel.

Charlotte Golunski was among those rescued, recalling the harrowing moments she held her child Sofia above the waves.  ( Supplied: Facebook  )

Among those rescued were:

• Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, who was the owner of the yacht
• Charlotte Golunski and her one-year-old daughter, Sofia. Ms Golunski is a partner at Mr Lynch's firm, Invoke Capital. She says she momentarily lost hold of Sofia in the water but managed to hold her up above the waves until the lifeboat was inflated
• Ms Golunski's husband James Emslie
• New Zealand captain of the yacht James Catfield. He told Italian newspaper La Repubblica the crew didn't see the storm coming
• A lone Dutch citizen was identified by the Dutch foreign ministry as being rescued, but was not identified

Who is Mike Lynch?

Mr Lynch, once hailed as Britain’s king of technology, was recently freed from a Silicon Valley lawsuit that tarnished his legacy. 

The 59-year-old Cambridge-educated mathematician created Autonomy , a search engine that could pore through emails and other internal business documents to help companies find vital information more quickly. 

He received the OBE for his innovation in 2006. 

He then sold the software to Hewlett-Packard (HP) for $US11 billion ($16 billion) in 2011, with Mr Lynch personally netting $US800 million. 

HP valued Autonomy at $US46 billion ($68 billion) in the months leading up to the deal.

Mike Lynch in 2019 leaving the High Court in London.  ( Reuters: Henry Nicholls/File Photo )

But the deal quickly turned sour after he was accused of forging the software's financial records to make the sale.

As part of a decades-long legal battle against HP, Mr Lynch was extradited to the UK on criminal fraud charges. 

He steadfastly denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he was being made a scapegoat for HP's own bungling. 

He was eventually cleared of all charges in June this year. 

Although he avoided a possible prison sentence, Lynch still faced a bill from a civil case in London that HP mostly won during 2022. Damages haven't been determined in that case, but HP is seeking $US4 billion. 

Following the San Francisco trial, Mr Lynch said he would return to the UK and do what he loved most: "[being with] my family and innovating in my field."

The holiday appeared to be something of a celebration after Mr Lynch's acquittal, with guests including some of the people who had stood by Lynch throughout the ordeal.

This picture shows the rescue operations off the Sicilian coast.  ( AP: Italian Coast Guard  )

In a separate act of tragedy, Mr Lynch's co-defendant in the trial, Stephen Chamberlain, died on Monday, after a road accident left him critically injured.

Mr Chamberlain — Autonomy's former vice-president of finance alongside Mr Lynch — was hit by a car in Cambridgeshire on Saturday morning and had been placed on life support. 

What is the Bayesian?

The luxury yacht is 56m long sailboat, with a 75m mast labelled as the tallest aluminium mast in the world.

It was previously named Salute when it flew under a Dutch flag.

The yacht, built in 2008 by the Italian firm Perini Navi, can accommodate up to 12 guests in six suites and a crew of 10, according to online specialist yacht sites. It was last refitted in 2020.

Online charter sites listed it for rent for up to 195,000 euros (about $AU 321,000) a week. 

This picture taken on Sunday shows the Bayesian (left) and the Duch sailboat Sir Robert Baden Powell anchored off the coast line.   ( AP: Fabio La Bianca/Baia Santa Nicolicchia )

The ship also won a string of awards for its design. 

Ms Golunski said the yacht had travelled through the Aeolian Islands, Milazzo and Cefalù before sinking. 

It is likely the yacht's name would resonate with Mr Lynch because his PhD thesis and the software that made his fortune was based on Bayesian theory.