Rowena is ready to rule the waves RECRUITMENT
AT JUST 20, Rowena Macqueen is looking forward to a great career as a superyacht sailor.
Rowena enjoyed sailing as a child and while working in the holidays from university as a watersports instructor in Montenegro, she began to be attracted to the idea of a having a career on superyachts. Also known as megayachts, luxury yachts or even gigayachts, a superyacht is a custombuilt yacht — longer than 24 metres.
‘I was not inspired by my studies, so when I found a course that would lead to a sailing career I applied,’ says Rowena. She is now on a paid placement as a deckhand on a 47-metre superyacht in Italy, as part of a professional cadetship course with sail training charity UKSA.
‘At present I’m in the shipyard learning about maintaining the teak decking and the hull, and I’m looking forward to a summer cruising in the Med,’ she says.
Rowena, from St Andrews, Fife, adds: ‘This is a little-known career, but there is a demand for people who have completed these cadetships.
‘I combine study at UKSA with work placements on superyachts, so I can earn while I learn, and I will be studying for my Foundation Degree in Operational Yacht Science. I aim to carry on to become a captain.’
The degree is split into two study stages, rather like the first and second years of a conventional undergraduate course. Its modules include navigation and meteorology, as well marine engineering, sea communications and leadership and management. Students must also pass tests on yacht construction and ocean passage planning.
Ben Willows, UKSA director of operations, says: ‘Demand for qualified people has increased from the superyacht sector and especially among companies running flotilla holidays.
‘Some of our students are even offered jobs before they finish their courses.’
Holiday company Nielsen, paid for more than 60 members of staff to be trained in sailing to yachtmaster level or as watersports instructors.
The professional yacht cadetship four- year course combines study with paid work placements at sea, so students build up the necessary sea time to earn qualifications and money to fund the course.
Mr Willows says: ‘You don’t need sailing experience to start, but you must enjoy taking responsibility and be a motivated, outdoor type, happy to command people — and be a proactive thinker.’
Pay for deckhands starts at £1,900 a month, but captains can earn up to £ 11,000 a month — food and board included. See uksa.org.