yacht crew training sa

CAREER GUIDANCE

Starting out in the super yacht industry is an exciting and rewarding choice of employment. Some choose to use the experience as a gap year while many others follow it as a long term and extremely rewarding career path.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (UK) (MCA) set the world standards which are followed by South Africa and many other countries.The industry provides safe and rewarding employment for young persons.

What do I need to qualify to work in this rewarding industry?

You will need to:

ADVANCED COURSES

Deck officer training.

PYT is your first choice MCA approved training provider.

PYT is recognised by the industry as a world class super yacht crew training academy. The savings on most of our course modules could well cover your traveling costs to South Africa.

Our value for money is hard to beat in the world of super yacht training. Our course schedule is designed to be flexible to suit super yacht crew.

Let us kick start your steps up the ladder of command.

PYT - DURBAN

Entry - level courses.

W e l c o m e  t o  S Y T A

Superyacht Training Academy

CHOOSE YOUR SUPERYACHT CAREER

Our comprehensive programmes for Superyacht Deckhand, Stewardess and Chef are world-class training programmes that equip Superyacht personnel to performing at their optimum. Our career packages focus on the primary qualifications needed to assure success in obtaining the best jobs and maintaining them as a chosen career path.

Advanced Deckhand Career Course

Deck/Sail Career Course

Stewardess Career Course

Advanced Stewardess Career Course

Stew/Masseuse Career Course

Deck/Stew Career Course

Chef/Stew Career Course

Superyacht Chef Career Course

A career aboard a Superyacht is unlike any other

Your passport to the world’s most luxurious superyachts.

The Superyacht Training Academy, Cape Town, is an elite maritime Institute providing Internationally recognised training for professional yacht crew. We pride ourselves in releasing crew into the Superyacht Industry who are confident, competent, and responsible.

View our Single-Skill Courses

Our courses can be tailored to suit your individual requirements or added to any career programme to bolster your chances of securing lucrative employment contracts worldwide.

Virtual Tour

Click below and explore our facilities.

The Superyacht Training Academy is a bespoke training facility that provides every aspect of training for you to obtain an illustrious career aboard a Superyacht. The Academy boasts state-of-the-art equipment, lecture rooms, electronic training equipment, and on-board training.

Our Academy enlists professional trainers and industry experts who provide top-class training and first-hand experience of life on board Superyachts. We challenge you to be the best you can be, so that you can reap the rewards of having the most comprehensive and professional training worldwide. Take a tour of our training venues below:

31 South Arm Road

Superyacht Training Facility

Marina Centre, 1 West Quay Rd.

Stewardess Training Facility

3 West Quay Rd.

• An All-in-One facility for all your career training
• Crew accommodation during training
• Networking with experienced crew
• Career guidance programmes
• Superyacht culinary training
• Food safety training level 2 & 3
• Internships following your training programmes
• Career guidance booklet for green crew
• Advanced skills training programmes

Are you ready to begin your Superyacht Career?

For more information, course schedules and availability.

All RYA courses proudly powered by Ocean Star Sailing Academy.

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FREE Mani & Pedi with each Stewardess Course!

• RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Package
• RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Package
• RYA Day Skipper Package
• Basic Superyacht Deckhand Package
• Superyacht Stewardess Career
• Superyacht Chef Career
• Superyacht Engineer Course
• MCA Approved Engine Course (AEC)
• Officer Of The Watch
• Maritime Security Courses
• MCA Yacht Rating Course
• RYA Personal Watercraft (Jet Ski) Instructors Course
• All Courses

Privacy Overview

Skipper Training SA

RYA SAS Accredited Skippers Training Courses

The Basic Requirements for Working on Yachts in South Africa

Working on a superyacht is perhaps every seafarer’s dream. The lavish environment, an opportunity to provide 5-star services, and meeting guests and making impressions on the elites from all over the world. Not to mention the hefty amount of salary and tips that come with the job is indeed a motivational factor too. So, how can you work on a yacht? In this article, we will focus on the basic requirements for working on yachts in South Africa.

The Yachting Scene in South Africa

While South Africa does not experience a superyacht scene as often, there are plenty of luxury yacht cruises available around South African coasts. South Africa has been a popular destination for a scenic gateway in the southern hemisphere, flourishing with marine tourism.

The yacht scene of South Africa allows for a great learning and experience buildup for seafarers dreaming of working on a superyacht someday. What’s more? South Africa is also a famous destination for superyacht training schools, attracting local South African and international talent alike.

There are many superyacht training schools in South Africa. But make sure you go for the RYA-accredited and MCA-approved training schools only, like Skippers Training SA.

Simply put, a superyacht crew consists of four major classifications: Deckhand, Stewardess, and Chef. And then there’s the team of officers in a hierarchy that maintains the order of operations on the yacht. Depending on your choice, you may choose to work as a Deckhand , Steward/ess , or Engineer . Click on the links to learn more about these roles.

But first things first…

We should focus on the basic requirements for working on yachts in South Africa.

Every seagoing marine worker has to fulfil certain requirements before they can work on any vessel, not just a yacht. Let us take a glance at them.

The ENG1 Medical Certificate

To work on any ship, you must be fit for working in the environment. The ENG1 Medical Certificate will determine whether you are fit for the task. Any MCA-Approved doctor in South Africa can provide you with the ENG1 Medical Certificate of Fitness.

More: What is an ENG1 Certificate and Why do I need one?

The STCW Certificates

The basic mandatory STCW certificate contains five modules.

Personal Survival Techniques

The Personal Survival Techniques (PST, A-VI/1-1) aims at providing basic survival training to equip candidates with useful skills in dire situations, such as ship abandonment.

Fire Fighting and Fire Prevention

The Fire Fighting and Fire Prevention (FF&FP, A-VI/1-2) module focuses on identifying flammable objects, potential causes of fire, and how to deal with a fire outbreak on the ship.

Elementary First Aid

This module (A-VI/1-3) equips a candidate with a basic knowledge of first aid and how to deal with certain medical emergencies to help and stabilise the patient until real help arrives.

Personal Safety and Social Responsibility

The Personal Safety and Social Responsibility module (A-VI/1-4) focuses on making the candidate aware of different regulations and guidelines, the importance of safety and work ethics, and understanding your social responsibilities for your and others’ safety.

Proficiency in Security Awareness

This module (PSA, A-VI/6-1) focuses on making the candidates aware of international threats, the ISPS code, introduction to marine security, and more. If required by a yacht’s safety plan, you may have to take the Proficiency in Designated Security Duties instead. If you are unsure, it is safer to take a PDSD course rather than a PSA course.

More: STCW / Safety – Skipper Training SA

The RYA Powerboat Level 2 License

Superyacht crews often use yacht toys, such as tenders or jet skis for various purposes. That’s why, to operate such vessels, the RYA Powerboat Level 2 license is a minimum requirement. In South Africa, you can procure the license via an RYA-accredited institution easily. It is about a 2-day course and the final examination to receive your license.

More: RYA Powerboat Training Courses and certificates of competence

From here onwards…

You get to decide what you want to work on as a yacht, or on a superyacht. These certificates are internationally recognised, thus opening your career doors to the international scene as well. South Africa provides a proper foundation to accumulate the necessary experience. As long as your experience is relevant to your career goal on a superyacht, you should pursue it.

To become a deckhand or a stewardess, you do not necessarily need a course to find employment. However, if you are new to the industry, the courses will help you advance faster. For more information, please visit our Yacht Crew Section .

This article aimed to provide the most basic requirements for working on yachts in South Africa and more. Of course, each type of vessel has its own different regulations and certification requirements. However, these basic requirements stay consistent across all types of vessels. If you have further questions about the superyacht industry, feel free to browse our website or connect with us today.

• ← What does a Stewardess do on a Yacht in South Africa?
• The Food Hygiene and Safety Course in South Africa →

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Get Onboard

Superyacht Training

How to Choose a Yacht Crew Training School in South Africa

There are a number of schools around the world offering basic training courses for yacht crew, but not all are internationally recognised. This is important, as you don’t want to spend money doing a certification that won’t be relevant for the waters you will potentially crew in.

When choosing a place from which to get your yacht crew training, the most important accreditation to look out for is whether they are ITY (International Yacht) and MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) certified. Great news for South Africans wishing to pursue a career in the luxury yacht industry is that Get Onboard is  partnered with the only internationally ITY and MCA certified yacht crew training academy in South Africa .

Courses for Newbies

There are a bunch of areas you could qualify in, be that cooking (chefs), attending (stewards) or fixing (deckhands/engineers), but before you can specialise, every single yachtie needs the following two items under their belts:

The first is a medical certificate that states you are cleared, and fit to be at sea and called the  ENG1 Seafarer Medical Certificate . You can typically obtain the certificate from MCA Approved Doctor (AD) and this certificate is also mandatory before you’re allowed to complete your STCW course.

The second is the  STCW 2010  which is a compulsory requirement for any seafarer in order to be eligible for employment at sea. You can apply for the STCW training through us, as well as more advanced courses like the  Deckhand Course  or the  Interior Crew Training  course.

Where to do these in South Africa

Because these courses are internationally certified, you don’t have to leave the country in order to complete your basic training. This at least gives you extra time to prepare things like your  yacht CV  and choose where you’d like to  kick-start your yachting career from . You can choose whether to complete the  STCW Course in Durban or Cape Town  as well as other more advanced courses. Get in touch with us to apply for your STCW basic safety training in South Africa !

Needing more?

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RYA/MCA Online

1. what are the basic requirements you need to be eligible to work in the yachting industry, 2. what is the stcw and why do i need it, 3. what is the eng1 medical certificate, 4. what land based experience will help me find a super yacht job, 5. what are the different departments onboard, 6. what crew training is required for me to work as a junior deckhand.

• Yachtmaster/Coastal Skipper Theory
• Yachtmaster/Coastal Practical
• Specialist Super Yacht Training Course (Deck Hand Training Course)
• RYA Power Boat Level II
• RYA Personal Watercraft Course
• RYA Competent Crew Certificate
• RYA Day Skipper Theory and Practical Certificates
• VHF Radio Operator’s License

7. What crew training is required for me to work as a junior stewardess?

• Stewardess Course
• Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (PDSD)
• MCA Food Safety Level 2
• RYA Powerboat Level 2

8. How do I book my training courses?

9. how do i get my first job on a yacht, 10. are these courses worth it, or am i just wasting my money, 11. will i get hired for my first job from south africa, 12. what is daywork, 13. what are the best locations to get a yacht job, 14. how much can a motor yacht stewardess or deckhand earn, 15. what are the negatives of working on a yacht, 16. what are the positives of working on a yacht, 17. is working on a super yacht for everyone, 18. what is the minimum age to work on a yacht, 19. is accommodation provided when i am completing my yacht training in cape town.

Seascope France

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• Basic Safety Training
• Refresher (Fire & PST)
• Elementary First Aid
• Fire Prevention & Fire-fighting
• Personal Survival Techniques
• Advanced Fire Fighting
• Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher
• Proficiency in Security Awareness
• Personal Safety & Social Responsibility
• Crowd Management / Crisis Management and Human Behaviour
• Powerboat Level 2
• PWC/Jet Ski License
• PWI/Jet Ski Instructor
• PWC + PWI Pack
• Pack PB2 & PWC
• Day Skipper
• Shorebased Yachtmaster Theory
• Yachtmaster Practical Preparation & Offshore Exam
• Yachtmaster Offshore Package
• Full Deckhand Pack
• Full Interior Pack
• Basic Deckhand Pack
• Basic Interior Pack
• Full Tender and Jet Ski Pack
• Tender Pack
• Jetski Pack
• Yacht Deckhand Training
• Yacht Steward/ess Training
• Basic Food & Beverage Services
• Basic Housekeeping & Laundry Services
• Basic Wine, Bartending & Mixology
• Food Safety Level 2
• ⚡Lithium-ion Battery Safety Awareness on Superyachts
• VHF Short Range Certificate
• RYA Professional Practice & Responsibilities
• RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship
• RYA Online Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Theory
• RYA Online Day Skipper Theory
• STCW PDSD for Superyachts
• STCW PDSD for Cruise Ships
• STCW Proficiency as Ship Security Officer on Superyachts
• Useful Information
• Steward/ess

STCW BASIC SAFETY

16-20 SEPTEMBER 2024

YACHT STEW TRAINING

07-11 OCTOBER 2024

DAY SKIPPER PRACTICAL

21-24 October 2024

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

CERTIFIED TEACHERS

STUDENTS TRAINED

COMPLETED COURSES

We are an MCA approved and RYA endorsed superyacht crew training school. Our expert team are committed to providing outstanding training either at our onshore facilities in Antibes, or onboard your yacht... or ours.

Our training courses.

• " > Get Started on Yachts Get Started on Yachts
• " > RYA Courses RYA Courses
• " > Yacht Deck / Stew Training Yacht Deck / Stew Training
• " > STCW Training STCW Training
• " > Water Sports Water Sports
• " > Rigging Courses Rigging Courses
• " > Engineering Courses Engineering Courses
• " > Online Courses Online Courses

Discover Seascope France

We have two training vessels in close proximity to our classrooms so crew can experience full hands on training in well-equipped vessels without having to travel.

Antibes and the Port of Golfe Juan are ideal locations for training courses in the South of France. Our training facilities are only 3 mins away from train stations & 30 minutes from Nice Airport.

We offer excellent training facilities in spacious and fully equipped classrooms (specialised books and instruments are available to purchase at the beginning of every course).

We have very flexible teaching dates that are available all year round upon request.

We can arrange local accommodation for crew at attractive prices throughout the year.

We offer special prices for crew members on a selection of courses.

WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY

Amazing experience with both the STCW and GUEST interior training. The biggest plus with Seascope compared to other maritime schools is the amount of hands on training. The instructors want for you to thoroughly understand and master the course objectives and truly want the best for you. Name

A thoroughly professional and enjoyable experience doing my STCW refresher course with Seascope last week, with enthusiastic and diligent instructors, hence it was mine and the entire crews second time doing our refresher courses with them. Name

I can not recommend Sophie and the team at Seascope highly enough. They went out of their way to accommodate myself last minute and the course was of the highest standard. I will definitely return! Name

Went to SEASCOPE Antibes for the STCW. It was an amazing week, Ged and Paul were really kind and helpful. I 100% recommend doing a training with them! Name

What's On Point ?

True story: survived with a scratch thanks to the training, yachting cv: make it shine on one page.

Your CV is your passport to yacht adventures! A stellar CV is like a treasure map that guides captains to the gem – you! So, polish it up, and let the yachting escapades begin! Keep it Short and Sweet: Yacht...

Do You Need Training to Be a Deckhand?

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Online Courses

Online courses for superyacht crew, skippers, deck hands, and powerboaters worldwide.

These training courses are just the same as in the classroom. You have all the information delivered to your door by courier and or online. This is ideal learning if you have spare time and can work through the training and questions unsupervised. The courses include Day skipper, Coastal Skipper, Yachtmaster Offshore, VHF / SRC Marine Radio and the Commercial Professional Practices and Responsibilities online course.

ONLINE / HOME-BASED LEARNING FOR CREW AND SKIPPERS OF YACHTS OF ALL SIZES, BOTH SAIL AND MOTOR

These courses support the practical courses and your overall development. They offer the advantage of doing the courses at home, during lunch at work or when you’re on the move. We offer direct support. Send us an email with any questions you might have and one of our friendly advisers will respond as soon as possible.

CLICK TO VIEW ONLINE NAVIGATION COURSE TASTER >>

We at Sail and Power SA want you to succeed and enjoy your training, here are some reasons why Sail and Power SA should be your first choice

• Take your time to complete the course. Really get to grips with the subject at your own pace.
• The online assessment can be taken when you choose in the relaxed atmosphere of your own home.
• Feedback dedicated RYA instructor, for the duration of your course.
• Immediate access to corrected answers to check your work.
• Tried and tested teaching methods that really do work.
• Interesting animated diagrams that bring the course to life.
• Free course plotter and dividers with RYA Day Skipper courses.
• Speedy responses providing feedback, personal help and instruction.
• RYA certification on satisfactory completion of the course and assessment.
• Accessible all over the world, convenient and successful.
• 6 months to complete each course with optional 6 monthly extensions until you pass.

RYA Day Skipper Shore-Based Course

This course is available in the classroom and online. A comprehensive introduction to cruising for inexperienced skippers.

This course equips you with enough knowledge to navigate around familiar waters by day. A basic knowledge of lights is also included to introduce you to night-cruising.

We are continually updating our courses to take into account developments in technology and the electronic navigation aids now available on most cruising boats.

In conjunction with the UK Hydrographic Office, we have developed a chart plotter specifically for use on training courses, giving you a realistic insight into electronic navigation. Use of this plotter is an integral part of our Day Skipper shore-based course.

We have northern and southern hemisphere versions of our training materials. So, no matter where you are in the world, our course can be tailored to you.

The course is taught over 40 hours with two exam papers. It can be covered as a series of short sessions, as an intensive week-long course, or by distance learning.

Course topics include:

• the basics of seamanship
• the essentials of coastal navigation and pilotage
• electronic charts
• position fixing
• plotting a course to steer
• weather forecasting and meteorology
• collision regulations
• construction, parts, and equipment of a cruising boat
• emergency and safety procedures including distress calls, use of flares, safety harnesses, lifejackets, and liferafts

You will receive a course pack which includes a chart, plotter, dividers, course handbook, exercises and an electronic chart plotter CD.

HOW LONG IS THE COURSE?

In the classroom, the course is taught over 40 hours with exercises to complete along the way. It can be covered as a series of short sessions or over five full days.

Online the course will take around 36 hours, but the beauty of it is that you can work through it at your own speed, whenever and wherever you like.

HOW TO TAKE THE COURSE

We offer the course at our training center or online. The online course has many advantages as it can be completed at your own speed at home office or on the move. Make sure you check that the tester works on your computer/browser/internet connection. Before paying/downloading the full course.

The classroom cost includes the training pack The online course includes the training pack, online instructor support and courier delivery

Drop us an email and we will get you connected. This course is hosted by Navathome the leading distance learning provider for RYA theory courses

How to take the exam if you are progressing to a commercial certificate of competence online course’s only; you can take the exam at our center or at a venue of your choice. The exam has to be invigilated by a teacher/doctor/lawyer or person of similar standing.

Online T&C’s

Online course’s only; The following T&Cs apply. Online courses are run in conjunction with Navathome Australia. Where we refer to “Training Centre” it includes Sail and Power SA and Navathome Australia.

WHAT’S INCLUDED.

Day Skipper theory course includes a Breton type plotter, RYA Day Skipper course notes, charts, the RYA almanac, the RYA plotter simulator, access to the Training Centre online Day Skipper course and online support and tuition.

Coastal Yachtmaster includes the RYA course pack with RYA Yachtmaster course notes, charts, RYA plotter simulator, access to the Training Centre online Coastal Yachtmaster course and personal online support.

The course and exams are based on the RYA Southern hemisphere packs.

PRIVACY STATEMENT

The Training Centre is committed to protecting your privacy whilst using our online course materials.

The Training Centre will collect personal information relevant to providing your course specifically name, address and email. This is only used for the purpose of providing the course and is not passed on to third parties.

Your private information is only used to deliver the course to you that you have purchased and is not used for any other purpose.

Non identifying course information is maintained for the purpose of audit of the schools programs by Royal Yachting Association from time to time.

The Training Centre will disclose your personal information if required to by law, or to protect the rights or property of the Training Centre or under exigent circumstances to protect the personal safety of the Training Centre or the public.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

Sail and Power SA is an RYA recognised training centre and Navathome is a RYA / Yachting Australia recognised training centre.

All Courses must be paid for prior to commencement.

Refunds will only be provided if course materials are faulty at time of commencement.

All course materials and access codes to the online teaching program will be forwarded within 24 hours of receipt of payment.

I understand and agree that the Training Centre (or its instructors, owners or employees) are not liable for any loss or damage whatsoever to any student or other person or any property of any student or other person arising from the conduct of this course.

I hereby waive any claims that I may have for loss or damage against the Training Centre or its owners, instructors or employees arising from any act or omission on its part or their part in connection with this course.

The course is to be completed within 6 months of receiving access to online course materials. Courses may be extended on payment of a fee of R600

.

You undertake not to provide access to the program or course materials to a third party unless you have prior agreement in writing from the Training Centre.

The Training Centre reserves the right to alter course materials to comply with the requirements of the Royal Yachting Association.

The Training Centre or its owners shall not accept claims and shall not be liable at any time for claims or expenses caused by circumstances beyond its control including sickness, accident travel delays, weather, strikes, war or civil unrest.

In the event The Training Centre or its owners cancel a course we shall be liable only for the full refund of fees paid. No payment will be made for incidental costs.

Completing a booking payment signifies acceptance of these terms and conditions.

All online material has been written and is under copyright to Vic and Lyn Punch.

No part of the online documents can be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) or for any purpose, without the express written permission of Vic and Lyn Punch.

Course material should be treated as for any copyrighted material.

RYA Yachtmaster Shore-based Or Online

This course is available in the classroom and online. Advanced training for more experienced skippers building on the Day Skipper course. This course equips you to navigate safely on coastal and offshore passages.

This course will take your theory knowledge to the standard required for the Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore practical exams, concentrating on advanced navigation and meteorology skills.

As with the Day Skipper shore-based course, the RYA’s specially designed chart plotter software will be used during the course to give you a realistic taste of modern electronic navigation.

Students in the southern hemisphere can take advantage of the southern hemisphere version of our training materials, ensuring that your course is relevant to you.

The course is taught over 40 hours with three exam papers. It can be covered as a series of short sessions, as an intensive week-long course, or by distance learning.

• course shaping and plotting
• tidal knowledge
• use of almanacs and admiralty publications
• electronic position finding equipment
• taking and interpreting forecasts
• plotting weather systems
• weather predictions using a barometer and by observation
• customs and excise regulations for cruising abroad
• It allows some time for revision of the basics and then moves on to advanced navigation techniques.

We offer the course at our training centre or online. The online course has many advantages as it can be completed at your own speed at home office or on the move. Make sure you check that the tester works on your computer / browser / internet connection. Before paying / downloading the full course.

The class room cost includes the training pack   R 6900 The online course includes the training pack, online instructor support and courier delivery   R 5800

HOW TO TAKE THE EXAM IF YOU ARE PROGRESSING TO A COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCE

Online course’s only; you can take the exam at our centre or at a venue of your choice. The exam has to be invigilated by a teacher / doctor / lawyer or person of similar standing.

Course material should be treated as for any copyrighted material

RYA VHF SRC Marine Radio

Rya/mca vhf short range certificate.

This course is available in the classroom and online. The exam on this course has to be paid extra direct to the RYA. The exam must take place at our training center.

The RYA/MCA Short Range Training course/exam and certificate is the qualification wanted by International Captains on Yachts. Crew needs to be able to control the operation of VHF and VHF Digital Selective Calling (DSC) Equipment on Commercial vessels fitted with an SRC radio. This includes both fixed and handheld equipment using International channels. All new VHF sets are either fitted or can be interfaced, with DSC allowing calls to specific vessels.

This includes both fixed and handheld equipment using International channels. All new VHF sets are either fitted or can be interfaced, with DSC allowing calls to specific vessels.

Almost all crew will need to use the VHF radios, on the Yacht, tenders, support vessels, and PWCs. This is a must have, for Superyacht crew. The course is split into pre-course reading, followed by a one-day practical course and separate exam by a RYA appointed examiner. The Examiner cannot be your trainer. A radio is an important piece of safety equipment on board and it is vital to understand the correct procedures. Unnecessary transmissions could block out a Mayday distress call. This course will teach you the basics of operating and understanding a VHF radio on board a yacht. If you own a marine radio

The Examiner cannot be your trainer. A radio is an important piece of safety equipment on board and it is vital to understand the correct procedures. Unnecessary transmissions could block out a Mayday distress call.

This course will teach you the basics of operating and understanding a VHF radio on board a yacht. If you own a marine radio handheld or fixed set, you are required by law to hold an operator’s license – learn the procedures for operation and gain the qualification on this one day course. You will need to do at least 3 hours course reading which is moderated prior to the course.

A radio is an important piece of safety equipment on board and it is vital to understand the correct procedures. Unnecessary transmissions could block out a Mayday distress call. This course will teach you the basics of operating and understanding a VHF radio on board a yacht. If you own a marine radio

If you own a marine radio handheld or fixed set, you are required by law to hold an operator’s license – learn the procedures for operation and gain the qualification on this one day course. You will need to do at least 3 hours course reading which is moderated prior to the course.

COURSE CONTENT:

• The basics of radio operation
• The correct frequencies (channels) to be used
• Distress, emergency and medical assistance procedures
• Making ship to shore telephone calls
• Digital Selective Calling (DSC) using simulators
• Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
• Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB)
• Search and Rescue (SART)

The exam is a written and practical test on the skills you learned. The exam fee is paid direct to the RYA via credit card details. Remember to bring a ID photo for you certificate. The course price does not include the RYA exam fee.

In the classroom, the course is taught over one day, plus some pre course learning.

Online the course will take around one day, but the beauty of it is that you can work through it at your own speed, whenever and wherever you like.

The class room cost includes the vhf book and classroom course

The online course includes the VHF book and online instructor support

Exam payable direct to the RYA

Drop us an email and we will get you connected. The online course is hosted by Mendez Marine one of the leading provider for RYA online courses.

RYA Professional Practices and Responsibilities

A compulsory online course for new and revalidating RYA Commercial Endorsement holders.

My personal take on this course – Pete Daly: I completed this course and exam a short time ago. Do not try to learn how many lifejackets or what kind of qualifications the skipper needs. Instead learn how to find the information in the provided extracts. This course and exam is based on researching information from the provided extracts. Do work through the modules and take at least 2 practice papers in each section.

Web browser I found Firefox worked well. Remember to download the taster so you know it all works before loading the main course.

WHO THIS COURSE IS FOR

Each year approximately 4,500 people apply to the RYA for a commercial endorsement in order to use their RYA qualifications professionally as skipper or crew. You could be doing anything from delivering a new 35′ yacht or driving a workboat with lifting and towing gear, to running a superyacht in the Med. whatever your job is on board, in the commercial world you are a professional seafarer. As such, you are no different from the captain of a cruise liner – you have a duty of care to crew, passengers, and other water users, and you will be held to account if things go wrong.

The course is broken down into four modules:

• Commercial environment – how you fit into the professional maritime world.
• People – the importance of correct manning, keeping your skills up to date and the safe management of commercial vessels.
• Vessel – the compulsory carriage and maintenance of safety equipment and how to create and implement risk control and operating procedures. ·
• Purpose – making sure your vessel is suitable and legal for the work you are carrying out, your obligations in protecting the environment, appropriate planning and situational awareness.

Following the modules there is a mock assessment so you can check you are ready before moving on to the final graded online assessment.

We estimate users will take around 6 to 8 hours to work through the four course modules. The graded end of course assessment is split into two sections, totalling 2 ½ hours.

EXEMPTIONS FROM THIS COURSE

If you hold an MCA Deck Officer’s Certificate of Competence as Officer of the Watch, Master 200*, Master 500 or above you do not need to take the PPR course. Please send a copy of your MCA certificate with your application or renewal form for your commercial endorsement.

* Please note the ‘Master 200’ referred to here is the MCA Master 200gt STCW qualification. This is not the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ qualification.

UPDATING YOUR PPR CERTIFICATE

Once you have taken your first PPR course, at subsequent renewals of your commercial endorsement you will need to take a reduced version of the course and a short test to make sure you are still up to speed with the subject.

Note: If you are over 65 and subject to more regular medical fitness examinations, you do not need to take the PPR course each time you renew your medical. You will simply need to take it when your commercial endorsement is due for renewal (normally every five years).

Online the course will take around one day, but the beauty of it is that you can work through it at your own speed, whenever and wherever you like. The online exam has time controls but should be achieved providing you have completed the modules and practice papers.

We offer the course only online. The course has many advantages as it can be completed at your own speed at home office or on the move. Make sure you check that the tester works on your computer / browser / internet connection. Before paying / downloading the full course.

The online course is paid for direct to Mendez Marine and cost £39.00 UK pounds

Drop us an email and we will get you connected. This course is hosted by Mendez Marine one of the leading provider for RYA online courses.

CONSULTING AND PLACEMENT AGENCY

With over 15 year’s experience in the maritime industry, we provide the best services to candidates looking for a career at sea.  Our focus is to provide a smooth, stress free transition from life on land to life on board.  We guide our candidates throughout the entire process, preparing them to become a successful crew member.  After providing you with an in-depth idea of life on-board, SA Crew will become your “go to” for CV assistance, interviews with manning agencies & cruise liners, STCW training, medicals, and visa applications.

SEAMANS VISA APPLICATION

New & existing crew, we assist with visa applications and booking appointments with the relevant embassy, we assist in creating an easy to read, eye catching cv in the preferred layout, maritime career at sea - awareness seminar, we conduct one on one consulting sessions, and organize group seminars to present career opportunities at sea. we dive into the procedures, process to follow, and compulsory requirements to work on-board., stcw booking, we guide you and book the compulsory courses required for your particular job, ensuring they are done through a samsa accredited training school closest to you., seafarer medical booking, we guide you and book the required medical tests at a samsa accredited medical center closest to you., job placements, we find you your perfect job. if we don’t currently have a position available suitable to your experience, we will keep you on our data base and contact you when we do, what our crew say..., current positions available.

The Beauty Therapist is responsible for delivering an exceptional guest experience by providing professional facial, body and beauty services, as well as wellness education in order to maximise Spa revenue and achieve the highest levels of guest satisfaction.

REQUIREMENTS:

• High school diploma or equivalent • Beauty therapist certificate/relevant qualifications • At least 1 year related work experience • Prior experience within Aesthetic/medi-Spa environment

The Massage Therapist is responsible for delivering an exceptional guest experience by providing professional massage services and wellness education in order to maximise Spa revenue and achieve the highest levels of guest satisfaction.

• High school diploma or equivalent • Massage therapy certificate • Certificate in specialist techniques (thai yoga massage, shitsu, lomi lomi etc) • At least 1 year experience as massage therapist in a SPA environment

The Nail Technician is responsible for delivering an exceptional guest experience by providing professional nail, hand and foot services, as well as wellness education in order to maximise Spa revenue and achieve the highest levels of guest satisfaction.

• High school diploma or equivalent • Nail technician certificate • Nail design is a plus • 1 year experience as a nail tech with ability to complete a full set of acrylic/gel in 1 hour 10 mins

The Hairdresser/Barber is responsible for delivering an exceptional guest experience by providing professional hair and barber services, as well as wellness education in order to maximise Spa revenue and achieve the highest levels of guest satisfaction.

• High school diploma or equivalent • Hairdresser certificate • 1 year experience as a hairdresser

The Fitness Instructor/Personal Trainer is responsible for delivering an exceptional guest experience by providing professional and consistent fitness classes, personal training sessions as well as wellness education in order to maximise Spa revenue and achieve the highest levels of guest satisfaction.

• High school diploma or equivalent • Relevant qualifications • Any other certificates (tai bo, yoga, pilates, circuit training, body balancing, spinning, les mills) are an advantage • 2 years’ experience in a gym offering personal training and group exercise classes.

The Spa Receptionist is responsible for delivering exemplary service, welcoming all guests with a warm and friendly disposition and responding to all requests and queries in a professional and efficient manner to maximise SPA revenue and achieve the highest levels of guest satisfaction.

• High school diploma or equivalent • 1 year experience as a receptionist in a Spa/beauty salon/hotel • Strong pc skills

The Assistant Spa Manager is responsible for helping to ensure smooth running of the Spa and Gym by supporting the Spa Manager with all aspects of the Spa operations. Providing assistance to the On-board Spa Team to maximise Spa revenue and achieve the highest levels of guest satisfaction.

The Spa Manager is responsible for the operation and performance of the Spa, Gym and facilities as well as managing and motivating the On-board Spa Team to maximise Spa revenue and achieve the highest levels of guest satisfaction.

• High school diploma or equivalent • Spa management qualification is an advantage • 3 years related experience • Strong PC skills

The Spa Doctor is responsible for aesthetic clinic and non-surgical rejuvenating cosmetic procedures and products. Will advise and provide a tailored-made service for our guests, providing and achieving natural and refreshed looks. Works alongside the Spa team, ensuring to provide an integral treatment in order to maximise Spa revenue and achieve the highest levels of guest satisfaction.

• Internationally recognised university diploma in medical general practice • A valid license • 3 years of post-graduate experience • 1 year of proven hands on solid practise (as a cruise ship SPA doctor) • Basic life support certificate • Certification related to and prior experience performing aesthetic and anti-aging is an advantage

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Mike Lynch and daughter among six missing after yacht sinks: What we know about disaster - and 'alarming' potential cause

One person is confirmed to have died after the British-flagged luxury vessel named Bayesian sank, with 22 people on board. Sky News looks at what we know about the tragedy.

News reporter @samuelosborne93

Wednesday 21 August 2024 08:55, UK

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British tech billionaire Mike Lynch and his daughter are among six people missing after a superyacht sank in a storm off the coast of Sicily - with one person confirmed to have died.

Twenty-two people were on board the vessel, 15 of whom were rescued - including Briton Charlotte Golunski and her one-year-old daughter Sofia.

Four other Britons and two Americans remain missing, including Mr Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, according to Italian media. The entrepreneur's wife Angela Bacares was rescued.

Here's what we know about the sinking of the luxury vessel so far.

Follow live: People missing after superyacht sinks

What might have caused the sinking?

The British-flagged luxury vessel, named the Bayesian, capsized at around 4.30am local time on Monday morning off Palermo, according to ship-tracking site Marine Traffic.

It sank in a matter of minutes with 22 people on board - 12 passengers and a crew of 10, according to the Italian coastguard.

Waterspouts, essentially tornados which form over water, were seen as powerful winds battered the area overnight, local media said.

The yacht may have sunk faster with all the doors open due to the hot weather, Sailing Today magazine editor Sam Jefferson has said.

"I imagine all the doors were open because it was hot, so there were enough hatches and doors open that it filled with water very quickly and sank like that," he said.

Official pictures show air conditioning units in several of the rooms, however, which could counter the suggestion open windows caused the vessel to sink faster.

The huge mast is also likely to have played a role, he added.

What are waterspouts?

Waterspouts typically occur during thunderstorms and can develop very rapidly, within minutes.

Their spin generally reaches wind speeds between 75-200mph, but can reach as high as 300mph.

They can travel at about 10-20mph typically but can reach greater speeds, making them difficult to avoid - especially in something as slow-moving as a yacht.

Matthew Schanck, chair of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, called the reports of a tornado or waterspout "rare" and "quite alarming".

"The vessel was at anchor in a recognised anchorage," Mr Schanck said.

"Depending on wind direction and the state of the sea, this informs the captain whether it is a safe area to anchor or not. There was nothing that was too concerning, for my eye. All in all, the captain used the information they had to make a safe call."

Who owns the yacht?

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch is among those missing.

The 59-year-old owner of the yacht is known as the " British Bill Gates " and has been in the headlines in recent months over a high-profile fraud case.

In June, a US jury cleared him of all charges, which were related to the 2011 sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard (HP). The yacht trip is believed to have been a celebration of the end of Mr Lynch's legal troubles.

HP accused him of deliberately overstating the value of the company before it was acquired by the American tech giant.

Mr Lynch was extradited to the US to face trial in May last year and spent 13 months under house arrest in San Francisco as he awaited trial on 17 charges of conspiracy and wire fraud brought by the US Department of Justice - which were later reduced to 15 charges. He always denied any wrongdoing and was acquitted.

Read more: Lynch's co-defendant dies days before yacht sinking

Who was on board when the boat sank?

The passengers were largely British and American, the Italian coastguard said. Crew members were from New Zealand, South Africa, and Canada.

Charlotte Golunski was among the Britons rescued. Her LinkedIn profile says she is a partner at Mr Lynch's firm Invoke Capital and has worked there since 2012.

Speaking after the ordeal, Ms Golunski told Italian media that she lost her daughter Sofia for "two seconds" amid the "fury" of the sea but was able to retrieve her. She said she held the infant above the waves until the lifeboat was ready.

"Many people screamed. Luckily the lifeboat inflated and 11 of us were able to get on board," she told ANSA.

The girl's father James Emsley also survived, according to Sicily's civil protection agency.

Also on board were Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of investment bank Morgan Stanley, his wife Judy Bloomer, a top US lawyer Chris Morvillo, who worked on Mr Lynch's criminal case, and his wife Neda Morvillo. They are all missing.

The yacht's captain James Calfield survived, along with South African crew members Leah Randall and Katja Chicken.

Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian-Antiguan chef who was working on the boat, has been found dead, the Italian Coastguard has confirmed to Sky News.

During rescue efforts, divers saw "corpses through the portholes" of the wreck as they recovered the body of a man at a depth of 50m (164ft), according to Salvo Cocina, the head of the Civil Protection of Sicily.

What do we know about the vessel?

The Bayesian was known for its unusual 72.3m (246ft) single mast - one of the world's tallest made of aluminium - and shared its name with the statistical method Mr Lynch's Autonomy software was based on.

It was built by Italian company Perini Navi in 2008 and last refitted in 2020.

It was listed for rent for up to €195,000 (£166,000) a week, according to online charter sites.

The luxury vessel , which was managed by yachting company Camper & Nicholsons, can accommodate up to 12 guests in six suites.

It won a string of awards for its design, according to online specialist yacht sites.

Mr Schanck said the vessel would have been equipped with "high standard" life-saving appliances and radio communications. He added the yacht would have met all international standards and UK maritime coastguard agency regulations before its voyage.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

The boat left the Sicilian port of Milazzo on 14 August and was last tracked east of Palermo on Sunday evening, with a navigation status of "at anchor", according to vessel tracking site VesselFinder.

The Bayesian previously travelled to other parts of Sicily before its last sighting off the coast of the port of Porticello.

On Sunday, the boat was seen off the coast of Cefalu before it travelled towards Porticello, MarineTraffic data shows.

In the days before, the yacht travelled around four of the Aeolian islands, just north of Sicily.

It was previously named Salute, or "health" in Italian, when it flew under a Dutch flag. Its minimalist interior featured light wood with Japanese accents designed by the French designer Remi Tessier, according to descriptions on charter sites.

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Prosecutors in the nearby town of Termini Imerese have opened an investigation into the sinking.

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• Superyacht sinking

Yacht Crew Training

RYA & SAMSA Certified Training

SA Skippers

SAMSA SOUTH AFRICAN TRAINING AND LICENSES

Skippers training courses.

SAMSA Skippers License – South African waters – Sea – Dam – River

We provide Skippers Training Courses such as the SAMSA Skippers license is required for powered vessels under 9 meters with an engine over 15hp. We provide training as qualified skippers to the requirements set out by SAMSA. The Exam includes a written paper Oral questions and practical test. As well as being SAMSA skippers your tutor will also be trained as a powerboat instructor in the RYA scheme. We use independent examiners which are arranged for you.

If you have a PWC (Jet Ski) the rules are basically the same as for normal skipper’s license. We would recommend doing the normal SAMSA skippers license and the RYA PWC (Jet Ski) course.

Visiting skippers can use their international license like the RYA qualifications. However if you are resident you would need to convert to SAMSA or SAS at some point.

SAMSA Inland Skippers - Category R - Under 9m Vessel (1 Day)

Sheltered waters – r.

This is the entry level skipper’s certification for all Inland Waters and Lagoons, Rivers and Estuaries.

This exam process has no practical boat training or navigational training as part of the process. To book the extra training refer to the section on boat handling and navigational training at the start of the SAMSA courses above.

The exam process consists of a training session using the NSRI/SAMSA manual followed by a written exam. This is normally a few days later to allow you time to brush up on the content of the manual. A short practical boat test with some oral questions follows a day or so later.

SAMSA 1 Mile Offshore - Category E - Under 9m Vessel (1 Day)

Day skipper – e.

This is the entry level skipper’s certification for all offshore certificates of Competence and allows the holder to operate One Nautical Mile offshore and 15 miles along the coast.

On passing your exam an interim certificate is issued. A full certificate is issued from SAMSA a few months later.

We will be pleased advise you on the course/s you need. Fill out the enquiry form on the right or give us a call.

SAMSA 15 Mile Offshore - Category C - Under 9m Vessel (1 Day)

15 mile off shore – day skipper – c.

This license is for skippers who wish to operate up to 15 miles offshore during daylight hours from a safe launch site. This exam process has no practical boat training or navigational training as part of the process. To book the extra training refer to the section on boat handling and navigational training at the start of the SAMSA courses above.

SAMSA VHF / SRC Radio Operators License Training (1 Day)

Samsa vhf/src course.

The SAMSA Short Range Certificate  is the qualification required if you operate a marine VHF radio fitted to your vessel or handheld. This includes both fixed and handheld equipment using International channels. All new VHF sets are either fitted or can be interfaced, with DSC calling.

A radio is an important piece of safety equipment on board and it is vital to understand the correct procedures. Unnecessary transmissions could block out a Mayday distress call. This course will teach you the basics of operating and understanding a VHF radio on board a yacht. If you own a marine radio handheld or fixed set, you are required by law to hold an operator’s license – learn the procedures for operation and gain the qualification on this one day course.

The Sail and Power SAMSA VHF Radio Course does not include exam fees.

The course is one day plus the exam at SAMSA office Cape Town as per their calendar

Exam fees are not included in the course price.

SAMSA exam fee is Rxxxx ( please enquire )

Course Content overview:

• The basics of radio operation
• The correct frequencies (channels) to be used
• Distress, emergency, and medical assistance procedures
• Making ship to shore telephone calls
• Digital Selective Calling (DSC) using simulators
• Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
• Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB)
• Search and Rescue (SART)

Course and Exam pricing

Samsa skippers training and exams..

Our modules are developed to help make you safe on the water. We also make sure you have the knowledge to pass the exams.

The pre-course requirements are as follows;

• Logged sea time, note you do not have to be a skipper all the time. But need to be involved in the boating (a cruise liner or seal island trip would not count!)
• No real time. We can provide what you need. See package 1
• I have 50 hours signed off by a qualified skipper. See package 2
• I have 100 hours or more. See package 2 or package 3 if you have lots of experience.
• Medical on form supplied by your Doctor
• 4 ID photos and certified copy of your ID or Passport

We have 3 packages to choose from.

If you would like extra training we will be pleased to set up a personal course for you.

Package 1 – Novice Boater Cat R / E or C (This course gives you 25 hours sea time)

Program for novice boaters with little or no regular experience and less than 50 hours sea time.

Step 1  – 3 Days Practical boating. This has some theory but mostly practical.

Step 2 – 1 Day SRC Radio course

Step 3 – 1 Day Theory course

Step 4  – 1 Day SAMSA Skippers and SRC Radio exams

Extra for the Cat C license

As above, plus 2 day Navigation Course. Includes some Practical boating

Cat R or E – R6100 Plus Radio course and exam R2300

Cat C – R7300 Plus Radio course and exam R2300

Package 2 – Boater Cat R / E or C

Program for boaters with Some experience and over 50 hours sea time signed off by a licensed skipper or 100 hours plus own signature. Possibly no formal training.

Step 1   – 1 Day Practical boating. This has some theory but mostly practical.

Step 2   – 1 Day SRC Radio course

Step 3   – 1 Day Theory course

Step 4   – 1 Day SAMSA Skippers and SRC Radio exams

As above, plus 1 day Navigation Course.

Cat R or E – R3700 Plus Radio course and exam R2300

Cat C – R4900 Plus Radio course and exam R2300

Package 3 – Experienced Boater Cat R / E or C with good knowledge

Program for boaters with regular experience and over 100 hours sea time.

Step 1  – 1 Day SRC Radio course

Step 2  –  1 Day Theory course – This is a revision course, Not suitable for a novice. Includes Navigation and Chartwork for Category C students.

Step 3  –  1 Day SAMSA Skippers and SRC Radio exams

Cat R or E – R2200 Plus Radio course and exam R2300

Cat C – R2500 Plus Radio course and exam R2300

For dates and information and to make a booking please email [email protected] or phone 0761045550 .

Courses are available

• Mid -Week evenings

We have courses in V&A waterfront, Cape Town and False Bay Yacht Club, Simons Town.

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WEATHER ALERT

148 warnings, 2 watches and 129 advisories in effect for 33 regions in the area

What is known about the sinking of a luxury yacht off the coast of sicily and those aboard.

Andrea Rosa And Mike Corder

Associated Press

In this frame grab taken from a footage released by the Italian Firefighters Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, scuba divers on the scene scene of the search for a missing boat, in Porticello, southern Italy. Rescue teams and divers returned to the site of a storm-sunken superyacht Tuesday to search for six people, including British tech magnate Mike Lynch, who are believed to be still trapped in the hull 50 meters (164-feet) underwater. (Italian Firefighters via AP, HO)

PORTICELLO – Specialist cave divers working in 12-minute underwater shifts were searching Tuesday for six missing passengers and crew, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, believed to be in the submerged wreck of a luxury yacht that was slammed by a powerful storm and swiftly sank off Sicily.

The sleek yacht, named the Bayesian, was carrying a crew of 10 people and 12 passengers when it suddenly sank near the Mediterranean island that is part of Italy at about 4 a.m. on Monday. One body has been recovered and 15 people survived.

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Fire rescue officials have said the six believed to remain in the sailboat's hull will be considered missing until they are located in the wreckage.

Here's what we know so far about the sinking and those who were on board.

What happened?

Italian civil protection officials believe a sudden and fierce storm that battered the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday whipped up a waterspout in the exact spot where the 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged Bayesian was moored.

Karsten Borner, the captain of another yacht moored nearby, said he saw the Bayesian during the storm but when the wild weather passed it was gone and he saw only a red flare lighting the night sky, the Italian news agency ANSA and the Giornale di Sicilia newspaper reported.

Borner and one of his crew boarded their tender and found a lifeboat carrying 15 people, some of them injured. They took them aboard their yacht and alerted the coast guard.

Rescue authorities said the wreck was resting at a depth of 50 meters (163 feet) about a half mile offshore of the picturesque fishing village of Porticello.

Who was on board?

Among the missing is 59-year-old tech tycoon Mike Lynch , sometimes described as the British Bill Gates. Lynch was acquitted in June of all charges in a U.S. fraud trial linked to the $11 billion sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard in 2011.

Lynch still faced a potentially huge bill stemming from a civil case in London that HP mostly won during 2022. Damages haven’t been determined in that case, but HP is seeking $4 billion. Lynch made more than $800 million from the Autonomy sale.

A Cambridge-educated mathematician, Lynch made his name running Autonomy, which made a search engine that could pore through emails and other internal business documents to help companies find vital information more quickly.

Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter Hannah was reportedly among the missing. His wife, Angela Bacares, and 14 other people survived.

Among others still missing Tuesday, according to the civil protection agency, were one of Lynch’s U.S. lawyers, Christopher Morvillo of Clifford Chance, and Morvillo’s wife, Neda. Morvillo was regarded as an elite defense lawyer and was also a federal prosecutor in New York after 9/11.

Also missing was Jonathan Bloomer, the non-executive chairman of Morgan Stanley International, and his wife, Judy. He is the former head of the Autonomy audit committee and testified for the defense at Lynch’s trial.

Bloomer was also chair of the Hiscox Group, an insurer that does business on the Lloyd’s of London market.

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic event,” Hiscox CEO Aki Hussain said in a statement.

Among the survivors was Charlotte Golunski, who said she momentarily lost hold of her 1-year-old daughter Sofia in the water, but then managed to grab her and hold her up over the waves until a lifeboat inflated and they were both pulled to safety, ANSA reported. The father, identified by ANSA as James Emslie, also survived.

The Dutch foreign ministry said a Dutch man survived. The ministry, citing privacy, did not release his identity.

One body was recovered on Monday, identified as the on-board chef.

What is the Bayesian?

The Bayesian was a luxury yacht built in 2008 by the Italian firm Perini Nav. It was known for its single 75-meter (246-feet) aluminum mast — one of the world’s tallest. Online charter sites listed it for rent for up to 195,000 euros (about $215,000) a week.

Its registered owner is listed as Revtom Ltd., based on the Isle of Man, according to online maritime database Equasis. Lynch’s wife is listed as Revtom’s sole owner, according to corporate registration documents from the Isle of Man.

The yacht's name is an apparent reference to “Bayesian inference,” one of the two main approaches to statistical machine learning and the one that was used by Autonomy.

What is a waterspout?

Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water and can happen when a storm moves across warm water.

According to the U.S. National Ocean Service, there are two types of waterspouts — fair-weather and tornadic.

Tornadic waterspouts “have the same characteristics as a land tornado. They are associated with severe thunderstorms, and are often accompanied by high winds and seas, large hail, and frequent dangerous lightning,” the service says on its website.

While scientists haven’t attributed the specific event to climate change, average monthly surface temperatures have been at record highs for months . Hotter air can hold more moisture, making heavier storms more likely.

Sicily has been baking under intense heat this summer , and the United Nations’ panel of climate change experts notes the Mediterranean Sea is particularly vulnerable to climate change, with warming rates roughly 20% higher than the global average.

How rare is it for a huge sailboat like this to capsize?

Experts say it is extraordinarily rare for a luxury sailboat of this size to capsize due to weather events.

“This just doesn’t happen. You know, boats sink because things like keels fall off, or they run aground and breach the hull ... whereas just from a weather angle, a boat that big being pushed over on its side is absolutely extraordinary,” said Skip Novak, a lifelong sailor who has taken part in multiple round the world yacht races and written books about sailing.

Novak said he believed that strong gusts likely pushed the yacht over 90 degrees to its side, and the vessel did not recover because of the weight of the huge mast and because it was anchored. He suggested that internal doors were likely not closed, and water quickly poured in to sink the vessel.

“When you’re at anchor, even if it’s blowing with a storm in the Mediterranean, you rarely shut the whole boat down because nobody expects something like this to happen," Novak told The Associated Press. “So if the boat wasn’t completely watertight at the deck, you’d have flooding going in. It would take a couple minutes and that would be it."

What happens next?

As the search for the missing continues, authorities already have begun trying to piece together exactly what happened.

Prosecutors from the Sicilian town of Termini Imerese have opened an investigation, as is normal in such events even when no suspects are identified. To date, they have not commented publicly.

The British Marine Accident Investigation Branch said four of its inspectors were being deployed to Palermo.

Corder reported from The Hague, Netherlands. Associated Press writer Sylvia Hui in London contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Superyacht Training: Interior Courses

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

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Certified Superyacht Crew Training Academy

Cape Town, South Africa

Leading the field in Superyacht training, Certified Superyacht Academy has proven to be the top resource and authority on the industry.

Courses are held in: South Africa

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Get Onboard Superyacht Academy

Get Onboard Superyacht Academy Established in 2016, by two friends who met working onboard one of the world’s premium superyachts, Get Onboard Superyacht Academy has quickly established itself as leading industry player assisting young SA yachties looking to pursue a career in the superyacht industry. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, Get Onboard facilitates a variety of Superyacht specific courses across all four industry departments, Yacht Deckhand, Yacht Stewardess, Yacht Engineer & Yacht Chef. With over 14 years industry experience, our maritime partners internationally accredited maritime partners who are ITY and MCA certified, were carefully selected to ensure our candidates are provided the best possible training experience with top notch facilities in order to ensure they begin their super yachting career with a competitive edge.

Sail and Power SA

Training centre in Cape Town for Yacht Crew with RYA, MCA courses, for all types of vessels and crew positions, Deckhand, Stewardess, International Skippers License We provide instructor training courses for Jet ski and powerboat students to work as instructors on yachts and international Schools.

Super Yachting Nautical Careers (SYNC Training)

Training is based at the foot of the iconic Table Mountain, one of the 7 Wonders of Word. Training is done in beautiful settings by instructors who are passionate about sharing their knowledge, skills and are warm with students who are eager to join the Superyacht Industry. We believe in training students to be competent in all aspects when applying for a position on board a yacht. www.synctraining.co.za. Due to our first-hand experience on board, we are able to advise accordingly as to what is best suited for each individual joining the industry. The school has been running successfully for over five years and offers a wide range of training starting with the Superyacht Steward / Stewardess interior course and the Highfield Food Safety level 2. There are many other courses that run under SYNC. To name a few would be, Flower arranging and Table Scaping, STCW + DSD, International Bartenders, Professional Barista, Yacht Therapy and Beauty Training, Superyacht Chef training, Deckhand basics and even up to Captain and Engineer licences, including the basics like the RYA Powerboat Level 2, RYA PWC (Jetski) and VHF Radio, Yacht Rating, RYA Competent Crew Practical, RYA Day Skipper Theory, RYA Day Skipper Practical and RYA Radar. Instructors are also highly experienced professionals that have worked many years in the Superyacht industry, are enthusiastic and truly care about helping you achieve your highest dreams in yachting, learning from their personal journey and go into the industry fully informed and assured that we have your back and will be there for you not just at the start but for anytime you need us thereafter. We will arrange beautifully comfortable accommodation for you as well which is added to your training invoice. All you need to do is book and get yourself to Cape Town from no matter where you are in the world.

Superyacht Training Academy

The Superyacht Training Academy, Cape Town, is an elite maritime Institute providing Internationally recognised training for professional yacht crew. We pride ourselves in releasing crew into the Superyacht industry who are confident, competent, and responsible. Our comprehensive programmes for Superyacht Deckhand, Stewardess and Chef are world-class training programmes that equip superyacht personnel to perform at their optimum. Our Career packages focus on the primary qualifications needed to assure success in obtaining the best jobs and maintaining them as a chosen career path

Trilogy Luxury Training

Umhlanga, South Africa

GUEST Accredited stewardess training for all levels. We offer the only accredited stewardess courses in South Africa and come with 12 years of industry experience. We also offer advice on getting into the industry for anyone who is interested in working on a yacht.

Voyage International Beauty Institute

Voyage International Beauty aims to pay special attention to empowering individuals across the globe to chase the impossible. We aim to make a difference in the online space in all beauty departments provide you with the best service. We pride ourselves in: High-quality education tutorials We have a variety of online courses Well-developed spa courses for yacht stewardesses.

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