Major Ports: Where the World’s Top Yachts Go
On this page, below, we highlight a number of ports around the world, and tell you when you should plan to visit them to increase your chances of getting a job. Keep in mind, that competition will be high. In addition to visiting these locations, consider going to lesser known ports or smaller ports. You may find that there is less competition, and your chances of getting a job are better.
Also, if you decide to use a crew placement agency, you need to be more concerned with the number of agencies that are located in each port, rather than the number of yachts. Do your research and go with the higher number of agencies. You will increase your chances of getting a job.
You also need to think about the timing. The best time to plant yourself in a yachting community is in the spring and fall. These are usually the seasons when captains or owners are sizing up their crew and making appropriate hiring arrangements. You have a better shot at landing a job on a yacht if you can convince the captain to hire you based on your resume package and apparent availability. Most people prefer to travel in well-chartered and traveled waters. In fact, only about 10% of the world’s oceans are traveled on a regular basis. There are patterns to when you will find certain ports active (and captains and owners are hiring), and they relate directly to the area’s weather.
The World’s Leading Ports for Yachts
There are many ports across the globe where yachts are likely to be at any given season. For example, in the United States, you’ll find many of the major yachts at port in Fort Lauderdale in April and May as they prepare for summer cruises in the Caribbean. If you station yourself in the right port at the right time, you will increase your opportunities for locating work. The following is a brief list of some of the popular yachting communities around the world. Keep in mind that the top three yachting centers of the world are listed first. The remaining locations are also popular yacht communities, but they are not as well known among yachting professionals as the other "hiring ports."
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Just about every yacht or superyacht ends up at this port, since it is a gateway to many popular destinations.
- Palma de Mallorca, Spain: The second port of the three leading yacht centers of the world, this location is popular due to its location in the Balearics.
- Antibes, France: This location rounds out the top three, and it is one of the "top" ports due to its location in the French Riviera.
- Newport, Rhode Island
- Southampton, England
- Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Phuket, Thailand
- Gibraltar
- Galle Harbor, Sri Lanka
- English Harbor, Antigua
Yachting Hotspots by Month
The calendar below gives you a good idea of where the yachts are most likely to be during each month of the year. Your chances of getting a job onboard a yacht are better at these locations and months.
January:
North Atlantic: Fort Lauderdale, USA
North Pacific: Mexico, Philippines, Hong Kong,
Indian Ocean: Sri Lanka, South Africa, Thailand
South Atlantic: Cape Town
Caribbean: All Islands
February:
North Atlantic: Fort Lauderdale, USA
North Pacific: Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama
Indian Ocean: Sri Lanka, South Africa
South Atlantic: Cape Horn, Chile
Caribbean: All Islands
March:
North Atlantic: Fort Lauderdale, USA
North Pacific: Mexico, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Panama
Indian Ocean: Suez Canal
South Atlantic: South Africa
Caribbean: All Islands
April:
North Pacific: Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala
South Pacific: New Zealand, Hawaii
Indian Ocean: Suez Canal
South Atlantic: South American Coast, Panama Canal
North Atlantic: Fort Lauderdale, USA
Mediterranean: Europe: Antibes, Palma Mallorca
Caribbean: All Islands
May:
North Pacific: USA, Hawaii
South Pacific: Australia, French Polynesia
Indian Ocean: South Africa
South Atlantic: South American Coast, Panama Canal
North Atlantic: Fort Lauderdale, Newport, Rhode Island, Northern Europe
Mediterranean: Europe (Gibraltar, Malta, Palma), Antibes, Palma Mallorca, Greek Islands
Caribbean: All Islands
June:
North Pacific: USA, Hawaii
South Pacific: Papua New Guinea, Tahiti
Indian Ocean: Australia, South Africa
South Atlantic: South American Coast
North Atlantic: Fort Lauderdale, Newport, Rhode Island, Northern Europe
Mediterranean: Gibraltar, Malta, Antibes, Palma Mallorca
July:
North Pacific: USA, Hawaii
South Pacific: Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand
Indian Ocean: Australia, South Africa
South Atlantic: South American Coast
North Atlantic: Northern Europe, Newport, Rhode Island
Mediterranean: Gibraltar, Malta, Antibes, Palma Mallorca
August:
North Pacific: USA, Hawaii
South Pacific: Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand
South Atlantic: South American Coast
North Atlantic: Iberian Coast, Newport, Rhode Island
Mediterranean: Gibraltar, Malta, Antibes, Palma Mallorca
September:
North Pacific: Hawaii, USA
South Pacific: Tahiti, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand
South Atlantic: South American Coast
North Atlantic: Iberian Coast, Fort Lauderdale, Newport, Rhode Island
Mediterranean: Gibraltar, Malta, Antibes, Palma Mallorca
October:
North Pacific: USA
South Pacific: Fiji
South Atlantic: South American Coast
North Atlantic: Iberian Coast, Fort Lauderdale, Newport, Rhode Island
Mediterranean: Gibraltar, Malta, Antibes, Palma Mallorca
November:
North Pacific: USA, Philippines
South Pacific: New Zealand, Papua New Guinea
South Atlantic: Venezuela, Argentina
North Atlantic: Fort Lauderdale, Canary Islands
Mediterranean: Gibraltar
Caribbean: St. Thomas
December:
North Pacific: Mexico, Philippines, Hong Kong
Indian Ocean: Sri Lanka, South Africa
South Atlantic: Venezuela
North Atlantic: Canary Islands, Fort Lauderdale
Caribbean: St. Thomas, Barbados