PYD Crews
pyd is the busiest and most respected provider of yacht delivery services in Europe and we have several hundred crew berths every year on a very wide variety of boats. The net product of many hundreds of delivery passages worldwide is a core team of professional skippers and crew. Our success has been built on the exceptional standards of our skippers and crew and we are committed to ensuring that those standards are maintained.
Skippers
Our pool of over thirty skippers consists of some of the most prominent and experienced individuals in the industry who have varying backgrounds and skills, but who have in common a passion for boats and a commitment to the highest standards in the industry. Among them are several previous Clipper Challenge skippers, shipwrights, RYA Yachtmaster Instructors, racing specialists and MCA Masters with experience of 150ft + megayachts. Together, they ensure that we have the right skipper whatever the requirement.
Potential skippers will always do several trips as probationary mates under scrutiny of one of our existing skippers. This means we can ensure consistency and continuity of standards are maintained. They not only have to demonstrate outstanding sailing and navigation skills but must also be adept at managing the yacht's various systems, running a tight budget and leading the crew by example in all conditions.
Every one of our boats on delivery is crewed by one of these group skippers, supported by a Yachtmaster qualified Mate and at least one deckhand.
Mates
Mates are experienced and qualified RYA Yachtmasters but are still building the necessary sailing experience or crew leadership skills. Every single crew member is thoroughly vetted before they take their place aboard a pyd delivery. All mates are capable of standing a night watch alone and taking full responsibility for the yacht in unforeseen circumstances.
Deckhands
Deck crew will often have thousands of sea miles under their belts and an aspiration to develop their sailing prowess still further. They must be capable of standing a solo watch competently at night and are generally qualified to at least Coastal Skipper level.
All will have to provide at least two personal references, which are invariably followed up and checked by pyd head office in detail before they can go to sea with us. Obviously, much depends on the high quality of RYA offshore sail training and it is a credit to their Yachtmaster syllabus that these standards can be accepted as a benchmark when selecting our crew from hundreds of applicants every year.
Standards are high, but crewing with pyd at any level is a rewarding experience. There is no registration fee and if you think you have the required skills and are interested in sailing with pyd please complete the crew application form, which will go to Jane Matthews our crew coordinator.
Those applicants who are looking to progress their maritime career to a higher level (possibly as a professional yacht delivery skipper) may also be interested in the pyd Sailing Apprentice Scheme, which is discussed in detail on its own page on this website.
