April is the inflection point. The Mediterranean season is no longer being planned, it is being activated. Yachts are moving, teams are being locked in, and hiring decisions that were in progress through March are now becoming urgent. The window for last minute placements before the first owner trips and charter programmes begin is narrowing fast.

Transatlantic crossings and US to Med repositioning are well underway. If you are targeting those programmes, a valid B1/B2 visa continues to be a decisive advantage, particularly for short notice mobilisation.

If you want to be considered quickly, make it easy for recruiters to say yes: CV updated with your most recent vessel, dates, and references Certificates and visa status clearly listed Availability confirmed (date and location). Then check in via our website chatbot to reach the relevant recruiter

Below is what crew can expect to see in April, by department, based on current open roles and typical seasonal patterns.

ENGINEERING

Engineering is running at full pace in April, with demand across every level of the department with both permanent and urgent temporary placements.

Requests we are receiving from clients:

• Chief Engineers across a range of licences, from Chief 3000kw on yachts from 40m+ through to Class I on larger programmes above 100m

• Sole Engineers on sailing yachts for permanent contracts

• 2nd Engineers including EOOW and Class II, both permanent and rotation contracts doe

• 3rd Engineers and junior engineers on larger yachts

• ETO and AV/IT Officers with active demand from yachts in the 75m to +100m range

• Temporary Engineers at all levels including ETO and AVIT Officers for a wide range of yachts

Top tip: Engineers need to present a clean, MLC compliant profile with current licences, a valid seafarer’s medical certificate and STCW refreshers so make sure your online profile is up-to-date.  Check-in if you are available now as we receive regular requests for Temporary engineers at this time of year.

CAPTAINS AND OFFICERS

April is a confirmation month for bridge teams

Requests we are receiving from clients:

• Chief Officers on yachts across a wide size range, including defined leave contracts of 60 or 90 days and rotational structures

• 2nd Officers with leave packages typically in the 60 to 90 day range

• OOW and Bosun combined profiles, particularly on larger yachts, with openings for newly qualified candidates

• 3rd Officers with defined leave packages

• Captains across a range of medium size yachts

April advantage: Be explicit about your availability window, and what rotation or leave structure you are looking for. Clarity on these points significantly accelerates matching.

DECK

Deck hiring in April is operational and time-pressured. Yachts are finalising teams for the season while simultaneously managing crew changes triggered by repositioning, yard periods, and the start of leave rotations.

Roles we are seeing:

• Deckhands for seasonal placements and defined leave cover across a wide range of yacht sizes, including several roles requiring a valid B1/B2 visa

• Bosuns on both permanent and rotational contracts, including some with chase boat responsibilities

• Chase boat captains and dedicated chase boat crew on larger programmes

• Deckhands with additional skills, particularly dive, medic certification, and watersports, where those credentials carry genuine weight

• Defined leave and replacement roles where quick mobilisation is the priority

April advantage: Additional tickets and a well-documented track record, including references, logged tender time, and vessel-specific experience, will always move a profile to the top of the shortlist ahead of a generic application.

CHEFS

The Med season is about to begin and chef recruitment is entering its busiest period. Clients are starting to interview, Owners are trialling chefs and offers will start to come in, especially at the seasonal sole chef level.

Requests we are receiving from clients:

• Sole chef positions both full time and for the Med. season, many clients are happy to look at entry level chefs coming from restaurants with good land based experience and a great attitude

• Sous and Crew Chef jobs to start once the yachts finish their winter season

• Temporary jobs for  last minute Caribbean charters and guest trips as well as holiday cover

April advantage: A well-presented, up-to-date CV with a strong food portfolio or active Instagram page continues to make a material difference at this time of year. Ensure that your referee contact details are up to date as this allows clients and recruiters to move quickly.

SENIOR INTERIOR ROLES

Senior interior hiring is at its most active point of the year. Chief Stew, Purser, Head of Housekeeping, and Head of Service roles are all in demand, and many are being filled under time pressure as yachts finalise guest programmes.

Current demand often includes:

• Chief Stews and Heads of Department across a broad range of yacht sizes, with both 2:2 rotational structures and seasonal contracts represented

• Pursers on yachts from 75m upwards, including rotational packages

• Senior Housekeepers and Heads of Housekeeping on larger programmes, where demand is particularly strong this season Interior Managers on larger yachts

What is notable in April: rotation structures and leave packages are now clearly defined. Senior Housekeeping profiles are seeing especially consistent demand right now, and candidates with strong housekeeping experience and references should make that specialism prominent on their CV. If you are senior interior and considering a move, now is the moment to be visible. Many of the roles currently open will be filled before May.

JUNIOR, EXPERIENCED AND SPECIALIST STEWS

April is the strongest month of the year for experienced stew placements, and the specialist market is running at high volume.

Key trends we see in April:

A high volume of experienced stew roles across a wide range of yacht sizes, with 3:1 and 4:2 rotations appearing frequently

Dedicated housekeeping and service-focused roles, particularly on larger yachts

Replacement and short-term cover roles running alongside permanent season placements, often with fast start dates B1/B2 visa requirements appearing on a number of roles, particularly on larger programmes

Specialist demand is strong across the board.

• Spa therapists and masseuses are in high demand across multiple active programmes right now.

• Hairdresser roles are also open on several yachts.

• Nurses remain in demand on specific programmes.

Multi-skilled candidates should lead with their specialist credential in the first section of their CV, not at the bottom.

What April crew should do now

April does not wait. The placements happening right now are going to crew who are already prepared and easy to reach.

Your practical checklist:

• Confirm your availability date and where you are based

• Make visa status clear, especially B1/B2 where relevant

• Ensure certificates are current and visible on your CV

• Check in through our website chatbox so your recruiter can match you to the right roles quickly

If you are actively looking, do not wait until May to get visible. April is when the season is filled.