July is the Mediterranean season in full flow. Yachts are operational across the fleet, guest and charter programmes are running, and the pace of the season is now firmly established. What defines July is movement: permanent crew are taking their first rotations of the summer, and we are seeing a steady stream of defined leave contracts, replacement roles, and temporary cover across every department, running alongside ongoing permanent and seasonal placements.

Engineering

Engineering demand in July is defined by urgent temporary cover as the season is in full swing alongside the general permanent/rotational requests.

Requests we are receiving from clients:

• Chief Engineers across a range of licences, from Y3 / C/E 3000kw and Y1 / C/E 9000kw  on yachts from 35m to 70m

• Sole Engineers on yachts from 35m to 45m, EOOW licence

• 2nd Engineers including EOOW and Class II licences on yachts from 55m to 100m

• 3rd Engineers on yachts from 65m to 95m temporary and permanent

• ETO and AV/IT Officers on yachts from 70m to 100m+

• Temporary Engineers at all levels, from motormen and 3^rd engineers to C/E 3000kw Chief engineers

Top tip: Engineers need to present a clean, MLC compliant profile with current licences, a valid seafarer's medical certificate, and STCW refreshers up to date. A significant proportion of the roles we are working on right now are replacement and temporary positions, so if you are available at short notice, check in through the website chatbot.

Captains and Officers

July is a month of defined leave contracts and replacement cover for bridge teams. Permanent crew are taking their rotations and yachts need reliable cover in place quickly.

Requests we are receiving from clients:

• Chief officers (Chief mate 3000) on yachts 50m range, temporary or permanent

• 2^nd officer (OOW 3000) on yachts 60m range with defined leave packages

• Captains (Master 200 & 500) on motor and sailing yachts with defined leave packages. Med based or Pacific.

July advantage: Be explicit about your licence, your availability window, and the leave structure you are looking for. Replacement and leave contracts at this stage of the season move within days, and clarity on those points is what gets you shortlisted.

Deck

Deck activity in July centres on leave cover and replacement. Yachts are operational and crew changes are happening across the fleet, with a notable volume of chase boat and tender-focused roles as guest programmes run at full pace.

Roles we are seeing:

• Deckhands for defined leave cover and replacement roles across yachts from 32m to 91m, including temporary positions and several 60 day contracts

• Bosuns on larger programmes, including combined bosun and deckhand temporary roles

• Chase boat captains and dedicated chase boat crew on yachts from 50m to 95m, with several roles open across different programmes

• Tender drivers on yachts with defined leave contracts

• Deckhands with additional skills, particularly medic certification and personal training qualifications

• Mates on smaller yachts

• Deck and engineering crossover profiles, and deck and stew couples on smaller programmes

July advantage: Additional tickets, references, and logged tender or chase boat time carry real weight right now. Chase boat and tender driving experience in particular is opening roles that a standard deckhand profile cannot access.

Chefs

July is a busy month for the Chef Department. The requests are predominantly for temporary candidates who are able to jump in last minute to save the day!

These positions range from Head Chef to Sole Chef to Sous/Crew cover, with the majority of positions being on the yachts in the 40m range.

July advantage: A well-presented, up-to-date CV with a strong food portfolio or active Instagram page continues to make a material difference. Ensure that your referee contact details are accurate and up to date, as this allows clients and recruiters to verify experience quickly and move forward with confidence.

Senior Interior Roles

Senior interior demand in July is shaped by rotation patterns and defined leave contracts. Programmes are running at full pace and senior roles are being filled with a clear emphasis on candidates who can step in and hold a standard from day one.

Current demand often includes:

• Chief Stews on yachts from 50m to 147m, with 2:2 rotational structures, 10:10 week and 6:6 week patterns, and defined leave contracts from 42 to 90 days, several requiring a B1/B2 visa

• Pursers on yachts from 63m to 117m, including 2:2, 8:8 week, and 10:10 week rotational structures

• Heads of Service on larger programmes from 100m upwards, including roles requiring a B1/B2 visa

• Lead Stews on larger programmes with rotational contracts

What is notable in July: Rotational structures at senior level are now well defined and B1/B2 visa requirements are appearing across a number of the senior roles we are working on. If you hold a valid B1/B2 visa, make it prominent on your CV, as it will materially widen the range of roles available to you.

Junior, Experienced and Specialist Stews

July brings a high volume of stew placements, with defined leave contracts and rotational roles running alongside seasonal positions. Larger programmes are recruiting in multiples, and the specialist market remains consistently active.

Key trends we see in July:

• A high volume of experienced stew roles from 34m to 160m, with 3:1, 4:2, and 2:1 rotations all represented

• Dedicated service and housekeeping roles on larger programmes, frequently recruiting two crew at once

• Defined leave contracts ranging from 30 days to 122 days running alongside permanent placements

• B1/B2 visa requirements appearing on a number of roles across different yacht sizes

• Stew and deck, and stew and cook, crossover roles on smaller yachts where flexibility across departments is a genuine requirement

• Dedicated laundry roles on yachts from 80m upwards, both rotational and on defined leave contracts

Specialist demand remains strong. Masseuses and spa therapists are in demand across yachts from 61m to 112m, on both rotational and defined leave contracts. Nurse roles are open on a larger programme, recruiting two crew. Multi-skilled candidates should lead with their specialist credential in the first section of their CV, not at the bottom.

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 chatbot so your recruiter can match you to the right roles quickly

If you are available now and not already in conversation with a recruiter, today is the day to check in. July is when quick, reliable crew get placed fast.