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Australia's Leading Superyacht Training Provider

International qualifications.

Our IYT & MCA recognised courses qualify you to work on amazing Superyachts in the best destinations around the world. Work, travel and imagine yourself in the most beautiful locations on the planet.

Australian & NSW Government Subsidised Qualifications

Our AMSA recognised courses allow you to work in Australia's beautiful waterways and oceans aboard Superyachts and other vessels. The training covers the required operational and safety competencies to see you into your next exciting chapter or a career move.

Short Courses

Our various short courses give extra skills to those who are wanting to add to their development and employment opportunities. It's easy to build your knowledge in a convenient and affordable way.

LIVE LIFE TO THE MAX

The Superyacht Crew Academy is Australia’s leading training provider, we deliver both International and Australian qualifications for the Superyacht & Maritime industries.

Superyacht Crew Academy is a registered training organisation and industry leader, offering fully accredited courses to enable your qualifications to take you anywhere you want to go. Both International and Australian recognised competencies will place you into your dream of working on a Superyacht or in the Maritime industry across a range of roles and skills. Our courses are packaged with the required mandatory safety standards and you can add on extra skills.  We are here to help you and guide your course selection, so don’t wait, connect with us.

We also operate as Sydney Maritime Institute which is a division of the Superyacht Crew Academy to provide training courses for people wishing to work on Australian Commercial vessels.

Our Most Popular Courses

STCW 95+10 Training and Certification All yacht crew are required to have the International STCW 95 as amended by Manila Ammendments 2010 certificate (STCW 95+1...

Superyacht Deckhand Package

Superyacht Deckhand – Package Course MCA Internationally recognised training to become a superyacht deckhand. This IYT Deckhand Training Course is a quali...

Superyacht Interior Crew Package

Superyacht Interior Crew – Package Course Internationally recognised training to become a professional superyacht steward/ess. The Superyacht Crew Academy...

What Our Students Say

“I have been on a Superyacht for six months and I absolutely love it! The crew is great and the owners are wonderful. We left Florida two weeks ago and we are on a three month trip over to California! We made a stop in Cuba and the owners invited all of the crew to go on day trips with the guests to sight see! Now we are in the Cayman Islands. From here we head through the Panama Canal and then we go to Panama City, Papagallo Peninsula Costa Rica then Cabo San Lucas, before we end up to Southern California. This is such a great experience for me. I do stewardess work, cook for crew and guests, handle lines when docking and leaving as well as watch shifts while we’re underway. I just wanted to say thanks again for all the valuable training I received in my classes! Thank you!”

Jessica Benway – Stewardess

“I am so excited!!! I went for my first interview yesterday afternoon at an agency and got a call from them later on advising that they’d put me forward for a 2nd stewardess position and to expect a call from the captain. He rang this morning and we met at Starbucks and… they are flying me up on Friday! It’s happened so fast, but it felt right. The yacht is currently in Norfolk, Virginia and we will be heading out very soon to spend the season in New England. The captain was really laid back and very forthcoming. Apparently the yacht is privately owned by a wealthy guy (obviously) and isn’t chartered out very often. Mostly they do cocktail parties. He thinks we will be in the Mediterranean next year although he is waiting on confirmation from the owner. The pace on the yacht seems very relaxed. It will be a great place for me to learn as much as possible. I am so keen to get started. Thank you!”

Carlie – Stewardess

“Everything is going GREAT for me over here! We have travelled from Fort Lauderdale all the way along the East Coast up to Labrador, Canada over 4000 miles so far. My roster is split so I spend the first part of the day as a deckhand and the second part of the day as the second stewardess onboard a 154 foot SuperYacht. The owners are fantastic. I really enjoyed the interior crew course and feel so much more prepared for my stewardess role.”

Katie Ford – Stewardess and Deckhand

“I was totally impressed by the STCW training I received at the Superyacht Crew Academy. The instructors were excellent, the equipment top notch, and I truly feel confident that I would perform well in the case of an emergency aboard ship. Thank you Chris and Deb for being so helpful to me. As a foreign student coming to Australia for this training, your kindness was extra meaningful. I am now a Superyacht Agent in Noumea and spend a lot of time aboard superyachts. Even though I am not a member of the crews, my STCW training is right there in the back of my mind just in case there was an emergency; especially when refuelling, helping resupply the medical equipment or moving heavy equipment on and off the superyachts.”

Chloe Morin – Super yacht Agent Noumea Ocean Services

“You are by far the most professional and successful training facility that I have dealt with around the world. Keep up the amazing work!”

Nick Smith – Chief Officer M/Y Akula

“A big thank you for your professionalism to all people from the Superyacht Crew Academy. Your team really made this experience unforgettable.”

Laurent Dreyer – Fastrack Graduate

“My experience with Superyacht Crew Academy was amazing. I had a fantastic time on the deck crew course and learnt a lot more than I expected.”

Tom Armstrong – Deckhand

“In my first interview I got offered a job! I really liked the chief stewardess so I am on a 43m private Superyacht for the season. I have been on the boat for two weeks and so far all is going well. I am looking forward to a good season and I will be home for Christmas. Two other people who did the course with me, Emily and Adam also got jobs very easily! Thank you again for all of your support and giving us a great head start!”

Ashtyn Leary – Stewardess

“The instructors were excellent, very professional and thorough. My training at Superyacht Crew Academy made my job as stewardess aboard the Tango possible and enjoyable. It really helps to have the inside story from experts before you begin. I’m happy to recommend the Superyacht Crew Academy to anyone interested in working in this industry.”

Haley – Stewardess M/Y Tango

“I just wanted to say thank you to the staff at Superyacht Crew Academy. I am currently working on a 43m M/Y Eclipse which is situated in Israel during the winter and the Mediterranean in the summer. I am heading into my third week here, now crossing to Genoa, Italy for the boat show. I am a 3rd stewardess and loving it. We are now in Kotor in Montenegro near Croatia and it is absolutely stunning. I am loving my job and have been lucky enough to rotate with duties and will be doing service this week, in a few hours actually. Thank you for all your help!”

Lauren A – Stewardess

” I thought I would give you a quick update on my adventures. I’ve just finished a cruise on an expedition vessel and am back in Antibes looking for a new position as a stewardess. Thank you for the casual work experience I did while completing my interior course. It’s definitely a lot better now that I have the right qualifications and some experience. I’m finding that there is so much more available to me.”

Natasha Harris – Stewardess

“Thank you for all the help and support that you gave me when i was studying with you. it was amazing and I will no doubt be visiting again hopefully at the end of next year when I come to do my Yacht Master OffShore. The Boat has offered me an awesome opportunity to learn all there is to learn as well as an awesome salary, benefits, and program. Not to mention the crew are a happy bunch of people and we are like a large family…. I have learned that the crew makes the boat and that is the main thing, not the salary, benefits or program!”

Joshua McCouat – Deckhand

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Superyacht Crew Academy Provides training and certification for people who wish to work on Superyachts anywhere in the world and within the Australian Maritime Industry. Legal Name: Club Sail Pty. Ltd. Trading as: Superyacht Crew Academy Registered Training Organisation no. 91462

Unit 25a/5 Ponderosa Parade, Warriewood, NSW 2102, Australia.

+61 2 9979 9669

[email protected]

• Crew Placement Agreement
• Residence Staff

Welcome to MYS Superyacht Crew

Superyacht Recruitment and Superyacht jobs since 1997, we specialise in placing qualified superyacht crew in Australia, Pacific and worldwide

Our goal is to meet the growing demand for experienced and professional Superyacht Crew in Australia and around the world. Placing Superyacht Crew worldwide, we have been Australia’s Leading Superyacht Recruitment Agency since 1997, understanding both the requirements of owners and the concerns of crew. From ensuring we find suitable, qualified candidates for your yacht or residence to advising crew with their next career steps, we will assist every step of the way.

A branch of Major Yacht Services, Australia’s leading Superyacht agency we have assisted more than 750 visiting superyachts to Australia. Being ex-crew members ourselves we understand the complexity of the roles on board and will appropriately match candidate’s skills and personality to ensure that perfect fit for both Owners and Crew alike.

Our Head office is based in Sydney and being a proud member of the AYSS we have worldwide representation & partners.

What positions do we recruit for?

We Specialise in Superyacht Recruitment for the following core Superyacht Jobs

• Captain Positions
• Officer Positions
• Engineer Positions
• Chef Positions
• Stewardess Positions
• Deckhand Positions

We also provide Superyacht Recruitment for such specialty positions as Dive Instructors, Nurses, Beauticians, Masseuses, Private Jet Hostesses, Private Residence Staff, House Managers, Housekeepers, Private House Chefs, Personal / Executive assistants, Gardeners, Project Managers and New Build Engineers

Our company uses the MLC ( Maritime Labour Convention ) as its guideline when undertaking all its recruitment services.

https://www.amsa.gov.au/international/mlc/

From Australia to Europe, New Zealand to the Caribbean our positions and candidates span the globe and are ready to assist with all your superyacht recruitment needs.

Get in touch today to see how we can assist you with your superyacht crew or employment needs

Sydney – Australia – New Zealand – Pacific – Fiji – French Polynesia – Europe – Fort Lauderdale – Caribbean

Asia – Middle East – North Africa

We have used MYS for all of our requirements since our 44m was Launched last year, This has included a complete crew placement for our new boat, All customs clearance arrivals and departures from Australia for our vessel, Fuel Bunkers at the most competitive price, Supplying local produce at wholesale rates, and the list goes on.

– Captain Paul Maguire, Project AY-54

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Land Based Private Chef – Perth

Land based private chef – brisbane, 40m m/y – 2nd stew – south pacific – charter, 35m m/y – sole stew/cook – sydney – private.

Welcome to Crew Pacific Recruitment.

A Super Yacht Recruitment Agency that has been established since 2001 in Cairns, Australia. Crew Pacific specializes in providing a unique and high level of service to luxury Super Yachts within Australia and world-wide.

Crew Pacific provides crew that are either MCA or AMSA qualified, highly trained, and experienced crew that have worked on super yachts both motor or sail within Australia and world-wide.

Crew Pacific understands the unique needs of Owners & Captains when placing competent and experienced crew, whether it is for full time, seasonal or temporary positions.

Begin Here.

Welcome to Crew Pacific's Super Yacht Training.

A Super Yacht Recruitment Agency that has been established since 2001 in Cairns, Australia. Crew Pacific specializes in providing a unique and high level of service to luxury Super Yachts within Australia and world-wide. … Crew Pacific provides crew that are either MCA or AMSA qualified, highly trained, and experienced crew that have worked on super yachts both motor or sail within Australia and world-wide. Crew Pacific understands the unique needs of Owners & Captains when placing competent and experienced crew, whether it is for full time, seasonal or temporary positions.

begin Here.

Australia’s Leading Training provider for Super Yachts, which has been established since 2001 in Cairns QLD Australia … Crew Pacific specializes and delivers Professional Elementary Super Yacht Steward/ess, Deckhand Steward/ess/Deckhand courses, these courses are recognized both in Australia and Internationally. Crew Pacific’s Elementary Super Yacht courses provides you with the skills & tools and knowledge of what your daily duties are as a crewmember Onboard super yacht and how the MCA AMSA International and National super yacht industry works? Once you are fully super yacht trained & qualified Crew Pacific can then place you onto a Super Yacht world-wide within 1-3 months.

Terms & Conditions

POLICY ON STUDENTS PAYMENTS & REFUNDS FOR THE THEORY (MODULES)

• To obtain the theory training for the 2, 5, 8, & 10 Day super yacht elementary courses an individual fee is required to be paid in full. Once the student has obtained these course modules there is a Non-refundable policy, however if for unforeseen circumstances should occur such as
• A family member bereavement or family member should get hurt badly.
• Student should hurt themselves badly or become critically ill
• Notification must be given in writing, email or by advising a Crew Pacific staff member in the office where the Crew Pacific course is being held. Students should consider the following notification periods as to what sort of refund they can expect.

PRINCIPLES – CREW PACIFIC COURSE CANCELLATION & FEES PAYABLE

• If Crew Pacific has insufficient bookings (numbers) to economically run a scheduled course, we reserve the right to cancel the course by notifying all students that their course has been cancelled. In an event that, Crew Pacific cancels a course, students are eligible for a full refund, or they can transfer to another course.

POLICY ON STUDENTS PAYMENTS & REFUNDS FOR THE PRACTICAL LESSONS 

• On the first day of the practical lessons the outstanding amount for the course you are completing will be required to be paid in full, this fee is Non-refundable policy, however if for unforeseen circumstances should occur such as
• A family member bereavement or family member should get hurt badly and you need to return home immediately.
• Notification must be given in writing, email or by advising a Crew Pacific staff member in the office where the Crew Pacific course is being held. Students should consider the following notification periods as to what sort of refund they can expect
• If Crew Pacific receives notification (In writing, by e-mail or by phone call) from a student that they wish to withdraw from a practical course, the amount of refund to be provided will be as follows.
• Notification more than 5 business days before the date of course  – 100% refund of course fee or transfer to another course at no cost.
• Less than 5 business days before the date of the course – 75% refund of course fee or transfer to another course at no cost.
• Less than 3 business days before the date of the course NO REFUND payment will be made by Crew Pacific, however you can transfer to another course date at no cost.  
• If Crew Pacific has insufficient bookings (numbers) to economically run a scheduled Practical course, we reserve the right to cancel the course by notifying all students that their course has been cancelled. In an event that, Crew Pacific cancels a course, students are eligible for a full refund, or they can transfer to another course.

NON-ATTENDANCE & NO NOTIFICATION WITH BUSINESS HOURS.

• If a student fails to not turn up to a class, no refund will be payable. Students need to be aware that leaving a message on the Crew Pacific office answering service outside of business hours where the course is held on the day before the course is not accepted as a notification of cancellation.
• If a student is sick on the day of their course, and can support this with a medical certificate, they will receive either a full refund or be transferred to alternate date at no charge but must be available to complete the training within six months of the original course date.
• If the student has failed to attend due to any other reason NO REFUND will be payable however a course transfer may be granted at the discretion of the Crew Pacific office.

STUDENT COURSE TRANSFER

A student may request a course transfer without incurring any administration fee but must consider the following conditions.

• Participants will only be permitted to transfer courses once and must complete the training within six months on the original date of enrolment.
• If a student failed to turn up to the scheduled course and can provide evidence to support the reason, they may be awarded one additional transfer. Evidence accepted includes a medical certificate, or evidence of death in the family. Subsequent course transfers granted to the students may incur a 10% transfer fee charged at the discretion of the Crew Pacific office.
• Once a subsequent transfer is granted, no further transfers or refund will be granted.

Students who are more than 30 minutes late for their scheduled transfer course will forfeit all rights to any further transfers or refund.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN MCA AND AMSA ENDORSED COURSE:

AMSA ENDORSED COURSE:

AMSA course is recognized by “Offshore Super Yacht & Australian Flagged Super yacht. This ticket is recognized in the following countries England, Europe, America, New Zealand and Australia, which means you can obtain work on BOTH offshore super yachts and Australian flagged Super yachts.

MCA ENDORSED COURSE:

MCA courses are only recognized by  “Offshore flagged Super yachts” NOT Australian flagged yachts. This ticket is recognized in the following countries England, Europe, America, which means you would be unable to obtain a job on an Australian flagged super yacht because AMSA does not recognize the MCA training.

How Crew Pacific Started.

Crew Pacific’s Recruitment and Training division was originally established in 2001, however Crew Pacific’s Steward/ess Courses were developed by Joy Weston Owner/Operator of Crew Pacific in 2000.

My experience in the International Super Yacht Industry started in 1992 when I travelled to London to work as a professional Nanny. Looking after two spoilt kids for three months changed my career path radically! I returned to hospitality, working for a 5-star intercontinental hotel (The Forum) based in Earl’s Court. During my six months with the hotel the London Boat Show was running. A couple called Bob and Fiona Freeman were staying in the hotel and I served them several times at the bar and in the restaurant. One particular evening they were quite excited and I, being inquisitive, asked them why??? They told me they just been accepted for a job on a 90ft Super Yacht as Captain and Chief Stewardess. Basically, I had no idea what a Captain was or even a Chief Stewardess, so I asked them. They explained and then proceeded to show me a brochure of the yacht. Wow!!! I was amazed as I had never seen a yacht like this in my life. Coming from a country town in New Zealand and horse riding professionally most of my life, I had only ever been on the Whanganui River in New Zealand on jet boats and this yacht seemed enormous to me at the time. We got chatting and the next thing I know they offered me a position as 2nd Stewardess. I accepted the job and started to write down details of when I would start, where I was to meet the yacht and blah, blah. A month later I flew to the South of France. I was picked up at the airport by Captain Bob and taken to the yacht. Wow!!! When I arrived at the Marina, I realised that I was joining the smallest yacht in the Marina…. yet I was overwhelmed and excited all at the same time. I completed 3 months on board M.Y La Paradiso with Bob and Fiona during which we travelled to Marmaris, Turkey to charter. I resigned due to relationship issues between the captain and wife team.

I stayed on in Marmaris obtaining day-work and freelanced doing stew/deckhand/cook jobs for Sunsail and Moorings flotillas for about a month until I obtained a full-time stew/deckhand position on a sailing yacht called S.Y. Nuku II 72ft. I worked for two years (two seasons in a row) for the Welsh couple, Margaret and Rob, who chartered Nuku II throughout Turkey and Greece, gaining an immense amount of skills and knowledge about sailing yachts and how to become a professional crew-member. After finishing up the second season in Turkey with Rod and Margaret I decided to expand my horizons and sail to the Caribbean.

I organised an unpaid delivery as stew/cook on a 72ft sailing yacht called S.Y. Shonalonga. I would be living and working with 5 South African crew and it would take us up to 6 weeks to reach the Caribbean. During our travels we experienced some bad weather which caused our main sail to whip. We managed to make our way to Gibraltar where we provisioned and fixed the main sail (which I can say is quite an experience in itself), spent 5 days there and then set off into the sunset to the Canary Islands. We had a 2-day layover in the Canary Islands and then sailed to our final destination of Antigua in the Caribbean.

Upon arrival in Antigua I spent 2 weeks on the yacht before being offered a position on a large Super Yacht called S.Y. Snow Goose, 140ft sloop. I completed the season with Snow Goose although I will say I did not have a good experience on my first large yacht (you can find out why during Crew Pacific’s Training Courses!). The experience nearly put me off yachting for the rest of my life. I was very lucky to be rescued by an Irish Captain on a 65ft Swan who employed me as a stew/cook for delivery back to the Mediterranean, more precisely Palma de Mallorca, an island off Barcelona, Spain.

Once we arrived in Palma I stayed on board the yacht for a few days and then discovered a Crew House which I moved into whilst looking for permanent work on yachts. Living in a Crew House is a lot of fun as you get to mingle with many different characters and learn more about the Super Yacht Industry. During my travels at sea I had a lot of time to think about which direction I would like to follow. I decided that I wanted to work on larger vessels ranging from 40-60m as a stew/deckhand and wanted to be on motor yachts. Whilst I was in Palma de Mallorca, I registered with all the international Crewing Agencies (the major agencies which now recognise Crew Pacific’s Training). They assisted me with job opportunities, however I was fortunate enough to find a job myself by walking the docks. I was very lucky to find a good Captain and Owner and a good job all at the same time. A lot of crews were experiencing bad Captains and bad Owners and getting into the wrong job. This can still happen today and depends very much on the questions you ask and your knowledge of the International Yachting Industry. (There are ways you can avoid the pitfalls of the industry and this information is covered in the Crew Pacific Training Courses).

The position I obtained was a stew/deckhand position on a 43m motor yacht (private) working for an Arab owner. My Captain was Larry Barnett (Scottish) and his wife Manu was our Chief Stewardess (German).

This is when my Stewardess Manual started to come into being as I began to realise that the international standards of large yachts were extremely high, with an exceptional level of service which I had never experienced on smaller yachts or in the land hospitality jobs I had held over the years. I started to realise that I had entered into an industry that was “Unique” and “Elite” and that these high-profile people were extremely “Rich” and liked expensive items, fabrics, clothes and objects and so much more….and that they employed the everyday person to look after their yacht and toys so that when they chose to us their yacht it was ready to go and everything was shiny and beautiful for them.

During my six months on board M.Y. Ramses working with Manu the Chief Stewardess, I started to learn many different techniques from her on what a good stewardess ought to be doing on board a larger Super Yacht, such as folding fitted sheets neatly into sets, washing and ironing guest clothing and crew uniforms to a suitable standard, understanding the foreign stain removers, learning various napkin folds and so much more. After six months all the crew left the yacht due to owner issues. I continued the Mediterranean season, freelancing as a stew/cook and stew/deckhand.

At the end of the season I returned to Norfolk Island where my parents had resided and spent 6 months working on Norfolk Island. I then received a phone call from Captain Larry Barnett. He and Manu had obtained a Captain and Chief Stew position on a 43m motor yacht called M.Y. Legend of Tintagel. This yacht was both charter and private. Larry asked if I would like to the join the yacht in Palma de Mallorca, Spain as stew/deckhand. Obviously, I jumped at the opportunity and left on the next plane out of Norfolk Island for my new adventure. During my 2.5 years on M.Y Legend of Tintagel I learnt further skills which I added to the Stewardess Manual. Whilst I was on Legend of Tintagel, I experienced a personality clash with the First Mate. Unfortunately, due to rank, I had to professionally leave the yacht. I do not wish this experience upon anyone however I learnt a lot from it. Larry Barnett the captain found me another job as 2nd Stewardess on a 56m motor yacht called M.Y. Destiny Langkawi, on which I spent 3.5 months and during that period I was promoted to Chief Stewardess. I received a call from Larry Barnett informing me that the First Mate had been dismissed due a stupid incident on board. The owner and Larry asked if I would like to return back to M.Y Legend of Tintagel. I agreed I would return to Legend of Tintagel on the condition I was offered the 2nd stewardess position. I got my wish and spent the rest of the season on board before the yacht was sold to an American owner.

At the end of 1998 I returned again to my home base of Norfolk Island and started to research the Industry in the South Pacific. Things slowly started to fall into place for the Steward/ess Course. For the first part of 1999 I worked casually in Norfolk Island and during this time I started to develop the Stewardess Training Manual.  I began to research Crewing Agents and training organisations in New Zealand as the America’s Cup was to be held in New Zealand in 2000. Late 1999 I flew to Auckland, New Zealand for 2 weeks, held business discussions with International Crewing Agents and various training organisations, however nothing really came of it until I meet Ami Ari from Crew Unlimited, an International Crewing Agent from Ft Lauderdale which I used whilst working on Super Yachts overseas. Ami’s word of wisdom to me was to start my own business and become the first person in the South Pacific and Southeast Asia to develop a Super Yacht Steward/ess Course for the International Super Yacht Industry and to incorporate a recruitment agency into this venture so each would complement the other.

I flew back to Norfolk Island to get the wheels turning. I had just been back in Norfolk Island for a couple of weeks when I received a surprising call from out of the blue!!!  A yacht manager, Mr Tony Smith, asking if I would like a position as Sole Stew on a 35m motor yacht called Kokomo II. At first, I was not interested in the position at all, however I changed my mind very quickly as the yacht was travelling to Auckland, New Zealand for the America’s Cup and then heading to Sydney for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. I had an interview, was offered the position and flown to Sydney at the end of 1999 to join the yacht. I spent 18 months on board M.Y. Kokomo II and during that time was given the opportunity to complete courses to assist me in the setting up of Crew Pacific. Eventually Kokomo II ended up in Cairns, Queensland, Australia for a refit. I assisted with the refit and eventually resigned in September 2001. This is when I registered Crew Pacific. At the beginning of 2002 Crew Pacific’s 8-Day Internationally Recognised Super Yacht Stewardess Course was launched.

In 2005 I purchased a two storey Queenslander which i turned into a Crew House (accommodation for yacht crew) office and training facilities, where i run our short 2 day super yacht induction course and the 5 and 8 Day Super yacht Steward/ess course. Late 2011 I sold the crew house/office and moved into a new premises. (22 Minnie Street, Cairns, Australia). Crew Pacific no longer has a crew house. Crew Pacific’s main focus these days is just Super yacht Training and Recruitment.

By the middle of 2012 Crew Pacific launched two new courses; a 5-day Super yacht Deckhand course and a 8 day Super yacht Steward/ess/Deckhand course. Then in 2017 we started up the Crew Pacific 10 Day Super Yacht Steward/ess/Deckhand course. These courses are specifically tailored to the International Super yacht industry and are the “First in the world” to be developed. These courses have been developed to provide the appropriate “Knowledge Skills & tools” required to be a Deckhand or Steward/ess/Deckhand on an International Super Yacht.  These courses wouldn’t have come about with the help of professional Yacht Captains and First mates that assisted me in the development of these courses. The Deckhand course criteria has been developed to the level and standard of a 50m-80m motor yacht. Students will learn the “Finesse and Skills” that are required for these types of vessels, both Motor and Sail. These skills will help to increase your chances of employment aboard yachts in Australia or overseas.

Crew Pacific’s aim is to train crew to the highest standard of the International Yachting Industry and be able to give them the opportunity to travel, be well paid, have exciting adventures and to meet some of the richest and most famous people in the world. This industry is awesome and if I could do it all over again i would!!!

Joy Weston Owner/Operator Crew Pacific

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Longhurst family inducted into Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame

How to become superyacht crew.

Superyacht Australia, the peak national industry body for the superyacht industry in Australia, is proud to have published a new resource aimed at making it easy for Australians to start their journey as superyacht crew. Australians are natural superyacht crew with over 90% of our population living on the coast. Fishing, surfing, swimming, sailing, and paddling are weekly pastimes for nearly all Aussie kids growing up in and around the water. Many have “saltwater in their veins” with surf life-saving “Nippers” and sailing club “Tackers” programs training children from the age of five in skills that will be sought after as future superyacht crew.

Deckhand driving guests in the tender

Stewardess on housekeeping duties

The superyacht industry has virtually been unknown to young Aussies, with those discovering it as a result of backpacking in Europe or by reality TV shows such as “Below Deck” broadcasting on popular streaming services. Internationally the superyacht industry is booming, with vessels getting much larger, more of them and requiring double the amount of crew as many yachts offer rotational positions for senior crew. The superyacht industry is also gaining momentum in Australia with popular charter destinations including Sydney, the Queensland coast, and the Kimberley’s attracting more yachts. This new resource aims to educate young Aussies on what a superyacht is, where you can find them cruising (within Australia and internationally) and different entry-level roles available onboard.

Stewardess on service

Steward making afternoon cocktails

The qualifications required are easy to complete locally in Australia and can provide a great base for future maritime careers. The STCW 95 (Standards of Training and Certification for Watchkeepers) certification is the mandatory qualification set by the International Maritime Organisation and takes 8 days to complete including theory and practical courses. Australia is lucky to have two great training providers including Crew Pacific , based in Cairns, and Superyacht Crew Academy based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. Both training providers offer STCW courses and further Steward/ess and Deckhand courses, aimed to provide students with the necessary basic knowledge of the interior and exterior departments before starting their first roles. The resource also outlines the Mandatory Certificate of Medical Fitness required to confirm you are medically fit to perform the duties required onboard.

Once qualified, Australia has many recruitment companies eager to place “green” crew into their first role. This includes Hill Maritime , a worldwide maritime recruitment and consultancy firm, that places quality engineers on quality vessels all over the world. Coastal Yachting Recruitment , based on the Gold Coast, is also experienced in placing professional crew worldwide on luxury superyachts.

Deckhands detailing the teak

Deckhands launching the watertoys

David Good, CEO of Superyacht Australia commented “Australia has the reputation for providing the best yacht crew in the world, we have a great education, excellent work ethic, and a relaxed professional attitude. This is our opportunity to travel, get paid exceptionally well, and gain sea-time experience that is highly sought after when you want to come ashore and use that experience.

Superyacht Australia will be distributing this new resource at career expos in major cities such as Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, and Brisbane where up to 12,000 school leavers per event attend seeking information on future careers.

This new resource can be found on our Superyacht Australia website here: https://www.superyacht-australia.com/superyacht-careers-information/

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Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) approved Certificate of Safety Training AMSA Approval cert. No 028/003

Superyachts and Cruise Ships

Cruise ship jobs.

If you are looking for a job as a  Cruise Attendant or General Purpose Hand, please contact Tracey at Coral Expeditions. – 07 4040 9932 or head to their website https://www.coralexpeditions.com/au/careers/ to submit an expression of interest and see current vacancies.

Superyacht Jobs

Kylie Champion can help you find work in the Superyacht Industry!

Kylie Champion, Managing Director Champion Crewing & Concierge Whitsundays, Australia Phone: 0435 839 804 Email: info @championcrewing.com Website: www.championcrewing.com

Crew Pacific- Joy Weston provides superyacht Elementary Steward/ess, Deckhand & Steward/ess/deckhand Training. Once fully superyacht trained Crew Pacific can assist you into super yacht employment world-wide.

Website: www.crewpacific.com.au

Some hints from us at Maritime Career Training for entering the Superyacht Industry –

The Ideal Superyacht Crew

Some positives about working in the Superyacht Industry

A Five Point Plan for Finding Work on a Superyacht

Maritime Career Training’s Involvement in the Superyacht Industry

Where to Look for a Job on a Superyacht

When Should you do Your CoST (STCW95/10)

Additional Training

Our STCW10/95 course costs just $2,295 and is delivered over 2 days of face to face training on the Sunshine Coast plus about 40 hours of online learning and assessments.  Due to the growth of the Superyacht industry in recent years, there is a corresponding increase in demand for suitably qualified men and women interested in a financially rewarding, exhilarating and satisfying career as crew on Superyachts operating mainly in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Around 87% of the world’s Superyachts are registered in the Cayman Islands where yacht crews must hold MCA recognised qualifications in order to work on these vessels. As a minimum all crew must hold a Certificate of Safety Training in accordance with the IMO STCW convention.

We suggest that you follow this plan:

1. Prepare a one or two page CV with a head and shoulders picture of yourself.

2. Plan to arrive for the start of the Med season a little early, say late March or early April in one of the ports where superyachts are preparing for the cruising season. Palma and Antibes (pronounced “ANTEEB”) are two ports where superyachts call to provision for the Med season and are both popular destinations for people looking to find work on a superyacht. Have sufficient funds to carry you through for at least one month.

3. Stay at one of the many superyacht crew houses in order to make contacts with others in the industry.

4. Register with all the superyacht crew placement agencies and follow up frequently to keep your name in front of them. There should be no charge for this service.

5. Walk the docks – every day visit the marinas where the superyachts are berthed and approach the senior crew of the superyachts in your search for a job on board.

There will be a lot of competition and potential crew come from all round the globe to seek work. However, Australians and New Zealanders are well respected as hard working and highly skilled potential crew members.

Maritime Career Training (under the name Superyacht Career Training) has been conducting Certificate of Safety Training courses since December 2006. In that time we have trained in excess of 200 young people each year who have travelled to either Ft Lauderdale in Florida USA or Palma, Antibes and Majorica on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to obtain a position on a Superyacht.

A small number have found positions locally in Australia but most have obtained a position overseas within a few weeks of their arrival. Finding a job has become harder and more competitive in recent years. The industry is seasonal but most crew stay with the one superyacht for at least a year.

Superyachts cruise the whole year round in all parts of the globe. However, most vessels cruise the Mediterranean from about April/May to October/November and the Caribbean from October/November to April/May.

The greatest concentration of Superyachts can be found in Ft Lauderdale in October and November. Antibes (pronounced Anteeb) on the French Med coast is one of the best places to find crewing work during the Med season. Majorka in Spain is also a good place to look for crewing work. There are a number of crew placement agencies operating in these locations.

When Should you do Your CoST Training?

We conduct frequent CoST courses on the Sunshine Coast in South East Queensland. At times through the year the courses are quickly filled.

You will need to hold a current HTLAID003 “Provide First Aid and CPR” as a pre-requisite for the course, this is available from most First Aid Training providers around Australia.

Certificate Recognition

The AMSA Certificate of Safety Training is recognised by many overseas Administrations or Flag States including the United Kingdom MCA. MCA recognition of your training is an essential pre-requisite to obtaining a job on a superyacht overseas. The AMSA approved Certificate of Safety Training which we deliver takes 2 straight days plus approximately 40 hours of online learning to.

Most people intending to find work overseas for the MED season complete their course with us before the end of March. It can take 21-30 days to receive your marine qualification from AMSA.

If you intend working in the Caribbean season then you should complete your training by the end of September at the latest.

There are a number of companies in Australia who offer Superyacht Hospitality Courses which might be of interest to you if you intend seeking work as a steward or stewardess on a superyacht. It might well be that the qualifications issued by these colleges have limited recognition overseas and in Australia but some of them are delivered by experienced superyacht crew who may well provide you with some increased knowledge of the superyacht industry. If you already have hospitality experience then these courses might be of limited value to you.

It is useful to gain an Australian recreational boat and jetski licence and an Australian Radio Certificate, either MROCP or MRVOCP. These qualifications are widely recognised in the superyacht industry overseas. Most Volunteer Marine Rescue organisations including the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol and the Australian Volunteer Coastguard offer these courses at a reasonable cost.

Regarding engineering and deck qualifications, please email Barry Barnes at [email protected] for advice on what training you should consider.

 Australians can enter Europe or the USA and obtain a Visitor’s Visa for a short stay. The vast majority of superyachts are registered in The Cayman Islands or the Marshall Islands.

When working on one of these yachts you are actually working in the ‘Flag State’ where the vessel is registered. In the case of both The Cayman and The Marshall Islands, no work visa is required.

However, many superyachts are owned by wealthy US citizens and during the Carribean season might frequently enter US waters. If you are working on such a vessel and you do not hold a US B1/B2 visa then you might be seen by the US authorities as an illegal immigrant and be deported and that would be the end of your job.

In order to avoid this situation it is essential that before leaving Australia (or from Europe but not inside the USA) you make an appointment by visiting the US Consulate’s website in Australia and fill out a form. The US Consulate will then stipulate a date and time that you can appear for an interview in support of a US B1/B2 Visa.

Normally the visa is issued for a 5 year period, allowing frequent visits without the need to clear US Customs and Immigration.

We recommend that you are very clear and honest about your work intentions. Just explain that you intend seeking work on a non-US Registered superyacht and show your AMSA Certificate of Safety Training as evidence that you are qualified to work on a Superyacht.

You would need a US Work Permit to work on a US Registered superyacht but there are very few of those. To obtain a US Work Permit is extremely difficult unless you were born in the USA or are a permanent resident.

Support email: ML @ stcw95.net

Course Enquiries email: [email protected]

Phone for support during office hours:  0438 303 714

Location: 9-11 Ayrshire Road, Kulangoor QLD (Please do not send mail to this address) AMSA Approval cert. No 028/003 ABN 17 089 464 817

RTO No. 31651

Get Onboard

Superyacht Training

How to Work on a Superyacht, with no Experience

Working in the superyacht industry looks like the dream job, right? But, how do you get started with no work experience? With over 12 years in the industry, interviewing and hiring countless candidates across various positions, we know first hand what information you require to get your first real crew job on a superyacht. In this post we highlight some of the features of our “Beginners Guide to Yachting” Ebook which explains all you need to know from how to get your CV yacht perfect, typical daily stewardess or deckhand duties, how to find day wo rk, and more.

What kinds of entry level positions could I apply for? 

The two most common entry level positions on yachts are stewardess and deckhand jobs. These are both junior ranks whose primary concern is to keep the guests happy and ensure the interior and exterior are kept immaculately clean.

What previous experience is useful when looking for a job on a yacht?

While working on a yacht is certainly different to any land-based career, there are a few land-based jobs that would have equipped you with skills useful on a vessel.  Jobs that may be useful include: 

• Hospitality-related jobs
• Waiting tables in a high-end restaurant 
• Child care or au pairing 
• Carpentry 
• Sports or diving instructor 

If you have already completed some form or degree or diploma in engineering or mechanics, this is also considered a huge plus. 

Are there specific qualifications I need? 

Yes. You will need an STCW 10 certificate to understand basic safety protocols, as well as an ENG1 Medical Certificate to prove that your health is in good enough shape to join a vessel. Get Onboard Superyacht Academy offers complete STCW and ENG1 training in Cape Town, South Africa. These are the only compulsory documents needed, but if you are interested in a specific role, we offer specialised courses to equip you for these. 

How do I get my first job on a yacht?

Once you are qualified, follow these steps: 

• Construct a CV. Be sure to include all relevant information and documents, as well as a friendly, yet professional photo of yourself. Download our free template for a starting point. 
• Pick a location to start. Antibes in France, Palma de Mallorca in Spain, and Fort Lauderdale in Florida are great places to start out as a newbie. 
• Find some day work. This is work outside of a formal contract, which may involve helping out for a day to several weeks. Day work is an excellent opportunity to network, build contacts in the industry, and get a foot in on your journey to securing a more permanent job. 

How much money do you make working on a yacht?

The standard entry level salary for a junior stewardess or deckhand ranges between €2,000 – €2,500 or $2,300 – $2,800 per month. This amount is generally tax free, although the onus is on each crew member to check with their home county about tax obligations. Certain countries are tax exempt, provided you spend more than six months out of the county.

Check out our salary guidelines for more information. Still have questions? Get in touch with us , we’d love to help you navigate the seas of yachting!

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.

Find anything, super fast.

• Destinations
• Documentaries

An inexhaustible source of adventure, Australia is the quintessential superyacht destination. Overflowing with iconic destinations that bask in the country’s infectious laid-back style, it is no wonder Australia is an enduring favourite for sport, adventure and natural wonders.

 With an eclectic mix of unique experiences, there are memories to be made in Australia that simply cannot be found anywhere else. Escape to a country that in one moment will leave you in awe at its untouched natural beauty, and the next throw you into the very heart of the some of the world’s most exhilarating events. Beaches are more than a spectacular blend of sand and sea in this colourful country; they’re a lifestyle and inhabit every piece of Australia’s coastal character, from the boho fashion of the locals to the delicious seafood cuisine served in waterfront restaurants.

Australia boasts an all-year-round cruising calendar, outstanding tourism experiences and world-renowned refit and maintenance facilities that welcome the global superyacht fleet. For those willing to indulge their inner hedonist, Australia is the ultimate superyacht playground.

Unique experiences, all-year-round

Summer and Winter cruising seasons afford Australia an irresistible outdoor spirit that lasts 365 days a year – rather fortunate given the abundance of experiences that await…

A country surrounded by water, Australia is a superyacht haven. Ranging from unspoilt, secluded stretches of glowing white sands to towel-strewn golden paradises and rough surfing havens, beach-lovers will never be disappointed here. Diversity reigns supreme in this huge island nation, where a cruising itinerary can encompass an amazing range of sights not found anywhere else in the world.

From the stunning coral reefs of Queensland, to the spectacular waterways of New South Wales and the crocodile-filled waterholes of the Northern Territory, Australia is a truly unique yachting experience. The kaleidoscopic colours of the Great Barrier Reef are the pinnacle of any diver’s fantasy. From Port Douglas down to Bundaberg stretches 300,000 square kilometres of coral cays, brimming with marine treasures and exquisite sea life. There is simply no better destination for water-based activities.

Not all of the adventure is concentrated at sea. Step inland and discover Australia’s diverse flora and fauna, along with a rich Aboriginal culture. Stop off to play with kangaroos, koalas and wombats or sample fine wines at one of Australia’s exemplary vineyards. The rugged beauty of The Kimberley and Tropical North Queensland presents the opportunity to learn something new. Immerse yourself in 50,000-year-old Aboriginal rock art, brush up on your bush tucker skills or get an awe-inspiring perspective of it all from the sky.

For those who can’t stay too long away from the hustle and bustle of a city, world-class marina facilities in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne can take you right back into the action. Sydney is perfect for a long weekend of luxury comforts, fine dining, and high-end shopping. New Year’s Eve onboard a superyacht with the backdrop of Sydney’s Opera House and Harbour Bridge is certainly one for every owner’s bucket list. Head down to Melbourne, the events capital, for some of the world’s best events. From the Harbour, you are a short tender cruise from the major sporting events held throughout the year, including the Grand Prix, Melbourne Cup and Australian Open. Alternatively, a short walk down the newly renovated dockside will bring you to the Marvel Stadium, where leading artists flock to perform.

Indulge in infinite luxury

No matter where in the country your itinerary may take you, Australia’s highlife is never far away.

Premium superyacht marinas scattered across the islands lead into luxurious five-star resorts, leaving your yacht in good care while you delve into an authentic barefoot island retreat. Ideal for groups carrying a wide demographic, the Whitsunday Islands offer everything from chic beach glamour to high-octane water sports.

Should you wish to venture into Australia’s richly diverse regions, the Luxury Lodges of Australia will welcome you in sumptuous style. A collection of the finest lodges and camps around Australia, Luxury Lodges offers over 250 individual experiences and activities that connect guests to Australia’s most breath-taking locations, unlocking their curiosity and adventure-seeking spirit. The standards of comfort and service in Australia’s high-end heritage sites are parallel to that of a stay onboard one of the finest superyachts. Whether overlooking the Ningaloo Reef on Australia’s West Coast, staying in the world-renowned Barossa Valley wine region in Southern Australia or dining underneath the iconic Ayers Rock in the World Heritage listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, the Lodges deliver a truly special experience.

If you prefer not to stray too far from the natural playground of the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns and the Whitsunday Islands offer a selection of high-end luxury resorts. Surrounded by a bewitching blend of sublime landscapes, intriguing marine life and infinitely perfect anchorages, the tropical coast marinas offer something for every superyacht party. Superyacht owners have enthused that being able to explore the coastal towns without the need for a security detail has added a special touch to their Australian exploits.

World-class superyacht facilities

Nowhere else in the world can a superyacht sit so detached and isolated yet still be within a short cruise from premier, state-of-the-art shipyard facilities. Australia has a thriving refit and maintenance industry that has benefitted recently from significant investment to cater to larger vessels, meaning no project is too complex.

All along the East Coast there is an array of shipyards that constantly makes sure the South Pacific superyacht fleet is well serviced and pristine. The capabilities available are not to be understated. In Cairns, the world’s largest Mobile Boat Hoist at BSE Maritime Solutions gives the area significant pulling, and lifting, power. The City can accommodate superyachts of up to 140m in length, while highly experienced agents take great care in providing everything needed for a seamless transition from or to life at sea. Cairns itself provides the perfect setting for a superyacht homeport, situated between the Wet Tropics Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, two World Heritage listed natural wonders.

Queensland’s vibrant South East region boasts a similarly impressive offering. The well-established facilities in Brisbane and the Gold Coast have given the green light to significant investments as they prepare for an influx of visiting superyachts. Rivergate Marina & Shipyard has its own prominent international reputation, having completed over 250 superyacht projects since opening in 2006. Rivergate’s positioning on the Brisbane River provides easy access to both the bustling city and the immaculate cruising grounds of Australia and the South Pacific.

The Australia Marine Complex in Henderson, Western Australia is home to Echo Yachts and Silver Yachts, both multi-award-winning superyacht builders with glowing international reputations. The delivery of 84m trimaran White Rabbit by Echo Yachts in 2018 earned worldwide acclaim for reimagining the possibilities of comfort and efficiency onboard a superyacht. Superyacht projects undertaken in Australia not only benefit from the thousands of specialised trades that surround each facility and the historic expertise in aluminium, but also from the significant exchange rate advantage of the Australian Dollar.

New possibilities

With the intimacy of a small island and the might of a first world country, Australia is the South Pacific superyacht hub with a perfect balance to ensure there is never a dull moment. Some of the world’s largest superyachts frequent the sanctuary of Tropical North Queensland’s marinas as a homeport and gateway to the excitement of the South Pacific islands. Hollywood star Will Smith became the first to officially charter a foreign flagged superyacht in Australia following the passage of new legislation in 2019. Since then, interest in superyacht charters has blossomed from the tropical northern areas down to the isolated splendour of Tasmania.

The best superyachts Australia has to offer

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2 July 2021

Private yacht charters are on the rise.

Here, we showcase the sleekest vessels in local waters..

Think superyachts, think the French Riviera, where boats hosting royalty, rock stars and the seriously rich turn heads in the likes of Monaco and Saint Tropez.

Those destinations may be off the agenda for now, but that doesn’t mean Australians can’t have the superyacht experience.

There are about 60 fully crewed luxurious boats available for charter in local waters, and Australia’s 34,000-kilometre coastline means itinerary options are countless. The vessels range in length from 25 to 55 metres, and cost from $50,000 to $360,000 a week, accommodating up to 12 passengers.

Most are based in Sydney, Perth, Airlie Beach or Port Douglas, but owners are generally happy to relocate their boat, whether to Cape York, the Whitsundays, the

Coral Coast or Tasmania. And now that yachts and crew that have been in New Zealand for 14 days or more can come to New South Wales and Queensland without going into quarantine, more boats from across the ditch may soon be available.

Joachim Howard, founder of leading yacht agency Ocean Alliance, says the pandemic has sparked a surge in interest in superyacht charters. Winter destinations such as Queensland and the Kimberley are in high demand. “Private yacht charter is highly customised and adaptable to changing environments and guest requirements, which is appealing in the climate of fluid Covid restrictions,” Howard says. “Many of our clients are generational families or groups of friends who would typically travel together internationally. The platform of a private yacht allows you to curate every aspect of an itinerary, so there’s a greater ability to develop a unique experience with complete flexibility.”

Take your pick from these Australia-based vessels, plus one New Zealand option for adventures further afield and a French Polynesian selection to fuel dreams of another travel bubble.

Only two years old, this 35-metre yacht is homeported in Perth, from where

Rottnest Island is a popular destination; from May to October it cruises the Kimberley. It has a sleek, sporty design in a contemporary palette of blond timber, grey and silver, with a splash of snazzy marble in the bathrooms.

Spread out on the double sun lounges at the bow or soak in the glass-edged Jacuzzi on the aft sundeck. The salon has plush sofas and a formal dining table, while casual meals can be taken at the stern or on the sundeck with retractable roof.

Where Western Australia.

Extras Tenders, fishing equipment, jet skis, underwater scooters, waterskis, wakeboard and donut (depending on location, given the presence of salties). Cost From $24,000 a night plus APA (advanced provisioning allowance; see opposite); up to 12 guests. oceanalliance.com

Stunning Indigenous artworks and artefacts from Australia and the Pacific region adorn the walls and shelves of Akiko, a muscular dark-grey superyacht that looks ready for action.

What this vessel lacks in appointments, such as Jacuzzis, alfresco bars and bowlounges for Instagram posing, it makes up for with sports gear. Scuba-diving, spearfishing, snorkelling, surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking are all on the agenda along the coast of Western Australia, including the remote Abrolhos and Montebello Islands.

Where Western Australia – Perth to the Kimberley.

Extras Tender, barra boat, jet skis and underwater scooters.

Cost From $22,000 a night plus APA; up to 10 guests. oceanalliance.com

Never has a superyacht seemed so perfectly matched to its name. The Beast looks like it belong sin the military and appears equipped to tackle any mission.

Almost 40 metres long and 12 metres wide, the twin-hulled vessel is designed for stability. Don’t let the brutalist exterior fool you; there’s no roughing it on The Beast. Pull up a pew at the top-deck bar, watch a chef work some magic at the outdoor teppanyaki grill, or stretch out on the leather lounge in the cinema room.

Interiors are minimalist and a wash in grey and black, interspersed with striking artworks. Not surprisingly, it’s kitted out with a huge range of water equipment, including 12 sets of scuba gear and a compressor, plus a 13-metre sports fishing boat called Baby Beast that can be craned into position.

Where New Zealand, Australia later this year.

Extras Tenders, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, wakeboard and water skis, pedalpowered catamaran and fishing equipment.

Cost From $US26,500 (around $34,500) a night plus APA and tax; up to 12 guests.

DE LISLE III

This 42-metre floating palace is built for fun, with an array of water toys and ample outdoor living areas. The boat underwent a refit in 2018, so has the latest in technology and comfort, with timber-panelled formal spaces and soothing sleeping quarters, two of which stretch the width of the vessel.

A new addition is a six-metre by 4.5-metre inflatable floating jet-ski dock, which can be attached to the stern and doubles as a sunbathing zone.

Where The Whitsundays, Great Barrier Reef, Tropical North Queensland.

Extras Tender, jet skis, stand-up paddleboards, wakeboard, kayaks, surfboards, dive gear and compressor, fishing equipment, yoga and gym gear.

Cost From $26,000 a night plus APA; 8-10 g uests.oceanalliance.com

With a circular bow lounge and stairs leading like a catwalk to a sparkling Jacuzzi, Masteka 2 is quite the showboat. It’s also an excellent choice for extended families or two family groups, with a range of bedding options in five cabins.

There’s loads of space for sunset cocktails on the aft deck, while the main salon has white leather couches and dark timber trim, formal dining area and a wellequipped bar.

Where Queensland from June to October; Sydney from November.

Extras Tenders, jet ski, Seabobs, wakeboards, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, water skis, diving hookah, scuba, snorkelling and gym gear.

Cost From $25,000 a night, all-inclusive; up to 12 guests. oceanalliance.com

PERLE BLEUE

With a Jacuzzi and teppanyaki bar on the top deck, plus an inflatable slide to whisk guests into the water, this 38-metre yacht screams decadence. Interiors by Donald Starkey nod to 1930s French salons, with rosewood furniture and elegant artworks.

An airy sky lounge offers water views out floor-to-ceiling windows, while the bridge deck has plenty of space for alfresco dining and lazing. Materials in the opulent master ensuite include Jerusalem stone, abalone mother of pearl tiles and glass basins.

Where The Whitsundays, Queensland; New Zealand towards the end of the year.

Extras Tenders, jet skis, Seabobs, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, wakeboards, waterskis, snorkelling, fishing and gym gear.

Cost From $19,280 a night plus APA; up to 12 guests. oceanalliance.com

This 35-metre explorer-style beauty was recently crowned yacht of the year in Boat International’s Ocean Awards for 2021. The win recognises the boat’s participation in the Great Reef Census, in which scientists from Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef came aboard and tested equipment and survey techniques from Lizard Island to Port Douglas.

With 40 per cent of the reef unsurveyed, yacht guests have the option of participating in data collection for conservation work. Beluga has many other features to recommend it, including uber-luxe interiors and a Jacuzzi on the sundeck. A major drawcard for divers and fishers is Minke, the dedicated 12-metre chaseboat (with dive platform) provided.

Where Port Douglas, Tropical North Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays.

Extras Tenders, scuba gear, Seabobs, stand-up paddleboards, fishing and gym equipment.

Cost From $25,000 a night, all-inclusive; up to 10 guests. oceanalliance.com

SILENTWORLD

Glossy timber panelling and creamy furnishings make this 40-metre superyacht an elegant choice if the Pacific bubble becomes a reality.

The sundeck has an abundance of shaded lounges near a six-person Jacuzzi, plus there’s a roomy bridge deck. This long-range yacht comes equipped for adventure, including 10 sets of scuba gear and a compressor.

It’s been sailing French Polynesia since 2018, so the crew knows the best spots to see manta rays or nibble sunset canapés on a sand cay.

Where French Polynesia; Australia next year.

Extras Tenders, jet ski, Seabobs, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, snorkelling and scuba gear, fishing and spearfishing gear, ski tubes, wakeboards, elliptical machine.

Cost From $US19,500 (around $25,400) a night plus APA and tax; up to 12 guests. oceanalliance.com

Here’s one out of left field. It’s not shiny and new, but Duyfken has a tale to tell. The ship, the latest addition to the Australian Maritime Museum fleet, is a replica of Dutchman Willem Janszoon’s vessel, which sailed from Indonesia to the west coast of Cape York in 1606.

The navigator and his crew became the first Europeans to set foot in Australia, 164 years before James Cook. The replica, completed in 1999 in Fremantle, arrived in Sydney on Christmas Eve last year.

It’s open to museum visitors and conducts regular afternoon sailings on the harbour. But for a unique experience, gather 23 friends and take Duyfken on an exclusive outing on the harbour.

Where Sydney Harbour.

Cost From $2500 for a minimum three hours; up to 24 guests; catering extra.

KERI-LEE III

At a whopping 55 metres in length, this is one of the biggest superyachts in Australia, and one of the few with six cabins, two of which run the full beam of the vessel.

Work out in the gym while watching dolphins in the distance or submit to a session with the on-board masseuse. Interiors are traditional, with plenty of dark timber, leather, hefty couches, marble and gold.

The sundeck is vast and includes a generous Jacuzzi and there’s no shortage of other alfresco zones to perch. Ideal for a multigeneration getaway.

Where The Kimberley, Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef.

Extras Tender, rigid-hulled inflatable boat, kayaks, Waverunners, stand-up paddleboards, waterskis, wakeboards, snorkelling and fishing gear.

Cost From $49,000 a night plus APA; up to 12 guests. oceanalliance.com

All yachts mentioned are available for charter through the Ocean Alliance charter team . Contact us today to start planning your experience on board

[email protected]

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CONTACT OCEAN ALLIANCE FOR YOUR SUPERYACHT EXPERIENCE Enquire today to set sail tomorrow

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Superyacht sinks latest: Fifth body found in search today - six people now confirmed dead

Five bodies have been found in the search for several people missing after a yacht sank off the Sicily coast, bringing the total number of dead to six. Search efforts are in their third day, after the captain was reportedly questioned by Italian prosecutors over the sinking.

Wednesday 21 August 2024 22:03, UK

• Superyacht sinking

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• Five bodies found in search for survivors, taking number of confirmed deaths in superyacht tragedy to six - with one person still missing
• Search ends for day as darkness falls
• Eyewitness: Onlookers wipe away tears as bodies hauled up
• Yacht's captain questioned for more than two hours - report
• Advanced underwater drone deployed
• Watch: CCTV captures yacht seconds before it sinks
• Explained: Inside the superyacht
• Live reporting by Mark Wyatt

We're pausing our coverage for tonight but here is a recap of what we know:

• Five bodies have been found in the wreckage of the sunken Bayesian;
• Four of the bodies have been retrieved and recovered to shore. Efforts to recover the fifth will resume tomorrow;
• One person is still unaccounted for;
• Divers employed the use of an upgraded remote-controlled underwater vehicle to help with the search;
• Emergency service staff and others involved in the search and rescue operations formed a "guard of honour" as bodies were brought ashore;
• The UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) confirmed it is investigating the sinking;
• The Bayesian's captain, James Cutfield, was questioned for more than two hours by Italian prosecutors;
• An investigation might result in changes to how masts are constructed, according to a professor of transport law;
• Two crew members who survived the disaster reportedly said it is a "miracle" they are still alive;
• Another crew member who survived the disaster was confirmed as Dutch national Tjis Koopmans.

It's been a busy day for search and rescue teams as they continued their quest to find people unaccounted for from the Bayesian's sinking.

Divers found five bodies, leaving just one person still unaccounted for when the search resumes tomorrow.

Below, we have a look at some images of the day as it unfolded:

Karsten Borner, the captain of a boat that came to the Bayesian's aide, has described the moment he came across the life raft containing survivors.

The 69-year-old told Sky News he had been busy trying to secure his own vessel when the violent storm hit when he noticed the Bayesian had disappeared behind him.

 "We saw a flickering light and it turned out to be the life raft, a 12-person life raft with 15 people inside including one baby," he said.

The people "stepped on" to his vessel, where he "took care of them". 

He added: "We gave them dry clothes, towels, blankets, tea and coffee and so on.

"I was busy talking to the coastguard to get them an ambulance and to send a message to search and rescue."

Those involved in the search and rescue operation looking for bodies should receive mental health support, an expert has told Sky News.

Divers have been working tirelessly since Monday morning to find the passengers unaccounted for following the sinking of the Bayesian.

Since then, six bodies have been found, with one person still missing.

"There's been a lot of focus on the physical risks involved with diving for the vessel," says Matthew Schanck, chair of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council.

"We've talked about debris and we've talked about the complex layout, but the lasting impacts on everybody involved is going to be on the mental health and we hope that the support is going to be there. 

"And I'm sure it will be for the emergency responders and also for the people who have survived and what is obviously been a very, very traumatic experience."

Searches have finished for the day and will resume tomorrow, the head of Sicily's civil protection agency has told the PA news agency.

Salvatore Cocina confirmed earlier that five bodies have been found today, but only four recovered.

One person remains missing.

A shipbuilding expert has said the Bayesian superyacht which sunk on Monday is among the "safest" available.

Giovanni Costantino is the chief executive of The Italian Sea Group, which now owns the firm that previously built the yacht.

He told Sky News this week's disaster off the coast of Sicily has put him "in a state of sadness on the one hand and of disbelief on the other".

He said: "Being the manufacturer of Perini [boats] I know very well how the boats have always been designed and built."

"The sailing ships, it is well known, are the safest in the most absolute sense," Mr Constantino added.

"First of all, because they have very little surface compared to a yacht facing the wind. Second, with the structure, the drift keel... they become unsinkable bodies."

The Bayesian sunk in the early hours of Monday morning off Palermo following a violent storm.

Investigators looking into the sinking of the Bayesian must work through evidence "methodically and meticulously", says the managing director of a maritime consulting group.

The UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has already confirmed it is investigating the incident. 

James Wilkes, a maritime investigator, told Sky News the investigation into the deaths of passengers will take time.

"The key thing for the investigators is to work methodically and meticulously through the evidence that they are able to get and make sure they're not missing something or not over interpreting something," he said.

Five bodies have been found today, bringing the number of confirmed deaths to six.

"They'll want to expedite it because if bodies are being recovered of British nationals, then it is very likely that an inquest will be opened into their deaths in the UK," added Mr Wilkes.

"There is no benefit to anybody rushing it. We need to arrive at the right conclusions with as little supposition and ambiguity as possible so that we actually make yachts safer in the future and actually understand what happened in detail."

Search and rescue teams have been working hard since Monday morning to find those unaccounted after the sinking of the Bayesian.

Specialists divers and experts have been called in, with coastguard helicopters and underwater remotely operated vehicles deployed to help.

Sky News correspondent Laura Bundock has been taking a closer look at the how the recovery operation unfolded...

A fifth body has been found today in the search for survivors of the sunken superyacht

The head of Sicily's civil protection agency Salvatore Cocina said four bodies have been recovered and that efforts to bring a fifth to shore are "ongoing". 

It brings the number of confirmed deaths to six, after the body of the yacht's on-board chef was recovered shortly after the incident on Monday.

By  Ashna Hurynag , news correspondent

The crowd on the harbourside has been growing since lunchtime. 

News that cave divers from Naples and Rome had joined the search came with more attention and interest. 

The search had entered its third day, and conservations were turning to fear about a lack of oxygen for those on board the sunken yacht. 

Radios were heard crackling across the water where a makeshift temporary search and rescue "centre" has been constructed. 

The white coastguard vessel and the search and rescue cream and red boat were coming in from the search site. 

As they docked, two divers dressed in orange wetsuits on the back of the boat lifted the first body bag.

The sight causing the crowd opposite to fall silent. The poignancy of the sombre moment bringing some watching on to tears.

Some looked away, whilst others filmed on their phones. 

The moment many had feared was unfolding before their eyes as the rescue mission only minutes ago quickly turned to recovery. 

The crowd watched on as another body was brought ashore too. 

A spontaneous guard of honour seemed to form as each body was brought to the harbourside - police officers, firefighters and search and rescue officials side by side, some with bowed heads - a moment of silence and respect. 

After hours of searching, this operation is coming to a close.

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UK tech tycoon among missing after superyacht sinks off Sicily

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UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch was among six people lost at sea Monday after a superyacht sank off the Italian island of Sicily during a sudden storm.

The 56-metre (180-foot) long luxury yacht had been moored off Porticello, east of Palermo, when violent winds and rains swept suddenly up the coast before dawn.

Lynch's wife Angela Bacares was among 15 people rescued but the businessman and his daughter Hannah Lynch were missing, Salvo Cocina, head of the Civil Protection Agency in Sicily, told AFP.

Bacares suffered light injuries and was spotted by AFP being wheeled into a hospital in Termini Imerese.

Lynch, 59, is a celebrated technology sector entrepreneur and investor, sometimes referred to as the UK's answer to Bill Gates.

Divers who recovered a first body in the area earlier on Monday had seen one of the missing six trapped inside the sunken vessel, according to a source close to the recovery operation.

"It was terrible. The boat was hit by really strong wind and shortly after it went down," a British survivor named as Charlotte Golunski told ANSA news agency.

The Bayesian, flying the British flag, had 22 people aboard, including 10 crew members, the coast guard said.

Most of those aboard were British, and the passengers were guests of Lynch, according to Italian media.

- 'Screaming' -

Golunski said her one-year-old daughter, named by media as Sophia, had nearly drowned.

"For two seconds I lost her in the sea, then I grabbed her again. I held her tightly to me, while the sea raged. Lots of people were screaming," she was quoted as saying.

She managed to climb aboard a life raft, she said.

The yacht was anchored some 700 metres from the Porticello port when it was struck by a waterspout, which roughly resembles a mini tornado over a body of water.

Karsten Borner, the captain of another yacht anchored nearby at the time of the storm, said there was a "very strong hurricane gust" and he had to battle to keep his vessel steady.

All of a sudden "we noticed that the ship behind us was gone", he told journalists in Porticello.

"We found this life raft... with a little baby, and the wife of the owner," he said.

Fisherman Fabio Cefalu said he and other fishermen rushed to help after seeing a distress flare go up.

"But we didn't find anyone in the sea, we only found cushions and the remains of the boat," he told AFP.

A waterspout is a column that descends from a cloud to form a rotating mixture of wind and water over a body of water, often during severe thunderstorms, according to National Geographic.

Just a few hours later, the seas were calm as emergency services carried a body bag to shore.

Survivors included two people with joint French and British nationalities, a Sri Lankan, a New Zealander and an Irish national, according to media reports.

- 'No longer there' -

Camper & Nicholsons, the managers of the yacht, said in a statement that they were "assisting with the ongoing search" for the missing people.

Italian authorities have opened a probe into the incident.

The incident comes after Mike Lynch was acquitted on all charges in a San Francisco court in early June after he was accused of the massive fraud linked to the sale of his software firm Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard. 

The Bayesian was a luxury superyacht built by the Italian shipbuilding firm Perini Navi in 2008.

It had an 11.51-metre mast and could reach speeds of up to 15.5 knots, according to the Boat International website.

"The boat was all lit up. Around 4:30 am, it was no longer there," said one witness cited by ANSA.

"A beautiful boat where there was a party. A normal joyous vacation day at sea turned into tragedy".

Fresh warnings Australia's economy could be on path to recession

Topic: Business, Economics and Finance

Economists have warned Australia could soon be heading toward a recession. ( ABC News: Danielle Bonica )

Major accounting firm Deloitte says the private sector has entered an external hiring freeze as 100,000 Australians are expected to hit unemployment queues.

The deterioration in the unemployment rate has some economists signalling a recession is imminent without immediate government support.

What's next?

Economists say the Reserve Bank will be closely watching the jobless rate for clues as to what to do with monetary policy.

There are fresh warnings that Australia's economy is on a path toward a recession.

Australians who have hit the pavement in search of a job recently might have found it tough going, as bosses preference those already on staff for new roles.

"Companies are focusing, at the moment, more on their retention strategy than attraction," Robert Half director Nicole Gorton said.

"So if they have the opportunity to … upskill because there's an opportunity gap with somebody and they can plug that with the existing staff, they will do that."

This matches up with a new Deloitte employment report.

A new Deloitte report shows companies are looking to fill gaps using their existing workforce. ( AAP: Dan Himbrechts )

The accounting firm surveyed 84 chief financial officers — or those in charge of the books — from Australia's top 200 companies.

Deloitte partner David Rumbens said the feedback from those CFOs was that the private sector had entered something of a hiring freeze.

"So they've got some confidence with their own business performance but it's confidence that's coming out of demand increasing slowly over time, not so much out of increased employment," he said.

"They're seeing that they'll be able to cater to stronger demand through essentially the same workforce that they've got now."

Deloitte expects the unemployment rate, currently at 4.2 per cent, to peak at 4.5 per cent.

It said that means a further 101,500 Australians will become unemployed over the next 12 months.

Canberra University economics professor, Leonora Risse, said these numbers trigger the so-called "Sahm Rule" recession indicator.

"That formula is very much based on the US economy," she said.

It's named after the US economist who created it, Dr Claudia Sahm.

The indicator takes the average of the unemployment rate for the past three months.

If that average increases by 0.5 percentage points above the lowest unemployment rate recorded in the prior 12 months it means the economy has entered a recession or is on the path toward one.

"But if we look at the Australian data, if we plug those numbers into the formula, it's telling us that the rate of increase in Australia's unemployment rate would be consistent with a pattern that's heading towards a recession," Ms Risse said.

Deloitte expects the unemployment rate to peak at 4.5 per cent. ( ABC News: Brendan Esposito )

A technical recession is generally considered to be two consecutive quarters of economic contraction.

Dr Risse said the Sahm Rule was designed to be a flashing economic warning signal to governments.

"The whole point is to look at those numbers and look ahead and take some action now to prevent that from happening," she said.

"Rather than waiting until the numbers eventually come through and look back and say, 'Oh yeah now we've hit a recession.'"

As for those searching for work, recruiter Nicole Gorton said now was not the time to be picky.

"Maybe the role, the salary, the location [or] the industry that you were looking for, maybe look a little bit beyond that," she said.

"So widen your boundary of what it was, to open up opportunities for yourself, because what historically may have taken four to eight weeks might take 12 to 18 weeks — who knows?"

Economists are also watching employment data like this in the context of any future interest rate decisions.

Ms Risse warned further Reserve Bank talk of possible higher interest rates could accelerate the increase in the unemployment rate.

Local news:

Lottery hotspots revealed ahead of $100m Powerball jackpot

Fifth body found in search for missing passengers on sunken bayesian superyacht off sicily, southern italy.

Italian authorities say a fifth body has been found in the search for those missing from the Bayesian superyacht , which sank off the coast of Sicily earlier in the week.

The British-flagged Bayesian, a 56m-long superyacht, was carrying 22 people, and was anchored off the port of Porticello, near Palermo, when it capsized during a fierce storm on Monday.

Civil protection officials said they believed the ship was struck by a tornado over the water, known as a waterspout, and sank quickly.

Fifteen people escaped in a lifeboat and were rescued by a nearby sailboat, while the body of the onboard chef, Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, was recovered on Monday.

Rescuers have been searching for the six that were unaccounted for, including British tech magnate Mike Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah Lynch; Jonathan Bloomer, a non-executive chair of Morgan Stanley International, his wife, Judy Bloomer; Chris Morvillo, a prominent lawyer, and his wife, Neda Morvillo .

The head of Sicily’s civil protection agency Salvatore Cocina told CNN on Wednesday the fifth body had been located on the yacht but had not yet been recovered or identified.

The news comes after four bodies were found by divers earlier Wednesday, although the identities of those found remain unclear.

A CNN team on the ground saw Italian authorities move four body bags from rescue boats to ambulances at the Sicilian port of Porticello earlier on Wednesday.

One of the bodies belonged to a heavily built man, a source said, however, few other details were immediately available and it is not clear who was recovered.

The discovery indicated that the operation to search the wreckage on the seabed was a recovery one, not a rescue, given the amount of time that had passed and no signs of life had emerged over three days of searching, experts said.

Lynch, 59, is one of the UK’s best-known tech entrepreneurs and has been referred to as the country’s Bill Gates.

He built the UK’s largest software firm, Autonomy, which was sold to HP for US$11 billion in 2011, after which the deal spectacularly unravelled with the US tech giant accusing him of fraud, resulting in a lengthy trial.

Lynch was acquitted on all charges by a jury in San Francisco in June.

Morvillo represented Lynch in the San Francisco trial, while Bloomer was a character witness on his behalf.

Angela Barcares, Lynch’s wife, was also on board the yacht and survived. Speaking to the Italian daily La Repubblica while sitting in a wheelchair in a Sicilian hospital, Bacares said she was woken at 4am local time as the boat tilted.

She said she and her husband were initially not concerned but became worried when the windows of the yacht shattered.

Inspection of the wreck, lying sideways at a depth of about 50m, was a “long and complex” operation, Italian authorities said, due to numerous obstacles and narrow passages inside the ship obstructed by debris.

Because of the depth of the wreck, scuba divers working in tag teams can also only spend about 12 minutes beneath the water before needing to resurface.

The limited dive time is designed in part to avoid decompression sickness, also known as the “bends,” which can occur when divers stay underwater for long periods and ascend too quickly, allowing nitrogen gas dissolved in the blood to form bubbles.

Separately, the Coast Guard deployed a remotely operated vehicle to scan the seabed and take underwater pictures that it said may provide “useful and timely elements” for investigators from the Termini Imerese Public Prosecutor’s Office looking into the disaster.

The Coast Guard has been questioning survivors, including the captain of the Bayesian, and passengers on the yacht that was moored next to it who witnessed the ship going down, judicial sources said.

No one is under investigation at the moment, sources added.

A ‘black swan’ event

Experts have been at a loss to explain how a large luxury vessel, presumed to have top-class fittings and safety features, could have sunk within minutes, as recounted by witnesses.

The Sir Robert Baden Powell sailboat anchored next to it was largely spared and managed to rescue the 15 survivors.

The Bayesian, which was owned by Lynch’s wife, was built by Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi in 2008 and last refitted in 2020.

It had the world’s tallest aluminium mast, measuring 72 metres, according to its makers.

Its captain James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealander who survived the shipwreck, was a “very good sailor” and “very well respected” in the Mediterranean, his brother Mark told the NZ Herald.

Matthew Schanck, chair of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, a UK-based non-profit organisation that trains sea rescuers, said the Bayesian was the victim of a “high impact” weather-related incident.

“If it was a water spout, which it appears to be, it’s what I would class as like a ‘black swan’ event,” he told Reuters, referring to a rare and unpredictable phenomenon.

He said he was confident the authorities would “get to the bottom” of what caused the shipwreck, thanks to the accounts of survivors, witnesses and examination of the sunken hull, which did not show any apparent signs of damage.

- With CNN, Reuters and AP

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Four bodies pulled from mike lynch yacht that sunk by sicily.

(Bloomberg) -- Italian divers have retrieved four bodies from a sunken yacht off Sicily, where British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer were among those feared to have died earlier this week.

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While four people were recovered, the local coast guard said Wednesday, no statements identifying them have been issued. A fifth body was spotted in the yacht but hasn’t yet been retrieved, an Italian government official said.

A total of six people likely were trapped and died inside the Bayesian when it was hit by a tornado near Porticello, Sicily, on Monday, according to authorities. The coast guard said operations would resume on Thursday morning to retrieve the remaining two missing people. Adding to the complexity of the search mission is the “narrowness of the spaces” inside the sunken yacht and “the presence of many objects,” the agency said.

Authorities are meanwhile investigating exactly how the luxury yacht sank — and why it sank so quickly — in the early hours of Monday morning, with the captain and other survivors answering questions from the local prosecutor’s office, according to a report from Italian news agency ANSA.

The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch said it’s also probing the incident, with questions surfacing around the expansiveness of the yacht’s mast and the state of the hull.

“Right now there is no evidence that the mast has been snapped,” coast guard spokesman Vincenzo Zagarola told Bloomberg News on Wednesday. “We can also say that, so far, there is no evidence that the hull has been broken. But we don’t have a clear idea yet of the full damage.”

Crews aided by military ships, remote controlled underwater vehicles and helicopters have been searching for missing passengers since Monday. Six guests, including Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares, and nine crew have been rescued. The body of Recaldo Thomas, the ship’s chef, was found soon after the Bayesian sank.

Lynch and his daughter Hannah, Bloomer and his wife Judy, and Clifford Chance partner Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda were identified as the missing passengers on Tuesday by authorities in Sicily.

Lynch, 59, and his family were celebrating his recent acquittal from fraud charges with a small group of advisers when the violent storm struck. The charges stemmed from Lynch’s sale of his software firm Autonomy Corp. to Hewlett Packard Co. in 2011. The Silicon Valley giant went on to accuse Lynch of accounting failures. He’d spent years working to clear his name in court and restore his reputation as one of Europe’s most successful entrepreneurs.

A little over two months before the yacht accident, a San Francisco jury found Lynch not guilty of criminal charges that he duped HP into overpaying for his company. He was still fighting HP in a civil case in London, where a British judge held him responsible for creating the illusion of a company much larger and more successful than it really was.

Rescue workers have had difficulties gaining access to the yacht 48 meters below the surface, citing the depth and position of the vessel’s hull.

“The search will go on as long as necessary,” Zagarola told Bloomberg. “For sure the whole hull will need to be inspected meter by meter.”

--With assistance from Olivia Solon.

(Adds fifth body spotted in second paragraph)

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