How long should a yachting CV be?

One page. Two at most for senior crew with a long record. Captains scan dozens of these and a third page is rarely read.

Should a yachting CV have a photograph?

Yes. It is standard in yachting and its absence is noticed. A clear head-and-shoulders shot, looking like you would on a work day rather than a night out.

What makes a yachting CV different from a shore CV?

Vessel details. Every role needs the boat length, whether it was private or charter, the cruising area and the crew size. "Deckhand, 2024" tells a captain nothing; "Deckhand, 46m motor yacht, private, Mediterranean, 2024" tells them everything.

Yachting CV Format Guide | Layout, Photo & Example

Last updated 3 August 2026

A yachting CV is one page, includes a professional head-and-shoulders photograph, and lists vessels by size and type rather than by job title alone. It differs from a shore CV in format, length and the level of detail expected about each vessel.

1200×640 · 1.88:1

One page, always

A captain reviewing candidates mid-season will spend seconds on each CV. Two pages will not be read; the second page is simply ignored. Everything that matters has to fit on one.

The photograph

A yachting CV includes a photograph, which surprises people coming from shore industries. It is not vanity — crew live and work in close quarters and present to guests, so appearance is part of the role.

Use a clear head-and-shoulders shot, plain background, smart presentation, natural light and a genuine expression. Avoid sunglasses, nights out, other people in the frame and heavy filters.

Structure

Name and contact details — including nationality, visas held and current location.
Profile — two or three lines. What you do, how long you have done it, what you are looking for.
Certification — STCW, ENG1 with expiry, and role-specific tickets. Put expiry dates in.
Sea service — vessel size, type, private or charter, cruising area, dates and your role.
Shore experience — brief, and only where it is relevant.
References — names and contact details of previous captains or heads of department.

Describe the vessel, not just the job

The single biggest difference from a shore CV. "Deckhand, 2024" tells a captain nothing. "Deckhand, 46m motor yacht, private, Mediterranean and Caribbean, 2024" tells them your programme, your likely workload and whether your experience transfers to their boat.

Always include: length in metres, motor or sailing, private or charter, cruising area, and crew size.

Mistakes that get CVs discarded

More than one page
No photograph, or an inappropriate one
Missing certificate expiry dates
Unexplained gaps in sea service
A shore-format CV submitted unchanged
Generic covering messages sent to every yacht

Keep it current

Update after every contract, not once a year. Certificates expire, and an out-of-date ENG1 on a CV suggests an out-of-date approach to everything else.

Start from the free yachting CV template if you are building one from scratch.

Common questions

How long should a yachting CV be?: One page. Two at most for senior crew with a long record. Captains scan dozens of these and a third page is rarely read.
Should a yachting CV have a photograph?: Yes. It is standard in yachting and its absence is noticed. A clear head-and-shoulders shot, looking like you would on a work day rather than a night out.
What makes a yachting CV different from a shore CV?: Vessel details. Every role needs the boat length, whether it was private or charter, the cruising area and the crew size. "Deckhand, 2024" tells a captain nothing; "Deckhand, 46m motor yacht, private, Mediterranean, 2024" tells them everything.

How to Write a Yachting CV