I’m off the boat! How crew can balance rest and development

Permanent crew – this one’s for you!

You’ve just wrapped up a busy season or maybe it’s been a bit longer! No more guests, your annual leave request is in and you’re wondering just how deep in the bilge your bag is by now. It’s nearly time for that big sleep. 

For many yacht crew, leave is a rare and precious window: a chance to rest, travel, and reconnect with friends and family. But during this well-deserved downtime, the days seem to fly by. Leave can feel endless at first – one minute you’re unpacking, catching up with friends, travelling from place to place, cramming appointments in around it all – the next you’re already thinking about heading back to the boat.

Taking leave allows crew to step back from career considerations, which highlights the value of structured planning.

By lining up your training or career steps before you sign off—or even right at the start of leave—you give yourself the best of both worlds. You can enjoy your leave as more than just a break: it becomes a chance to reset, refocus, and prepare.

This might mean taking a specialist course, developing a new service, deck or cooking skill, or exploring programs in Leadership, Administration, or HR to set you apart for your next role and meet some like-minded people. You can also invest in flexible training options like kelp. Which help crew fit learning around their busy schedules. Whatever path you choose, these opportunities help you keep one foot planted in reality and the other firmly in holiday mode.

The best crew know that balance is key: a holiday to recharge both body and mind, while also using the time to engage in some form of training that serves your career – and your well-being when you return. Stepping back onto your vessel or joining a new one not only recharged but one step ahead. 

And remember: you don’t have to commit to a specific career path when taking courses. The real value lies in the journey and the connections you make on the way. 

Many crew feel guilty if they don’t do anything “productive” during leave, but equally guilty if they don’t rest enough. The trick is to see it as a balance – your balance – finding out what that means to you.

3 Ways to Balance Rest and Training:

• Book one course at the start or end of leave – keep it manageable and stress-free.
• Treat training like an investment, not an interruption – think of it as future-proofing.
• Give yourself permission to properly switch off too – rest is part of your professional development too. 

Your leave is yours. Rest well, enjoy it fully, and if training or career steps are on your mind, The Crew Academy is always here in the background to help when you’re ready, we’ve all been there!

To book individual courses or explore subscription options, get in touch with us today to plan your next step: info@yachtcrew.uk.