Yes, interactions between yacht crew (yachties) and guests can involve sleeping together, but it's a complex area with varied experiences: some crew report guests propositioning them, sometimes with gifts, while others have consensual relationships or face pressure; rules vary by yacht, with some captains prohibiting it as unprofessional, while others allow it if discreet or when owners aren't present, though it often creates drama, especially if it's a secret or violates the boat's culture.
On a superyacht, the crew typically has their own designated sleeping quarters, which are separate from the guest accommodations. The location and layout of the crew quarters will vary depending on the size and design of the yacht, but they are typically located in a lower deck or in a separate area of the vessel.
The "12-person yacht rule" states that a private yacht carrying more than 12 passengers (excluding crew) must meet stricter, cruise-ship-level safety and certification standards under the SOLAS convention (Safety of Life at Sea), a United Nations maritime treaty, making them a "passenger ship". This limit applies to commercial charters; private trips have flexibility, but exceeding 12 guests on a commercial charter requires extensive, costly upgrades (like SOLAS-approved lifeboats, advanced fire systems) for the vessel, making it impractical for most.
The 10% rule for yachts is a common guideline suggesting you budget roughly 10% of the boat's purchase price annually for all running costs and maintenance, covering things like fuel, insurance, marina fees, routine servicing, and unexpected repairs. This rule acts as a ballpark figure for yacht ownership expenses and helps owners estimate ongoing costs beyond the initial purchase, though actual expenses can vary significantly with boat age, size, usage, and location.
The comments made by the ``Below Deck'' crew about their current group of guests were inappropriate and beyond unprofessional. Our crew all believe that the show has now crossed the line of being bad for yachting, and especially bad for charter yachts.
Last month, Lee surprised Bravo fans when he slammed Sandy during a speaking engagement after being asked who is least favorite Below Deck star was. “My least favorite? Captain Sandy," he told the crowd in a video shared on social media. "And we all know why.
Captain Sandy Yawn was in jail multiple times due to severe alcoholism, leading to arrests for drinking and driving (DUI) and other alcohol-related offenses, including one night she had to stay overnight in jail, before she got sober in 1989. She struggled with addiction, stealing cars, and being constantly in trouble before turning her life around and pursuing a career in yachting.
Rule 69 of the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) addresses misconduct, obligating competitors, owners, and support persons to not engage in behavior that breaches good manners, sportsmanship, or ethics, or brings the sport into disrepute. It covers serious offenses like bullying, intimidation, cheating, or foul language, and is handled by Protest Committees, not through standard protests, requiring hearings for investigation and potential penalties.
The barefoot rule for yachts and boats alike is an age-old practice made to keep the teak decks undamaged, and dirty soles away from the clean and sparkling floor. Commonly, shoes stay outside the cabin, and no shoes are worn on deck, also.
Mark Zuckerberg's $300 million, 387-foot megayacht LAUNCHPAD built by Feadship, along with her $30 million support vessel WINGMAN built by Damen.
Tom Brady's primary yacht is the 77-foot Wajer 77, a Dutch-built "mini-superyacht" known for its luxury and speed, featuring four cabins, a full galley, and space for family and friends, with a notable upgrade from his previous 55-foot Wajer 55S.
Length of Journey
A 32ft yacht will max out at 6 knots (about 7mph) whereas a 50ft yacht will go significantly faster at around 15 knots and cruise at around 10 knots. The majority of average cruisers crossing the Atlantic will be on boats between 34 and 60ft with journey times between 16 and 30 days in good weather.
The vessel that currently tops the list as the largest yacht to charter is the impressive 136m (446ft) superyacht FLYING FOX. Delivered by Lürssen in 2019, this spectacular yacht can accommodate up to 25 guests across 11 sumptuous cabins, all of which come complete with their own intimate sea terraces.
After the draining charter was finally over, Captain Glenn Shephard informed the crew that their tip was a measly $6,500 to be divided amongst them. When the episode aired, fans were furious at how cheap Erica and Charles were and slammed them on social media for leaving the worst tip in Below Deck history.
Chef Mila Kolomeitseva was fired by Captain Sandy on season four of Below Deck Mediterranean after failing to use her cooking skills to produce top-quality food for guests—including some not-so-nice nachos. "Of course it makes me feel awful," Mila said of her departure.
Below Deck Mediterranean's Captain Mark Howard Dead at 65 - IMDb.
The colour green is unlucky on board
Secondly, they believe it to be linked to the colour of mould, which could corrode the wood of sailing ships and cause the vessel to sink. To avoid any unfortunate fate, it was advised to not wear the colour or have anything green on board.
When you flush a marine toilet, its contents are pumped out through a hole in the hull, directly into the sea (in the case of direct discharge) or into a holding tank if your boat is equipped with one. This process might seem intimidating at first, but with a little practice, it becomes second nature.
Avoiding Marks on Light-Colored Surfaces
High heels or shoes with hard soles, in particular, are known to leave indentations and scuff marks, which require professional repair and restoration work that adds to the ongoing maintenance costs.
Solid Black Flags
Plain black flags were often flown to signal to an enemy vessel that they were about to attack, but that “quarter” would be given.
Cast Off – a term used to describe releasing a mooring line or anchor so a vessel can set sail; in everyday language means to “set free”, for obvious reasons! Helm's Alee – a command used to turn the boat away from the wind, or tack.
(a) Pumping: the World Sailing Interpretations of Rule 42 define “fanning” as “moving a sail in and out not in response to wind shifts, gusts or waves.” So for a sail to be “pumped,” it must be repeatedly pulled in and then re-leased with no apparent connection with wind shifts or gusts, and this is illegal.
Below Deck's Captain Lee Wasn't Invited to Captain Sandy's Wedding.
Bird revealed he'd accepted another job and went about telling Mace-Ralph before the next charter. By the time Mace-Ralph informed Captain Jason Chambers about the development, he had enough. He sped up the process. Chambers fired him off the Motor Yacht Katina then and there.