How to pursue a successful career in superyacht cheffing

I was fortunate in my career to spend 22 years working on superyachts for the world’s rich and famous as a chef in this unique environment. I never imagined, for a moment, during the long working days in a London kitchen, that I would end up in such an exciting and dynamic industry as a sous chef.

My first impression of my new on board life was just how compact it was, and how I now lived and worked in the same place. The commute from my cabin to the galley was done in under 30 seconds, and the outside world appeared to be a distant place. I was part of something special and had access to some of the world’s best produce for freshness and quality. The working week and hours were never clearly defined, as I worked seven days a week at times during the Mediterranean/Caribbean season and finished when the work was done. It wasn’t always about work, as there was time off with no guests on board, which allowed you to get out and explore the new surroundings wherever the yacht happened to be moored or tied up in the world. I had the privilege to visit many exotic destinations during my life on board.

There is something quite seductive about working on a yacht to deliver the best possible service to guests and crew, where no two days are the same and plans can change in an instant. Yachting cooking requires adaptability, creativity, self-reliance, drive and a can-do attitude. The lifestyle will be its own reward; you will meet people from all over the world and visit places you have only seen on TV and other places you have never heard of. It will be an experience that will forever change you, and I recommend it to any chef looking to take on something challenging yet incredibly satisfying that will give you a life you never dreamed of.

For those looking to begin a career cooking for some of the world’s rich and famous, the first step is completing a Culinary Diploma or the equivalent training and an Assessment in Maritime Cookery Course. This will provide a broad base of skills and knowledge. Getting the proper training from the start will make the journey to a superyacht chef more achievable, as you will build on the solid foundations of what you have learned and develop into a good all-round chef. You must be comfortable with cooking international cuisines and handling dietary restrictions and requests from guests and crew.

Ocean Earth Chefs is a private chef recruitment agency based in Mallorca, Spain, that matches the best, handpicked chefs with clients worldwide for yachts, villas, chalets, and households. With over 22 years of experience in the private chef industry, our in-depth knowledge allows us to evaluate and match the best professional chefs to prospective clients. We welcome any chef with the ambition to work on yachts to contact us.

You can train to be yacht chef at Leiths by signing up to its Culinary Diploma and working towards your Ship’s Cook Certificate by doing your Assessment in Marine Cookery at Leiths Culinary School.