Starting a career in yachting? Before heading abroad in search of work, make sure you’re prepared, not just with your CV and training, but also with a plan for what happens if you get sick or injured. Below are some essential resources and key things to consider before you go.
Essential Yachting Resources
These organisations offer valuable advice, support, and guidance for aspiring yacht crew:
Considering Dock-Walking? Read This First!
Many new crew members start their yachting careers by dock-walking, hoping to land their first job. But before you go abroad, ask yourself:
- How will you pay for medical treatment if you fall ill or get injured?
- What happens if you're too sick or injured to continue looking for work or need to return home?
Understanding Medical Cover While Job-Seeking Abroad
For Non-Americans:
- Reciprocal Health Agreements:
If you’re job-hunting abroad, your home country may have a reciprocal health agreement with your destination, providing emergency medical treatment at little or no cost. However, this rarely includes non-urgent or ongoing medical care and does not cover medical repatriation. If you require an air ambulance or a medically assisted flight home, costs can reach tens of thousands, leaving you stranded without the right cover. British and European travellers should consider obtaining a GHIC (for Brits) or an EHIC (for non-Brits). It’s important to note that many UK travel insurance policies require a GHIC as a condition of cover.
For Americans:
- Your US Domestic Health Insurance:
Some US health insurance plans offer limited international coverage, so it’s important to check with your insurer before you travel. However, most policies do not include medical repatriation, which can be extremely costly. Even if your plan covers medical care abroad, it is unlikely to provide international claims support, such as direct billing or multilingual assistance. This means you may need to pay for treatment upfront and seek reimbursement later.
Travel Insurance Considerations:
Travel insurance policies which are often sold in the UK domestic market (including those included with credit cards or bank accounts) feature the following limitations which could be problematic for you:
- Emergency Treatment Only: Travel insurance covers emergencies but won’t pay for ongoing treatment or anything that can wait until you return home.
- Repatriation Over Treatment: Most travel insurers will prefer to repatriate you rather than fund extended medical care abroad. If that happens, your job search is over.
- Common Travel Insurance Limitations:
- Single-trip limits: Multi-trip policies often have trip limits of 30, 45, or 60 days—too short for most job-seeking crew.
- Purchase restrictions:UK policies must be bought before leaving the UK—if your policy expires, you may struggle to buy a new one.
- Extension rules: Some policies allow extensions, but only if arranged before your current cover ends.
- International vs. domestic policies: Travel medical plans from international insurers don’t usually require pre-departure purchase but often lack cover for lost belongings, cancellations, or delays.
Considering Dock-Walking? Read This First!
Many new crew members start their yachting careers by dock-walking, hoping to land their first job. But before you go abroad, ask yourself:
- How will you pay for medical treatment if you fall ill or get injured?
- What happens if you're too sick or injured to continue looking for work or need to return home?
Understanding Medical Cover While Job-Seeking Abroad
For Non-Americans:
- Reciprocal Health Agreements:
If you’re job-hunting abroad, your home country may have a reciprocal health agreement with your destination, providing emergency medical treatment at little or no cost. However, this rarely includes non-urgent or ongoing medical care and does not cover medical repatriation. If you require an air ambulance or a medically assisted flight home, costs can reach tens of thousands, leaving you stranded without the right cover. British and European travellers should consider obtaining a GHIC (for Brits) or an EHIC (for non-Brits). It’s important to note that many UK travel insurance policies require a GHIC as a condition of cover.
For Americans:
- Your US Domestic Health Insurance:
Some US health insurance plans offer limited international coverage, so it’s important to check with your insurer before you travel. However, most policies do not include medical repatriation, which can be extremely costly. Even if your plan covers medical care abroad, it is unlikely to provide international claims support, such as direct billing or multilingual assistance. This means you may need to pay for treatment upfront and seek reimbursement later.
Travel Insurance Considerations
Travel insurance policies which are often sold in the UK domestic market (including those included with credit cards or bank accounts) feature the following limitations which could be problematic for you:
- Emergency Treatment Only: Travel insurance covers emergencies but won’t pay for ongoing treatment or anything that can wait until you return home.
- Repatriation Over Treatment: Most travel insurers will prefer to repatriate you rather than fund extended medical care abroad. If that happens, your job search is over.
Common Travel Insurance Limitations:
- Single-trip limits: Multi-trip policies often have trip limits of 30, 45, or 60 days—too short for most job-seeking crew.
- Purchase restrictions:UK policies must be bought before leaving the UK—if your policy expires, you may struggle to buy a new one.
- Extension rules: Some policies allow extensions, but only if arranged before your current cover ends.
- International vs. domestic policies: Travel medical plans from international insurers don’t usually require pre-departure purchase but often lack cover for lost belongings, cancellations, or delays.
Starting a career in yachting? Get key crew resources and must-know insurance tips to stay protected while job-seeking or dock-walking abroad.