How To Get A Job On A Boat In The Whitsundays
The Whitsundays is one of the most sought after holiday destinations in Australia. With the Great Barrier Reef at its doorstep and over 70 tropical islands to explore, it’s no wonder travellers from here, there and everywhere are seeking ways to make this picturesque location a home.
If you’re one of the lucky ones and have experienced the wonders of the Whitsundays, then you’ll know how good the locals have got it; endless summer weather, blue skies, tropical islands and crystal clear waters. One of the biggest factors that attracts these locals to the Whitsundays are the boats. The region is arguably one of the best locations for sailing in the world. With hundreds of tour and charter boats departing to and from the main town, Airlie Beach, it’s no surprise that the majority of the locals find work on the boats.
So, if you’ve decided that boat life might be for you and you want that sweet summer feeling year-round, it might be time to start thinking about what you need to do to secure a job on a boat... Here are 10 tips and tricks on how you can land yourself a job on a boat in the Whitsundays!
1. Familiarise yourself with the boats that operate in the Whitsundays
First things first, if you’re applying for a job on a boat in the Whitsundays, then you need to understand the different boats that run. 90% of the boat tours in the Whitsundays depart from Airlie Beach either from the Coral Sea Marina or from the Port of Airlie. So it might be a good idea to visit the marinas and familiarise yourself with each boat. It’s free to wander along the marina docks, so why not grab a coffee and go for a stroll? If you head down to either marina around 7am you’ll likely be able to catch more boats before they head off for the day. Alternatively, around 4pm is when most return so you can catch them then too! Why not strike up conversations with any crew that you spot? Find out who owns which boats and where they go.
The Coral Sea Marina is the largest marina in Airlie Beach and is where you’ll find popular tour boats including Atlantic Clipper, Ocean Rafting, Whitsunday Blue, Thundercat, British Defender and Powerplay. The Port of Airlie is smaller but is home to the Cruise Whitsundays terminal. Cruise Whitsundays operates tours including Camira, the Great Barrier Reef tour, Reefsleep and the Half Day to Whitehaven cruise.
2. Book yourself onto a day or overnight boat trip
Now that you’ve familiarised yourself with the boats in the Whitsundays, why not book a trip on one? Choose between overnight maxi yachts like British Defender or Siska, two to three day catamarans like Powerplay or Whitsunday Blue, or fast day boats like Ocean Rafting or Thundercat! While on board, get to know the crew. Ask questions, take note of what they’re doing and how they interact with the guests. Find out how they landed their dream job and even ask if they know of anyone hiring. When applying for jobs on different boats, employers will be pleased to know you have experienced what life is like on the boats.
3. Volunteer on a boat
If a boat trip is a little out of your budget, why not see if you can volunteer? Wander around the marinas and get chatting to boat crew - you’ll usually be able to spot who is who from the uniforms. Boat staff generally won’t say no to an extra pair of hands on board! Alternatively, the Whitsunday Sailing Club runs twilight social sailing races every Wednesday evening and is highly encouraging of volunteers. It’s only $15 per person and all you need to do is visit the club from 2pm! After a day or two getting that first-hand experience, you’ll know for sure if boat life is for you.
4. Get your boat licence, Coxswain and first aid
Now, this is essential if you want to work on a boat in the Whitsundays (plus it will put you ahead of others). You’ll need a boat licence and your first aid certificate. Deckhands are also required to drive the tenders which means you'll need a Coxswain Grade 1 certification for that, which you can obtain in one day. To secure your boat licence you’ll need to book the course, study the theory and then undertake a practical assessment. You can simply Google ‘boat licence Queensland’ and you’ll find the course there. Same goes for your first aid certificate. Just think about how good the two of them will look on your resume!
5. Learn the difference between boats
Maxi yachts, bareboats, monos, and cats may be foreign words to you. If they are, then you need to do some research. Find out what a maxi yacht is and how many of them operate in the Whitsundays. Learn about the differences between bareboats, monohulls and catamarans. Watch YouTube videos on how to sail, what the different ropes do and how the sails work. Research the changing of the tides, currents and different water conditions. Go over nautical charts and maps to try and make sense of them. Your employers will be highly impressed if you’ve got the knowledge and lingo down pat!
6. Secure your own local accommodation
Thousands of backpackers wander through the Whitsundays each month, in search of jobs and accommodation. If you truly want to stand out from the rest, ensure you have set up a home base. When employers are seeking staff, they’re likely to choose someone who has secure accommodation over someone floating between hostels, in a van or seeking accommodation. If you don’t know where to start, join the Whitsunday Accommodation Facebook pages or make profiles on shared accommodation websites such as Flatmates.
7. Spruce up your socials to look boat oriented
In this day and age, it’s no lie that employers tend to check out potential employees' social media accounts before hiring. If you have a public social media account, perhaps show that you have an interest in boats and being out on the water. If you did take the advice from the above points number 2 and 3, be sure to snap photos of yourself during your boat trip or time volunteering! Change your profile photos to you standing over the edge of a boat, wearing a mask and snorkel or hard at work pulling the ropes.
8. Join the Whitsundays Sailing Club
Become a member of the Whitsundays Sailing Club. If you really want to get your foot into the boating industry, joining a sailing club is a good way to do it. There, you can expand your network, sign up for sailing lessons, and familiarise yourself with the area. The Whitsundays Sailing Club is located in Airlie Beach (near the giant playground) and runs different events you can participate in and meet different people. If you don’t want to become a member, simply stick to the twilight sailing races each week as mentioned above and you will still be able to expand your network.
9. Learn to tie knots
Knowing how to tie knots is a handy skill to have if you want to work on a boat. Find the difference between a bowline, clove hitch, rolling hitch, reef knot and sheet bend. Watch YouTube videos on the different types of knots that are used for sailing. Buy yourself a piece of rope and have a go at tying them yourself! Learn about what knots are needed for docking boats, tying up boats and anchoring boats - because surprisingly, they all use different knots. You’ll be impressing your future employer in no time.
10. Be honest with yourself
If you suffer from seasickness, like to sleep in a comfortable bed, don’t like people, or have any fears of the ocean, maybe reconsider applying for a job on a boat. Get real with yourself and think about whether you’re cut out for a job out at sea as it can be exhausting work. There are plenty of alternatives and different jobs you could do in the Whitsundays. Check out our Work in the Whitsundays job ads to see if there’s something more suitable for you.
Now that you've read what you need to do, what are you waiting for? Apply for a job on a boat in the Whitsundays today!
For more information regarding the Whitsundays and sailing, contact our travel experts via our live chat today!
