Dockwalking means walking around a marina, boat by boat, introducing yourself to crew and captains and asking whether they need daywork or crew. It is one of the oldest and most reliable ways green crew break into yachting, because it puts a face and a handshake to your CV rather than just an email in an inbox.

What is the etiquette for dockwalking?

Dress smart and clean, be polite and brief, and respect that a yacht is someone's workplace and the owner's private property. Ask to speak to the captain or first mate, do not step aboard uninvited, take no for an answer gracefully, and leave a CV with a friendly note if nobody is free. Good manners on the dock get remembered as much as a good CV.

Dockwalking in Antibes and Palma: A Crew Guide

Q: Where do you go dockwalking in Antibes and Palma?

In Antibes the main spot is Port Vauban, including the large yacht quay known as the IYCA, or billionaires quay. In Palma de Mallorca you walk the marinas and quays along the waterfront where the larger yachts berth and refit. In both places the crew houses and agencies are nearby, so you can build a daily routine around them.

Q: What time should you go dockwalking?

Early. Crews start work early, so be on the dock from around 8am when boats are getting going for the day. That is when they are most likely to need an extra pair of hands for a wash down or a job. Avoid lunchtime and late afternoon when crew are busy or winding down, and never knock during obvious meal times.

Q: How do you turn daywork into a permanent yacht job?

Treat every day of daywork like an interview, because it is one. Turn up early, work hard without being told twice, stay easy to be around, and leave the boat better than you found it. Crew who do this get asked back, and a string of return days often turns into a season or a permanent berth when a position opens up.

Dockwalking is the most direct way a green crew member can find work, and it still works as well today as it did when I started. You walk the marina, introduce yourself to crew and captains, and ask whether they need a hand. No connections, no inside track, just turning up and putting yourself in front of the people who do the hiring. It is humbling at first. It is also how a huge number of crew, myself included, got their foot on the first boat.

What dockwalking actually is

At its simplest, dockwalking means going boat by boat along a marina and asking each crew whether they need daywork or are looking for crew. You are not expecting a permanent contract on the spot. You are looking for a single day of work, a name to remember, or a CV left in the right hands. Captains and mates are used to it. In the season, a deckhand who can lend a hand for the day is genuinely useful, which is why a polite, well presented green crew member knocking at the right time often gets a yes.

Have your certificates ready before you walk the dock. If a mate likes you, they may ask to see your STCW and ENG1 there and then. YachtSync keeps them on your phone, ready to share as a clean PDF in one tap. Free for crew, with 20 certs and 3 AI scans on the free tier.

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Where to dockwalk in Antibes

Antibes is the classic place to start, and Port Vauban is the heart of it. The large yacht quay, often called the IYCA quay or billionaires quay, is where many of the bigger yachts berth, and the surrounding pontoons hold a constant turnover of boats through the season. The crew houses and agencies cluster nearby, so you can base yourself within walking distance of the whole thing and build a daily routine around the port.

Where to dockwalk in Palma

Palma de Mallorca is the other major Mediterranean hub, with an enormous number of yachts wintering, refitting and crewing up there. You walk the marinas and quays along the waterfront where the larger yachts berth. Palma is especially busy around the Palma Superyacht Show in late April and early May, when the port fills up and boats are actively building their crew for the season ahead.

When to go: season and time of day

The right months

Timing is everything. For both Antibes and Palma, the prime window is the run-up to the Mediterranean summer season, roughly March through May, before boats are fully crewed and out on charter. Arrive in this window and you are around while captains are still filling positions. Turn up in mid-July and most of the work is already taken.

The right time of day

Be on the dock early, from around 8am, when crews are starting their day and most likely to need an extra pair of hands. Avoid lunchtime and late afternoon, when crew are either busy or winding down, and never knock during obvious meal times. A good dockwalk is an early start and a few focused hours, not an all-day wander.

Dockwalking etiquette

How you carry yourself on the dock matters as much as your CV. A yacht is someone's workplace and the owner's private property, and crew remember the people who respect that. Keep to these and you will be taken seriously:

Look smart and clean. A plain polo and shorts in season. You are showing them you would look right on their deck.
Be polite and brief. Crew are working. A friendly, short introduction lands far better than a long pitch.
Ask for the captain or first mate. They are the ones who make the call on daywork and crew.
Never step aboard uninvited. Wait to be asked. Stepping onto a boat without permission is a fast way to be remembered for the wrong reason.
Take no gracefully. Most boats will not need you. Thank them, leave a CV, move on.
Leave a CV with a note if nobody is free, so you are on file for later.

Landing daywork

The goal of dockwalking is daywork: a single paid day helping out. It might be a wash down, polishing, a provisioning run, carrying stores, or general help during a turnaround. For a boat, taking you on for one day is low risk, which is exactly why it is the easiest door to get through. Say yes to whatever is offered, even if it is not glamorous. The mop and bucket is how almost everyone starts.

Carry printed CVs, keep your phone charged with your certificates ready to show, and have a small notebook to jot down boat names and who you spoke to so you can follow up. Persistence pays here. The crew who walk the dock every single morning, not just when they feel like it, are the ones who get the work.

Be the green crew who is ready on the spot.

When a mate asks for your STCW and ENG1 on the dock, the crew who can show them in seconds get the daywork. YachtSync keeps your whole portfolio on your phone, current and ready to share, for free.

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Free for crew. 20 certificates, 3 AI scans, renewal reminders. No card required. iOS only.

Turning daywork into a job

This is the part that actually changes your life, so treat every day of daywork as the interview it really is. The boat is watching how you work, how you behave, and whether they would want you around for a season. From my own start, the crew who got asked back all did the same simple things:

Turned up early and ready to go.
Worked hard without being asked twice and got stuck into whatever was needed.
Stayed easy to be around, no drama, no ego, a small space with a good attitude.
Left the boat better than they found it and asked what else needed doing.
Followed up politely, so the boat knew they were keen and available.

Do this and one day turns into "come back tomorrow", which turns into a run of days, which turns into a season or a permanent berth when a position opens. That is the path I took, and it is still the one that works. Pair your dockwalking with the agencies too, covered in our guide to registering with yacht crew agencies, so you are working both the visible and the hidden vacancies.

Frequently asked questions

What is dockwalking?

Dockwalking means walking around a marina, boat by boat, introducing yourself to crew and captains and asking whether they need daywork or crew. It is one of the most reliable ways green crew break in, because it puts a face to your CV instead of just an email.

Where do you go dockwalking in Antibes and Palma?

In Antibes, Port Vauban and the large yacht quay are the main spots. In Palma, you walk the marinas and quays along the waterfront where the bigger yachts berth and refit. In both, the crew houses and agencies are nearby.

What time should you go dockwalking?

Early, from around 8am, when crews are starting their day and most likely to need a hand. Avoid lunchtime and late afternoon, and never knock during obvious meal times.

How do you turn daywork into a permanent yacht job?

Treat every day of daywork as an interview. Turn up early, work hard without being told twice, stay easy to be around, and leave the boat better than you found it. Crew who do this get asked back, and return days often turn into a season or a permanent berth.