All roles/Deck and Bridge/Chase Boat Captain
Deck and Bridge
Chase Boat Captain
You run the support vessel that shadows the main yacht, carrying toys, tenders, guests, luggage and supplies so the mothership's programme runs without gaps. Your boat handling and planning keep guests moving and safe.
- Department
- Deck and Bridge
- Reports to
- Yacht Captain
- Yacht size
- Chase boats 12m to 40m, supporting yachts of 60m+
- Contract
- Seasonal or permanent
- Starting pay
- €5,000 per month
What the job is
A chase boat, also called a shadow or support vessel, follows the main yacht and carries what will not fit on board. That might be a dive centre, a fleet of jet skis, a helicopter fuel store, extra tenders or simply guests who want to reach a beach club fast. You are the captain of that boat. You answer to the mothership's captain and fit your passages, fuel and crew around the owner's plans.
Most days you are moving guests and kit. You run guests ashore for lunch, collect luggage from the airport dock, launch toys at a quiet anchorage and keep the boat ready to go at short notice. On longer passages you run ahead to check anchorages, clear berths with the port agent or carry provisions that arrived late. Your boat must be spotless, fuelled and ready the moment the guests decide something new.
You are responsible for the safety of everyone aboard, the condition of the boat and its paperwork. On smaller chase boats you may run with one deckhand and do most of the engineering yourself. On larger ones you lead a small crew and handle watch keeping, navigation and passage plans like any other command. Strong close quarters handling, calm judgement and clear radio work matter more than anything else.
What makes a good one
- Close quarters boat handling
- Passage and anchorage planning
- Basic diesel engineering
- Clear radio and team communication
- Calm guest-facing manner
A day in the life
- 06:30Engine room checks, oils and coolant, then fuel levels logged. Your deckhand starts the washdown while you check the weather and swell for the north coast.
- 07:45Call with the mothership's captain and chief officer to confirm today's programme. Guests want a beach lunch at Cala di Volpe and an afternoon of watersports.
- 09:00Load jet skis, the seabob and two inflatable toys from the mothership's garage onto your aft deck. Check every strap and the fuel cans for the toys.
- 10:30Run ahead to the bay, choose an anchorage clear of swimmers and other boats, and set up the toys and swim platform before the tender arrives.
- 12:30Transfer six guests from the beach club jetty back to the main yacht for lunch. Smooth, dry ride, cold towels and water waiting.
- 14:30Watersports session. You hold position, watch the riders and keep the radio open to the mothership while the deckhand runs the toys.
- 17:30Recover and rinse the toys, return them to the mothership garage. Refuel at Porto Cervo and settle the fuel docket with the purser.
- 19:30Airport run to Olbia dock to collect two late arriving guests and their luggage. Brief transfer back to the yacht at dusk.
- 21:00Wash down, log hours and fuel, plan tomorrow's passage to Corsica with the bridge team and stand by on the radio until the guests turn in.
Pay by country
Monthly salary for a chase boat captain on a 20m to 40m support vessel. Charter tips are usually shared with the mothership crew and can add one to two months' pay over a busy season. Larger chase boats and multi-role captains earn toward the top of the range.
- France and Monaco
- €5,000 – 7,500
- Spain
- €4,800 – 7,200
- Italy
- €4,800 – 7,200
- United Kingdom
- £4,300 – 6,400
- USA (Florida)
- US$5,500 – 8,200
- Caribbean
- US$5,500 – 8,200
- UAE
- AED 20,000 – 30,000
- Australia
- A$8,500 – 12,500
- New Zealand
- NZ$9,000 – 13,500
Required
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- RYA Yachtmaster Offshore (commercially endorsed) or higher
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
- VHF / GMDSS radio certificate
Recommended
- Master (Yacht) 500gt
- GMDSS GOC
- Medical First Aid
- Advanced Fire Fighting
- RYA PWC
- PDSD
Visas
- Schengen visa
- US B1/B2 or C1/D
- Australian MCV
Where it leads
Chase Boat Captain jobs open now
Questions crew ask
Do I need engineering skills as a chase boat captain?
On smaller chase boats, yes. You will usually do daily checks, filter changes and basic fault finding yourself, so a sound grasp of diesel engines and generators is expected. Larger support vessels may carry their own engineer.
Where do I live, on the chase boat or the main yacht?
It depends on the size of the boat. Chase boats over about 30m often have crew cabins, while smaller ones usually berth their crew on the mothership.
Is this a good step towards captaining a superyacht?
It is a strong one. You gain real command time, passage planning and owner contact, which counts when you move up to Chief Officer or Yacht Captain once your MCA tickets are in place.