What is Dockwalking?

21/03/2025

For anyone with even a mild amount of social anxiety, dockwalking may be your absolute worst nightmare. For those unfamiliar with the term, when you're a 'greenie' (newcomer) in the yachting industry, you typically fly to a yachting hub like Antibes or Palma, stay in crew houses, and participate in dockwalking - literally walking up and down various docks and ports with your CV and your biggest smile, hoping someone will bring you onboard for a day of work.

Why Dockwalking Works

This approach can be quite fruitful, especially for a greenie who's been stuck in Antibes for weeks while cash is running low. Each day of work strengthens your CV, and in this remarkably small industry where everyone knows everyone, impressing a crew of 10 people can lead to recommendations and references that help you get your foot in the door.

The Downsides of Dockwalking

Yes, it can be humiliating at times. You might pay for train fare all day only to get no work. You may hear crews shouting "we're fully crewed" before you even reach the passerelle. But consider this an initiation into the industry.

The ones who succeed are those who:

• Keep getting up and going

• Persist despite consistent rejections

• Build resilience that will help your yachting career flourish

Plus, you'll develop calves of steel from all that walking. Silver linings, people!

What to Wear

Dress for the job you want. You see everyone onboard wearing a polo, a skort, and deck shoes? Try to match that. The uniform is a bit niche, but if you make good enough friends with a uniform supplier or know someone onboard, they might lend you something appropriate for dockwalking.

Here's some clothing hot tips:

• Anything that makes you look sloppy

• Clothing you couldn't work in (jeans and dresses are definite no-gos)

• Wear comfortable shoes—you'll be walking extensively in the heat

• Apply quality sunscreen to avoid boarding with an embarrassing pink glow

  
  

Other Things to Keep in Mind

Red Flags: Boats to Avoid

Many boats docked in the South of France are typically "boss off" (owner not present), but some are "boss on", and these are the yachts you absolutely want to avoid to prevent disturbing guests.

Signs a yacht may not want you to approach:

• A fancy mat at the end of the passerelle (essentially a "do not disturb" sign)

• Twitchy-eyed deckhands silently screaming "STAY AWAY"

• Director chairs, shoe baskets, and wooden steps at the bottom of the passerelle

Best Time to Dockwalk

Timing can make all the difference. Try to approach yachts around their morning meeting time, but avoid these specific periods:

• 10:00 AM: First tea break

• 12:00-13:00: Lunch time

• 15:00: Afternoon tea break

The sweet spot is around 08:30 in the morning, dressed to impress, with the right attitude. The optimal time of year for dockwalking is April/May/June in the Mediterranean.

Important note: Dockwalking stateside (in the US) is illegal. If caught, you can say goodbye to any boats that travel to that region.

Dockwalking Alone vs With Friends

While walking in groups feels less intimidating (safety in numbers, right?), it rarely works in your favour. Yachts typically won't hire multiple junior stewardesses at once or need several dayworkers simultaneously. It's like showing up to a one-person job interview with your entire friend group - weird flex, but not okay.

Approaching as a group makes it difficult to stand out without appearing pushy, and remember: these people are your competition.

If you truly need moral support, consider going with someone from a different department than yours. At least then you're not directly competing for the same position.

What to Say When You Approach

Once you get up to a boat and pluck up the courage to ring a bell or make eye contact with someone on deck, here's how to approach:

• Future Deckhands: Ask for the bosun or lead deckhand

• Future Interior: Ask for the chief stewardess or second stewardess

• Future Chefs: Ask for the Head or Sous Chef

• Future Engos: Ask for the Chief or the Second Engineer

Or simply introduce yourself: "Hi, nice to meet you! My name is ________. I was wondering if you could pass my CV to the appropriate person. I'm looking for daywork in the ______ department."

Final Words of Encouragement

Dockwalking is challenging but rewarding. The persistence you demonstrate during this process builds the foundation for a successful yachting career. Keep going despite rejections, maintain your professionalism, and remember that everyone in the industry once stood where you are now! Even that terrifying chief stew was once a nervous greenie with a fresh CV and dreams of becoming a yachtie.

So strap on those comfortable shoes, slather on that sunscreen, and prepare to smile so much your face hurts. Your yachting adventure awaits—just past the next dock, and the next, and the next...