Picture this: You're strolling through Antibes, feeling like you're in a quaint French coastal town. Wrong. You're actually in the world's most expensive high school cafeteria, where everyone knows everyone, and yes, that includes knowing about that time Dave tried to convince a captain he was a chief engineer after two espresso martinis. Oops.
Here's the thing about Antibes – it's more interconnected than your mum's Facebook community group. The bartender who just watched you spill your drink? They're probably having breakfast with your future captain tomorrow. That friendly bakery owner who gives you extra croissants? The chief stew's cousin. Your Airbnb host? Probably a retired captain who's looking out to see how tidy you leave his digs.
The Holy Trinity of Networking Spots (Plus Two):
La Blue Lady (Where all the greenies connect like groups of teenage mutant ninja turtles.) COWABUNGA!
The Hop Store (A little dive bar cluster of yachties looking for work) FYI These are your people.
Drinkers (Rated for their espresso martinis- generally more seasoned crew come here as they can actually afford to wrack up those massive tabs.)
Absinthe Bar (Where good decisions go to die - like actually - this place is lethal. You do get a funny hat though which is always a big lol)
Le Happy Face (Because after four other bars, everyone looks happy)
All these establishments are conveniently located within a 5-minute stumble of each other. What an absolute dream land (that may make you need to re-mortgage)
What not to do if you notice someone else has employment (holy-moly, hold your horses):
Rule #1: Don't Be a Yachtie Stalker
Remember when Dave spotted that chief officer and followed them around the bar for two hours, periodically shouting "HOW BIG IS THE YACHT YOU WORK ON" “WHO IS YOUR OWNER”? Don't be Dave. Currently employed yacht crew aren't celebrities – they're just normal people who happened to find a job before you did.
Rule #2: Read the Room
If someone's clearly enjoying their night off, don't turn their relaxation time into your job interview. They just spent 12 hours making sure some billionaire's kids didn't fall overboard – they don't need to hear your entire life story right now, and they definitely don’t need to hear about how hard it is for you to get a job. We all started this way - just be cool, Dave.
Network with Your Fellow Unemployed
Today's jobless greenie could be tomorrow's chief officer
Build genuine friendships (unlike Dave, who only talks to people after googling the size of their yacht)
Share intel about job opportunities
Support each other through the dockwalking grind. Hot tip: Mix & Match departments, a cluster of deckies won't get daywork, but perhaps a deckie & a stew will.
How to come across like a nice person: (do we really need to point this out?)
Ask questions (but not like Dave's "So how much money do you make exactly?")
Show genuine interest in others
Listen more than you talk (revolutionary concept, Dave)
Remember details about people – they notice
Other Networking HOT Tips
Join Facebook groups (Yachties in Antibes, Yacht Crew in Europe, South Of France Yacht Crew and many more) Just join them ALL, and welcome to the next 10-15 years of notifications every day.
Engage in WhatsApp groups professionally.
Maybe pop your CV and CrewPass QR Code onto a business card so that you’re not thrusting A4 paper into random people’s arms.
Keep your social media clean - perhaps it's time to do a little sweep?
Be mindful of what you say, where you say it and who you say it too
Let's quickly address the ‘elephant with a pint in hand’ in the room: yes, networking a lot of the time often involves alcoholic drinks if you so partake in that, and softies if you don't. Here's some things to think about if you do enjoy a little beverage on an evening at The Hop Store:
Know your limits (they're lower than you think)
Stay professional (your future boss could be watching)
Maintain your dignity (unlike Dave's infamous attempted backflip at The Blue Lady)
Drink water (it's free and won't make you text your recruiter at 3 AM)
Everyone has video cameras now and thinks it's a big LOL to film everything. Trust me you don't want to get to that stage, and no it's not funny to moon off the ferris wheel in Antibes- even worse if that ends up on social media.
The Golden Rules of Antibes Networking
Always act like your future captain is behind you
Because in Antibes, they probably are
And they definitely saw that thing you just did
No, really - they definitely saw it
Be genuinely nice to everyone
The person you snub today might be interviewing you tomorrow
Karma works faster in yachting than anywhere else - and there's no such thing as not being able to give bad references in this industry just FYI
Word travels faster than Dave's excuses
Stay professional even when "networking"
Your reputation will follow you longer than that hangover in your 40’s after a couple pints the next day (treasure these moments, kids)
The yachting industry has a better memory than your mum when she's remembering the last time you emptied the dishwasher at home
Everyone already knows about Dave; don't become the next Dave
Remember: Antibes isn't just a town, it's a career-long first impression. Make it count, keep it professional, and for the love of all things nautical, don't be a Dave.
Author: Amelia Hilton Pierce
Amelia Hilton Pierce is a coach and former yachtie with a BSc in Psychology (Counselling). After nearly a decade at sea, she transitioned ashore and now helps others navigate this shift, offering guidance on everything from career transitions to building connections on land. You can read more about her work at Shoresidecoaching.com.
