If yachting has a European capital, it’s Antibes. For anyone building a career at sea, being here isn’t a nice-to-have — it’s a strategic advantage.
Port Vauban and the fleet
Antibes is home to Port Vauban, one of the largest marinas in the Mediterranean and a permanent base for a dense concentration of superyachts. Walk the quay and you’re surrounded by the exact vessels — and the exact people — that hire, train and promote crew. That proximity is impossible to replicate from a distance.
The rhythm of the season
The Mediterranean yachting year has a clear shape:
- Spring (Mar–May) — the hiring rush; boats crew up and prepare for charter
- Summer (Jun–Sep) — peak season; charters, guests, long days
- Autumn (Oct–Nov) — refits, shoulder charters, crew changeovers
- Winter — yard periods, maintenance, and — crucially — the ideal time to train and revalidate
The smartest crew use the quieter months to get certified and renew tickets, so they’re ready the moment spring hiring begins.
Train where you’ll work
Learning to handle a tender, fight a fire or run a charter is far more meaningful in the waters and the industry you’ll actually work in. Training in Antibes means your skills, your certificates and your network all start in the same place the jobs are.
Proximity is opportunity. In yachting, being in Antibes is half the battle won.
Whether you’re chasing your first deckhand role or stepping up to command with our Luxury Yacht Captain programme, there’s no better base than the French Riviera.