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Professionals, Committed to Excellence

WE ARE NOW RYA RECOGNISED!!  Check out our new RYA Power Boat Level II and RYA Personal Watercraft Courses!!
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NEW NEW NEW
! Our Super Yacht 2 Day Chef Course for qualified Chefs
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Welcome to the exciting and luxurious World of Super Yachting. This career offers you the opportunity to be employed as crew members on board these exquisite Multi Million Dollar Vessels. Hard work, the right qualifications, and a “can-do” attitude are essential prerequisites to meet the extremely high Service and Maritime Standards expected in this Industry.

Some of the numerous benefits include: travelling to the world’s most luxurious and exotic locations, earning tax-free foreign currency, while meeting some of the most famous and influential people in the world. Furthermore, the professional approach adopted within the Super Yachting Industry has created numerous possibilities for career advancement.

The Super Yacht industry is rapidly growing, resulting in a substantial increase in the amount of yachts being produced annually, a trend that has been continuing for the past 10 years. The latest statistics indicated from yacht builders worldwide, show an increase of 11% over the past year (for vessels over 24 meters). Simply put: If these new boats were lined up, it would extend for over 24 miles (39 kilometers)! This increase has created thousands of new jobs, and as a result, there is a shortage of qualified crew at all levels.

In this industry, the attention to detail, focus and professionalism of crew, are unparallel to any other Maritime or sea-going working environment. Our motto at SYSA is simple… “PROFESSIONALS, COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE”.  We offer advice, training and guidance to aspiring new crew to achieve this standard. 

Our team is headed up by Industry Experts, Isobel Odendaal and Jason Hunter, between them over 20 years' experience in the Deck and Interior departments. As a result, we are able to provide the best and latest information possible on how to succeed and advance in the world of Super Yachting!  Our guarantee to you:  All our Instructors worked in the Super Yacht Industry for many years in the most senior positions on board and our information is up-to-date and applicable and will prepare you for a career in this highly competitive industry.

In addition to our specialized, tailor-made Super Yacht Training Courses, we act as liaisons between all the Top Maritime Training Institutes around South Africa. We offer our students competitive training packages and dates to suit their schedule, wherever they may be. The importance of this service is that we aim to formulate training packages specific to the needs of each individual crew member’s needs, depending on their work-related experience.

Success Stories...

Some of our previous students currently employed in Super Yacht Industry – we are so proud!!!

Esther Von Seydlitz
Nurse/Stewardess
96m New Build Yacht

Monique Borel-Saladin
Chief Stewardess
45m Expedition Yacht

Angela Cathro
Junior Stew
55m Yacht

Anna Steyn
Chief Stewardess
56m Yacht

Nikki Sely
Sole Stewardess
40m Yacht

Zoe Holden
2nd Stewardess
50m Yacht

Vicki Tilders
2nd Stewardess
44m Yacht

Alicia Bodington
Stew/Deck
27m Yacht

Nathalie Schoeben
Stewardess
71m Yacht

Rieta Jongbloed
Deckhand
43m Yacht

Takara Odendaal
Sole Stewardess
28m Yacht

Jeanri van der Watt
Chef
32m Yacht

Janco Bronkhorst
Deckhand
44m Yacht

Lance Hartley
Deckhand
52m Yacht

Stacey Burscough
Stewardess
40m Yacht

Carli Botha
Chief Stewardess
46m Yacht     
Lynette Walsh
1st Stewardess
48m Expedition Yacht

Nicolize Van der Merwe
Sole Stewardess
45m Yacht

Jean Labuschagne
Junior Stewardess
60m Yacht

Stuart Grondel
Deckhand/Engineer
30m Yacht

Kim Van Eyk
Deck/Stew
38m Yacht

Heather Luden
Stewardess/Nanny
60m Yacht
 
Danielle Thompson
Stewardess
28m Yacht
   
Adriana Grobbelaar
Stewardess
21m Yacht
 
Tam Boutelje
Stew/Cook/Deck
21m Yacht

Corlia van Rooyen
Stewardess
33m Yacht

Andrea Seabrook
Sole Stewardess
25m Yacht

Kaja Sauber
Stewardess
60m Yacht

Zelri Fiet
Sole Stewardess
30m Yacht

Cobie Janse van Rensburg
Stewardess
65m Yacht

Mari de Waal
2nd Stewardess
126m Yacht 

Charlotte Egerton-Hobbins
Stewardess
40m Yacht          

Cathryn Wilson
Stewardess
52m Yacht

Shaun Frith
Deckhand
86m New Build Yacht

Bevan de Lange
Deckhand
46m Yacht

Louis Maritz
Deckhand
60m Yacht

Keelan Kriel
Deckhand
32m Yacht

Mary Hensman
Stew/Deck
42m Yacht

Brigitte Brooks
Chef/First Mate
55ft Luxury Catamaran

Carl Coetzee
Deckhand/Dive Instructor
62m Yacht

Mjon van Blommestein
Stew/Cook
27m Yacht

Tammy Phillips
Stewardess
33m Yacht

Chanel Marais
Stewardess
108m Yacht

Warren O'Leary
Deckhand
90m Yacht

Ursula Botha
Sole Stewardess
32m Yacht

Jill Hunter
Chief Stewardess
45m Yacht

Janene Groenewald
Stew/Deck/Cook
37m Yacht
        

Our Process...

  1. Initial contact (Online, Phone or Personal Appointment): Viewing of applicant’s CV, followed by discussing related work-experience
  2. Formulating training packages and/or other options within the Super Yacht / Maritime Industry - suitable to each individual's schedule and budget
  3. Individual Career Guidance
  4. Our services include:
  • Advice on CV preparation, Business Cards and Full Colour Picture
  • Student Course Evaluation and Assessment
  • Advice on Reference Capturing
  • Interviewing techniques
  • Professional Presentation
  • Advice on Preparation of Crew Portfolio
  • Providing Documentation for Career Development for Deck Hands
  • Assistance with applying for an Offshore Bank Account, advice regarding visa applications
  • Advice on Training Record Books and Certification with the RYA

Career Development...
We focus on a long term commitment to our crew. From past experiences, we understand the difficulties of not only starting a career in the Maritime Industry, but progressing as well. Once introduced to the exciting life on board Super Yachts, and making the decision to commit to it long-term, there is a regulated qualification process that needs to be followed to advance on board. We will constantly evaluate and monitor each individual’s position on board and assist them in achieving their next level of qualification.

For the Deck Department, for example, meeting the requirement for MCA/RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Qualification, or the MCA Officer of the Watch (OOW) Certification. Part of this process would be supplying our crew with Watchkeeping and Sea Service Templates, providing MCA Training Record Books and Confirmation Letters from Captains having observed Deck Crew in specific Watchkeeping and Senior Officer situations.

We constantly update our information regarding changes within the Industry. For example: Sea service has now been separated into 5 categories: Onboard Yacht Service, Actual Sea Service, Stand-by Service, Yard Service & Watchkeeping Service. This needs to be documented on each vessel each deck crew member is employed on and is only one of the prerequisites.

As for the Interior Department, we are offering an Advanced Chief Stewardess Training Course, focusing on the skills needed to advance to Chief Stewardess/Purser on board the yacht. The minimum prerequisite for participation in this course would be at least two years as a Stewardess within the Industry.

After having viewed our website, we hope that it is apparent that our main focus is on assisting our crew in entering this amazing Industry. Furthermore, we would like to actively be involved in each crew member’s progression throughout their careers, through continued contact and assistance.
SYSA Cares...

 

As part of our service to the community, we have been getting involved with several charities – because SYSA cares!

 


OUT OF AFRICA CHILDREN’S FUND AND TABLE VIEW BABY SAFE

Their primary purpose is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and terminally illnesses, as well as saving abandoned babies in South Africa.  They support the needs of the children and their immediate family in the most dignified and compassionate manner.

We donated hundreds of baby clothing items for the “Baby Safe” project – providing a safe, confidential and dignified option to mothers who feel like they cannot cope with a newborn baby.  Unfortunately, yearly, a vast number of babies are abandoned in dumpsters, rubbish piles and in storm drains over South Africa.

To become involved in this wonderful cause, please view: www.outofafricacf.org

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Our donation to the Out of Africa Children’s Fund was handed out to mothers and children of Tygerberg Hospital during INTERNATIONAL MANDELA DAY – 18 July 2011

During a celebration of the “Mandela 67 minutes” on 18 July, Out of Africa Children’s Fund spent the day with the children of Tygerberg Hospital.  Several companies joined in to make the children feel special and hand out gifts and care packages.

Our baby clothes donation was handed out to mothers with small babies – what a special way to say:  “we care”.

It is a blessing to be part of Kim Ferroli-Highfield’s wonderful campaigns and projects!

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Our baby items being handed out by Kim to a brave mommy with a sick baby in Tygerberg Hospital.

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The wonderful people and children at Tygerberg Hospital.

The SYSA team was very busy on Mandela Day – there were several training courses and marketing projects going on, so our “67 minutes” (more like 4 hours) took place on 17 July – Isobel made a whopping 200 sandwiches, dropped them off at Joe Slovo Informal Settlement in Milnerton, where an informal trader welcomed her at her “Spaza Shop”, where she normally sells BBQ chicken and what looked like tripe. 

The sandwiches were part of an empowerment initiative – the shopkeeper sold the sandwiches at R2.00 each and therefore we happily contributed to her business and her meagre salary as an informal shopkeeper. 

Isobel also could not resist handing out some of the sandwiches to little children playing in the area – and provided for some hungry tummies on that sunny Sunday afternoon.


ANGEL KNITTERS

knit1We also joined in to donate a almost a 100 yarns of wool for a group of volunteers, the Angel Knitters, mostly consisting of elderly and retired ladies who knit various winter items for Hospice and other charities. They receive no funding and we thought this is an excellent way to help out such a lovely group of people!!

One of the ladies in this group is 92 years old! Recently, they delivered 170 pairs of gloves, 400 woollen hats and currently working on 200 baby jackets and 230 pairs of gloves! That is some serious knitting!!

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