Ex-chief stew to head up West Nautical’s external crew recruitment department

Ex-chief stew, Sarah Diggle Whitlock, to head up West Nautical’s external crew recruitment department

Sarah has worked in the fast-paced world of yachting for over 25 years, securing her first chief stewardess position after just three months in the industry. Fast forward 10 years, and Sarah has completed eight Atlantic crossings and worked on board some of the world’s most prestigious motor and sailing yachts, both private and charter.

Following her time at sea, Sarah moved ashore to the South of France where she remained in the industry, working as a yacht manager, senior recruiter and a charter broker assistant. Alongside, she freelanced as a teacher, training new crew members in superyacht courses on board, in maritime schools internationally, and in private homes and islands, specialising in luxury hospitality to high-net-worth individuals. This wide breadth of experience has equipped Sarah with a multi-faceted skillset and an extensive industry contact list, with whom she has created, and maintains, long term relationships. 

For the last eight months, Sarah has spent time at West Nautical forming a part of the yacht management team, where she has assisted the yacht managers and crew manager with day-to-day administration. Despite Sarah’s extensive yachting background, this was the first time she gained an insight into the technical areas of yacht management, a department she now has vast knowledge of.

The role came to an end as the team required somebody based in the Newcastle office, while Sarah resides and works remotely from Yorkshire, UK.

As Sarah has previously worked in superyacht recruitment and has contacts in the industry, it felt like a natural progression to suggest branching out to create an external recruitment sector.

“I am very much a people person, engaging across the board confidently with captains, heads of departments, owners’ representatives and candidates seeking work.” says Sarah

Sarah’s role will include sourcing external positions to vessels outside of the West Nautical managed fleet. This means reaching out to industry contacts, heads of departments (HOD) and owner representatives, generating a larger global presence, further expanding the West Nautical prestigious brand name. The role will entail creating and maintaining strong client relationships requiring diligence, professionalism and loyalty.

Sarah will initially be focused on Captains and HOD, providing established, well-researched positions, and ensuring the right crew member is placed on the right yacht. Sarah prides herself on getting to know the candidates and the clients prior as this ensures crew retention.

The role will require strong interpersonal skills, industry knowledge and crucially, an understanding of real-life onboard – happy crew, happy owner, happy guests!

Additionally, Sarah will also offer CV assistance, advice and moving forwards, onboard training to yachts requiring interior training. This new department will also offer the service of booking crew travel and flights.

West Nautical works with Seas the Day Training, so they will also be offering the only accredited online course for anyone joining the industry for the first time, for all departments, particularly, the “IAMI GUEST An Introduction to Superyachts and Yachting Life”, which provides vital information to ensure new crew understand the expectations and standards onboard and what real life onboard will be like. This can be offered at a 20% discounted price for any new crew enquiring about the industry through West Nautical.

Unlike other recruitment companies, West Nautical will be offering a bespoke, hands-on service, from an industry professional who has had experience in many departments, charter assistant, ex-chief stewardess, yacht management assistant, 18 years as an instructor and vast recruitment expertise.

 “Having worked on board yachts previously, I understand firsthand, the importance of making sure the crew fits the yacht’s dynamic, and for the candidates, that the yacht is the right for them. I will be working closely with the yacht’s heads of department and the crew to ensure this.”

West Nautical is excited to continue its expansion and looks forward to finding yachts the perfect crew.

Please visit http://westnautical.com for more information or contact Sarah.DW@westnautical.com for all your superyacht crewing needs.

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