- Name: Kevin Pattee
- Age: 35
- Current location: Turks and Caicos
- Home town: Vancouver, Canada
- Education: High School Diploma
- Current position: Deckhand, or "Stew" - Private yacht company
- Bio: After beginning his career in the oil and gas industry in northern Alberta, Kevin Pattee moved to Edmonton to work in restaurant management. This marked a big change in his career, moving away from labour skills to people skills – something that has helped Kevin tremendously throughout his unique career. To date, he’s worked in various industries, including the television and film industry in Vancouver, as both a production assistant and actor. In 2012, Kevin jumped at the opportunity to work as an international model in Thailand. This opened the doors for him to live and work internationally in the modelling industry. In South Africa, he first learned about the “yachtie” lifestyle; that is, working on a yacht as a deckhand, or “stew”, as it’s called. Inspired by the prospect of travelling the global seas for a living, Kevin took the necessary training to become a deckhand. He took a risk and travelled to the tip of southern France, trying to find a job in the sector. For the past year, he’s been working for a private yacht company, sailing the Mediterranean and Caribbean seas.
- Countries I've worked in: Thailand, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa, Germany, USA, Mexico, Poland, France, Monaco, Italy, Spain, Bahamas, Cayman Islands
- Sector / subsectors: Tourism, Yachting
- Areas of expertise: Yachting / Fine dining / Hospitality
- Country: Bahamas, Cayman Islands, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Mexico, Monaco, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, United States, Worldwide, Pakistan, Mali, Djibouti
- Region: North America, Caribbean, Africa, Europe, Asia
- Sector: Tourism & hospitality
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Who are you, and what do you do?
Meet Kevin Pattee, deckhand on a private yacht.
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What is a deckhand? What do you do on a daily basis?
Is a deckhand anything like being a sailor? It's not far off from the truth, says Kevin, but there's more to it than scrubbing the decks.
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How did you come to work as a deckhand?
There are no straight lines in Kevin's career path. Learn how this small town Albertan boy went from managing restaurants to modelling internationally, to discovering the world of "yachties".
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What do you love about yachting?
Travelling on a yacht through somewhere like the Carribbean, or Mediterranean, is exhilerating. But it's also about the people you get to meet.
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On the flip side, what are some challenges of this work and lifestyle?
Working on a yacht isn't as romantic as it seems, says Kevin. It's been one of the most challenging jobs he's ever worked. Learn more about what makes the job so tough.
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What do you do to find balance, living and working on the yacht?
Previous international work experiences -- such as living with 15 people in a 3-bedroom apartment in Mexico City -- taught Kevin about overcoming challenges of space. These experiences have helped him while at sea on the yacht.
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What does it take to be a "yachtie"? What skills, experiences or education are valued?
Kevin is a firm believer in gaining life experience: the more you have on land, the more successful you'll be at sea.
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Is there a demand for yachties right now? Is this an area where there are jobs available?
Kevin packed his suitcase and travelled to the southern tip of France to find a job as a yachtie. But it wasn't as easy as just showing up.
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Is it really competitive to get a job in this sector? What helps people stand out?
It's all about people skills, says Kevin. Find out what kind of person the yachting industry is looking to hire and take on board.
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Have you experienced any challenges related to bad weather?
You can plan all you want, but when it comes to Mother Nature, be ready for the unexpected.
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What's one of the most memorable things you've experienced on the boat?
Despite the stress of living on a boat for months on end, in tight living quarters, there are some beautiful moments working as a deckhand.
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What would you say to someone interested in pursuing work on a yacht?
Kevin is a student of the world. He believes in gaining critical work and life experiences to help you succeed in challenging, and stressful work environments - such as living on a 40 foot yacht for months on end.
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Anything else you'd like to add?
Diversify your skillset if you want to find a job on board a yacht. Employers will look for well-rounded individuals who can do more than one thing.
