What the work involves
A relief captain carries the same authority as the permanent captain. A Wilson Halligan advert on Yotspot says the relief captain takes full charge of the vessel, safe navigation is the main duty and every head of department reports to them during the placement. The same advert notes that calls often come when the captain falls ill or goes on holiday, sometimes at short notice. You step into a crew, a programme and a set of systems that someone else built, and you have to run them properly from your first day.
The jobs vary a great deal. Adverts on Yotspot in 2026 included roughly ten days finishing a fishing programme on a 32m expedition yacht in Far North Queensland, and command of a 59m yacht in lay-up in Indonesia with a skeleton crew of eight while contractors worked on board. They also included a two-week charter cover in the Bahamas and three months or more on a 40m private yacht cruising from Fort Lauderdale to the Exumas and the Caribbean. Refit and lay-up covers involve more paperwork and contractor management. Guest trips put you on the bridge and in front of the owner.
How relief work is booked and who uses it
Most covers come through crew agencies and job boards. Yotspot has a separate Relief Captain category, and agencies such as Wilson Halligan, MYS Superyacht Crew and JMS post temporary captain jobs there. Yacrew carries them too. The adverts usually give fixed start and finish dates, the yacht's size, flag and whether it runs private or charter. Some ask for a captain already in the region. The 32m Australian job wanted applicants based in Australia, New Zealand or the Indo-Pacific.
Another option is to fill the gap from inside the crew. In SuperyachtNews, Peter Wilson of Marine Construction Management suggests letting the first officer act as relief captain. They would also need the ticket the yacht requires. Larger yachts sometimes make it a formal post. Captain Stefan Räbisch told YPI Crew he worked up to staff captain and relief captain over eight years on the 105m Lady Moura before he took his own commands.
Tickets, flag and insurer
The ticket must match the yacht. Wilson Halligan lists the range by size: Yachtmaster Offshore or Ocean with a 200GT commercial endorsement, then Master 500GT, Master 3000GT and Master Unlimited. The MCA's yacht deck route is set out in MSN 1858, and Amendment 2 replaced Amendment 1 on 18 May 2026. Before you can apply for Master Yachts less than 500 GT, the MCA requires an OOW Yachts less than 3000 GT CoC. You also need at least 12 months of onboard yacht service as a deck officer while holding that OOW ticket.
Holding the paper does not settle it. Owners and insurers also look at command experience. The 43m Irish job on Yotspot asked for at least two years in command of vessels over 40m. Dockwalk notes that underwriters' willingness to insure a captain limits how far that captain can move up in size, and that applies to a relief captain stepping onto a bigger yacht too. Local rules also apply. The Australian job asked for Master 4 or MCA Master 500GT plus Australian working rights, and the Miami job specified a B1/B2 visa.
How it differs from a rotational post
A rotational captain holds a permanent job and shares it with a second captain on a fixed schedule. SuperyachtNews describes the benefits: less burnout, time for family life, cover for the owner and leave that is easy to plan. A relief captain has no such security. The contract ends when the permanent captain returns, and there is no guaranteed next booking. You get variety, command time on different yachts and a chance to show agencies what you can do.
There are limits. BOAT International's Captains' Club, for example, does not accept relief or delivery captains as members. For a chief officer, Quay Crew advises getting relief captain onto your CV as a step towards a first permanent command. Relief work suits two groups: officers building command time and experienced captains who want to choose when they work.
Pay
USD a month. Permanent captain pay from the Northrop & Johnson 2026 guide, for comparison only. The 100m+ band is Discretionary and is left out. YPI Crew 2026 also gives permanent figures in euros. Yacht size and experience move the figure. Relief rates are set job by job: 2026 Yotspot adverts showed EUR 300 a day (30m), US$500 a day (43m), about AUD 1,000 a day plus flights (32m) and US$14,000 a month (32m). Refer to the Captain & Relief Captain salary guide for pay by yacht size.
What you need
- Ticket for the tonnageYou need a ticket matched to the yacht's size. Adverts range from Yachtmaster Offshore or Ocean with a 200GT commercial endorsement up to Master 500GT, Master 3000GT and Master Unlimited.
- MCA route to Master 500GTFirst hold an OOW Yachts less than 3000 GT CoC. Then complete at least 12 months of onboard yacht service as a deck officer while holding it.
- Command on similar yachtsAgencies ask for proven command on yachts of the same size. One 43m cover asked for two years in command of vessels over 40m.
- Insurer acceptanceUnderwriters must be willing to insure you in command of a yacht of that size. Their view limits how big a yacht you will be offered.
- Right to work locallySome covers need local status, such as Australian working rights or a US B1/B2 visa for a Miami-based job.
- ISM, ISPS and crew managementAgency adverts expect strong ISM and ISPS knowledge, personnel management and enough engineering sense to troubleshoot.
How to get there
- Early careerOfficer with the right ticketHold the MCA OOW Yachts less than 3000 GT CoC and build deck officer service towards a Master ticket.
- Mid careerAct as relief from withinA qualified first or chief officer can cover the captain's leave on their own yacht. This gets relief command onto the CV.
- After first commandsFreelance relief coversRegister with agencies and watch the relief categories on job boards. Take short covers on yachts the size your ticket and record allow.
- LaterPermanent or rotational commandUse the command time and references you have built to move into a permanent or rotational captain post, or stay freelance by choice.
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Related pages
Questions people ask
How long does a relief captain job last?
Anything from about ten days to a full season. In 2026, Yotspot adverts ranged from a ten-day leave cover in Australia and two weeks in the Bahamas to three months or more on a 40m yacht over the winter.
What do relief captains get paid?
There is no published scale. Each job sets its own rate. Adverts in 2026 showed EUR 300 a day on a 30m yacht in France, US$500 a day on a 43m yacht in Ireland, about AUD 1,000 a day plus flights on a 32m yacht in Australia, and US$14,000 a month for a one-month cover on a 32m yacht in Miami.
Does a relief captain have full authority on board?
Yes. Agency job descriptions state that the relief captain takes full charge of and responsibility for the yacht, and all heads of department report to them during the placement.
Can a chief officer work as a relief captain?
In SuperyachtNews, Peter Wilson of Marine Construction Management suggests letting the first officer act as relief captain. They would also need the ticket the yacht requires. Quay Crew advises chief officers to get relief command onto their CV before applying for permanent captain posts.
Is relief work the same as a rotational captain job?
No. A rotational captain holds a permanent post and shares it with another captain on a fixed schedule. A relief captain is hired for set dates, and the job ends when the permanent captain returns.
Sources
- Yotspot: Relief Captain jobs (Wilson Halligan job description)
- Yotspot: Relief Captain, 32m expedition yacht, Australia
- Yotspot: Relief Captain, 43m motor yacht, Ireland
- Yotspot: Relief Captain, 30m motor yacht, France
- Yotspot: Temporary Captain, 32m motor yacht, Miami
- GOV.UK (MCA): MSN 1858 Amendment 2, deck officers on large yachts
- GOV.UK (MCA): Deck yacht CoC notice of eligibility requirements
- SuperyachtNews: Are two captains better than one?
- Dockwalk: Career advancement for yacht captains
- Quay Crew: From Chief to Captain
