Yacht Charter Coordinator
A charter coordinator handles a charter booking from the signed contract to the final APA reconciliation. You work in a brokerage or charter management office in Monaco, Antibes, Palma or Fort Lauderdale. The job means chasing deposits, building itineraries, sending preference sheets to the yacht and answering the captain's questions before the client lands. It suits organised former crew and people from hospitality.
The jobWhat fills the day
Most of the work is admin, and the details matter. You draft MYBA charter agreements with the broker and track the payment schedule, usually a 50% deposit and then the balance. You also make sure the APA, normally 30 to 35% of the charter fee, reaches the captain on time. You keep yacht calendars up to date on the industry booking systems, put together crew profiles and sample menus, and answer availability requests from other brokers. Before each charter you collect the preference sheet, brief the captain and chief stew, and book transfers and berths.
The job depends on which side of the deal you sit. A coordinator on the client side works for the broker who found the guest and focuses on their wishes. A coordinator on the central agency side works for the yacht and its owner, and deals with calendars, marketing and the crew. Large houses split coordinators by fleet. In a boutique office you do everything. The Mediterranean season peaks from May to September and the Caribbean from December to April, so Fort Lauderdale offices stay busy most of the year. Grand Prix week in Monaco and the Cannes events add extra pressure.
Employers like people who know how a yacht runs. Former chief stews, pursers and stews who have done a few charter seasons are hired often, because they know what a preference sheet should contain and what a captain needs to hear. People from hotel concierge, luxury travel and events also do well. A second language helps: French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian or Arabic, depending on the client base. Strong Excel skills, accurate figures and a calm voice on the phone matter more than any qualification.
After two or three years most coordinators move up. The usual route is senior coordinator, then charter manager running a small fleet for owners. Others move into broking, which pays on commission and needs a client book that takes years to build. Some move sideways into yacht management, operations or crew agencies, where the contracts and payment skills carry straight across. Larger houses sponsor the MYBA or CYBA courses for people they want to keep.
Skills employers look for
- MYBA contract knowledge
- APA tracking and reconciliation
- Charter itinerary planning
- Client and captain liaison
- Booking calendar management
- Second European language
- Accuracy under pressure
A working dayTuesday in July, Monaco brokerage office
Clear the overnight inbox: US clients asking about September and a captain in Sardinia confirming Saturday's embarkation time.
Check the bank. The balance on a 55m charter is two days late, so you call the client's broker and log the reply.
Go through a family preference sheet line by line. You flag a nut allergy and a child's car seat to the chief stew and chef.
Lunch near Port Hercule, with your phone face up on the table.
Answer four availability requests for August, update the yacht's calendar and place a 72-hour option for a broker in London.
Book a helicopter transfer from Nice and confirm a berth for a client arriving during an event weekend.
Check last week's APA statement from the captain against the receipts and work out the balance to refund.
Leave the office. The phone stays on for captains with guests aboard.
Pay by experienceAnnual salary. Estimates. Bars share one scale.
Pay is a taxable salary. Some houses add a seasonal bonus or a small share of commission on bookings. Fort Lauderdale offices pay in USD and usually a little more. See the Charter & Yacht Brokerage salary guide for figures from live adverts.
Qualifications
Must have
Gets you hired
- MYBA or CYBA charter training
- STCW Basic Safety for boat visits
- Advanced Excel
- Second European language
Where it leadsA typical career path
Charter & Yacht Brokerage jobsOpen now on SuperyachtRoles.com
Questions crew ask
Do I need to have worked on yachts?
It is not a formal requirement, but it helps a lot. Employers in Monaco and Antibes often pick a former stew or purser over a graduate, because they already know how a charter works on board.
Is the pay commission-based?
Usually not. Coordinators are on a salary. Commission belongs to brokers, though some firms give coordinators a small bonus linked to bookings.
Is it a seasonal job?
Most roles are permanent. The work peaks in summer in the Med and in winter in the Caribbean, so expect long days in July and August and quieter spells in between.
How do I move into charter broking?
Learn the contracts and payments inside out, then build relationships with clients and other brokers. Most coordinators who become brokers spend three to five years in the office first.