Working in Antibes: Yacht Crew Hub
Everything you need to know about finding yacht work in Antibes and the French Riviera: crew roles, day work, refit season, pay rates and the crew community.
Why Antibes?
Antibes is the yachting capital of the Mediterranean. Port Vauban is Europe's largest marina, capable of berthing superyachts over 100 metres. The town is the base for the majority of yacht crew agencies, management companies and marine service providers on the Cote d'Azur.
What makes Antibes unique is that it offers year-round work. The summer charter season (May–September) is the busiest period, with yachts cruising the Riviera and crew in high demand. But the refit and maintenance season (October–April) keeps many crew employed through the winter, and day work is available in every month of the year. If you want to build a career in yachting, Antibes is where you start.
Roles available
Antibes has the full range of yacht crew roles plus shore-based marine positions. The most common include:
💰 Typical Pay
Permanent crew salaries follow international standards: junior deckhands and stews earn €2,500–€3,500/month, experienced crew€3,500–€6,000+/month, and yacht chefs €4,000–€7,000+/month. Day work pays €100–€200/day for general tasks (cleaning, sanding, provisioning). Charter tips during the Med season can be generous. All permanent positions include accommodation and food on board.
What you'll need
Requirements for yacht work in Antibes are the same as the international yachting industry:
📋 Common Requirements
STCW: Mandatory basic safety training for all commercial yacht crew. Courses are available in Antibes itself (schools like AMTC and Bluewater).
ENG1 medical: Seafarer medical certificate, valid for two years. Can be done in Nice or Antibes.
Right to work: EU/EEA citizens can work freely in France. Post-Brexit UK nationals working in France need a work visa. However, many yachts are registered under flags (Cayman, Marshall Islands) that have different crew employment rules. Check with your employer or agency.
Powerboat Level 2: Essential for all deckhands. Available at training schools in Antibes.
Additional certifications: Food hygiene for galley, WSET for interior, PADI / SSI for dive roles. The more certificates you have, the more competitive your CV will be.
Living in Antibes
Antibes is not cheap. A room in a shared crew house costs €500–€800/month, and demand outstrips supply during the peak season (May–August). Facebook groups and crew house notice boards at agencies are the main way to find accommodation. Juan-les-Pins, just next door, is another popular area for crew.
If you're on a boat, you live on board and your costs drop significantly. For those doing day work and looking for a permanent position, budgeting €1,500–€2,000/month for rent, food and transport is realistic. A bike or scooter is useful for getting around, and the train connects Antibes to Nice, Cannes and Monaco along the coast.
🌞 The Riviera lifestyle
Living on the Cote d'Azur is a genuine perk of working in Antibes. The old town is charming, the Provencal market is one of the best in France, and the beaches along the Cap d'Antibes peninsula are beautiful. On days off you can explore Nice, Cannes, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, or take the train to Monaco. The Riviera lifestyle is hard to beat.
Nightlife & social scene
The yacht crew social scene in Antibes is well-established. The Quays bar on the port is the unofficial crew hangout. Stars N Bars in Monaco draws a crowd for big events. Juan-les-Pins has a strip of bars and clubs that come alive in summer. The crew community is international and welcoming, with a mix of Brits, Australians, South Africans, Americans and Europeans. Crew agencies host networking events and training sessions, and the social calendar revolves around regattas, boat shows (Cannes in September) and industry parties.
When to start looking
Antibes has opportunities year-round, but the best time to arrive for your first position is March–April, ahead of the summer charter season. This gives you time to register with agencies (Crew4Yachts, Dockwalk, YachtCrewLink), complete any missing certifications, and start picking up day work. The refit season (October–March) is another entry point. Having your profile on PeakWave means yacht managers can find you whenever they need crew.
Ready to start your career in Antibes?
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