Ayeisha Dyer-McCutcheon

It is often said that a superyacht experience is as much about the crew as it is about the boat itself. In the case of the 90-metre superyacht Nero – one of the world’s finest and most exclusive charter experiences – that is definitely the case. Among a 28-strong crew contingent is Nero’s Second Officer Ayeisha Dyer-McCutcheon, whose enthusiasm is as infectious as her abilities are obvious.

Like all her fellow crewmates, Ayeisha is a perfect example of how drive, focus, determination and the right attitude can deliver a rewarding career. Indeed, her path highlights how modern yacht crews are hotbeds of opportunity in all areas no matter what the background experience of potential candidates.

“I started in 2010 working on Sunsail flotilla yachts, saw a superyacht in Croatia and was just blown away,” Ayeisha begins. “I couldn’t believe it, so I went and did my STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) basic certificate and a year later came out to the South of France to walk the docks looking for work.”

It took six months, but Ayeisha finally landed a role on deck – something that she had deliberately set as her goal. “I’ve always wanted to be on deck – I didn’t want to be inside,” she says. “I tried it once and was terrible – I can’t carry plates! So I got my deckhand job and fell in love with the industry and the people I was working with, and loved it so much I did my Yachtmaster qualification, then Officer of the Watch (OOW). I’ve just got one module left to get Chief Mate, and hopefully in the next couple of years I’ll get my Master (Yachts) 3,000 GT. Then who knows – maybe one day I’ll be running one of these!”

For Ayeisha, the superyacht industry has been a surprising choice of career not only for pursuing the deck aspect rather than the interior side, but also because there was no sailing in her background at all before she joined Sunsail. “I was actually a personal trainer and fitness instructor in Cornwall, UK, and I had a friend who literally just came along and said ‘This is what I’m thinking of doing’,” she beams. “And I said, ‘You know what, why not? Let’s just go’. I was 24 and didn’t have a sailing background but fell in love with it, and the rest is history.

“When I first started, I remember every agency I went to see was like, ‘Are you sure you don’t want to work inside?’ and I just said no, definitely not,” Ayeisha recalls. “I have since put up lots of posts on Instagram and the like and there are a lot of people asking me how I got into this. It’s great,” she continues. “It’s so inspiring to see so many people out there now pushing for more, especially females. And what I love about here on Nero is that we’re all just part of this big team, which is really great.” Indeed, Ayeisha is quick to point out the opportunities that exist across the crew industry now. “There are so many females now working on the deck and command side and in the engine room as well, which is just fantastic – I think it’s about time!”

It suggests a key tenet of the industry, which is that it can be an exceptionally rewarding (and, coincidentally, well-paid) career if both your expectations and your motivations come from the right place. “You’ve got to be passionate – if you’re not passionate about it you won’t succeed, and that’s the same for everyone in the crew,” she advises.

“For people coming into the industry, my advice would be not to follow things like Below Deck and think that’s how it’s going to be,” Ayeisha adds. “Really, it’s hard, hard work, and you get out what you put in. It’s not all deck chairs and sun loungers and Jacuzzi parties – but if you keep your head down, do your courses, study, and just listen to what people are telling you then you will get so much out of it. I think a lot of people come in thinking they know how to do everything because they’ve seen it on TV, but my advice is just to work hard,” she continues. “I think it’s also important to realise that 90 percent of the owners and charterers in superyachting are family orientated and very down-to-earth people, and you will have never heard of them – it’s a real misconception that it’s just oligarchs and princes and the like who buy or charter superyachts.”

It’s clear that a lot of hard work and her inimitable enthusiasm is going to carry Ayeisha ever upwards, and her passion is as strong now as when she first fell into the industry more than a decade ago. “This is my career now,” she concludes proudly. “If anyone out there gets a chance to do it, I’d say do three or four years – especially on the deck side – in a cadetship, get your Unlimited ticket and then you can be working on anything from 50 metres to 150 metres. And for any females looking to crack superyachting,” she adds with a glint, “if someone tells you ‘no’, just tell them ‘yes’!”