Female Captains?

Yes, we have at least two female captains onboard the YachtForums. I know a couple more female yacht captains and a few others as well, running both cruise ships, cargo ships and military vessels. But the percentage must still be very small. Out of the female captains I have met, one wasn´t so good (in boat handling) at the time, but I can not even count male captains that are worse...

I have met at least 3 female captains that are members of YachtForums. I believe women make great captains. They're naturally born multi-taskers. I have yet to meet a man that can drive a car while applying make-up.

Good point.

What I've found (and this is a gross generalization) is that women tend to be more detail oriented and like to be busy. That makes them better at docking than men, but hours on the helm bores them. They are also more open to considering suggestions from others which IMHO is good, but are sometimes pushed into acting contrary to their instincts or going too far in the other direction. Male captains often get hung up on being 'the boss' and refuse to consider other points of view (IMHO a bad policy).
Both male & female traits have pluses & minuses. I've hired and worked with both. It really comes down to the individual. Viva la diference.

Yeah but, wouldn't it be kind of hard to run a yacht and apply make-up at the same time with all of the wind and salt spray?

So cap, RU divorced, single or just covering your screen and wearing a helmet?

Single, are you implying there is a reason I haven't gotten married yet? hehehehe

Now how did I guess that? No. I can't imagine why you're still happy, I mean single.

Okay Barbara:

You gone chip in and kick some arse at the same time.

Don't be shy..

Further to the other replies, I would add that to become a Yacht Captain, first you would need experience as a deck hand and then a bosun then a mate either through purely yachting or from a commercial route. Not every deckhand becomes a captain; therefore the few female deckhands you see will equate to even fewer female captains.

Yachts perhaps do not tend to hire female deckhands due to cabin arrangements in the same way as they prefer female stewards for the same reason.

I'm not sure how many years accumulated experience you need to become a Captain if you follow the MCA route, not to mention courses, examinations etc. Delays to the programme by time out for motherhood will only hinder the process and perhaps prevent the lady from re-entering the process.

Femal Captain

Hello all.....I am a female, EXPERIENCED USCG LICENSED Captain. I hold a 1600 Ton Oceans Master. I also hold a Master of Towing endorsement to my license. I also hold a USCG Third Mate Unlimited. In addition to numerous certificates (ARPA, ECDIS, GMDSS, Medical PIC, etc.) ....been sailing commercially for years. Let me know if you have a delivery, some teaching, or anything else i can help you with. Capt. Laura

I once hired a 50GT Master to do a transport with me. On our first stop, after he tied us up, I showed him how I like it done and told him that by the time we made Miami he'd be a good deck hand. He replied "I don't need to be a good deckhand, I'm a captain". This from a guy who covered his seatime by owning a 26' single I/O for the last few years, and never leaving his bay. A captain who doesn't deckhand gets people hurt. Over that trip he was hung over, ran up on a boat trolling and fell asleep at the helm. The only legitimate way to learn is from the bottom up.

100% all the papers in the world are no good if you have no real time experience. To captain a yacht and have the confidence of the crew you need to have done everything they have done. That’s everything from varnishing to tender driving to managing the crew, to having a good understanding of what a stewardess has to go through on a daily basis. Having all of that experience and the tickets makes you a captain, not a piece of paper saying so

Talking about wind and salt spray, perhaps she has one of these!?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO4cw565V98

Talking about "Captains".

We travel up to 6 months of the yr in Planes

The best trip we ever had . Landing. twice with same capt.
same plane.

Was Air Lingus. Torronto to Shannon AIrport Co Claire An Airbus 340.
Didn't even feel the wheels touch down. Both times.
SHE was good.
When all the passengers clap spontainiously when you stop.
It's a good one..

Alternatively. Have you ever been in a Jumbo. Sideslipping. and dropping about 40 ft at same time.to land on the strip.
She bounced three or four times b4 the tyres stuck to the bitumin.

THAT... was a MALE pilot...Prick really made a mess of it.

Male\female. It's the individual. Not the sex.

Plus.. Looking at the rear of your skipper all day. I know which rear I'd rather be looking at.

YEP. I'M... a male.

and I'll be looking for a skipper in around 12 months or less.
for 3 or 4. 6 monthly stints in a 55 to 70 fter.
male or female.