Edmiston Yacht Management: Incidents, accidents & the question of judgment in yachting

This article does not seek to find fault or assign blame. Rather, its purpose is to open a conversation. By shining a light on recurring patterns and behaviours, we can create awareness, encourage proactive avoidance, and ultimately improve standards for everyone working within yachting. 

Beyond credentials: The role of life experience 

One of the most common threads that emerges when examining incidents is not a lack of qualifications but a lack of life experience. Many junior or “green” crew enter the industry with maritime credentials in hand, yet little preparation for the realities of yacht life. 

Living and working at sea can be uniquely challenging. Long hours, tight quarters, limited privacy, strict schedules and physically demanding tasks can place significant pressure on anyone. For those who have yet to experience life’s broader lessons—resilience, patience, adaptability—these pressures can feel overwhelming. 

Life onboard can quickly start to feel as if it no longer belongs to you. Days may revolve around repetitive, detail-heavy tasks, such as endless laundry cycles or hours polishing a section of deck, with little space to breathe. For some, this monotony collides with immaturity, leading to frustration, poor judgment and, in certain cases, unsafe behaviour. 

Leadership without preparation 

It’s not only junior crew who face these challenges. Yachting often places individuals in leadership positions earlier than in other industries. A newly appointed bosun or second stewardess may suddenly be responsible for managing others, even though they have never managed people before. 

Leading a team under normal conditions is one challenge; leading a team at sea, under pressure, with limited resources, is another entirely. While formal maritime training equips crew with technical competence, it rarely covers the nuances of human management. Without maturity and lived experience, young leaders can struggle to guide their teams effectively, and lapses in communication or morale can quickly escalate into operational and safety issues. 

Maturity versus youth: A double-edged sword 

There is no denying that youth brings energy, adaptability and the ability to learn quickly. For this reason, many owners and captains prefer to hire “green” crew who can be trained to fit the yacht’s culture and standards. But the trade-off is often maturity. 

With age, crew members may bring more personal resilience, stronger decision-making and a focus on quality rather than appearances. Yet age can also come with its own baggage, such as resistance to change, burnout, or difficulty adapting to the intensity of yacht schedules. The balance between youth and maturity is delicate, and there is no single formula that suits every yacht. What is clear, however, is that maturity—or the lack of it—remains a critical factor in avoiding incidents. 

The dangers of clouded judgment 

When judgment falters, the risks are significant. Entitlement, ego or arrogance—traits more commonly associated with immaturity—can cloud decision-making. In an environment as precise and demanding as yachting, this is a dangerous mix. 

The consequences ripple outward. For the individual, years of training and thousands of pounds invested in credentials may be jeopardised by one poor decision made too soon. For the crew, a single lapse in judgment can compromise safety, harmony and morale across the team. For the vessel and ownership, mistakes can lead to costly damages, operational delays and reputational risk. 

In many ways, immaturity is not only a professional risk but a personal one. Crew who enter the industry unprepared for its demands risk undermining both their present opportunities and their long-term careers. 

Where does responsibility lie? 

It is easy to frame this issue as a crew problem, but is it only that? Ownership and management also play a critical role. Investment in maintenance, safety protocols and crew development can directly impact how prepared a team is to handle the challenges of life at sea. 

If yachts do not allocate sufficient time or resources for training and mentorship, they may inadvertently push inexperienced crew into situations they are not ready to handle. Similarly, if the culture onboard prioritises efficiency over development, mistakes will inevitably follow. 

The question is not whether incidents will happen—they always will, in some form—but whether we are creating environments where judgment and maturity can grow alongside technical skill. 

A call for open dialogue 

So, what is truly driving poor judgment within yachting? Is it immaturity among junior crew? A lack of leadership training for those stepping into senior roles? Or is it, at least in part, the result of ownership and operational practices that fail to invest in people as much as in hardware? 

The reality is likely a combination of all these factors. That is why the industry needs a broader conversation, one that draws input from captains, crew, owners, managers and training providers alike. By sharing perspectives openly, we can better understand the pressures, patterns and root causes that lead to incidents, and start building solutions that address them. 

Your voice matters, and your experience could help shape safer practices across the industry. The Edmiston Yacht Management team is committed to listening, learning and supporting captains and crew as we work together towards stronger and more sustainable yachting. At the end of the day, safety is not just about rules and training; it is about people, their experiences, their maturity, and the decisions they make when it matters most.