Yachting Career for retired female

How old are you? Have you spent any time on yachts at all or even decent sized boats? Do you know how physically demanding yachts are when the seas are not calm?

I have no knowledge about US flagged vessels (smaller and bigger classed ones) as far as crew hiring is concerned but on larger international yachts, You would need some basic licenses like STCW course, etc. Age of 50 and above with accompanying appearance, getting a stew position on a larger yacht, especially charter yachts, might not be easy.

As Capt J mentioned, being a stew on a yacht, especially at entry level, might be a real challenge. Entry level stews are "used" as jack of all trades, master of none on board. (table) service, may be only for crew dining first. Cleaning, interior and exterior and of course all laundry. Next thing are the crew quarters on yachts. As a grown up person, You end up sharing a rather small cabin with another femal, most probably a pretty young lady.

Sitting on the aft deck of my boat at the moment, I can look at the US yacht Limitless across this narrow part of the Palma Harbour. I do not see any mature crew members (male or female) running around on this boat.

A pretty rough path to go. I would say.

The chief stewardess / purser on my boat is 57 years old but she is the wife of my captain, which is 66 years old and they live both in the captains quarters. This captain is with me for more than 30 years on various boats and is only still on duty due to his enormous loyality to me and my family. His wife worked as a stew on my boats until her first child was born and was then landlocked until all 3 children left their home, after growing up.

As my skipper decided to stay longer in order to help me out, she came back on board and this confident and experienced lady is now the mother of the crew of 14. But this setup is a one-time stroke of luck. As soon as this couple finally retires, I am in real trouble. I will loose both of them. And they are both talking quite often about their final retirement!

To cut a long story short, Your desired path is not impossible but very difficult and exhausting and not easy to endure for a mature lady. Long time away from Your family / children and from home and not all crew and ownership / guests may even speak Your language and are from a familiar culture.

I would rather advice you to look at the cruise ship world, especially on Your side of the pond. Relatively short trips, regulated layers and duty periods and crew quarters according to ILO / IMO rules.

Just my 2 (Euro) cents

What can you pitch from your previous career ?
I walked the docks in Fort Lauderdale in my twenties and again in my 40s both times securing good positions as cook. Talk to anyone you see and ask them if they know of anyone looking... there's so much word of mouth and game of chance in landing a yacht job !
You can do it girl because you want it !