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About the Crew Coach

Redefining Leadership

We're not here to tick a training box. We're here to change how yachting leads.

Most crew step into senior roles with sea time, skill, and no training in how to manage people. Most Captains inherit teams they didn’t build and cultures they didn’t design. And most Management Companies pay for the fallout — in turnover, in complaints, in crew who leave the industry burnt out.

The Crew Coach is a leadership, counselling and HR consultancy built for that gap. IAMI-accredited training for crew and HODs. Confidential counselling for individuals. The Uplevel Program for yachts and Management Companies that want a crew culture that actually holds.

Why We Exist

Too many crew have left this industry burnt out, or stayed and lost the parts of themselves that made them good at it. Too many Captains carry the weight of leading people they were never trained to lead. And too many management companies are still measuring cost per rotation instead of asking why the rotation is happening.

Changing that requires three things: leadership training built for the pressures crew actually face, counselling from someone who understands the industry, and HR systems that treat crew as people rather than positions. That’s what we build.

Our values guide everything we do:

  • Courage: We speak the uncomfortable truths others avoid.
  • Integrity: We lead by example and do what we say we’ll do.
  • Impact: We design everything to create real, measurable change.
  • Compassion: We hold space. We listen deeply. We lead with care.

As Featured In

Karine Rayson

Director of The Crew Coach | People and Culture Expert | Counsellor | Speaker

I didn’t plan to become The Crew Coach. It started with a quiet knowing: something had to change.

After years working in yachting, I witnessed the emotional toll poor leadership was taking on crew. Burnout, lack of support, and underdeveloped leadership were far too common. The unspoken rule to “get on with it or that’s just yachting” didn’t sit right with me.

So I stepped away from yachting, studied psychology and business, worked with the Department of Justice and then came back with a mission: to do leadership differently.

Since then, I’ve coached hundreds of Crew and Captains, built a global team, hosted open conversations on Yachting International Radio, and supported leaders ready to break the cycle.

I’m also raising three small humans, which keeps me grounded in what leadership often forgets: humility, humanity, and the guts to do things differently.

Looking to create a culture where crew stay, grow and lead well? You’re in the right place.

Email Karine Directly

Testimonials

This toolkit was a game-changer! Within two weeks of revamping my CV, I had multiple interviews and landed my first yacht job.

Megan CV Toolkit

The CV templates and video tutorials made the process so easy. The interview tips helped me feel confident, and I got hired on my second interview!

Dan CV Toolkit

Karine helped me transform my uncertainty into clarity. I now have a solid plan and feel confident about my next career move!

Jackie Goudie, Ex-Yacht Chef Exit Strategy

This course was life-changing. I went from feeling lost to having a clear roadmap. Highly recommend!

Anna Petchell, Former Bosun Exit Strategy

"Karine has a unique ability to truly listen, guide, and shift perspectives. She creates a safe and supportive space where self-discovery and transformation happen. If you’re struggling, I can’t recommend her enough.

Anonymous Counselling

Since working with Karine, I’ve gained the tools, knowledge, and confidence to navigate my emotions, thoughts, and actions in a way that leads to positive and constructive outcomes. Whether in my professional career or personal life, I now approach challenges with a sense of strength and clarity I never thought possible.

Anonymous Counselling

The DISC confirmed for me that I am progressing in the right direction. The detailed report along with the coaching session with Karine has motivated me to nurture my positive and strong traits and work hard on improving the weaker ones. I think that the entire Yachting industry would benefit from using the DISC and Coaching

Captain DISC Profile Assessment

Getting feedback from my crew members and chatting about it with Karine definitely opened my mind to how I can improve my communication skills as well as my ability to manage and lead people. I think every yacht should be doing those evaluations. Great and easy tool to get better professionally and personally.

Chief Officer DISC Profile Assessment

Before the course, I wanted to understand how to be a better leader and communicate more effectively onboard. What I didn’t expect was how practical it would be. I now have clear tools I actively use when managing people and situations. I feel more confident stepping into leadership conversations instead of avoiding them.

Aletta, Yacht Crew Foundational Leadership

As a foundational course, this exceeded my expectations. It gave me clarity around what leadership actually looks like day to day, not just in theory. I feel far more confident now and better equipped to handle situations with crew in a calm, structured way.

Yacht Crew Member Foundational Leadership

Everyone working on a boat should do this course. It helps you understand leadership, communication, and yourself. I feel more aware of how my actions affect others, and more confident contributing positively to the team.

Yacht Crew Member Foundational Leadership

This course was a game-changer. I now understand how to communicate with my team effectively and lead with clarity.”

Callum, Chief Officer Advanced Leadership

I loved this course! It helped me step into my leadership role with confidence, and I’ve already seen improvements in my team dynamics.

Naomi, Chief Stewardess Advanced Leadership

This course exceeded my expectations! I’m now a more confident leader, and I’ve built a team that respects and trusts me.”

Aleksandra, Purser Advanced Leadership

I loved the group discussions. It opened my eyes to how mental health affects crew dynamics. This training should be standard for every yacht.

Edward, Head of Housekeeping Mental Health Awareness Course

I highly recommend this course and believe it should be mandatory for all HODs. The discussions were open, engaging, and eye-opening, mental health is more present onboard than I ever realised.

Captain Anthony Mental Health Awareness Course

The Uplevel program has been a game-changer. Having an external, unbiased perspective created a safe space for crew to voice concerns and strengthened our communication. The long-term impact on both my leadership and the crew culture is undeniable.

Captain, 46m Yacht Uplevel Program