Key takeaways
- ✓The first number is time on board, the second is time off: 3:1 = three weeks/months on, one off; 2:2 = equal time.
- ✓"Time for time" (equal rotation) is now the most common leave pattern for senior roles on many superyachts.
- ✓Junior rotation is growing: surveys found about 15% of deckhands and 23% of stews on 3:1 or better.
- ✓Ask whether rotation is paid all year, who pays flights, and whether the relief crew is already hired.
- ✓Commercial shipping and offshore use similar patterns (e.g. 4 weeks on / 4 off, 5/5).
Common rotation patterns
| Pattern | Meaning | Typical roles |
|---|---|---|
| 2:2 (equal, "time for time") | Two units on, two off (often months) | Captains, chief officers, chief engineers, senior crew |
| 3:1 | Three units on, one off | Junior deck and interior on 50 m+ yachts |
| 4:2 / 5:1 | Longer on, shorter off | Busy charter yachts, junior crew |
| 4 weeks on / 4 off | Equal weeks | Offshore, CTV/SOV, many commercial ships |
| Permanent with leave days | Full-time job with e.g. 30–90 days leave a year | Smaller yachts, private programmes |
Why rotation is spreading
Captains say rotation keeps the yacht fully crewed, lets crew plan their time off and helps retention — losing experienced crew is expensive. Recruiters expect 3:1 to become the norm for junior roles on larger yachts.
Questions to ask before you sign
- •Are the weeks or months off paid (salary 12 months a year) or unpaid?
- •Who pays flights to and from the yacht, and from where?
- •Is there a named rotation partner, and are handovers planned?
- •Is the rotation fixed, or "when the programme allows"?
- •How are yard periods and busy charter seasons handled?
Get the rotation, leave and flights written into your employment agreement.
Using your time off
- •Plan certificate courses (STCW refresher, AEC, Yachtmaster) in your weeks off.
- •Take short delivery or relief jobs between rotations — mark your free weeks in your Maritime Delivery availability calendar so clients can find you.
- •Keep your logbook and references up to date.
Frequently asked questions
What does 3:1 rotation mean on a yacht?+
Three units on board for every one unit off — for example three months on, one month off. The contract states whether weeks or months are meant.
What is time-for-time rotation?+
Equal time on and off, such as 2:2 or 3:3. It is the most common pattern for senior roles on many superyachts.
Do junior crew get rotation?+
More and more. Surveys report about 15% of deckhands and 23% of stews on 3:1 or better, mostly on larger yachts.
Is rotation paid all year?+
It depends on the contract. Many rotational yacht jobs pay salary all year; others pay only while on board. Always confirm in writing.
Sources
- Quay Group — Survey: junior crew rotation rises
- Quay Group — How can yachts improve junior crew retention?
- Dockwalk — Rise in requests for rotational yacht crew roles
- SuperyachtNews — The rotation problem
- Seafarer hours of rest and leave under MLC (Maritime Delivery guide)
- Yacht crew salary guide (Maritime Delivery guide)
Put it to work