stcw superyacht deck crew training

• Superyacht Deck Crew Course

The MCA Recognised “IYT Superyacht Deck Crew Course”, according to the MCA, is treated as equivalent to the MCA’s “Yacht Rating Course” .

The five-day IYT Superyacht Crew course is an MCA recognised course and is highly recommended for entry-level students who wish to enter the superyacht industry. It comprises both theory and practical elements that give the student a comprehensive and all-round general knowledge of the requirements of the superyacht industry.  Holders of the IYT Superyacht Crew Certificate, which is recognised by the MCA, will not need to complete the Yacht Rating Training Record Book and the 6 months yacht service requirement may be reduced to 2 months sea service on vessels 15 metres and over in load line length. Holders will, however, need to meet the other requirements which are, be at least 16 years of age, hold all Basic STCW certificates and hold a valid ENG1 (medical fitness certificate) or accepted equivalent.  They can then apply to the MCA for an MCA Yacht Rating Certificate.  See this link to review MSN 1862 (M) which outlines all necessary information.  You can find the MCA’s Application for a Yacht Rating Certificate here.   On page 2 of the application you will see this note regarding sea time requirements  (see screenshot below).  Since the MCA have deemed the “IYT Superayacht Crew Certificate/Course” is equivalent to the “Yacht Rating Course”, you will provide your “IYT Superyacht Crew Certificate” and proof of 2 months actual sea service on vessels over 15m in load line length. 

The course incorporates three separate MCA recognised courses:

• Superyacht Crew
• VHF Radio Operators
• Small Power Boat and RIB Master

Course Outline

• Industry guidelines and regulations
• Chain of command
• Crew rank and positions
• Preparing a CV / Resume
• General rules responsibilities and etiquette
• Safety and equipment
• Nautical terminology and relative direction
• Nautical knowledge
• Basic collision regulations
• Planning the first passage
• Introduction to weather
• Boat handling under sail
• Boat handling under power
• Small powerboat man overboard drills
• Engine checks and maintenance
• Charts and the magnetic compass
• Anchors and anchoring
• Dingy theory and practical
• Launching and recovering dingys
• Introduction to VHF radio operation
• Code of Safe Working Practices

As a professional in the yachting industry you are required to update and learn new skills on a regular basis. As you move up the chain of command or look for new opportunities your qualifications are essential. Please make sure they do not expire.

IYT plays a leading role in your professional training with 250 + schools in 56 countries around the world. We facilitate theoretical and practical training through our network of partner schools globally.

We are dedicating our efforts to better serve students and schools as we continue to improve our database and system and are working diligently to create new e-learning courses.

IYT is proud to be an ISO 9001:2015 Standard approved company.

View our course progression for an understanding of what is possible when you train professionally with IYT.

Superyacht Student Information

Become an instructor.

Professional Instructors, superyacht crew, diveboat crew, commercial maritime services all start with the fundamentals and progress from there.

Professional Courses

Professional IYT courses allow you to pursue your dreams and work in amazing places. There is a real demand for career minded professionals.

Superyacht Schools

IYT Worldwide offers more professional courses at more schools in more countries than any other organization.

Certificate Replacement

IYT World follows strict ISO standards that ensures our Government approvals. Renewal programs for member certificates follow a 3 to 5 year schedule.

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• Dive Boat Training
• Forms And Docs
• Instructor Training
• Personal Watercraft Operator
• Dinghy Sailing Programme
• IYT Try Sailing
• IYT Introductory Sailing Skills
• IYT Day Skipper / Crew Sail
• International Crew
• International Flotilla Skipper
• International Bareboat Skipper
• International Flotilla Skipper Sail – Catamaran
• International Bareboat Skipper Sail – Catamaran
• International Certificate of Competency (ICC Certificate)
• Powerboat Skipper
• Yachtmaster Coastal (Power or Sail)
• Yachtmaster Coastal Sail – Catamaran
• Yachtmaster Offshore (Power or Sail)
• Yachtmaster Offshore Sail – Catamaran
• Yachtmaster Ocean
• Patron de Yates (Yachtmaster Coastal Spanish edition)
• Marine Communications (VHF-SRC)
• Small Powerboat and Rib Master (MCA Recognised)
• IYT Commercial Tender License Course
• Weather Master
• Navigation Master
• Master of Yachts Coastal/Mate 200 Tons (Power or Sail)
• Master of Yachts Limited (Power or Sail)
• Master of Yachts Unlimited
• Superyacht Chef
• Introduction to Yacht Marine Engineering
• Superyacht Hospitality Training
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• IYT-MSWI BoatMaster Course
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Superyacht Deckhand Course

Superyacht Deckhand Course MCA Internationally recognised training to become a superyacht deckhand. This IYT Deckhand Training Course is a qualification, u...

Superyacht Deckhand Package

Superyacht Deckhand – Package Course MCA Internationally recognised training to become a superyacht deckhand. This IYT Deckhand Training Course is a ...

STCW 95+10 Training and Certification All yacht crew are required to have the International STCW 95 as amended by Manila Ammendments 2010 certificate (STCW...

Superyacht Interior Crew Course

Superyacht Interior Crew Course Internationally recognised training to be come a professional superyacht steward/ess. The Superyacht Crew Academy’s Super...

Superyacht Interior Crew Package

Superyacht Interior Crew – Package Course Internationally recognised training to become a professional superyacht steward/ess. The Superyacht Crew Ac...

Superyacht Interior Crew and Deckhand Package

Superyacht Interior Crew and Deckhand – Package Course IYT & MCA Internationally recognised training to become a superyacht Steward/ess and Deckh...

• Warriewood & Newport

STCW 95+10 Refresher

STCW 95+10 Refresher Training STCW Refresher training is now compulsory for revalidation of all STCW’95 certificates with an expiry date after January 1,...

Tender Driving – IYT RIB

Small Powerboat and RIB Master Driving Course All crew members need to be certified to drive the yacht’s tender. IYT Small Powerboat and RIB Master (...

Australian General Purpose Hand

MAR10220 – Certificate I in Maritime Operations (General Purpose Hand Near Coastal) The Australian General Purpose Hand Near Coastal Certificate I in Mar...

Australian Coxswain Grade 1 Near Coastal

MAR20321 – Certificate II in Maritime Operations. NSW Government Smart & Skilled training may be available for eligible students. Course delivered under Sydney Maritime Institute Division.

Australian Marine Engine Driver Grade 3 Near Coastal

MAR20421– Certificate II in Maritime Operations. NSW Government Smart & Skilled training may be available for eligible students. Course delivered under Sydney Maritime Institute Division.

Australian Marine Engine Driver Grade 2 Near Coastal

MAR30821 – Certificate III in Maritime Operations. Already hold an MED3? Upskill to MED2 in just 5 days. NSW Government Smart & Skilled training may be available for eligible students. Course delivered under Sydney Maritime Institute Division.

Australian Master up to 24 Metres Near Coastal

MAR30921 – Certificate III in Maritime Operations. NSW Government Smart & Skilled training may be available for eligible students. Course delivered under Sydney Maritime Institute Division.

VHF/HF Marine Radio Operators Certificate

LROCP (Long Range Operator Certificate Of Proficiency) – VHF/HF Marine Radio Operators Certificate All crew members need to be certified to operate a...

NSW Boat Licence

NSW Boat Licence Theory Session & Test NSW Boat Licence & PWC Licence Course Information This course is conducted by Superyacht Crew Academy. Super...

Crossover from Master 24m Near Coastal to IYT Master of Yachts 200tn

Master up to 24M Near Coastal to Master of Yachts 200Ton (Limited) Offshore Crossover Course Upgrade your Australian Master 24m NC ticket to a Master of Ya...

Crossover from Coxswain Grade 1 Near Coastal to IYT Master of Yachts 200tn

Australian Coxswain Grade 1 Near Coastal to International Master of Yachts 200Ton (Mate) Coastal Crossover Course Upgrade your Australian Coxswain Grade 1...

Superyacht Industry Career

Superyacht Industry Career Course Learn The Most Important Aspects of the Industry Before Starting Your Superyacht Career This one-day course is specifical...

Superyacht Deck Package

£1,540  GBP (incl. VAT)

Course overview

This course incorporates all 5 modules of the STCW Basic Training:-

• STCW Personal Safety and Social Responsibility
• STCW Proficiency in Security Awareness
• STCW Elementary First Aid
• STCW Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
• STCW Personal Survival Techniques

In addition to these compulsory requirements our package includes 4 other courses to add to your CV which will enhance your chances of landing your first job:

• RYA Short Range (VHF) Certificate (includes exam).
• RYA Powerboat Level 2.
• Basic Seamanship - including vessel terminology, knots and ropework, buoyage region A and B, introduction to navigation and chartwork, RADAR and collision regulations.
• RYA PPR (Professional Practices and Responsibilities) online course is included free of charge. This is required for the commercial endorsement of your RYA Powerboat Level 2 certificate.

We can help you arrange your commercial endorsement for you if you wish.

Who Should Attend

Anyone intending to pursue a career in the Superyacht industry. If you want to give your CV an edge over and above the mandatory STCW Basic Training courses, and put you ahead of the competition, you should consider this course.

You must be energetic and enthusiastic with an ability to work to a high standard in all tasks.

No prior knowledge is necessary.

Certificate

On successful completion of this course, you will be awarded all certificates, except the SRC certificate, which usually takes 4 weeks to process by the RYA.

The STCW Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting and the Personal Survival Techniques elements expire after 5 years and you will need to attend a refresher course. The other elements do not expire.

Each module can be done individually if required.

Course Dates

If you don't see the date you prefer listed below, please contact us. We may be able to offer alternatives.

Entry Requirements

This course is available on the following days: (please check the availability with the training school)

• 07 June 2024
• 05 July 2024
• 02 August 2024
• 30 August 2024
• 27 September 2024
• 25 October 2024
• 22 November 2024

Seahaven Maritime Academy

5.0 average rating Read reviews

East Quay Newhaven Port Newhaven East Sussex BN9 0BN United Kingdom

Book Here School Details

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Call: +44 (0)1273 514 050

Seahaven Maritime Academy

Call: +44 (0)1273 514 050, upcoming courses.

Book now to secure your place !

You can select upcoming dates for our numerous RYA and Professional Maritime courses, including the following...

• STCW 95/10 Basic Training – MCA Approved.
• Superyacht Deck Crew Training.
• Superyacht Interior Crew Training.

Superyacht Training Packages

Thinking about a career in the Superyacht industry?

Seahaven Maritime Academy gives you all the training you need to start a career in the Interior Department or Deck Department.

Click one of the links below to find out more...

Testimonials

What our customers say.

Andrew Clements

Bettina Jean Newton

Garry walker.

Seahaven Maritime Academy East Quay, Newhaven Port Newhaven East Sussex BN9 0BN United Kingdom Call +44 (0)1273 514 050 You can email us by using our contact enquiry form.

Seahaven Maritime Academy is a purpose built, full training centre in the port of Newhaven, East Sussex. It is run entirely by professional mariners for professional mariners. We also provide the same high standard training for leisure sailors who do not have aspirations of working commercially.

Our website is highly secure and your details are safe.

We are an ISO 9001 registered company.

Online Superyacht Training Courses

Online STCW Modules

Online Deck Training

Interior Crew Online Courses

Online Basic STCW Training Courses / Modules for New Superyacht Crew

STCW  Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (PSSR)

STCW Proficiency in Security Awareness (PSA) Online

STCW Proficiency in Security Duties (PSD) Online

Online Deck Crew Courses

Online VHF Short Range Certificate (SRC)

RYA Day Skipper Theory Online Course

RYA Yachtmaster Theory Online Course

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Online Course

Online Courses For Interior Crew

Online Purser Training Course

Online Level 2 Food Safety & Hygiene Course

Online Wine Training Course

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DECK/STEW CAREER COURSE

Superyacht Training Academy

TRAINING FOR A DECK/STEW POSITION ON LUXURY SUPERYACHTS

The syta course is your passport to the world’s most luxurious superyachts.

Superyacht Training Academy’s Deck/Stew Career Course has been specially designed to meet the ever-growing demand for well-trained professional crew on yachts and luxury Superyachts.

This course offers the simplest and most effective way to gain entry level employment as a Deck/Stew onboard yachts of all sizes. A good steward or stewardess is polite, well-groomed and lively. The knowledge and skills needed to perform the job are not difficult to learn, but the attitude and art of good service is something that takes training and practice. The position requires a blend of responsibility, maturity and self-discipline along with a great sense of humour and the drive to provide exceptional service. You will need meticulous attention to detail both in your duties and in your personal present

This is an exciting career, leading to travel and adventure opportunities worldwide.

V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Courses Included

IS THIS COURSE IDEAL FOR YOU?

You are exploring career options in the superyachting industry

You have completed matric or tertiary education

Keen to travel and explore your personal horizons

Seeking a well-paid entry-level job in the superyacht industry

ACCOMMODATION

Mediterranean.

*Typical entry-level salary

Are you ready to begin your Superyacht Career?

For more information, course schedules and availability.

Similar career paths

Steward / Stewardess Course

Deckhand Course

All RYA courses proudly powered by Ocean Star Sailing Academy.

TRAINING FOR CREW IN AUSTRALIA

All crew members regardless of their role onboard are required to complete the STCW95+10 training modules. It must also be refreshed every 5 years. The 1995 STCW Convention, amended by the Manila Amendments 2010 establishes a baseline standard for the training and education of seafarers throughout the world.  STCW 95+10 stipulates the required competencies associated with different tasks, the knowledge and understanding required to perform them, methods for demonstrating competence and criteria for evaluating it.

As you now know STCW95+10 certificates expire after 5 years so you will need to complete Refresher Training before it can be renewed. STCW95+10 Refresher Basic Safety training is now mandatory.  This is a 2-day course of practical training for Personal Survival Techniques and Basic Fire Fighting.

So you'd like to work on Superyachts? Great, it's an amazing job where you get to see so much!  Becoming a Deckhand is your entry to working on Superyachts. This 6-day Superyacht Deckhand Training Course is an internationally recognised professional qualification. Your certificate will be accredited by International Yacht Training (IYT) Worldwide, who has recognition with 25 governments across the globe. This course has dual certification, which means that you will also qualify to receive an Australian Certificate I in Maritime Operations to apply for a General Purpose Hand (GPH) NC.

So you'd like to work on a Superyacht? Great, it's a fabulous career and you will need the right training for a good start and to be competitive for the best jobs!  The Superyacht Stewardess courses we offer are an entry level into the world of working on superyachts. Successful completion of this course will recommend you to work as interior crew yacht steward/ess on superyachts of any size anywhere in the world. We recommend training in our 10-day Advanced Professional Superyacht Hospitality Steward/ess course if you are new to the Superyacht Industry and wish to expand your knowledge and skills base required for superyacht hospitality.

Superyacht Crew International acts as your booking agent to the right training course for your needs. We can assist you to find the right Powerboat course in Sydney via our various training partners.  You may also need the Marine Radio operators’ certificate and again, we can steer you in the right direction. You’ll need intensive training in the practical skills and theory knowledge needed by the small power boat driver and/or radio operator, as the case may be. WHY USE US TO BOOK YOUR COURSE?  When you book through SCI you'll receive our professional opinion about the effectiveness of your CV.  This 30-min phone or Zoom session is worth $100 and it's yours FREE when you book a course with Superyacht Crew International. 

So, you would like to work on Superyachts!  It's a great idea to learn about the Superyacht industry so that you start off effectively.  Clue up about the professional Superyacht industry:  Learn a brief history, the different types of yachts and modes of operation, the roles of the people who make it happen and future trends in the industry. Most importantly, learn what it’s like working on a Superyacht! We tell you about chartering with guests, cruising with owners and the differences, the types of jobs you can get and the expected (high) standards of conduct, the skills and qualifications you will need and how you can get on a career path.

So you aspire to become a HoD? or you have reached this senior role and want to excel? It's time to Step Up! Superyacht Crew International has developed this course with the aim of addressing the obvious need for senior crew to be well-armed with the necessary skills that will assist them to progress their careers by developing more effective leadership ability through improved ‘people skills’.  This enables them to lead their team and to communicate effectively with other crew, owners and guests.  The catchphrase ‘people skills’ is often bandied around and mostly rather misunderstood!

So you are joining a build and want to know exactly what's going on?  Great, you'll be able to Step Up effectively with some highly useful information.  All crew aim to part of a superyacht new build at some point in their career. Maybe it’s the many elements of creativity about the process.  Maybe it’s the opportunity to be land-based for a while and a huge change from normal yachting daily operations.  Whatever the reason you are involved in a Superyacht new build you’ll want to be familiar with the expectations that the Build Captain will have of you.  Your aim is to build the best yacht for the Owner and all the crew that will subsequently work onboard that yacht!

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• Maritime and shipping
• Seafarer management, training and certification
• Employment of seafarers

Seafarer Training, Certification, Examinations and Careers

A collection of resources related to UK Seafarer Training, Examinations, Certification - including Certificates of Competency (CoCs) - and Careers.

General certification information

You can find general information about the UK CoC in this collection.

• 17 February 2022
• 21 February 2023
• 21 February 2022
• 19 December 2022

Deck certification information

You can find the requirements to achieve a UK Deck CoC or Licence in this collection.

• 31 October 2023
• 7 November 2023
• 20 February 2024
• 12 October 2023
• 16 May 2024
• 1 July 2019

Engineering and Electro-Technical certification information

You can find the requirements to achieve a UK Engineering or Electro-Technical CoC or Licence in this collection.

• 25 July 2023
• 21 December 2022
• 1 February 2020
• 1 April 2022

Training providers

Seafarers are required to undergo various types of training to meet the requirements for obtaining CoCs and Licences. You must complete this training at an MCA Approved Training Provider.

You can find the lists of MCA approved providers in this collection.

Long Courses

Long courses lead to the issuance of a UK CoC and an academic qualification. The MCA approves both Nautical Colleges and Yacht or Small Vessel Training Providers to deliver these long courses.

Each approved Nautical College and Yacht or Small Vessel Training Provider offers multiple course options, varying by discipline (Deck, Engineering or Electro-Technology) and level of academic qualification (Honours Degree, Foundation Degree, Scottish Professional Diploma, Advanced Certificate, etc.).

Refer to the relevant “certification information” section of this page for information on the requirements to achieve a CoC in each discipline.

For more information on the courses offered by each Nautical College or Yacht or Small Vessel Training Provider, visit their website or contact them directly using the details in this collection.

Short Courses

Seafarers employed or engaged in any capacity on board a ship are required to successfully complete the following four elements of basic training:

• Personal Survival Techniques (STCW Code – Table A-VI/1-1)
• Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (STCW Code – Table A-VI/1-2)
• Elementary First Aid (STCW Code – Table A-VI/1-3)
• Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (STCW Code – Table A-VI/14)

You may also require additional safety and ancillary training may be required, this will depend on the CoC or Licence you are applying for.

Refer to the relevant “certification information” section of this page for information on the short course requirements to achieve different CoCs and Licences in each discipline.

• 24 January 2024
• 11 November 2020
• 7 July 2023

Flag State Endorsement (FSE) certification information

You can find the requirements to achieve or verify a UK Flag State Endorsement in this collection.

• 8 December 2021
• 8 June 2023
• 17 January 2023
• 9 August 2021
• 30 July 2010

Short Course certification information

You can find the requirements to achieve a UK Certificate of Proficiency, issued via MCA Approved Short Course, in this collection.

• 5 January 2023

Oral examination logistics

You can find the information on oral examination logistics in this collection.

• 29 April 2024
• 5 February 2020
• 5 October 2022

Oral examination syllabuses

Seafarers may be required to undertake oral examinations as one of the requirements to achieve a CoC or Licence. Refer to the relevant “certification information” section of this page for information on the requirements to achieve a CoC or Licence in each discipline.

You can find the oral examination syllabuses held by the MCA in this collection.

• 3 November 2021
• 26 January 2023
• 9 June 2023
• 13 February 2024
• 6 April 2022
• 8 December 2023
• 11 June 2018
• 16 March 2017

Written examination syllabuses

Seafarers may be required to undertake written examinations as one of the requirements to achieve a CoC or Licence. Refer to the relevant “certification information” section of this page for information on the requirements to achieve a CoC or Licence in each discipline.

You can find the written examination syllabuses held by the MCA in this collection.

• 3 November 2017
• 1 July 2021
• 3 January 2018
• 20 August 2014
• 8 February 2017
• 19 January 2024

Careers and SMarT funding

You can find information on the Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) funding in this collection.

For more information on career opportunities visit the Careers At Sea website .

Further information on maritime training is provided on the following websites:

• Association of Marine Electronics and Radio Colleges(AMERC)
• Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST)
• International Association of Marine Institutions (IAMI)
• International Yacht Training Worldwide
• Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB)
• Royal Institute of Naval Architecture (RINA)
• Royal Yachting Association (RYA)
• Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)
• 7 December 2022
• 30 June 2020
• 7 December 2023
• 1 February 2018

Fishing certification information

You can find the requirements to achieve a UK Fishing CoC in this collection.

• 20 April 2021
• 23 March 2023

Consultations and surveys

You can find MCA consultations and surveys relating to UK seafarers training, examinations, certification or careers in this collection.

• 16 May 2023
• Consultation outcome
• 26 May 2023
• 26 June 2023
• 5 July 2023
• 12 July 2023
• 18 July 2023
• 11 August 2023
• 1 December 2021

Is this page useful?

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• No this page is not useful

After Living Much of Life at Sea, Captain Sandy Finds Love on Land

Sandy Yawn of “Below Deck Mediterranean” married Leah Shafer on — what else? — a superyacht in Florida.

By Tammy LaGorce

Sandra Dolores Yawn has been locked up, left for dead on a Florida highway and chased through the Red Sea by pirates.

In the summer of 2018, Leah Rae Shafer reached out on Facebook to send Ms. Yawn her blessings. Not because she thought Ms. Yawn, who goes by Captain Sandy, needed her well wishes, but because she had started watching “Below Deck Mediterranean” on Bravo.

The show follows a crew tasked with catering to a revolving cadre of guests who have chartered a superyacht. Ms. Yawn, a star of the series, is at the helm. Ms. Shafer had written to congratulate her on the show’s success. There was another reason, too. “I thought she was hot,” she said.

Ms. Yawn, 59, has been a yacht captain for more than 30 years. Her foray into television, which started in 2017, was not exactly foreordained. Until her mid-20s, “I was a mess,” Ms. Yawn said. “I was always in trouble. I got kicked out of 11th grade. I didn’t go to college.” At 13, at the start of an adolescence spent between Dundee, Fla., where her father lived, and Bradenton, Fla., where her mother lived, she started drinking. By 17, “I was getting arrested so many times I couldn’t even count how many,” she said. Usually a parent bailed her out. Her father’s refusal to do so after one drunken incident landed her a night in jail.

In 1989, when she was 25, the revolving door of South Florida treatment centers she had been pushing through quit spinning when a counselor told her she couldn’t return. “She said, ‘Sandy, as soon as you get some money in your pocket you’re going to start drinking again,’” Ms. Yawn said.

Fearing real jail time, she joined Alcoholics Anonymous. To start paying off the thousands of dollars she owed in legal fees and addiction treatment center bills, she got a job washing boats in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. By 30, she had earned her captain’s license from Maritime Professional Training, a school in Fort Lauderdale for mariners and yachting professionals.

Rehab — she still has an A.A. sponsor and attends meetings whenever possible — helped her pin down the roots of her teenage rebellion. “I think a big part of my drinking was that I couldn’t accept my sexuality,” she said. “When I got sober is when I accepted that, oh my gosh, I actually prefer women.”

For Ms. Shafer, that level of acceptance took much longer. It also cost her a career as a gospel singer.

Ms. Shafer, 50, is the entrepreneur behind a skin care line, Skin by Leah, and a jewelry business started with a friend, Cuff Me. When she messaged Ms. Yawn to congratulate her on the success of “Below Deck Mediterranean” in 2018, she and her husband of 20 years, then living with their teenage daughter in Denver, were going through a divorce. The relationship had gone stale years earlier, Ms. Shafer said, but fear and uncertainty prevented her from leaving.

“I had the security of not worrying financially, because he took care of everything,” she said. Her gospel career at a nondenominational church had taken off when she was still in high school in Hesperia, Calif. But that was mostly a labor of love.

“I toured and went to college at the same time,” said Ms. Shafer, who graduated from California State University, Northridge, with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts.

By her 30s, she was recording albums, touring megachurches and singing at major Christian conferences. A flirtation with secular performance in the 2000s landed her on the 2003-04 revival of “Star Search” and later a recurring role on NBC’s “The Singing Bee.”

But “I loved God and I loved inspiring people, and the platform I was given was on the stage of churches,” she said. The only problem: “There was really no money in that.”

Before their divorce was final in 2019, she and her husband tried therapy and prayed together. Finally, in 2018, “I just jumped,” she said. “I took a leap of faith. I wanted freedom.”

She found it financially first. Skin by Leah Studio, her Lone Tree, Colo. facial salon that she founded in 2017, was successful right away, she said. When she first saw Ms. Yawn on TV, she was settling into life as an entrepreneur. She didn’t expect to get a response to her Facebook message. But when she got one three months later, in October 2018, it came with an invitation.

In addition to her job as a TV star, Ms. Yawn had started touring with “I Believe,” a series of motivational talks she created to inspire women in leadership positions. When she finally read Ms. Shafer’s message — thousands had been piling up, she said, but something drew her to Ms. Shafer’s — she was in the market for an entertainer for the talks.

In her message, Ms. Shafer had included a video of herself singing the national anthem at a 2014 Denver Broncos game. Once Ms. Yawn clicked the link, she replied right away. “She gave me her phone number and said, ‘I heard you sing,’” Ms. Shafer said. “‘Let’s meet up and talk about how we can do something together.’”

The two continued to talk on the phone and over email. Ms. Yawn was then living in Los Angeles. Ms. Shafer had been planning a Disneyland vacation with her daughter, Lauren, in November, a trip that gave her an excuse to meet Ms. Yawn in person.

Both say they fell in love seconds after Ms. Shafer pulled into Ms. Yawn’s driveway in mid-November 2018. “I offered to park her car for her, and that’s when we hugged,” Ms. Yawn said. “I felt this energy I had never felt. I knew I had to pay attention to that.”

It was a life-changing hug for Ms. Shafer, too. “It was not a normal feeling when I met Sandy,” she said. “She wasn’t the stern captain you see on TV. She was just so fun and so beautiful. That hug melted me.”

Over dinner at Catch, a Los Angeles seafood restaurant, they acknowledged their attraction. “I was really honest with her,” Ms. Yawn said. But Ms. Shafer wasn’t ready to date a woman. “I knew I wanted to be with her,” she said. “I was just freaked out.”

By the end of the evening, Ms. Yawn told her she should take her time. It had been two years since Ms. Yawn’s last relationship. “So at that point I was like, ‘Why rush it?’” she said. “I was older and I’ve learned a lot of lessons. One was, let things happen naturally. Slow and steady wins the race.”

Six months later, the race was over. The women were in a committed relationship, and Ms. Yawn had moved to a place near Ms. Shafer’s in Denver. It was smooth sailing until the end of 2019, when news of the couple’s relationship started circulating in entertainment media.

The public outing ended Ms. Shafer’s gospel career. “I knew the minute I came out as being in love with a woman it would be over, and it was,” she said. Her six CDs, sold in dozens of church bookstores, were pulled from shelves and shipped to her doorstep. Christian radio stations stopped playing her music.

“I had worked for 35 years,” she said. “And it was over.”

Most painful of all were comments after her father’s death from Covid in 2020. “People in the church told me he died because of my sins,” she said. “But he had met and come to accept Sandy before he passed, and I thank God that happened.” Now, “my family adores Sandy.”

Ms. Yawn lost both her parents to heart attacks before she became a TV star — her father in 2006, and her mother in 2009. In 2015, she was en route to the Miami Boat Show on her motorcycle when she was hit by a car. The driver left the scene. “I felt my mother’s presence while I was flipping through the air, and I felt peaceful,” she said.

When she hit the pavement, she had a fractured pelvis and her foot “was on sideways,” she said. By then, though, she was used to navigating life and death scenarios, including fires at sea and run-ins with pirates. She credits her fortitude and empathy, qualities highlighted on “Below Deck Mediterranean,” which she joined in 2017, to her sobriety. “I’ve got nothing to hide and everything to share,” she said.

In 2022, Ms. Yawn and Ms. Shafer bought a house together in Parker, Colo. In September 2023, while Ms. Yawn was filming in Greece, Ms. Shafer flew overseas to visit. Ms. Yawn proposed with a diamond engagement ring on the beach , with violin players in the background.

Binge more Vows columns here and read all our wedding, relationship and divorce coverage here .

On May 11, Ms. Shafer and Ms. Yawn were married in Fort Lauderdale aboard She’s a 10 Too, a superyacht lent to the couple by their friend Carolyn Aronson. Fifty-five guests, the maximum allowed aboard the vessel, were in attendance. Among them were “Below Deck Mediterranean” castmates Aesha Scott, Kate Chastain and Dave White, known to viewers as Chef Dave. (And yes, there were cameras filming.)

Ms. Shafer, in a long white wedding gown by Leah Da Gloria, walked down the aisle with her two brothers, Matthew Dale and Justin Dale, to an altar decorated with white roses and hydrangeas; her daughter, now 18, was her maid of honor.

Ms. Yawn, in a white Veronica Beard suit, was escorted down the aisle by Mark Dunham, her brother-in-law. Michelle Dunham, Ms. Yawn’s sister, was her maid of honor. Most guests were barefoot, as is common on yachts. The brides and their wedding party were granted an exception.

Nadine Rajabi, the showrunner of “Below Deck Mediterranean,” who is ordained by the Universal Life Church, married them on the yacht’s bridge aft deck, a job made more difficult by the weather: wind caused her microphone to cut out and blew the pages of her speech around. But nothing could disturb the focus of the brides as they read handwritten vows.

Ms. Shafer told Ms. Yawn that she had taught her to be more optimistic, more playful and “to jump.” Ms. Yawn told Ms. Shafer that she had given her patience and grace.

The captain had been hoping to make it through the ceremony free of tears. But that, she said shortly after they were pronounced married, was impossible. “The minute I looked at Leah and started reading her all the reasons I fell in love with her I started to cry,” she said. “It’s so amazing to find this kind of love in your lifetime.”

On This Day

When May 11, 2024

Where Aboard the superyacht She’s a 10 Too, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Rescue Mission The couple chose “She’s a Lady” for their first dance during an onboard reception. Chef Dave prepared short ribs and a three-tiered, gluten-free vanilla, chocolate and strawberry cake that threatened to topple in the wind and heat (temperatures were in the 90s).

Cruising After the wedding, the brides took off for a five-day honeymoon to Little Palm Island on a yacht lent by Mr. Flynn. Ms. Yawn was at the helm, of course.

Onward In June, Ms. Yawn and Ms. Shafer will move from Denver to Ponte Vedra, Fla., to be closer to Ms. Dunham, who runs a private school for children with autism, Jacksonville School for Autism, in Jacksonville. On June 3, season nine of “Below Deck Mediterranean” premieres on Bravo. And on July 1, Ms. Shafer will open a skin care studio in Ponte Vedra.

An earlier version of this article misidentified   the man who escorted Sandy Yawn down the aisle. It was Mark Dunham, her brother-in-law, not her friend John Flynn. An earlier version of a picture caption also misidentified Mr. Dunham as Mr. Flynn. Additionally, the article misstated   the shoe rule aboard   the superyacht on which the wedding was held. The brides and their wedding party were allowed to wear shoes; other guests were not.

How we handle corrections

Weddings Trends and Ideas

Keeping Friendships Intact: The soon-to-be-married couple and their closest friends might experience stress and even tension leading up to their nuptials. Here’s how to avoid a friendship breakup .

‘Edible Haute Couture’: Bastien Blanc-Tailleur, a luxury cake designer based in Paris, creates opulent confections for high-profile clients , including European royalty and American socialites.

Reinventing a Mexican Tradition: Mariachi, a soundtrack for celebration in Mexico, offers a way for couples to honor their heritage  at their weddings.

Something Thrifted: Focused on recycled clothing , some brides are finding their wedding attire on vintage sites and at resale stores.

Brand Your Love Story: Some couples are going above and beyond to personalize their weddings, with bespoke party favors and custom experiences for guests .

Going to Great Lengths : Mega wedding cakes are momentous for reasons beyond their size — they are part of an emerging trend of extremely long cakes .

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Elektrostal

Elektrostal Localisation : Country Russia , Oblast Moscow Oblast . Available Information : Geographical coordinates , Population, Area, Altitude, Weather and Hotel . Nearby cities and villages : Noginsk , Pavlovsky Posad and Staraya Kupavna .

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WGS 84 coordinate reference system is the latest revision of the World Geodetic System, which is used in mapping and navigation, including GPS satellite navigation system (the Global Positioning System).

Geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) define a position on the Earth’s surface. Coordinates are angular units. The canonical form of latitude and longitude representation uses degrees (°), minutes (′), and seconds (″). GPS systems widely use coordinates in degrees and decimal minutes, or in decimal degrees.

Latitude varies from −90° to 90°. The latitude of the Equator is 0°; the latitude of the South Pole is −90°; the latitude of the North Pole is 90°. Positive latitude values correspond to the geographic locations north of the Equator (abbrev. N). Negative latitude values correspond to the geographic locations south of the Equator (abbrev. S).

Longitude is counted from the prime meridian ( IERS Reference Meridian for WGS 84) and varies from −180° to 180°. Positive longitude values correspond to the geographic locations east of the prime meridian (abbrev. E). Negative longitude values correspond to the geographic locations west of the prime meridian (abbrev. W).

UTM or Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate system divides the Earth’s surface into 60 longitudinal zones. The coordinates of a location within each zone are defined as a planar coordinate pair related to the intersection of the equator and the zone’s central meridian, and measured in meters.

Elevation above sea level is a measure of a geographic location’s height. We are using the global digital elevation model GTOPO30 .

Elektrostal , Moscow Oblast, Russia