Life skills National Careers Week- A day in the life of a Yacht Rigger

by Emma Slater on 3 Mar 2015 Our second ‘Day in the Life’ profile for Life skills National Careers Week (02-06 March), comes from Oliver Wyatt (24), who works as a Rigger at Performance Rigging Ltd based at Hamble Point Marina, Hamble. We grabbed five minutes with him during his busy day to find out exactly what a job as a rigger involves, how he got started and what makes a good yacht rigger.

1. How long have you been doing this job?
I’ve worked for Performance Rigging for the past three and a half years

2. Why did you want a career in this area?
I wanted to specialise in an area of the yachting industry that made me more valuable to race yachts. I wanted a shore based job that allowed me to have my weekends free to go racing myself.

3. What exactly does your job as a yacht rigger involve?
Unstepping and stepping masts on new boats, and old mast for boats going in for repairs or refits, or being re-rigged. Making new standing rigging from wire and rod. Making new running rigging, including splicing a range of rope, from three strand to high tech dyneema materials. Inspecting masts for damage and reporting findings. Key skills are lots of measuring and being accurate, and a great attention to detail is needed.

4. How did you get the job?
I contacted Performance Rigging and expressed my interest after hearing through the industry there might have been an opening.

5. Did you have to have any specialist knowledge, do any specialist courses / training to get the job?
A good knowledge of sailing really helps. There is no course or qualification for yacht riggers currently, I learnt on the job from being paired with an experienced rigger – it takes about three years on the job to become a good rigger. I have completed a Banksmans course that allows me to direct crane operatives and sling loads ready for lifting.

6. What do you love about your job?
I love working outdoors in the summer, the satisfaction of making something, and the variety of working on cruising, racing and super yachts.

7. What are the biggest challenges in your job?
Safety – it’s very hard to examine winches, jammers, halyards thoroughly before going aloft. Working with the weather and simple jobs become more difficult due to being aloft.

8. What are your top tips for someone thinking about a career in this field?
As there are no formal qualifications it is all down to your reputation – so being punctual, hardworking, keen to learn will help you progress through the industry.

9. What has been your favourite aspect of your job so far and why?
Getting to the stage where I have the knowledge and ability to run a project from start to finish.

10. Describe a typical days’ work?
Assess weather and deadlines to work out job order for the day. Arrange crane times, liaise with brokers, clients etc. No day is the same – ranges from rope work, unstepping masts, re-rigs etcetc etc

11. What skills does someone need if they are thinking about a career in this area? A basic sailing knowledge is useful as is a head for heights and being active, hardworking and keen to learn

12. What has been the best advice you have received in your job so far?
If you are unsure, ask, and learn from it.

'Being a yacht rigger is an enjoyable and rewarding job that allows me to work
outside, and going up rigs means I can take in some amazing views. It’s a really
friendly industry and has opened doors to many other opportunities for me', Oliver
concluded.