About

About VYA

Our reason for being

Our Mission

Make professional yachting simpler, safer, and more rewarding by bridging the gap between real‑world vessel standards and the training and support crew actually need.

Practical over theoretical

Training and tools you can use on board the same day

Integrity and compliance

Flag‑state alignment, embassy‑grade documentation, and transparent pricing.

Calm, consistent service

Clear checklists, reliable timelines, and proactive communication.

Growth for people

Mentoring, feedback, and career pathways.

Accountability

Measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.

Why us?

Industry-led curriculum

Modules designed by ex‑crew and aligned to current yacht standards.

End-to-end support

Courses, CVs, visas, travel, and onboard systems under one roof.

Measurable Outcomes

Faster placements, higher guest satisfaction, fewer re‑cleans and do‑overs.

Flexible delivery

On‑site, online, or blended - scheduled around your availability.

Meet Our Team

Our Expert Instructors

Our team blends former yacht crew, HODs, and operations specialists. We’ve served on private and charter programs across the Med, Caribbean, US, and remote itineraries—so we teach what actually works at sea.

LOCATION: Cape Town, South Africa & Online

Testimonial

What they say.

Real Stories from Aspiring Yacht Students to experienced Yacht Crew

"I thoroughly enjoyed my course! Chanel is so knowledgeable and informative and really gives you a full view of the yachting industry. She also gives you a full arsenal of knowledge to go out into the industry with in order to feel confident. She is also extremely helpful and very very professional."

"I recently completed both the Stewardess and Silver Service courses with Virtual Yacht Assistant, and I couldn't be more impressed with the experience! The courses were incredibly well-structured, informative, and practical, covering all the essential skills I need to excel in the yachting industry. The instructors, Kalyn Aschmann and Chanel Marais, with experience in the industry, were very knowledgeable, approachable, and passionate about what they do, making the learning process both enjoyable and highly effective. I feel much more confident in my abilities and am excited to apply what I've learned in a real-world setting. Highly recommend these courses to anyone looking to get into yachting or elevate your skills!"

"It was an informative and helpful course, I learned a lot of new life skills that I did not know about before, Everyone was very kind."

"Tatum was amazing She was super informative and answered every one of my questions. I would definitely recommend VYA! "

"Tatum is very professional and helpful. Thank you for your kindness and hard work."

"It was absolutely fabulous working with VYA. I would highly highly recommend them. They are extremely professional, helpful and super-efficient. Every single need we had was met. They made what would be a very difficult process seemless. "