Excelsior Trust Mate:
The Excelsior trust runs and preserves the historic sailing smack “Excelsior”, she is a 100 tonne 76’ Gaff ketch that works primarily as a sail training vessel with an exciting season starting and finishing in Lowestoft but that has seen her sail as far North as the Faroes and as far south as Portugal. Most Summers are spent taking part in Tallships races and exploring northern Europe and the Baltic.
Due to staff moving to different roles the Trust is seeking to employ a full-time mate, The mate is line managed and deputises for the skipper who is responsible to the board of trustees.
Qualifications:
The mate should hold a commercially endorsed yacht master offshore, together with Sea Survival and First Aid.
Due to the nature of the sailing that the vessel does, ideally the mate will hold full STCW together with LRRC and must also have or be able to obtain ENG1 medical and pass full DBS.
The mate should have an affinity for sail training and whilst it is not expected that they have full experience on Gaff Rigged vessels they should have some experience of traditional sail and be willing to train to become a relief skipper.
The mate deputises for the skipper and should be happy with the day to day management of a sail training ship and all that this entails and also be happy leading and inspiring our trainees and watch leaders.
The post is full time and permanent, the leave pattern during the season is normally on a rolling 4/1 pattern with annual leave taken during the winter. In addition, it is expected that the mate works through the winter refit at the Excelsior yard in Lowestoft.
Salary will be dependent on experience, in the first instance please send a copy of your current CV together with refences and a letter saying why you think you would be suitable for the role.
It is envisaged that the right candidate would commence employment before the start of the 2026 sailing season in order to see the vessel come out of refit and learn the trust’s safety and management system.
Please contact Adam James by emailing Skipper@excelsiortrust.co.uk