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Everything You Need To Know About RYA Yachtmaster Theory

In last weeks blog we broke down RYA Day Skipper Practical and how it fits in to your learning progression. RYA Yachtmaster Theory is the next step in that journey and on its completion you opens up RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Course as well as several other interesting optional courses you could take. This blog will tell you Everything You Need To Know About RYA Yachtmaster Theory.

What is RYA Yachtmaster Theory? 

Being a theory course its shore based in a classroom or online via zoom. It assumes you have completed RYA Day Skipper theory or possess a comparable level of knowledge as it teaches you more advanced navigation techniques. You will learn about navigating safely on coastal and offshore passages. If you plan to progress to Coastal Skipper practical, Yachtmaster Coastal or Yachtmaster Offshore then you should be taking this course.

What RYA Yachtmaster Theory teaches you?

The course in essence will teach you advanced theory of navigation and meteorology.  For those with extensive sailing experience with previous navigational experience, the course builds upon those basic skills. You will be developing a comprehensive depth of knowledge and understanding of navigation theories, techniques and practices.

www.firstclasssailing.com/rya-courses/yachtmaster-theory-course

What can I expect to do?

RYA Yachtmaster Theory is an in-depth course with a wide subject field. But in short it will include position fixing, magnetic compass, tides, tidal streams, buoyage, lights, pilotage, and introduction to GPS and plotters, meteorology, collision prevention regulations, safety, navigation and passage planning among a lot more to numerous to go in-depth about in a short blog.

Where & When Can I take RYA Yachtmaster Theory?

There are three different ways you can take Yachtmaster Theory. We offer classroom based courses in our Southampton (Shamrock Quays) location and across London.  The classroom based course runs for 8 weeks ( 1 evening per week) and a weekend, or over 2 and a half weekends. If you have a suitable space we can also come to your office and run the program for your colleagues. Due to the impact of COVID we adapted our shore based courses for online zoom learning. This became very popular over the pandemic and the flexibility it offers means it has maintained it popularity. Like the in person course is typically run over 8 weeks however is sometimes compressed with multiple lessons a week. Finally we have a purely online version that allows you to dip in and out as and when it suits you. Support from an instructor is only a phone call or email away

What Equipment Will I Need?

No matter if you doing RYA Yachtmaster theory in a classroom, via zoom or online, each format comes with a extensive set of materials to make use of.  All students will receive a RYA work pack of charts, tide tables, port information and mock questions. A website with course slides will also be accessible after each lesson to help you refresh you memory. Those taking the Classroom or Zoom versions will also receive s Cockpit Companion.

To complete the course you will need a set of plotter and dividers. We can provide them to you for £20 to be collected at your first lesson. If your doing the Zoom or Online versions we will courier them to you. You can also opt to buy your own however they will likely be more expensive. If you have already completed RYA Day skipper theory or have the comparable experience you should already have everything you need.

Lastly If you haven’t already got a logbook you should make sure you get one. They are £7.49. The Logbook is a place to record your miles and keep your certificates. It outlines the whole RYA Cruising Scheme giving the course content for each course again if you completed prior course you should already have one of these.

What skills will I have after the course?

On competition of RYA Yachtmaster Theory you should now have the Background knowledge you need to skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day and night. You can now develop your skills further by moving up a level and taking the RYA Yachtmaster Practical , which in itself opens up several more course options. You can find more information about course options by following the link below.

www.firstclasssailing.com/first-class-sailing-rya-course-progression-plan

Want to get started?

Hopefully this blog has answered Everything You Need To Know about RYA Yachtmaster Theory. If you have any further questions or  you are interested in taking RYA Yachtmaster Theory click here to see availability and dates. You can also E-mail [email protected]  or call 0203 006 3717

Find out more about this course by following the link below. 

www.firstclasssailing.com/rya-courses/day-skipper-theory-course

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RYA Yachtmaster Instructor Job

Based in vliho, lefkada – greece.

We are looking for an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor to join our professional instructor team, teaching RYA Coastal Skipper, RYA Day Skipper and RYA Competent Crew courses in the Ionian Sea. The RYA Yachtmaster Instructor job will take you sailing around the stunning North and South Ionian Sea, stopping off in different harbours every night.

To compliment our bareboat charter holidays we run an average of 4 to 5 RYA courses per week. Your work as a Yachtmaster instructor will be varied and will include teaching those courses, support of our Chief YMI, informal training for guests as well as skippered charters. Additionally at times you will work on the quay helping with the preparation and checking of yachts.

We maintain the highest standards in all aspects of our operations starting with maintenance and cleanliness of our yachts. As one of our selected RYA Yachtmaster Instructors, you will provide training to an exceptional standard and we will support the development of your sailing and interpersonal skills to achieve these goals. Progression is important for all instructors and we actively encourage development in relevant areas.

Requirements:

We are recruiting for a qualified RYA Yachtmaster Instructor. The level of experience will dictate the income level. We have 12 month and 7 month contracts available (all can be negotiable).

Being a Yachtmaster Instructor at Sail Ionian is both challenging and rewarding and involves plenty of opportunities for progression.

We are also recruiting for RYA Cruising Instructors: click here.

2024 in the Ionian

The RYA Yachtmaster Instructor job also includes being an assisted skipper for both informal training and skippered charters on some of the more luxurious yachts.  You will be delivering Competent Crew , Day Skipper , Coastal Skipper and ICC assessments but we will endeavor to vary the routine so there is good opportunity to sail more informally as well.

When not teaching RYA courses, you will be required to go out on Skippered Charters on yachts between 32 and 57 ft. We also have catamarans.  Some weeks you may be shore based, this involves carrying out skipper checks on yachts that are not on charter and various other tasks including mooring practice with guests and assisted sailing.

Your working week in the summer months will be 6 days a week, at times when on charter you may be on the water for longer period, the company policy with skippers is where possible they have a shore based week each month where they can also take accrued days in lieu.

We are looking for an outgoing individual with high personal standards and fantastic customer service skills. A professional appearance and attitude is essential. A good understanding of boat systems and maintenance is preferred but not essential.

Minimum Requirements

• RYA Yachtmaster Instructor Commercially Endorsed
• Experience boat handling various yachts from 30ft – 60ft including catamarans
• VHF Operators license
• Valid first aid certificate
• ENG 1 or ML5 medical
• Ability to be flexible and work as a team member
• Be highly motivated and enthusiastic
• Great communication and customer service skills
• Fluent English (other languages are a a benefit)

Please enquire for more details.

Crew Training Courses

We offer MCA Master and RYA Yachtmaster courses in Antibes and Palma for those starting in yachting and all the required modules to reach the highest levels of professional yachting.

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What is an RYA Yachtmaster?

The RYA Yachtmaster® Certificate of Competence is often the ultimate aim of aspiring skippers. It is a well known, highly respected qualification worldwide, proving your experience and competence as a skipper. Unlike other qualifications in the cruising programme, there is no formal training course to become an RYA Yachtmaster. Instead, provided you have sufficient experience, certification and seatime, you can put yourself forward for an exam to test your skills and knowledge. There are a number of RYA navigation courses that will help you prepare for your exam. Many RYA Yachtmaster candidates also choose to book themselves into an RYA training centre for some specialised exam preparation training, but this is not compulsory.

You are capable of coastal passages

You are competent to undertake passages up to 150 miles offshore

You have the knowledge and experience to sail worldwide

• Arranging your exam

The Coastal and Offshore exams are practical tests afloat, and the Ocean is an oral exam. Find out more about qualifying passages, exam fees and how to book. 

With an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal, Offshore or Ocean Certificate of Competence you can start a career at sea.

You'll need to have the appropriate qualification for the vessel and area of operation.

If you want to work commercially, you'll need a commercial endorsement.

Find out more about other RYA professional qualifications.

• Getting the most from a Yachtmaster Fast Track course

Can you really become an RYA Yachtmaster in as little as 14 weeks? Check out our top tips for getting the most from a Yachtmaster Fast Track course...

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Professional Yacht Crew RYA Instructor Vacancies and Careers Jobs On Yachts Barcelona Gibraltar Antibes UK USA

For those Students who train with us either in Gibraltar Barcelona or Antibes and from wherever in the world they live we will do our best to find suitable work, and pass on references for those students who need them. Our relationship does not need to end once your course is complete. We are always happy to pass on referrals for work in our industry.

We make no charge for helping you to find work. If you want to leave your information on file with us we'll pass on any opportunities to the most suitably qualified, with your permission.

At Blue Oyster Sailing we are always looking for suitably qualified

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If you are working in the Water Sports and Leisure Industry and looking for seasonal or part time work then please send your CV or call us for an informal discussion.

RYA Cruising Instructor or RYA YMI Sail Gibraltar and Barcelona Costa Brava Bases Spain

We are looking for a RYA Cruising Instructor or RYA YMI Sail to work with Blue Oyster this year 2022 must be a EU Passport holder or hold a valid work visa or British Passport with Seaman's Discharge book.

Accommodation will be provided on board one of our yachts with full board.

The position requires an Instructor Skipper to manage our clients and yachts in a professional but friendly manner. Our clients are RYA Course Students, Fast Track Yachtmaster and Gap Year Students and in the summer season charter guests aboard any of our yachts.

Additional qualifications such as Power Boat Instructor or RYA Shorebased Instructor will enable the successful candidate to engage in a variety of teaching roles.

Marketing and RYA Sailing Instructors 2022

We are looking for a RYA Cruising Instructor or RYA YMI Sail to work with Blue Oyster this year 2022.

We have a position available for a Marketing Manager Barcelona to co-ordinate and develop our Sailing Events and Leadership Courses. Ideally the successful candidate will have a background in our industry. The position is available from March 2021 and will be based in Barcelona Palamos.

Flotilla Skippers and Hostess Positions 2022

From March 2022 we have Flotilla Skipper and Hostess position available previous experience and suitable qualifications required. In the first instance please send a CV with current photo here or call +34 629 881 923 to discuss.

• Professional qualifications

Working as an RYA Yachtmaster

Your qualification must be appropriate to the vessel and area of operation. For commercial use, all certificates must be commercially endorsed .

Working with an RYA Yachtmaster® Coastal certificate

A commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence will enable you to skipper vessels up to 24 metres in length, operating in category 3,4,5, and 6 waters - up to 20 miles from a safe haven.

Working with an RYA Yachtmaster® Offshore certificate

A commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence will enable you to work as a Master of commercial vessels of up to 200gt in category 1 to 6 waters - that is up to 150 miles from a safe haven.

This Certificate of Competence can used commercially in its own right, or as a pre-requisite for the MCA's Officer of the Watch qualification, which enables you to work worldwide on vessels of up to 3000gt.

Working with an RYA Yachtmaster® Ocean certificate

A commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence will enable you to work worldwide as a Master of commercial vessels of up to 200gt.

This Certificate of Competence can be used commercially in its own right. It is also a pre-requisite for the MCA's Chief Mate, Master 500 and Master 3000 qualifications.

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An RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence is often the ultimate aim of aspiring skippers.

Well known and highly respected worldwide, this qualification proves your experience and competence as a skipper. Unlike the other courses in our Caribbean RYA cruising program, there is no formal training to complete in order to become an RYA Yachtmaster. Grenada Bluewater Sailing highly recommends attending the Yachtmaster Preparation course to fine tune your sailing skills and focus your knowledge base.

RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore?

The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal means that you have knowledge needed to skipper a yacht on coastal cruises. You do not necessarily have the experience needed to undertake longer passages.

The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore deems you competent to skipper a cruising yacht on any passage during which the yacht is no more than 150 miles from harbour. The RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence can be commercially endorsed in order to work on board British flagged vessels, subject to the MCA’s codes of practice for small commercial vessels. A number of additional training courses and medical fitness certificates are required to be eligible for a commercial endorsement.

Many RYA Yachtmaster candidates choose to complete the Yachtmaster Preparation course for the benefit of tailor-made Caribbean sailing tuition prior to the examination. Provided that you have sufficient experience and sea time, you are then put forward as a candidate for the Yachtmaster exam on board Chao Lay .

Click here for helpful information from the RYA on passing your exam .

RYA Yachtmaster Mile Building Charters

If you do not have the required experience and sea time, we would recommend booking on one of our Grenada Bluewater Sailing mile building cruises . We offer these exciting and adventurous trips throughout the year in the Caribbean – please check our schedule for upcoming events .

Working with a Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate

A commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence will enable you to skipper vessels up to 24 metres in length, operating in category 3,4,5, and 6 waters – up to 20 miles from a safe haven.

Working with a Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate

A commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence will enable you to work as a Master of commercial vessels of up to 200gt in category 1 to 6 waters – that is up to 150 miles from a safe haven.

This Certificate of Competence can used commercially in its own right, or as a pre-requisite for the MCA’s Officer of the Watch qualification, which enables you to work worldwide on vessels of up to 3000gt.

Working with a Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate

A commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence will enable you to work worldwide as a Master of commercial vessels of up to 200gt.

This Certificate of Competence can be used commercially in its own right. It is also a pre-requisite for the MCA’s Chief Mate, Master 500 and Master 3000 qualifications.

Grenada – Ideal Caribbean Sailing

Grenada and the Grenadines , located in the windward islands of the Caribbean Sea, is the perfect location to complete this tuition offering tidal conditions and some of the most beautiful scenery in the Caribbean.

Book your RYA Yachtmaster Preparation course today and achieve your professional dreams!

Impartial training and careers advice

Call us: +441983 280 641

+441983 280 641

What is an RYA Yachtmaster?

The RYA Yachtmaster certificate of competence, your driving license, so to speak, is the aim of most skippers who are looking for reassurance that they have met the highest of standards. The RYA Yachtmaster is a highly regarded qualification and is respected around the world.

Becoming an RYA Yachtmaster allows the holder to work in the maritime industry as a professional skipper, Superyacht Crew, RYA instructor, plus so much more.

As a professional skipper, you can take charge (skipper) of a vessel up to 24 meters in length on a coastal, offshore, or ocean passage, depending on the qualification achieved. Qualifying as a Yachtmaster is a gateway to employment as a professional skipper. It shows that you are an experienced and competent skipper.

Becoming a Yachtmaster requires no format training, provided you have the correct experience and sea time, you can put yourself forward for the exam. You will need to provide your own boat and crew of course. You can  contact the RYA  who can put you in touch with an RYA Yachtmaster examiner.

Most people choose complete some training before sitting the RYA Yachtmaster exam. There is a structured route from beginner to RYA Yachtmaster so getting your Yachtmaster

Yachtmaster Coastal, Offshore or Ocean

There are three qualification paths depending on whether you like to potter around the coast or sail across an ocean.

Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate

The Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate is for anyone who sail in coastal or protected waters, say no more than 20 miles from the coast. If you would like to learn more about navigation, sailing at night, rules of the road, safety, mooring, pilotage, and passage planning then the Yachtmaster Coastal is for you.

Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate

The Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence has been the certificate that most people gravitate to. A Yachtmaster Offshore will have all the knowledge of Yachtmaster Coastal but would also have extensive experience crewing and skippering offshore. Skippers who want confirmation they have the experience and competence to take a yacht offshore choose this option. Once qualified as a Yachtmaster, the certificate allows the holder to skipper a vessel up to 150 miles from shore. The Yachtmaster Offshore is the gateway to employment, most employers ask for the Offshore or Ocean qualification.

Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate

You would sit your Yachtmaster Ocean exam if you wanted to sail a yacht around the world. The main difference between Yachtmaster Offshore and Ocean is Celestial Navigation. Celestial Navigation for Yachtmaster Ocean is the knowledge to navigate by the sun and stars. The theory being, if you lose all your electronic equipment on board, you can fix your position using a  sextant .

To sit the Yachtmaster Ocean oral exam you would have already passed the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam. In addition to the knowledge gained as a Yachtmaster Offshore you are required to complete an ocean passage of more than 600 miles. During the ocean passage will need to have the ability to use a sextant to fix your position.

Yachtmaster Power or Sail?

You can qualify as a Yachtmaster Power or Yachtmaster Sail, depending on what type of boat you like to spend your time on.

Working as a professional Yachtmaster

As mentioned above once you have qualified as an RYA Yachtmaster then you are able to seek work as a professional skipper. There are hundreds of qualified skippers out there that have turned their passion into a job.

The Yachtmaster Offshore certificate, Power or Sail is now considered necessary if you are looking for a job as a Lead Deckhand on a  Superyacht .

Becoming a Yachtmaster

If you are considering getting an RYA Yachtmaster Qualification and don’t know where to start then there are training courses that can help you achieve your goal.

There are fast-track and  zero to hero yachtmaster courses , to get you up to the level you need to be.

The training courses offered will provide all the theory and practical experience required to qualify as an RYA Yachtmaster. Here at Flying Fish, we offer courses for a beginner Yachtmaster to Coastal,  Offshore  or  Ocean .

Making a Career in Yachting

• 15th June 2020
• by Pete Green

We are often asked about how you can make a career in yachting with little or basic experience. Phil Wood, Sales and Operations Manager at Halcyon Yachts offers his thoughts and guidance.

Q. How do I get started in the sailing industry? I have done a little sailing and really loved it, but how can I make a career and some money out of it?

A. there are a couple of routes open to you. i will stick to the rya/mca route as this is largely applicable to europe and most of the rest of the sailing world., small yachts.

The crew for yacht deliveries (when you are crewing in association with a yacht delivery business) are normally RYA Day Skipper Practical qualified as a minimum. It’s usually crews of three people and on delivery you will be expected to hold your own solo watch, by day and night. You can find other yacht delivery opportunities through crewing sites, Facebook or Social Media. For these sailing opportunities you would need to be at least RYA Competent Crew to stand a chance. At that level, you would generally not receive a salary for crewing. All your expenses (travel and food) should be covered 100%.

It has been like this since time immemorial and the markets are very competitive with very narrow margins. The trade-off is, is that you are receiving a great experience, adventure, travel, qualifying miles (for those wanting to get the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore ticket) and informal training. Look at comparative costs to you for mile building courses or joining the Clipper Round the World Race for example. The long and short of it is that as yacht crew, you would be very hard pushed to find paid work to sustain you full time at this level.

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore

To stand a chance of volume paid work and being able to give up your day job, you really need to be at RYA Yachtmaster Offshore level. You can then qualify for paid First Mate positions and Skippers work as you gain experience from there. Qualifying as an RYA Instructor also becomes possible. I would recommend RYA Yachtmaster and RYA Cruising Instructor as a minimum to make a living out of sailing (where it is your sole income). A commercial endorsement from the MCA is required to undertake paid work. This means a medical every 2 years (you can’t be colour-blind) and undertaking a first aid course and a sea survival course. The instructor qualification will certainly help look after you in the winter months. Remember, as a freelancer you will be doing your own sales and marketing. The more you can offer, the better your chances.

A good step that a lot of newly qualified RYA Yachtmasters take is a flotilla season in the Med. There are also bases further afield, but for the first season you will likely start in the med. This is no bad thing. Expect to be exceptionally busy working 6 days a week often 7. You will be running your own (lead) yacht and taking a small flotilla of 3-8 yachts around a week’s tour of your location. It is a mix of skipper, teacher, engineer and holiday rep. However, the intense experience you will gain in a season will set you in pretty good stead for the future. Salary is minimal; around £100-£200 per week. Yes, per week! but you will get all expenses and accommodation paid for. You wont have time to spend your money besides!

Superyachts

This is a different picture. As a minimum you need something called STCW-10, this is a package of 5 individual courses and can be completed in about a week:

• Personal Safety & Responsibility (i.e. personal and general hygiene, close quarters living aboard ship, etc)
• Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting
• Personal Survival Techniques
• Elementary First Aid
• Proficiency in Security Awareness

This is an industry standard and you must have it to work on vessels 24 metre or greater in length.

You should also have an MCA medical either ML5 or ENG1.

Your First Job

To work on Superyachts you will start at the bottom. There really are very few shortcuts, other than perhaps coming through the smaller big yachts/superyachts or being an ex-Royal Navy Captain. This means Deckhand progressing to Bosun. These are all cleaning and servicing jobs. No-one on board is rarely ever above rank of breaking out the Autosol (polish), or less popular, the bent coat-hanger. There is very little glamour at this level.

The positive side is that it pays well and normally tax free. You will then have the money to start undertaking your courses to become MCA officer of the watch (OOW). Use your time and money wisely and complete as many RYA courses leading up to Yachtmaster ocean (and have them commercially ensdorsed as above). It is entirely feasible to qualify as OOW within 3-5 years, or similar for RYA Yachtmaster Offshore/Ocean. You can then become a Deck Officer and start the progression from OOW through 4/3/2/1st Officer (all depending on the size of the vessel) and Captain.

Competition for deckhand work is pretty cut-throat.  It basically means walking the docks (dock-walking) every morning in somewhere such as Antibes or Palma and seeing if you can get any day-work, hopefully leading to getting a season on-board. Once you have some experience and good references, then the world really opens up.

Salary guide – Yachts

For smaller yachts, working as a charter skipper, a delivery skipper, RYA Instructor you can expect to charge around £100 to £250 per day. You will get paid more for power than sail. Over a year perhaps looking at £18 to £40k, you are most likely to become self employed and freelance, with the associated responsibilities that come with that. Most of your future work will come either through your contacts or through recommendations. In the early years, really be prepared to take on everything that comes your way, always be professional and courteous, whatever the situation.

Salary guide – Superyachts

Normally paid in Euro or USD tax free. From around 20k to 100k+ and occasionally much more.

Advantageous skills or tips

• Engineering experience is always valuable, some smaller superyachts have mate/engineer positions.
• Get yourself an RYA Cruising Scheme logbook and start logging all of your miles. This can be done retrospectively to some degree. The higher courses and qualifications carry minimum mileage requirements. The logbook will also explain all the qualifications to you.
• Go sailing as often as you can, once you have Day-skipper sign on with delivery companies. In the meantime, use Facebook groups or paid crew services like Crewseekers.
• Fast Track courses are offered by most sailing schools but take the marketing rewards with a pinch of salt. If going the superyacht route, I would certainly recommend the STCW-10 route, you simply do not need Yachtmaster to get a position as a deckhand, start to get some money coming in and then you can start to pay for your RYA or MCA courses. Powerboat Level 2 is useful for tender driving, but you will learn on the job.
• Fast-Track RYA Yachtmaster courses can be a viable route, if you are looking to begin your professional career day chartering in the Solent or taking a season in the Med, or even to start instructing, if you think you are good enough. Just know your limitations. A bit like passing your driving test, you only start to learn, once you have passed your test. If you can gain as much experience beforehand, at worst it could save you a lot of money, at best, it will put you in a good position to be successful.

If starting from scratch it can be expensive to gain all your qualifications, for what is little financial reward initially. Pretty much everyone in the industry, speaking from the small yacht side, is passionate about yachts and sailing. It is a lifestyle choice as much as anything else. If you have the right attitude and are willing to work hard, it can be immensely rewarding. The yachting industry tends to attract like minded people and the potential for adventure is endless.

Halcyon Yachts Ltd is a dedicated international yacht delivery specialist with highly experienced and qualified crew. For more information or to see details of their recent deliveries please visit: http://halcyonyachts.com/

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Why this Ethiopian navy officer ended up as a metro driver

'I've seen everything there is to see overground'

Tall, smiling Worku Bedasso is a bit of a legendary figure at the Moscow Metro. When asked how he ended up working here, he says noncommittally: "It just happened!"

In Soviet times, the young lieutenant of the Ethiopian Navy came here to study on an exchange program: first in Georgia in 1985, and a couple of years later in Azerbaijan. While Worku was learning how to build socialism, a civil war broke out in his native Ethiopia, and “old-school” officers were no longer needed by the new state. His wife and children remained in Ethiopia; they did not want to go to Russia. A few weeks later, the Soviet Union collapsed and foreign students based in Baku were sent to Moscow.

In Moscow, he was granted refugee status and issued with a work permit; however, during the 1998 economic crisis it was hard to find work. Then, his new Russian girlfriend, Olga, suggested he try working at a metro depot, since he was good with machinery. After six months of training, the former officer became a metro driver assistant.

“The first time felt strange and even scary,” Worku recalls. “But a military background helps. A metro driver needs to have stress tolerance, army discipline and a desire to work hard.”

While on the job, Worku enrolled at the Railways Institute (MIIT) to get a degree in engineering. However, it turned out that combining work and studies was too difficult and in 1999, he decided to quit the job...

By 2010, when he had decided to return to the Moscow Metro, Worku had been working for a logistics company in Moscow and Sochi, had married Olga and received a Russian passport. He once again had to make the journey from a driver assistant to a Category 1 driver, and looking back on it today, he is quite happy with his life: “It's fun to drive a train and get good money for it.” Furthermore, in all his years of working, he has never had any accidents: he attributes it to good luck.

That said, at the age of 62, he has started to think of ending his career as a driver and move to a job at a metro depot. “When you are young, you don’t feel the workload, but at my age it’s getting a bit hard! I don’t want to part with the metro. I have seen everything there is to see overground.”

'I’ve said everything about Dostoyevsky. But I’ve loved trains since I was a kid!'

Anton Khlynin studied Russian language and literature at Moscow State University and even spent a year and a half as a PhD student. But at some point, he realized it was time to stop. Anton seems a very serious man until he turns with his back to you and you see a biker's braid popping out from under the collar of his uniform.

“At university, I had a research topic that I thought was very interesting - the perception of Dostoevsky’s works in Scandinavian countries,” - says Anton. “He is the main writer there. I took it up with great fervor, but as I was writing my thesis, I found out that this subject had already been thoroughly researched by another academic. I was extremely disappointed.”

Academia no longer appeals to Anton, although he is still interested in literature: he even writes himself, albeit articles about railways. In 2007, he decided to fulfill his childhood dream and go work as an engine driver.

“I have been a fan of railways since the age of five. My first memory is seeing a locomotive on the tracks.”

Anton is now 40 and he recently qualified as a 2nd grade driver, by coming in the top three places in a professional competition. Unlike his colleague, Worku, Anton has seen many emergency situations in his career.

“Once, a passenger fell on the tracks at Park Pobedy [station] (dark blue line), but I managed to hit the breaks in time. Also, there are diggers who are just looking for adventure,” says Anton.  “When I was a kid, I was a member of a railway modeling club, and then of a literary society. I had things to do. Whereas they, it seems, have nothing to do!"

Yet, despite everything, Anton insists he does not regret having changed his career so drastically, even though he admits seeing trains in his dreams, too. “I used to occasionally dream I was running a red light, or that my train was derailing. But now all that is gone and I sleep normally!”

When asked whether knowledge of literature helps him in his work, Anton replies philosophically: “My general level of education helps me in my life. And work is part of life.”

'I drive 2,000 people during rush hour!'

When you look at tall, youthful Vadim Kalugin, it is hard to believe that he is one of the oldest drivers on the Moscow Metro, a veteran of labor. Vadim is 55 years old, and he has spent most of his life underground. Now he is a 1st grade driver. He joined the Moscow Metro straight after returning from military service, on advice from his mother-in-law.

“She herself worked in the aircraft industry and knew what responsible work meant. And she liked the uniform that metro drivers had,” Vadim recalls. “By the way, we are sometimes called ‘underground pilots’. But a pilot carries 300 people on a plane, while I drive more than 2,000 people during rush hour! I think our job involves even more responsibility.”

According to Vadim, the Moscow Metro is not only the most beautiful, but also the most reliable. “Even in the 1990s, during the economic crisis, when many people did not receive their wages, metro drivers were always paid on time and metro trains were on schedule. After all, if the metro stops, the whole of Moscow will stop.”

Vadim says that the main thing in his work is to strictly follow the instructions. “In the metro, everything happens at lightning speed! The driver has no right to make a mistake. In my 34 years of work, I have never had a single reprimand,” he says, adding that, sadly, he is still going to retire next year.

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