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First mate yacht care was created to help yacht owners, captains and sailors get the best out of their yachting experience.
Using my passion for yachts, nearly 10 years of marine industry experience and extensive sailing yacht experience I can offer advice and help with all aspects of management, maintenance and operation of sailing yachts and associated marine craft to help you improve your yacht and experience on it.
Hi, i am Oliver Hirstwood. I am a professional yachtsman from the Uk
and founder of
first mate yacht care
I have worked in the marine industry for nearly 10 years. broadly speaking I began in the boat & yacht services industry and then moved toward professional crewing on large sailing yachts. I hold my Yachtmaster offshore, sTcw and many other yachting qualifications. I have worked on dinghies to superyachts, sailed 25k+ miles and learned something from every boat I have sailed on. sailing and yachts are my passion and I greatly enjoy helping owners with their yachts
My Journey
My career began in Sydney harbour, I bought a 24ft yacht and my life was never the same again. I began working in marinas in Sydney harbour. I learned a lot from so many clients and boats under our care 24/7.
I was heavily involved in yacht racing and eventually sought a role with sailing yachts. I worked at a yacht brokerage and Beneteau dealership and gained a lot of experience from the great teams there.
During the time I worked in a harbour marina a swan 65 arrived and rented a mooring. After a few talks with the owner, he informed me he intended to start a charter business, to which I replied let me know if you do because I would love to help you. well over a year later and I started as the first mate/yacht manager on the swan 65, we put the boat into survey as planned and established a successful charter operation. The charters ranged from Sydney harbour cruises to Sydney Hobart races.
Thereafter I Was first mate on an oyster 82 charter boat in palma, Mallorca the home of large sailing yachts in the med. then most recently I was Bosun on the 43m Sy Sea Eagle. On sea eagle, we sailed from Mauritius to cape town, brazil, the Caribbean, Gibraltar, UK, Norway, UK, Spain. Some 20k+ miles encountering all kinds of circumstances and conditions.I left my position on sea eagle shortly before it was sold and visited home (UK) just before covid happened, so my visit home got significantly extended! Since being in the UK I have set up first mate yacht care, detailing and managing yachts locally and working on a few offerings for the first mate yacht care brand and its future.
My sailing Highlights
Sydney to Hobart race
Round cape of good hope
2x Atlantic crossing
Yachtmaster offshore
Hamilton island race week
Contact me if you have a yacht and have a problem you would like to discuss. I am happy to help.
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