Walk down memory lane with us…
We’ve been reflecting on the amazing week we had at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, otherwise known as FLIBS. So many amazing things happened throughout our time there, so we wanted to give you the inside scoop on what we got up to during the show.
Although the weather wasn’t completely on our side during the show, we still made sure to make the most of it and managed to rack up an impressive 80,000+ steps during the five days. If you’ve never been to a boat show before, a tip from us is to wear comfortable shoes and pack for all weather conditions!
Our TYS team this year consisted of Gemma, our founder and CEO, the superwoman that is Eloise Moolman (who you may recognise from our TYSR team), and a special guest…Gemma’s mom! Together they took the docks by storm, and did so whilst looking fabulously coordinated, even after a rain storm!
So, what events did the TYS find themselves at…
The team found themselves at a variety of events during FLIBS this year, from flower arranging with Professional Women in Yachting that focused on discussing Women’s Health at Sea to seminars on business in yachting and, of course, visiting a vast number of boats where our TYSR team did what they do best: making placements. A particular highlight was connecting with a yacht searching for a chef for a month before our arrival. We let the Captain know we would be happy to take on the role and got to work. It wasn’t long before Chloe from the TYSR team filled the position, so it was all sorted before the show ended. Now, that’s what we call teamwork!
The Triton Canapés & Cocktail Event:
Gemma was invited to judge the Triton Canapés and Cocktail event this year, and what an event it turned out to be—a real display of teamwork and talent. This event included three vessels: M/Y No Bad Idea, M/Y Freedom, and M/Y Miss Stephanie. With the ‘desert island’ theme set and a mystery box of items for the teams to use, it felt like we were in our very own Master Chef challenge.
The chefs were tasked with producing three canapés—one meat, one fish, and one vegetarian—to serve on a curated table set by the rest of the crew, using items from a mystery box. This included creating a floral centrepiece themselves, all while adhering to the provided theme. Watching the teams dive into their work was inspiring and filled the room with infectious creative energy.
The food was delicious, and the tables were beautiful, but there could only be one winner… and that was the crew from M/Y Miss Stephanie, followed by M/Y No Bad Ideas (2nd) and M/Y Freedom (3rd). Although there could only be one winner, we wanted to make sure everyone felt like they won on the day, and TYS gifted $1500 worth of TYS vouchers to each crew member that took place. It was also a real treat to run into a chief stew who we had previously placed through TYSR and hear about her evolving career on yachts.
The Yacht Stew Soirée
This is the third year in a row that we’ve held our Yacht Stew Soirée, and this might be our favourite one so far! These evenings are a time of connection and community, and this year was no exception. They say once a chief stew, always a chief stew, which definitely showed by our set-up for the venue, laying on a massive spread of delicious food, bubbles galore, and, of course, no stew evening is complete without a disco ball or two!
The wine flowed throughout the evening thanks to the wonderful Miryam from Premier Cellars. Miryam hosted an incredible blind wine tasting, offering everyone an educational experience. We always find this to be a fantastic way to expand our wine knowledge, and it’s amazing how many surprises come up along the way. Plus, who doesn’t love a great excuse to try a few good wines?
Our team’s real highlight of the evening had to be after Gemma had spoken to the group. At this point, everyone got to pull an affirmation card and share it with the room. It was a truly powerful moment, and after the chaos that had taken place the days before during FLIBS, it was a very much-needed moment of grounding and connection for us all.
To hear about more TYS events, sign up for our weekly happy hour email!
TYSR Agent Meet
Our final event was our TYSR agent meet-up. Around 60 yacht crew members came by to connect and update their profiles with us. We even had people fly in just to see us (I’m still in shock from this!!).
Some incredible discussions took place, and our Q&A brought to light some fascinating questions from all levels of the crew. We loved hearing the sage advice from the HODs to the junior crew, which highlighted why we do these events. We loved connecting with so many new faces and welcoming crew from all departments.
Time to head home…
At last, it was time to pack our bags and head back to the different corners of the world we’d flown in from—a bittersweet moment for our team. Being together is always incredibly special, and with this trip being one of our most successful yet, we wrapped it up on a high note, feeling inspired for what’s next for TYS.
Notes from our TYS team:
Gemma: “This year marked my 3rd year attending FLIBS, and what a week! We could connect with students, chat with recruitment clients and celebrate on the dock with candidates we have recently placed. This show is so special to me as it was the first show I attended as a Green Stew in 2011, and it continues to be one of my yearly highlights!”
Eloise: “FLIBS was a fantastic week for TYS Recruitment! We made things happen quickly. We also had the chance to catch up with a crew member placed by our team back home, which was great. It was awesome reconnecting with familiar faces and meeting some new ones, too. Overall, it was a productive and exciting week, and we’re looking forward to building on this energy moving forward!”
Until next year…
- FLIBS 2024 Recap - November 28, 2024
- How to build a yachtie CV! - April 3, 2019
- After Eight Martini - February 22, 2019
