What training, what diploma, what skills are needed for the position?
Mousse in the French Navy, Hostess-Marine on Yacht, 250 kW Mechanic to become Captain
While Sandrine was following a scientific course of study: Baccalauréat S, she preferred to focus on mechanics. That's why, at the age of 16, Sandrine joined the French Navy in 2010 and joined the Mousses school in Brest, where she passed her aptitude tests.
" In 2011, after my training as a midshipman, I was posted to Brest on an anti-submarine frigate, under a 5-year contract, as a midshipman, which allowed me to access the functions of auxiliary naval mechanic & cold. During my embarkation period, I also passed the firefighter and security capacities. I was also in charge of the electrical maintenance of the security installations on board, as well as the helicopter landings, and thus acquired a solid mastery in mechanics and security. "
The last year of her 5-year contract, she still spends it near Brest at Ile Longue as a submarine auxiliary mechanic (SNLE).
After her contract ended, Sandrine left Brest and wanted to work in the yachting industry. When she arrived on the French Riviera, her native region, Sandrine put down her Curriculum Vitae on all kinds of ships to find a place to board. Not speaking English well enough, the search was difficult.
" After having obtained a contract for a season on a 118.5 feet yacht, I decided in 2016 to go to Australia to integrate the faculty of languages of Sydney. Then I continued my experience in Australia and New Caledonia to perfect my English, along with various jobs such as bicycle tour guide, whale guide on catamaran.
In 2017, upon my return to the French Riviera, I embarked on a new season on an 87-foot yacht, despite my experience and degrees, the commitment as a sailor-mechanic often turned into a hostess/chef cook position.
From these experiences I decided to pass the CFBS, STW10 certificates to have the status of flight attendant and then a 250kW mechanic's license which allowed me to move away from the role of hostess.
In 2018 Sandrine did some convoying in the Mediterranean as a crew member on a 55-foot sailboat. She then spent a season alone on a 64-foot yacht, combining the positions of hostess, sailor, mechanic and chef. She managed the bursar's office, as well as the logistics on board, and provided daily services to the 10 to 15 passengers on board.
" That same year I passed the CMP: Certificate of Deck Sailor at the Inseit Centre de Formation Maritimes in Nice.
In 2019, I embark again for a season as a hostess sailor responsible Tender on a 102 feet yacht. When the season is over, I leave for the Caribbean with a ten month contract as a sailor on a 47 foot catamaran for day charter. Unfortunately the contract ended prematurely because of the pandemic. I then did 4 convoying trips between the Grenadines and Saint-Barthélemy on a 44-foot sailboat.
Then, stuck in Saint-Barthélemy, I returned to France thanks to a transatlantic convoy on a 40-foot sailboat, which lasted three weeks instead of ten days due to the weather conditions, with water ingress, total loss of navigation instruments: quite an experience!
On my return, I embarked again on a 58 feet catamaran to spend a season between Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Italy. "
Sandrine Toutain is a determined young woman with 11 years of experience in navigation, in all positions and as she says: " The necessary qualities are patience and determination, because the yachting industry is slowly opening its doors to women in positions of responsibility. "
What is the daily life, what are the responsibilities of this profession?
Safety of people and always ready to fit
" Now, with a Captain 200 certificate, I have four months of navigation to validate, and I can see the captaincy coming "concludes Sandrine.
What are the possible evolutions of this profession?
Pass the 750 kW mechanic's license and the 500 Captain's license
Sandrine initially plans to embark on a ship as a first mate. Ideally a ship oriented towards research/exploration, if possible in Antarctica. She also wishes to finalize her 750kW mechanic's certificate, then to follow the captain 500 training.
In the long term, Sandrine Toutain plans to have her own ship and sail around the world, rounding Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope.
