Personal Details

Ø  Name: Helen Elizabeth Burns

Ø  Contact details: Mobiles: +44 7974 662 840 (UK) / +33 670 185160 (FRA) / +64 29 287 67432 (NZ)
E-mail:
Website: www.nzyachtcrew.com

Ø  Date of Birth: 19th March 1967

Ø  Nationality/Visas: New Zealand and UK passports; B1/B2 Visa for USA

Ø  Health: Fit, healthy, non-smoker, ENG1 Seafarers Medical

Career Statement

I am seeking a challenging Chief / Sole or Senior Stewardess or Purser role. With a background in the luxury charter market and experience in both motor and sailing yachts, I am comfortable with running the day to day requirements of the interior and all aspects of service delivery on board. Prior to joining the yachting industry I had a strong commercial background, owning my own service businesses, providing me with excellent administrative, project management, accounting, marketing, computing and staff leadership skills. I also have a strong hospitality management background, in both bars and restaurants and experience in hotels.

Captains have described me as “a dynamic individual, adaptable and dependable; very well organized and someone who works well under the pressures of demanding guests and a busy schedule; a popular and valued member of the crew”. My experience with both professional crewing and running my own service businesses presents a strong blend of commercial and service delivery skills to a discerning Captain or Owner.

Qualifications

Relevant Marine & Outdoor Qualifications

·  RYA Day Skipper / Watch Leader
·  RYA Day Skipper Tidal
·  RYA Powerboat II
·  STCW’95 Basic training
·  Proficiency in First Aid at Sea
·  Advanced Survival at Sea
·  ENG1 Seafarers Medical
·  Marine VHF Radio Operators Qualification
·  B1/B2 Visa endorsed for crewing in USA /

Hospitality Qualifications & Courses

·  Current NZ Licensed Duty Manager
(Liquor Controllers Certificate)
·  Various courses in customer care and staff supervision in hospitality
·  Competent Toastmaster

Employment History

Delivery Crew, Antigua to Florida
SY Ree, 34m Sloop – March 2011 / Delivery crew for 6 day trip from Antigua to West Palm Beach (1300 miles), 4 hour watches. Preparing the boat for haul out at marina – packing, stowing.
Chief Stewardess, Caribbean
SY Lady B, 44m Dubois / Vitters
Dec 2010 – Feb 2011 (Contract) / Chief Stewardess, covering for extended leave. Private performance sailing yacht (Finalist in World Superyacht Awards 2011) with 6 crew. Interior organisation, housekeeping, laundry, provisioning, guest service, supervising one Steward. Line handling, fending. Watch keeping on passages.
Delivery Crew, Genoa to Tenerife
SY I-Sea, 30m Southern Wind Nov ‘10 / Assisting on a 6 day delivery of 30 metre sailing yacht from Genoa to Tenerife – approximately 1400 miles.
Sole Stewardess / Deck, Monaco
SY Neferet Ra, 30m Wally
Aug 2010 – Oct 2010 (Contract) / Sole Stew / Deck for a private, family use performance sailing yacht including interior organisation, laundry, provisioning, guest service, assisting other staff including a cook and nanny. Sailing, trimming, line handling, fending.
Freelance Stewardess, Cote D’Azur
July 2010 – August 2010 / Freelance charter stewardess roles including:
-  MY Ocean Sapphire, 40m Rodriquez Cantieri Navali, 8 day charter, 10 guests, 8 crew
-  MY Kay-Two, 34m Ferretti CRN, 1 day, charter preparation
-  SY Bristolian, 29m CNB Bordeaux, 1 day charter preparation
Chief Stewardess
MV Island Passage, 42m, 8-10 crew
Auckland, NZ and Vanuatu
October 2009 – July 2010 / Responsible for all guest requirements including bar and food service and house keeping duties for up to 22 guests on luxury charter vessel offering cruises and private charters around New Zealand and Vanuatu. Supervising 2nd & 3rd Steward(ess). Stock control for bar and hospitality supplies. Establishing on board systems and processes for hospitality department.
Duty Manager / Maitre d’
Palm Beach Club House & Skinny Sardine Tapas Bar, Waiheke Island, NZ
November 2008 – August 2009 / Palm Beach Clubhouse, a fine dining, yet relaxed, restaurant and the Skinny Sardine, a Tapas Bar were owned by the same person. Full shift responsibility including hostess duties, staff management, customer service, cash up, security and hands on wine / food service.
Co-Owner / Director
Paddling Perfection Kayaks, NZ
May 2004 – July 2006 / High end kayak manufacturing company. Directorship input and hands on assistance with the fulfilment of large or urgent orders when required. Duties included deck trimming, cutting & polishing, packing.
Recruitment industry and sales career:
New Zealand and UK
Sept 1989 - Oct 2008 / Start-up, ownership and ongoing management of 2 specialist recruitment businesses including one recruiting for the recruitment industry plus various branch management roles. Skills developed include:
·  Extensive people and customer service skills
·  Strong problem solving and negotiation ability
·  Staff management - recruitment, training, coaching, team building
·  Project management, task and results achievement
·  Financial management – budgeting and cash flow
·  Organisational skills and computer literacy
Duty Manager
Nicholson’s Restaurant, Wellington
Mar 1989 - Jul 1989 / Overall supervision of a busy 130 seat brasserie style restaurant and bar, open for lunch and dinner, 7 days including staff recruitment, training and rosters; hostessing, customer liaison; cashiering, security and lock-up duties.
Silver Service Waitress
Parkroyal Hotel, Wellington
Dec 88 - Mar 89 / Jul 89 – Aug 89 / Full silver service waitressing in the 5 star hotel restaurant. Hostessing and cashiering in maitre d's absence.

Other Sailing / Marine Experience

Delivery Crew (1 of 3)
March 2010 / Overnight delivery of 68ft Oyster from Auckland to Bay of Islands. Standing watch
Race Crew (1 of 5)
October 2009 / Completed the annual Coastal Classic race on 45 ft Beneteau – Auckland to Bay of Islands (126nm)
Watch keeper / delivery crew
Island Style, 12m Ian Farrier May 2009 / Delivery crew on 12m Cat, 8 days Auckland to Tonga responsible for watch keeping (2 hour watches), crew, vessel safety and log.
Skipper and helm (women’s racing)
2007/08 / Two seasons of Women’s Harbour Racing - spinnaker division - crews of between 5 and 8
Boat maintenance
October 2007 / Assisting on re-fit of my Young 88 including anti-fouling, re-fitting deck-gear, sealing etc
Crew (1 of 4) Oct 04, Oct 06, Oct 07 / Completed the return leg of the annual Coastal Classic race (126nm)
Crew (1 of 2)
Dec/Jan 04/05/06/07 / Annual 2-3 week cruises to and around Bay of Islands, Great Barrier Island, Hauraki Gulf, Mercury Islands
Crew
Sept 04 - Mar 08 / Harbour racing on various yachts including: Young 88 / Young 9.4 / Farr 1020 / Elliott 14 / Stratus 747
Boat maintenance
Nov 03 – Jan 04 / Assisting with re-fit of yacht to re-launch including sanding, fibre glassing, sealing, antifouling and painting

Interests and hobbies

My interests over the years have been diverse from tramping to Ceroc dancing, Bikram (hot) Yoga to touch rugby, indoor netball to aerobics instructing. I also sea kayaked for over 10 years. Eight years ago, I learned to sail and soon after, bought a boat. After that, there wasn’t a lot of time for anything but sailing! My other passion is acting and in 2009 I performed in two plays and completed a short film called “Plan B”.

References

Paul Mabee
General Manager / Skipper, MV Island Passage
Island Escape Cruises
Phone: +64 21 330 337 / +678 555 2632 (Vanuatu)
Email:
Email on Board: / Captain Garrett Canning
Captain, SY Neferet Ra
Phone: +34 646 21 46 80
Email:
Captain Brenden Scott
Captain, MY Ocean Sapphire
Phone: +39 334 632 6396 / +33 6 25 90 71 20
Email: / Captain Bill Bailey
Captain, SY Lady B
Phone: +1268 778 7237 / +33 (0)632 35 27 51
Email: