Eight positions, one bucket of conditioned stems and two hours. You do not have time to invent anything. What you need is a small repertoire of shapes you can build reliably, sized to the position they are going into, using the containers the yacht already owns.
The Working Repertoire
| Shape | Where it goes | Build notes |
|---|---|---|
| Low dome / table centrepiece | Dining table, coffee table | Below eye level; 20 to 25 cm max height so guests see each other |
| Round hand-tied | Any vase, guest gifts, quick reset | Spiral the stems in the hand, bind, cut level, drop in |
| Tall arrangement | Lobby, entrance, foyer, wide side table | Tall stems and a heavy, weighted base; never on a table guests pass close to |
| Buffet arrangement | Sideboard, breakfast buffet | Viewed from one side and above; keep it clear of the food line |
| Bud vase / single stem | Guest cabins, heads, nightstands, spa | One perfect stem plus a leaf; the highest impact per euro on the boat |
| Bowl / floating | Spa, heads, low tables | Floating heads (gardenia, orchid, rose) and a candle; needs daily water change |
| Compote / footed | Formal dining, owner cabin | Raised bowl, cascading foliage; elegant but must be weighted |
Sizing to the Position
- Dining table: the golden rule is below the sightline or well above it, never in between. If guests have to lean around it, it has failed.
- Guest cabin: small, low, unscented, on a surface that will not be used for a phone and a watch. A bud vase on the desk, not the nightstand.
- Heads: tiny and waterproof. Marble and humidity are kind to flowers; a single orchid stem can last two weeks in a head.
- Sundeck and exterior: expendable, robust, wind-resistant, weighted. Never glass where guests are barefoot.
The Hand-Tied Spiral
- Strip all foliage from the lower two-thirds of every stem before you start.
- Hold the first stem upright; add each new stem at a consistent diagonal, always in the same direction, rotating the bunch a quarter turn as you go.
- Keep the binding point (where the stems cross) as one single point — this is what makes the spiral work.
- Bind with twine or raffia at that point, then cut all the stems level to the vase depth.
- Dropped into a clean vase, it holds its own shape without any mechanics — which is why it is the fastest reset in a seaway.
Onboard Notes
- Learn three shapes properly rather than ten badly. Low dome, hand-tied and bud vase will cover 90 per cent of what a yacht asks for.
- Check the container inventory before you buy stems. Buying 60 cm stems for a yacht that only owns 15 cm cube vases is a classic and expensive mistake.
- Photograph each finished piece in position. It becomes the template for the next turnover and the record for the next crew.