Association Forum - Extended "big water" cruises

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Extended "big water" cruises

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

Member Avatar

USA
1234 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/30/2012 : 08:28:56

Hello all,

I once saw a documentary about a group of people who signed up as crew in a sailing circumnavigation. This was designed for non-professional sailors, but people who likely had some amature sailing experience (folks like us on this forum). The boat had a professional skipper and some professional crew as well. When I saw this I thought an adventure like that would be a dream come true.

Does anyone know of anything similar? A circumnavigation would certainly be a bit more than I'm ready for, but I'd like something that exposed me to some "big water" sailing for days at a time, weather it's the ocean or the Great Lakes. I found a company called On Deck that does this across the Atlantic, but it looks like they all start in England. I'd prefer something that starts on this side of the Atlantic. Or Maybe something like the Chicago-Mackinac race route.

I did some research on the web, but haven't yet found very much, so I thought I'd ask here.

Thanks all!

Ben
Beneteau 361
Viking Kitty
Columbus, Ohio

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2012 : 08:45:48

It is fairly easy to sign up as crew on a delivery or even voyage. If you google crew opportunities you will come across a number of boards, some are subscription services, where crew and skippers can post ads.

Personally, I would be nervous about signing on for a transatlantic passage on aboat I didn't know, with a skipper I didn't know, and crew I didn't know. OTOH, there are folks who hop around the globe this way.

I know of more than a few folks who have done the big adventure. Some have reported that teh open sea was enthralling and mysterious and wonderful. Some have reported that after about day 3 all the waves look the same and they were bored silly.

I guess whether this is an adventure or somethign to add to tehBTDT list is debateable. I think that like most things, it would be hours of bored punctuated by moments of excitement.

Edited by - on

rrick
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
261 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2012 : 15:53:46

I found it was hard to get an ocean voyage even amongst the ship's experienced crew. Of course, the smallest ship I'd crew with strangers is going to also have an established design history of at least 100 years and at minimum two masts (with the fore-masts shorter or equal to the aft-masts, none of those mizzen-mast harbor queens). Here is a great example: Sails to Hawaii and California and is currently in Maine, so your in luck for starting area. http://www.privateerlynx.com/calendar.html# Also helps the owner is private (privateer, ha ha) millionaire who dumps tons into her upkeep.
Can I suggest an Arctic polar cruse on a Soviet nuclear icebreaker? http://www.polarcruises.com/arctic/ships/50-years_50.htm

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
5429 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2012 : 07:08:28

Adding to Chris' (Prospector's) point, if I were interested in graduating to Blue Water, I might take the approach of crewing on a 5-10 day passage, perhaps transporting a client's boat from Green Bay to Chicago or from NYC to NC at the end of season. This would provide you a preview of life aboard on a longer transit. This season is coming soon and folks are making plans now.

Or you could dive right in and hook up with a tour of the Polynesian Islands from New Guinea to Easter Island.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2012 : 07:31:03

Here is a listing service, with some good notes on its frontpage. Stuff to think about anyways... http://www.cruiser.co.za/crewfinder.asp

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
9089 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2012 : 07:45:49

I know a captain looking for crew to deliver a new Beneteau 50-something from Mystic to Annapolis this weekend--around Montauk to Cape May and the canal, and then bring a NY 32 (a classic 45' S&S design) back to NYC (probably under power)--all starting this weekend. I was sorry I couldn't accommodate him.
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Of course, the smallest ship I'd crew with strangers is going to also have an established design history of at least 100 years and at minimum two masts (with the fore-masts shorter or equal to the aft-masts, none of those mizzen-mast harbor queens).<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
You can charter [url="http://www.mysticseaport.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=B3E3BD6A-E0AD-102D-180D4688BA70754B"]Brilliant[/url] out of the Mystic Seaport--meets your criteria and then some! (She needs a crew of six to tack her.) But a lot of sailors would challenge your assessment of their ketches and yawls as "harbor queens." They offer some balanced, reduced sail-plans and handling ease that a schooner can't match--therefore schooners, with a few odd exceptions, are museum pieces and ketches are still in production.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 08/31/2012 07:49:04

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2012 : 07:56:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 I know a captain looking for crew to deliver a new Beneteau 50-something from Mystic to Annapolis this weekend--around Montauk to Cape May and the canal, and then bring a NY 32 (a classic 45' S&S design) back to NYC (probably under power)--all starting this weekend. I was sorry I couldn't accommodate him.
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Of course, the smallest ship I'd crew with strangers is going to also have an established design history of at least 100 years and at minimum two masts (with the fore-masts shorter or equal to the aft-masts, none of those mizzen-mast harbor queens).<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
You can charter [url="http://www.mysticseaport.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=B3E3BD6A-E0AD-102D-180D4688BA70754B"]Brilliant[/url] out of the Mystic Seaport--meets your criteria and then some! (She needs a crew of six to tack her.) But a lot of sailors would challenge your assessment of their ketches and yawls as "harbor queens." They offer some balanced, reduced sail-plans and handling ease that a schooner can't match--therefore schooners, with a few odd exceptions, are museum pieces and ketches are still in production.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Just spent some time surfing the museum site. Man, I'd love to be able to get back there and visit that.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2012 : 10:03:08

Have bluewater boat that has been around twice. Well equipped. Just send me money and off we go! Serious inquiries only please!

Sten

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2012 : 10:26:15

Ben, I'm race crew for a licensed Captain who usually makes deliveries from Annapolis to the Caribbean each year, at the end of the season. He has won his class in the Bermuda race and is a very good, experienced skipper and a nice guy. If you'd be interested in crewing to the Virgin Islands, let me know. Having sailed with you, I can recommend you as an experienced small boat sailor and amiable crew. The boat he has delivered a couple of years each way (down in the fall and back in the spring) and will probably be delivering is a C&C 44. Let me know if you're interested.

Edited by - on

DavidCrosby
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
240 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2012 : 07:36:09

I have done three ocean passages. I live in Missouri, so I do not have ready access to walk docks or hang out at the bars to find a ride. Offshore Passage Opportunities (www.sailopo.com) is the organization I used to make two of my trips happen.

OPO is a membership based service that helps skippers/owners find crew and vice versa. With one exception, they do not list offerings that require payment to be able to crew. The cost to you (the crew) for most positions is to get yourself to and from the boat. There is no pay, but on board expenses are typically covered. The exception being, OPO is associated with a fleet of Swans that are chartered in Newport, RI during the summer and then in St. Maarten in the winter. These boats are moved back and forth every spring and fall. You can pay to be part of the crew on these trips and gain sea time/experience.

In the spring of 2003, I paid to be part of the crew to move a Swan 48 from St. Maarten to Bermuda and then on to Newport, RI.

In the spring of 2009, I found myself without a job and 6 months of severance pay. It was the perfect opportunity for me to act upon a dream. I rejoined OPO and started hunting for a transatlantic trip. I quickly found an owner that was taking her Beneteau 47 from St. Thomas to Scotland. She needed crew. (insurance companies tend to dictate a minimum number of people on board for ocean passages).

Determining if the boat/skipper, etc. is safe is up to you. This is not something that OPO gets involved in. The owner and I had numerous conversations and we were both comfortable with working together. The owner wanted references, so I contacted the skipper from my 2003 passage. He works as a broker for a Luxury Yacht firm in Newport. My call to see if he would be willing to be a reference resulted in my getting a trip from St. Maarten to Bermuda to Newport on a 60' Yapluka catamaran. (Perfect timing on this and I left right away to meet this boat and then went straight from Newport back to the Caribbean for the transatlantic trip).

The owner of the Beneteau wanted four people on board. She arranged a fourth and it fell through. She then arranged another fourth who also baled out. I then opened my mouth and suggested my "almost" 14 year old daughter. She accepted. Ultimately, we ended up with five.

This was a fabulous passage. The boat was the best prepared of any boat I have ever sailed on. All I's were dotted, and all T's were crossed. Our stated goal in the crossing was "storm avoidance" and were quite successful at achieving that goal as well as making the planned destination.

I am back in the real world working. I'll go again someday. This trip has changed my daughter's life. She developed a love for foreign languages as a result of the trip and also wants to see the world. She graduates from high school in the spring and we already have her a transatlantic passage lined up on a 62' Swan.

I wrote a blog while on passage for the last two trips. These are available online at http://webpages.charter.net/morgan300/index.html if you want some reading material

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
9089 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2012 : 08:33:16

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by PCP777
 Just spent some time surfing the museum site. Man, I'd love to be able to get back there and visit that.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Peter--let me know and I'll give you a personal tour! Between Memorial and Labor Days, I even drive this launch for the Seaport, giving half-hour water tours.

The rest of the time, Sarge is available for more extensive views of the area...

[ /hyjack ]

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 09/01/2012 08:35:24

ngrinich
1st Mate

Members Avatar

28 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2012 : 14:39:50

Check out www.mahina.com. They offer ocean sailing classes around the world. I have no personal experience with them, but they give annual seminars at some of the boat shows on the west coast. Looks like fun.

Edited by - on

rrick
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
261 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2012 : 16:10:42

Wow Dave, I didn't realize you are Mr. Tall Ship! Also didn't realize how many harbors are on the east coast when I checked out Privateer Lynx's schedule. They'll be in CT this month, but not Mystic. My Ketch/Yawl comment was jest, like how I'd rather get lost at sea on a traditionally rigged giant.

Tall ship vs private sailing yacht, my 2cts/experience.

Going crew on a tall ship only requires an able body. After the first day you'll know your position in the chain of command and have learned to coil line, flake a gaff rigged sail aloft using a clip harness, and heave ho! A good experience depends on the ships first mate as that's the person that fits the crew to the captains orders.

Is there a chain of command for crews on an ocean yacht? I know sailing the Catalina 25 with two novice crew members it gets overwhelming running the whole show.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2012 : 22:23:48

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by rrick
 Is there a chain of command for crews on an ocean yacht? I know sailing the Catalina 25 with two novice crew members it gets overwhelming running the whole show.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes. On my vessel or when delivering vessels where I am the Captain, the next experienced crew member is considered the "First Mate." Novices usually draw watches that are during daylight hours, or when other crew members or myself are milling about, cooking, etc...

Expect everything you do to be double checked for the first couple of days or so, and most likely after then, just not as obvious perhaps. A good Captain trusts hardly anyone.

sten

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
9089 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2012 : 10:43:27

I'm pretty sure I've seen Lynx in Mystic--good looking ship. She certainly fits in at the Seaport better than the white plastic mega-yachts that stop here! But like Brilliant, it looks like she doesn't really go off-shore for days at a time.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 09/02/2012 10:46:39

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2012 : 05:35:58

Thanks all for you recommendations. There were some really good ideas. Steve, in responding to your comment about the licensed captaion you race with, that sounds like a really good oportunity. this year is out though, because I'd have to get my wife to agree to my plan. But I might send you an email early next year to start laying the groundwork for a transport next fall. :)

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
9089 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2012 : 10:10:06

You could charter [url="http://www.sumurun.com/index.php/photo-gallery"]Sumurun[/url], which just arrived a the Mystic Seaport... She's about as pretty as they come! Check out [url="http://www.sumurun.com/"]her site[/url]. Then save your shekels!

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2012 : 10:17:50

I just remembered a couple that I met who were literally hitching rides around the world. All they did was hang around and look for the next ride. Sometimes, actually a lot of the time, they got paid as crew which helped cover their non cruising expenses. Do it now!

Sten

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.