need crew on the Chesapeake?

[sailoress]

I'm learning to sail and race, please let me know if you need crew.
Hey, I have enough experience to realize that I have a lot to learn - and I do want to learn!
thanks

[Dunlookn]

Sailoress:

We all have much to learn. Your idea for crewing is excellent...and much cheaper than many of the over-priced "learn-to-sail" courses you see around.

DEPENDING on where you are in Virginia, I would recommend you contact any local military marinas and ask about placing a "notice".

This is a little used option that "civilians" do not always realize is available. The "transitional" nature of the military allows us to make friendships easily and feel comfortable with someone after a short period.

I don't want to make anyone think that I am being critical of any other group but, by its' nature, the military is not wealth, status, or position focused (really).

I hope you find a great group of people where-ever you go to sail.

If you get us to Philadelphia...let us know (City of Brotherly Love and all.)

[camaraderie]

sailoress...you might wanna narrow down your location a bit...Norfolk...Deltaville...Onancock?

[BrianInIraq]

paruse and put your info on the spinsheet crew listings - http://www.spinsheet.com/crew.asp. you can narrow it down to areas close by you, maybe find boat owners close to your own age, etc. works great!

[sailingdog]

Sailoress—

Welcome to Sailnet. I'd recommend that you narrow your sailing area down a bit, since the Chesapeake covers a very large geographic area. You also might want to say what kind of experience you have.

Finally, you should probably get your post count up to 10, since you won't be able to respond to PMs until you've done so.

[midlifesailor]

Originally Posted by sailoress

I'm learning to sail and race, please let me know if you need crew.
Hey, I have enough experience to realize that I have a lot to learn - and I do want to learn!
thanks

Check out www.FBYC.net. As the season approaches, they will start posting to find folks interested in crewing. They are the only place I know of that is so proactively looking for folks to crew. They will even have a few crew training days before the spring series starts, so you can learn in a less demanding environment. The club facilities are very nice and its a great very low cost introduction to racing. Guest crew usually bring some stuff for sandwiches for everyone and/or beverages (beer for post race performance analysis is appreciated). Be sure to coordinate with the skipper and he'll tell you what you need to bring. The attitudes about the race are semi-serious to pretty serious depending on which boat you get, but I haven't ever seen or heard of any volunteer crew having anything but a great time.

I'm not a member but I crewed all last season on a Tartan 40 and the experience was great. I've just sold my boat, so crewing with FBYC may be my only sailing this season, unless I'm able to make a deal on a suitable replacement.

One other note: It's not a "He-man, woman haters club" envirionment. Many, if not most, boats have a couple of females among the crew. My wife was the only woman consistently on our boat but we had others join on occasion and all were treated as a weclome part of the crew.

[zz4gta]

Originally Posted by midlifesailor

Check out www.FBYC.net.

+1 to the FBYC. Mostly an older crowed, I drove down there from leesburg VA one day to crew towards the end of last season. Long drive, but a great group of people. Can't wait for the new season to start. B/c of the distance I can't make the trip every weekend, but I'm definitely returning. If your up my way (north west VA) let me know and we may be able to car pool (gas ain't cheap but I am). 3 hours of driving before dawn by yourself is pretty boring.

Also, I sail out of Annapolis and st. Mary's river if you're up more north. I'll be getting my boat ready to race at the beginning of this month, and I'm still looking for dedicated crew to sail in the Governor's Cup in August. However, I need lots of practice before then.

[chucklesR]

On the other hand, there are less stressful ways to learn to sail than racing, and some racing isn't really 'racing'.
My YC does a friday night 'round the cans' race that typically involves 6-8 boats with the owning couple and maybe some guests on board. It's far more a 'can we get the boat from point a to point b efficiently' than it is out and out racing (no spinakers, and boats that race elsewhere are penalized by adding time to the finish).
We (my wife and I) are always available for Annapolis area friday night drop in crew. PM me if interested, season is June to September. I don't really compete because I'm the only multi hull in my YC (of which I'm actually Commodore).

[midlifesailor]

Originally Posted by zz4gta

+1 to the FBYC. Mostly an older crowed, I drove down there from leesburg VA one day to crew towards the end of last season. Long drive, but a great group of people. Can't wait for the new season to start. B/c of the distance I can't make the trip every weekend, but I'm definitely returning. If your up my way (north west VA) let me know and we may be able to car pool (gas ain't cheap but I am). 3 hours of driving before dawn by yourself is pretty boring.

Also, I sail out of Annapolis and st. Mary's river if you're up more north. I'll be getting my boat ready to race at the beginning of this month, and I'm still looking for dedicated crew to sail in the Governor's Cup in August. However, I need lots of practice before then.

Small world. I live in Leesburg and you're right about the drive. I'm not sure how I'm going to handle it since sleeping in the empty slip where my boat used to be is not likely to work out.

[midlifesailor]

Originally Posted by zz4gta

+1 to the FBYC. Mostly an older crowed,... snip.

Hey! I resemble that remark!!