A green sailor looking to sail anywhere.

t4li3sin · #1 (**permalink**) 05-23-2009

I am looking to get aboard a sailboat as help to go anywhere. I do no have sailing experience but have been on the ocean on relatively small vessels before. I am currently in British-Columbia, Canada doing my homework reading on the subject and have been convinced to give up buying my own boat for now and propose my help instead to gain experience. My social side is not a problem, as I am clean, mature and disciplined. I am direct and understand that this might be more important aboard a small vessel than experience.
And since I believe that words however powerful should not be abused, and that it would be hypocritical for me to sound funny and pompous in this post hoping that it would draw someone's attention to my personality, I will not stretch this presentation to the limits of decency.
I would also like to hear from any of you who have crewed on boats in such a fashion before. Maybe you could share your first attempts, or some interesting stories. Thank you
I guess if anyone has a desire to know more, they will PM me and we can see from there.

t4li3sin · #2 (**permalink**) 05-23-2009

I should also say that I would gladly join in daily or week-end expeditions, races or whatever it may be, on any kind of boat really. I think racing would be really fun, and Ill look into clubs and such when I get to the coast.

jephotog · #3 (**permalink**) 06-23-2009

I know its a little late, but when you are at the coast walk the docks, ask anyone on a sailboat where the racing occurs, check out the yacht clubs also. There should be races on Wednesday nights and weekends and maybe other nights for smaller sailboats. You can also post something on the yacht club web site offering your services, which is a hard sell if you have no experience.

Show up at the dock an hour or so before a race, carry a 12 pack ask people "are you looking for crew", make sure the beer is visible. If they ask what position can you fill, say "I can hang my feet over the side". With beer in hand you should be on a boat without having to ask too many times. After the race you can meet people at the yacht club, find more potential boats.

A larger sailboat has a large portion of crew that do nothing other than hang there feet over the edge, you position is called moveable ballast. A smaller or medium sized boat may actually put you to work grinding or more once you get things figured out. Try to get make it regularly on a boat and you will eventually be put to work on an easier task and could start to learn more about the boat. If you arrange your work schedule right you could be sailing many days a summer, with some reading and studying you can be an experienced sailor by the end of the summer. Then when you are looking for crew you will have some experience to list and it will be easier to get onboard.