[artbyjody]

So, I don't know about many of you - but I find the management of crew to be a daunting task. I kinda hate calling people even though I have that unlimited plan on my phone. I am even worse at emails as my email contacts list is literally huge.

Being a programmer and having a fairly good taste of online technology, I am now implementing a site dedicated to solving those issues with finding and retaining crew for both races and weekend cruises.

Curious of what things you find both as the "consumer" - ie looking to crew, and as a skipper that you find helpful and what things you wish could be made easier.

Sure there are sites like Sailnet, Facebook, Craigslist, Myspace etc...

All lack to a degree because of some of the limitations. I had thought with the Meetup.org site that it would work well, and it did until political things reared its head, and to start a group for the boat - wasn't a financial brainer for me at least.

My new site - I am hoping to get going over the next few days (considering I started this at 11PM last night - pretty pleased), but would be interested in your comments and if their is something I can into it to assist some of the other PNWers in similar situations...see sig

 

[Perithead]

I don't have any real comments yet, but sounds pretty interesting jody.

Cant wait to see it, post a link as soon as you can!

 

[AjariBonten]

I think it's a great concept.

Especially if you could search by region, or home port;
by skill level maybe;

and definitely by commitment. By that I mean, looking for an extended berth on a cruise, and short weekend stint, an overnight race, or an afternoon racing, etc.

Best of luck with that, I am sure we'll all benefit from your attempt, succeed or fail.

Fred

 

[ckgreenman]

Need a place to host it? As long as bandwidth is pretty low I can pony up server space.

 

[artbyjody]

Actually hosting it myself... LINK

I don't think I am quite ready to go regional with it, right now I am more interested on how to combine the various things people look for both skipper and crew for a single yacht and make it co-hesive for all parties. Just I am in a weird scenario where the cruising and the racing are truly different elements and being able to address alot of the lack of the ability to truly communicate voice / email - figuring with online events and the likes it can make sense for those wishing to crew in either scenario and make my life easier !

Nice link Perit - lotsa work went into that!

 

[Perithead]

How is it coming jody?

Do you a link yet where we can view the progress?

Im pretty anxious to see what you can put together.....

Thanks for the compliment too.

 

[artbyjody]

It is coming along so far - and used successfully to rsvp crew members this weekend. It includes forums a wiki, and other stuff all in various stages.

Using the DNN framework to build it, but so far - it is doing its job and I am much happier now that I no longer have to wade through emails and can have contact info at my fingertips...

As it expands it will get more elaborate (such as the wiki portion) but so far I am pleased overall. JUst have to get on the development team for some of those modules so I can modify the supposedly open source code...

you can see it here - S/V "Hello Gorgeous" > Home

 

[Perithead]

Just took a look at the site, looks like its coming along good.

I have a question: Is it just for people who want to sail on "Hello Gorgeous"? Or is for anyone and any boat?

 

[artbyjody]

Just took a look at the site, looks like its coming along good.

I have a question: Is it just for people who want to sail on "Hello Gorgeous"? Or is for anyone and any boat?

Currently is simply for my boat - such that organizing crew, getting info out there and the likes is one central location and I have my crew list / contact info right there for whatever event. I will be expanding it so that it could work for other boats for say a weekend outing with other owners. Have to work the kinks out first with it being a solo venture with this.

Currently it can host other boats just they would have their own subdomain and wouldn't be tied to my boat...

 

[Perithead]

Well that sounds pretty good.

Let us know when we should come back and check out anything new!

 

[artbyjody]

Here is the update:

I am using web 2.0 features to generate course maps online now.

With geo coding and satellite overlay - we get to see where markers are and general idea of landmarks to look for. Charts are great and all but usually difficult to manage with limited crew on a boat like mine.

So - the map is appointed with the markers using the associated flag assigned. A printable version is in the works and thus - using a laminated copy - (or photo paper which resists shredding when water hits it), as flags are called you can simply draw point to point and your course is known for the race.

An example of this is here (link)

May not work for everyone - but at least for me, anything that can be done to make things easier for crew that have no idea what it all means - is priceless.

Otherwise have just been polishing things up and fixing issues as they appear...

 

[sailingdog]

Jody-

Might want to add graphical images to the key, since not everyone is fluent in signal flags...

 

[Perithead]

I agree with SD, it looks good and all but I have no idea what the different flags mean (I just haven't memorized the flags yet, and dont know if it is needed).

The site is coming along though.

 

[artbyjody]

P, that's the reason for just the flags.

Normally in the races - the committee boat gets to the area - analyzes and then decides the course.

The mapping is to allow whom ever that has the binoculars - to see the flag and draw lines on it (when in printed form) and from seeing it online knows where on paper it should be as well.

This way no need to know what each flag means in terms of the alpha designation - just order of flags and draw point to point. Clicking on the icons on the online version - brings up the location and in brackets [] - the flag alpha code for those that want to know.

It is quicker and alot easier to map the course when what you see on the committee boat as being flown - as soon as you try to plot the course - seeing a visual of what you saw - versus, looking at a chart and then trying to find L,M,N etc and then back to the map to find the corresponding point.

Printed version, I'll have the [alpha] next to the flag just to have that associative learning thing happen....

Thanks for checking it out and the comments...

Currently working on the new events module - which btw will allow skippers to place their boat on the schedule etc. When I am done with this - it can be used by Yacht Clubs, Groups, etc under their own domains to help manage races / cruises and other events (there is a long term strategy here but I can use my boat and experience to build upon it)...

Thanks again for spending your time to visit and give great feedback - much appreciated!

 

[AboardIndigo]

Looks good Jody.

When you're getting ready to expand to include other boats/crew, you may find some ideas that you'd like to incorporate into your site at the Ontario Sailing Crew Bank site.

This boat/crew matching site may have already been discussed elsewhere on SailNet, but I'm honestly too lazy to look rather than just post this link to it:

Crew Bank

 

[artbyjody]

Looks good Jody.

When you're getting ready to expand to include other boats/crew, you may find some ideas that you'd like to incorporate into your site at the Ontario Sailing Crew Bank site.

This boat/crew matching site may have already been discussed elsewhere on SailNet, but I'm honestly too lazy to look rather than just post this link to it:

Crew Bank

Nice link and thanks for sharing ... I had never seen it before and will look into how they do it a bit more...

 

[captainmidnight]

My favorite skipper once told me,"as long as you have to ask people to race with you you'll never win much, once people start calling to sail on your boat then you'll win your fair share." Not sure how this applies in the age of computers but I will be interested to watch HG's progress.

 

[artbyjody]

My favorite skipper once told me,"as long as you have to ask people to race with you you'll never win much, once people start calling to sail on your boat then you'll win your fair share." Not sure how this applies in the age of computers but I will be interested to watch HG's progress.

Ya know - your not to far off. Building a rep is one of those things that takes time.. it not just the boat but the skipper and whom the crew is with ... its kinda dynamic. And you stated it well. You can have one of the three but when you get the 2/3 down - kinda golden...

nice insight thanks for sharing..