Coastal France, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden
Hello! VanChang is an all electric sailing catamaran. I (Luke) completed a solo Atlantic crossing this summer and have been exploring the northern coast of France (Brittany).
My wife isn't currently on board and so I'm looking for 1-2 crew interested in joining for some coastal adventures.
The itinerary is pretty open from now through August. I'll be away in September and then will continue exploring (probably heading south) from October into the next year.
About me:
I'm in my late 40's, energetic/playful, politically liberal, and environmentally conscious. I converted the boat to 100% electric propulsion and galley so we can travel free of fossil fuels. The system includes 60 kilowatt hours of batteries and 2kW of solar. While we have a lot of capacity, it does require conserving energy and so we sail 95% of the time--including just hanging out and waiting for the wind at times. This requires keeping the schedule flexible and almost never motoring to keep an itinerary.
I work in technology on hardware and software projects and will sometimes spend part of the day working when at anchor.
What I'm looking for in crew:
- of a similar mindset and temperament.
- a progressive, open-minded person who is concerned about the environment and willing to sacrifice certain comforts if necessary to protect it.
- looking to learn and also teach.
- self motivated and willing to share in the responsibilities of being on watch and caring for your fellow crew and the boat.
- who has some knowledge and experience sailing is preferred but someone who is really committed to learning would also work.
Expenses:
Crew need to be able to cover their own food and daily costs but I'm not charging any other contribution to be on the boat. The primary focus is finding new friends who want to come on sailing adventures.
Expectations:
Equal share in keeping watch and helping keep the boat clean and in good order. We won't ask you to do anything we wouldn't do.
Maintenance and other repair work is not your responsibility, but any help is welcome. Otherwise, have fun! Our destinations and schedule are flexible and you will have a say in what we do.
We are not into fishing on the boat - we love fish, but the oceans are dying and we believe there's no such thing as sustainable seafood. We also do not allow raw meat on the boat, our refrigeration capacity is limited and we are prioritizing other food items.
Before making any decisions ideally we will all be able to meet in person or at least a couple of video chats. We have had crew before and have some ideas for what works and what doesn't.
Thanks for reading - I look forward to hearing from you!
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Unforgettable sailing experience in the Sea of Cortez
We had such a great time with Jen and Luke on their catamaran VanChang. Initially we wanted to join them for the crossing from Baja California to French Polynesia and cruising the South Pacific. Due to Covid restrictions that plan changed to a 2.5 week cruise from La Paz up to Loreto and back. We are so happy that we could still join this lovely, kind, knowledgable and very welcoming couple. We learned a lot about sailing on a cat, the marine life of the Sea of Cortez and unforgettable night hikes on fascinating islands. We had great conversations about any kind of topic, spent great times on their SUP board and kajak, enjoyed sundowners and felt so comfortable in our cozy cabin. We can highly recommend Jen and Luke for being lovely people and hope they continue having a good time sailing in Mexico and make their way to Hongkong in time. All the best and thanks again so much. This was a blast!
9th Feb 2021