Seeking crew for a passage from the Aegean Sea to Italy. (August & September 2019)
Dear Shipmates, thanks for reading this & for your interest.
My location?
Today (21st July 2019) I am in Samos Island, Greece.
Crew Duration?
I am searching for crew for a duration from end-July / beginning 2019 to mid/end September 2019, weather, joining & departure points allowing. (My preference is to arrive at the Italy destination mid to late September, as we may be held up waiting for suitable weather.
Crew?
Males and females may apply, however this year I am giving more preference to females. Crew will share the journey & basic travel costs from the Aegean Sea back to Italy. This is primarily a shared sailing travel experience. It’s for sailing companionship and friendship and not necessarily seeking a relationship. Preference is to keep things business like but also a fun sailing undertaking.
Crew personality.
Regardless of our genders, firstly, key to our success will be how we get along. Second, with the Med & Meltemi winds at this time in the season, this will not always be not a light sunbathing cruise. Person has to be a "keen to learn" sailor, genuinely interested in boating and sailing. Our journey won’t always be easy & good communications helps avoid any misunderstandings. As with me, crew needs to be easy going, able to adapt to another, reliable, personable & considerate. They must be a team players, have a sense of humour & able to put the comfort & safety of the boat first. Must be fit, healthy & well with no major medical issues which may impede them. They must not overly suffer from sea sickness. (We all get it occasionally!) They should also have a love of the sea, be fun loving & free spirited. Essential is a good grounding in verbal English. (I only speak English!).
What’s life expected to be like on board a smaller yacht?
Because the yacht is smaller this it only requires a smaller crew! Do have quite a lot of gear onboard, so you’ll have to adapt to the space that’s available. We also carry limited water, so being able live within these constraints is very important too. We’ll equally share all the boat's domestic, cleaning, shopping & cooking duties. I have simple food tastes, but I am not vegetarian/vegan. Similar food tastes are desirable. Finally, crew must have a good grasp of our shared vision and an ability to stick with the program and work at it especially when the going gets tougher. I know I’m asking for a lot. If you think you're the right crew for this & like what I've said, please get in touch.
Weather & the nature of our sailing?
As said, Med weather can be challenging. There have been stronger Meltemi wind periods this year. So not often the 10 days of no wind, followed by stronger winds! To make distance and timeline, we'll sometimes have to sail in the stronger stuff! Other times, we will have to take shelter & wait, possibly amending our future passage plan. Weather will drive all our decisions. But, if we like a place and are able too, we'll stay longer.
Shared Contribution Costs?
Money for me is tight as I'm living off my savings also. Crew will cover their own travel expenses to & from the boat. Don't expect a lavish lifestyle. Crew is not required to contribute to general boat maintenance & upkeep of the boat, I'll solely cover this. But, all consumable travel costs (i.e. contributions to taxes, berthing, diesel fuel, cooking gas, victualing & food expenses) will be equally shared. How much or little spent is up to us. A “guestimate” from Greece in 2018, your shared contributions if split two ways is likely to be in the order of €20 per day all in. Hopefully there will be more anchoring than pricey marina berthing.
Learning about boating and sailling?
Formal crew sailing qualifications aren’t at all necessary. The female crew I am seeking must willing & keen to learn sailing & boat handling. I’m happy to teach this, but I am not a sailing instructor & this is not a formal sail training passage. After training they must be able to undertake a watch safely.
What to bring?
I do insist that crew arrives reasonably equipped for a small sailing yacht on some long offshore passages. Purpose made sailing deck shoes to protect feet & the boat's decks are a must. Crew should also arrive with appropriate protective clothing for the elements (night & day, sun, wind & rain). A light sleeping bag, with an empty pillowcase (I supply cushions to go in). A soft sail bag or rucksack. Please no wheelie suitcases!
Regarding alcohol & smoking?
I am a moderate alcohol drinker. I don't ever allow anyone to smoke inside the boat & I’m aware that smoking causes discomfort to strict non-smokers. If I do smoke, I will never partake near you & it will be outside. However, these days, I mostly vape (100% odourless).
Nudity?
Nudity is a personal choice & is not a requirement for this boat.
Final Polite Request!
I will try to respond back to you. If I contact you, please respond even if it’s a "No Thank You!" Hopefully not.
Thanks again. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Happy sailing, Solitaire
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