taku dave

once in a life time chance

Before I came on Labora i pretty much never stepped on a boat bigger then 10ft. But my motivation to learn sailing and learning the skills of maintaining a sailing vessel brought me here. When I came I never expected to spend 9 month on the boat. Dave is a great captain with an unbelievable amount of knowledge and (really) crazy stories. When Dave told about his time in the amazon or alaska everbody was always listening eagerly. He definately has not the easiest personality to deal with but he will teach you more about life then everybody else. It took a while till i got used to a communication that contains a lot of screaming and ocasionally the word "moron". Dave is always giving a lot of freedom to everybody but he is asking in exchange for motivation and dedication to the boat. When you show will and interest he will teach you a lot, not just about the boat but also about life. On thing i loved about the boat is the bandwidth of tasks that is offered. My tasks went from cooking, climbing, rigging, woodworks, mechanics, diving and of course navigating. Im sure there is not that many places were you can learn that many things within 22m. The crew was always amazing, it was fun to work together and get things done as a group. It was great to see how everybody was putting theire energy into to Labora to get this lady in great shape again. I can recommend applying for everybody who does not just wants to go sailing but learn how to craft, work as a group and get a big project like this running. Its for sure no holidays on Lobora, Dave likes to push things to the limit and don't expect it to be always easy. But I got more out of this 9 month then in any other period of my life! Thank you Dave, thank you crew and thank you Labora!

20th Oct 2020

Fun and challenging experience

I wanted to learn how to sail and live on a boat for a longtime. This year the dream became true! I didn't have any expectations, when I finally came on board from the very beginning I was living the dream...a true wooden boat...Like the ones in the pirate movies ;) Immediately I was welcomed by Dave and the crew members with an interesting chat, something was going on the boat before I came, the atmosphere was a bit tense. They didn’t offer me tea or hot chocolate but a nice bottle of rum. The first 2-3 days I was a bit disoriented because I was so excited that I wanted to do everything but I didn't know where to begin and I wasn't familiar with all the stuff going on the boat or the tools that I needed. I was pretty much an observer and, then after those few days we were working a lot together from sanding, painting and also tightening the rigging, learning the basic knots, varnish the top mast, dive and of course the various procedures to sail. There are always things to work on the boat, but Dave gives you also the total freedom to choose how you can live the days on the Labora, it is up to you, if you're motivated and keen to learn you'll never get bored and you'll learn A LOT! Otherwise Dave will throw you overboard! ;-) I would totally recommend to get on Labora if you're not afraid to get your hands dirty and to be shouted out from the Captain or hear long lectures about life from him! The first time it is interesting to hear some paranoid speeches about humankind but after the 50th time a bit less...For me it has been a life experience, It has broadened my horizon of sailing life, I really must say a big thank you to the boat itself, to Dave and to the crew, they taught me a lot and I have a connection with them even because being on this boat it is psychologically challenging! Labora became sort of a person: the history, the wood, the rigging, the problems....At the end of the day I felt I was in the right place in the right time.

30th Aug 2020

One of the richest experience of my life

Jumping on Labora was my first actual sailing experience, and I can say those two months were one of the richest experience of my life. From learning how to sail on a piece of history, to maintaining / repairing / improving this old lady by working on wood / metal / plumbing / electronics and from 16m high on the top mast to -2m under water... You actually learn how to use your both hands and your brain. Dave really challenges you to open your eyes and think. But the best for me is the freedom Dave gives to the crew for choosing what project to work on and then the responsibility on to doing it. All that with a changing crew that makes the experience interesting by living with a lot of different people, some having a lot of experience to share and a huge among of energy for the others. Thank you Dave for this opportunity, I'll be back !

27th Mar 2020