2 Months in Caribbean

[skatzocheros]

Can anyone help with any suggestions, my husband and I have a two month sabbatical from work next Jan/Feb and would love to sail. But a two month charter is cost-prohibitive. We are looking at the Caribbean. We don't own a boat, can't afford to buy a boat for 2 months and don't know anyone with a boat out there. And its meant to be our honeymoon too.

Any bright ideas on how we might be able to sail for these two months off, where there's a will there must be a way, surely?


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[mainshiptom]

apply for a job as crew?



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[snowleopard]

sorry to put a damper on your hopes. most boats in the caribbean are either charter or liveaboard. the former of course charge in the hundreds or thousands a week, the latter may have taken on temporary crew for the crossing but are then having a leisurely time cruising and have no need for crew, after all the only passage-making they do is a three hour inter-island hop every week or three.

there are the superyachts that occasionally need crew but it's not easy to break into and its more work than play.

the only possibilities i can think of are that you might strike lucky contacting owners before they cross, e.g. via the ARC website, especially if you have plenty of experience and they are newbies.

occasionally owners may want a caretaker while they go home on business but i wouldn't know where to start looking for them without being out there.

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[Sea Devil]

Try crewseekers - they have lots of crewing places on lots of yachts in lots countries. Often its deliveries but sometimes skippers are just looking for crew to join them.
I've used crewseekers a lot as a skipper and found them to be reliable and good at what they do. You will have to be flexible and not expect too much as well as fitting in with the skippers lifestyle and help cleaning and maintaining the boat as well as cruising
crewseekers.co.uk - I think it is....
regards

Michael

<hr width=100% size=1>If you have time visit my web site
www.michaelbriant.com/sailing

 

[Sunnyseeker]

we did meet someone who had chartered a boat for 5-6 months, and got a very good deal so they will negotiate for charters over the usual 2 weeks. Might be worth trying. Otherwise if you're qualified you might try delivery work depending on which end of the season the boats head south in the begining and often need shuffling around at the end. We did some moving for moorings, and had a nice new 50' to cruise on. They do one way charters from Grenada up to St Lucia so we took boats back south, and hitched up on private boats.


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[tcm]

A lifetime in poverty

Hm. I think the best option would be to dump the husband, and get someone who can afford to pay for the trip AND someone with the get up and go which you evidently have (by making the post) and he obviously doesn't. I mean, he's your husband - but you've had to wait all this time for the honeymoon? It's the job of the hubbie to orgainse this and normally straight after getting married. Not much kop imho.

Otherwsie you will have to not go, or rough it as described by others - not just this time but for every single other sodding holiday too. In any case, if you have 2 months in the caribee you will want to stay, he'll get bitten by midges or whatever and need to come home for work and yawn etc carry on with the poxy job and you'll be in the same posituion for ever, so may as well dump him sooner rather than later, no? There are loads of blokes, you know.
hope this helps.

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[AndrewB]

Are you both young and pretty ...

... and don't remotely look like you might do drugs?

If so, and the Crewsaver option doesn't work out, you could fly out on the offchance that you can hitch rides between islands with liveaboards. And if you don't get rides, anyway it's a nice place to be. Beware though that the cost of living (as a freelance tourist) is exceptionally high in the WI.

I think I would start from Antigua which is not the most expensive island, it is fairly easy to meet yacht owners at English/Falmouth harbour, and it has inter-island flights to many other islands if you end up someplace else and need to get back.

Incidentally, while finding a delivery trip is possible, at this time of year it will be against the prevailing trade winds and hard work.

 

[PIGLETSDREAM]

My parents have lived in Antigua for the last 30 years so send me your details and I can pass them on to my father who may be able to help you

rs@swireassociates.co.uk

<hr width=100% size=1>Must go, Matron is coming

 

[mirabriani]

Re: A lifetime in poverty

Don't hold back, TCM , just speak your mind!

On second thoughts, Yeh, dump him!

Briani

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[skatzocheros]

Thanks.

Email is the best way: skipperangelo@hotmail.com

Incidentally Angelo (my husband-to-be) is a Yachtmaster Instructor here in the Uk, working full time from Chatham. He has loads of experience including 2xSydney/Hobart and Antigua Sailing Week.

I on the other hand am an enthusiastic Competent Crew/Day Skipper!

Can they recommend a reputable charter agency in case we just decide to charter for as long as we can afford?

Thanks!

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[tcm]

YM instructor

ah, well that's a bit different then innit. I wd have thought you will find jobs no prob, probably start on BVI loads of sailing boats there, lots of small charter boats.

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