Atlantic Crossing

[Guest]

I'd welcome any advice on doing an Atlantic crossing. I haven't a boat but quite a bit of experience so need to find a crewing spot. Where do I look, who do I contact? I'm willing to cover flight back or out to do a west east run. I've seen the commercial trips/holidays advertised but am not convinced. How long might it take and is there any books worth reading?

Cheers

ND

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[Spacewaist]

I'm sure others will answer you detailed questions, but two bits of advice:

1 Dont expect/agree to pay for your berth. There are many people looking for crew for ocean passages. You sd be prepared to pay for your food, your booze and any other consumables. Arguably the fuel consumed - but definately not for the experience. They need you as much as you them.

Sure you will have to decide whether they skipper has any idea about sailing, but a brief conversation about how he/she got here will tell you how you feel about it. Then.....


2 Dont make you ocean passage the first passage with the skipper. Agree to go only after a couple/few 24 hour passages to see how things happen - then you can both decide. A skilpper who will take you on "sight unseen" is a skipper who has difficulty gettinig crew. He/she should be just as interested in getting to know you as you them.

Good luck

<hr width=100% size=1>A pontification from the Panjandrum of orotund bloviation AD2002

 

[arran]

I contacted all the delivery skippers that advertise in the various yachting publications and got plenty of experience that ranged from channel hops through to a transalantic crossing. Its hard work but was free!

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[snowleopard]

point one. 'Hitch-hiker's guide to the oceans' Alison Bennett, available from most nautical bookshops or amazon.

i got crew for a crossing from the ARC website forum http://www.7knots.com/

i insisted on meeting and sailing with the potential crew and blew out those who wouldn't take the time. you should too.

good luck, pm me if you want further info.

ps i charged £10 per day as contribution to food and expected crew to pay their own transport and on-shore expenses. that's fairly typical. when i went as crew from bermuda to the med the skipper paid half my outbound air fare which was unusual. people who join the ARC on the commercial boats (challenge business, formula 1 etc.) pay around £2K flights - ouch!<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by snowleopard on 02/03/2003 23:04 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Jeremy_W]

Excellent advice

I echo point 2:
I did my first, and so far only transatlantic with a skipper I'd only spoken to by phone and never met in person before the trip. I regret that!

Don't try to cram a transatlantic trip into the confines of the average wage slave's annual leave. It doesn't quite fit.

If you have the time, only consider a trip that visits the Azores for more than a few days. Skip Bermuda. It's grossly over-rated.



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[Twister_Ken]

A friend who was 'unboated' at the time subscribed to Crewseekers. He got some very interesting offers including transatlantics, and even a trip to the Falklands.

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[cgull]

I think that Challenge Business offer excellent Transatlantic passages, ARC or otherwise.

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[Guest]

Thanks to all who replied, great advice, I'm on the case. Will try to get crew for ARC 2003.
PS I have Coastal Skipper and skippered 30' - 37' boats if anyone looking for crew or first mate. Have sailed as crew Hong Kong to Phillipines.

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[Jeremy_W]

>>>I insisted on meeting and sailing with the potential crew and blew out those who wouldn't take the time. you should too.

Good advice. Being with an incompatible skipper/crew for several thousand miles is miserable.

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[polarity]

I did it twice by turning up at Gran Canaria (both times just after the ARC) with my thumb out!
The first time I did not have that much experience so I paid for food and expenses - not a huge sum - on a 36ft sail boat with a older couple that had built the boat! Had a great time and stayed on the boat for a short while in the Caribbean - we got on well and kept in contact for ages. Second time I had a lot more experience so was hired on a 145 ft classic yacht.
"Winging it" is not everyones cup of tea but it was a lot of fun. I wore a T Shirt with "Crew Available . Apply within" written on it!

Cheers


Paul

<hr width=100% size=1>Paul
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.polarity2.com>http://www.polarity2.com</A>

 

[snowleopard]

getting ahead of the pack

the t-shirt sounds a good idea. the ones who succeeeded in getting a berth on the ARC in las palmas were the ones who went the extra mile.

one volunteered to drive the shuttle bus for the ARC organisation, thereby meeting most of the skippers, others made a point of walking round the pontoons and talking to everyone. those with pretty partners fared best!

the one who put up a notice saying don't bother to call unless you're paying me did less well!

the ones who had the least luck were those who signed up with the lady who has now dropped out of two ARCs. she even recruited one at the last-night party then left him in the lurch.

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