CrewSeekers?

[StephenSails]

Hi

Has anyone used this company to find a position on a boat before, I am thinking about taking the plunge as I am looking to do some offshore passages, hopefully a sail across the pond even!

Any advice would be welcome, I have already posted in the crew section to offer my availability.

Cheers

Stephen

 

[Twister_Ken]

You could do much worse than put yourself on the Cruising Association's crewing service list.

http://www.cruising.org.uk/cs/

 

[StephenSails]

Thanks for that, will take a look at that now.

Also whilst we are on the subject I was thinking I should probably put a sailing CV together, can anyone give me any pointers as to format and information?

Cheers

 

[mikeinkwazi]

Skippers view

Hi

Has anyone used this company to find a position on a boat before, I am thinking about taking the plunge as I am looking to do some offshore passages, hopefully a sail across the pond even!

Any advice would be welcome, I have already posted in the crew section to offer my availability.

Cheers

Stephen

This is a good company fom the skippers view. As a Charter and Delivery Skipper several years ago I used them a lot to find gally slaves and passage crew! Put a full CV together, it helps.

 

[jellyellie]

A sailing CV is a great idea. Even if just for yourself, it helps you keep track of what you've accomplished and what your goals are.

I've written myself a sailing CV, and the format is as follows...

My name, highest qualifications, and nice photo of me up a crow's nest on a sail training yacht act as the heading.

First section 'Experience' with bullet points of the most notable things I've done, i.e. 6-week stint as a volunteer with a sail training trust, various experience with a sea school from Day Skipper to Coastal Skipper including other voyages with them helping out as first mate. I've also summarised the important bits in my logbook - days onboard, miles logged, night hours. Also a once-sentence summary of the variety and number of different vessels I've sailed on.

Second section is 'Sponsorship', two things in there, a note on how I gained bursaries to pursue my RYA qualifications, and a bit about Dream or Two, the sailing school I gained most of my qualifications with who have sponsored me to get my Yachtmaster. It's good to have a section that really makes you stand out - I should also really update my CV and add that I am living aboard a yacht, as that's a bit different too. Anything that will set you apart from the norm.

Third section is a list of relevent qualifications/certifications, right down to a Wakeboarding award, which not only shows I am interested in sailing, but that I am open to all sorts of water activities and outdoor sports. I've also listed my enhanced CRB check, but this is actually a bit irrelevent as any new organisation I work with would have to do their own check - but still good to add as shows I have sailed in an environment where I've previously needed one.

This all fits on to one A4 side, and I've made it look attractive with blue bars, use of bold formatting to highlight the bits I want to stand out, etc.

If I was specifically applying for a postion/opportunity I'd also write a sentence or two at the top about experience I have that is explicity relevent for that opportunity, e.g. qualified sail training watch leader with CRB check and passion for youth work if applying for a position on a sail training boat. Or mention my work with Dream or Two RYA school and familiarity with the RYA scheme if applying to a sea school.

 

[matsandys]

Crewseekers?

It seems ridiculous in this day and age of free information to be paying what Crewseekers ask. They don't seem to provide any kind of service .... it's just a notice board. However, there is no doubt that it is the easy way to get fixed up and that is why they are successful.
If money is an issue I'd recommend registering with the various yacht delivery companies who advertise in the back of YM. www.pydww.com or www.direct-yachts.com would be good for a start, especially if thinking about a Trans-At.

Good luck

 

[footsoldier]

I wouldn't knock Crewseekers. Yes they are a commercial undertaking, effectively a sort of dating agency, but they are used by a large number of skippers/crews and are very effective at what they do. If you are looking for blue-water experience, there are usually a fair few opportunities available.

As Mikeinkwazi says, they are very useful for crewing up deliveries, indeed PYDW place vacancies on there. Alternatively, if I recall correctly, you used to be able to register direct with PYDW on their own website.

 

[matsandys]

Indeed

Yes ... not wishing to knock them at all. I have only had good experience. It's an efficient and easy way to get hooked up with yachts .... and a free and easy for those looking for crew.

 

[Nautorius]

Contact TCM, he looks for crew twice a year to sail across the pond!

Paul