Departure/Arrival Dilemma - Carrying drugs without prescriptions

[nickrj]

Hi all,

As some of you might know, I've been stranded for lack of a good Spanish postal system here in Gran Canaria. I've been here five weeks now, and today I was told my solar panels could be another 3-4weeks.

Even with this delay, I would still be able to make a crossing (being late is my forte), however the idea was to leave four weeks ago, and spend a couple of months in St Maarten working, so I could afford to continue. However, this delay means I would arrive in May, and would need to leave, going north or south fairly quickly.

So, options seem to include: Cut my losses, leave without the damn panels; leave in four weeks, hoping I come across a floating treasure chest on route... Or, worst case, not leaving this season and going back to London along with all the other Australian pub working immigrants.

OR - What else could I do? I really want to do this crossing - I've worked so hard to get here, but I have so little money, I'd be turning up in the Antilles with literally nothing. I was ok with that, but if I need to move quickly because of the hurricane season, unable to work, I'm in trouble...

Really, I'm fishing for creative ideas... I've talked before that I want to eventually go to North America, which is still on the cards - And another reason why I needed time in the Antilles to organise my visa. But, today I'm open to anything, which includes the maximum amount of sailing, and the maximum opportunity to work on route!

nick.

(I was going to make this another post - But to save spamming the forum: Are there any countries which may not take kindly to me carrying antibiotics, local anaesthetic/needles/syringes without prescriptions or any kind of certifications to use them?)

 

[Foxy]

well....... an option if you were to decide to hang out a bit would be to do your TEFL course (teach english abroad) - you can even do it online with i-to-i. You could then come back up to Seville in Spain and teach English as they seem to be desperate for english teachers here. You would also be able to swing free spanish lessons which would help you with your inevitable trip to cuba early next season....... just a thought!

 

[Troutbridge]

Nick, in reply to your second question.....most of them, if they searched and found the articles you mentioned. I guess most people stock up on most of the items you mentioned, so if they're in the first aid kit and we're talking small quantities....... Of course, some people would advocate that but I couldn't possibly comment.
On the first point, it just might be less hassle to work for a couple of months in the UK, or maybe the Canaries if you can work legally (don't add to your problems). I think arriving in the Antillies broke is asking for a miserable time. I appreciate how hard you've worked to get where you are, but the Canaries is a safe place to leave a boat for a couple of months whilst you refill the coffers. It's also a good place to cruise year-round, so if you did a couple of months back in the UK you don't have to sit around until the next crossing season, you could enjoy cruising around the Canaries. I can't remember what passport (s) you hold, but plenty of EU citizens find work in the Canaries. I really think you'd find it easier to find work this side of the pond. ~The solar panels will make life more comfortable, although I'm sure somebody will point out that the money for the panels would buy a lot of diesel to run the engine & charge the batteries.

 

[nickrj]

Yes, I have EU citizenship, so working isn't really too much of a problem. I just wish I could get boat work... If I had yachtmaster ticket I could do deliveries or something.

As for the drugs.. That's what I suspected. I guess they go overboard on the next customs search I encounter /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

For the panels - Sure, you can make the diesel argument, but the reality is, they were given to me free of charge, so that in itself negates all power generation arguments !! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

But, I've wasted money sitting around doing nothing, so I guess it's another reminder that nothing is free..

n.

 

[Troutbridge]

I sympathise, my budget has just been 'blown out of the water' by recent events. All I can say is you need money, so work and live on the boat if you can while waiting for the panels to arrive. I know you want to work with boats but hey, we're not talking a long-term career here, money is money no matter how (legally) it is earned.

 

[Gerry]

Go. Head for st Martens. Chandkery is cheap, far cheaper than europe.
If you have experience and can prove it the superyacht industry is BIG here. Day work is often available and if you are a hard worker, clean and presentable i would anticipate you will not be looking around for too long.
Its cheap to live on your boat anchored in the lagoon. There is a risk if you stay through the hurricane season, starts June 30th but thats one you have to look at.
Its a vibrant and great place with a lot of opportunities.

www.gerryantics.blogspot.com

 

[fiveflipflops]

Hi

Arriving in St Maarten or any part of the Caribbean Mid Apr you may find more workers then jobs. The big boats will be heading out by then. Not the best time to arrive if needing the work to fund more sailing. Can you get bar work where you are, keep the boat at anchor keep the cost down. On the run up to the start of the ARC there is a bit of boat work to be had. Arrive in the Caribbean before xmas when most of the big boats return which brings the work. St Maarten is your best bet with free anchoring on the French side. What ever happens good luck. If we met in the Caribbean, we will have a /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif on me.

David and Emma
Antigua
s/y five flip flops


good luck

 

[nickrj]

D & E,

That's an interesting (if disappointing...) piece of knowledge regarding work. During the hurricane season, where do people migrate for work? Is the French side of St Maarten safe throughout the year? When you say there are more workers than work, is that specific to boat-related jobs? What about the hospitality industry, or even the IT sector (if there is one) ? Sorry to bombard you with questions...

Cheers! Nick

 

[nickrj]

Gerry, I missed your post - Other than the Superyacht industry, what other opportunities exist in the area? Professionally I work in IT, or I've been known to pull a decent beer from a bar tap - But I work hard and will do anything, from digging ditches to getting the corporate Oracle servers running again.

Also... It seems maybe you have work experience in St Maarten specifically - How do you get work permits? Is it a difficult process for EU citizens?

Thanks! n.

 

[Bajansailor]

Re: Departure/Arrival Dilemma

If you leave in a few weeks time, and have a 'slow' passage, you will be arriving in St Maarten around the end of April - just before everybody (ie the big boats with job possibilities) starts heading north to New England, or back across the Atlantic to Europe.

If you really want to cross ASAP, then you could perhaps consider a big circle route from the Canaries direct to Bermuda?
This is just a suggestion, and will possibly get shot down.
I'm not too sure what the pilot charts say; you would probably have to dip south a bit, but I doubt you would have to go down too far.
It would be a shorter distance than sailing to St Maarten (approx 2,700 miles) and then north to Bermuda (approx 900 miles).

Have a quick lookaround Bermuda (provision the boat to the gunwhales first in the Canaries - all food is rather expensive in Bermuda) and then head for Newport, Rhode Island (the mecca of yachting in New England) for the summer.
It is only 600 miles away, but a different world.
You will have to cross the Gulf Stream, but you can listen in to Herb's weather routing advice for boats crossing the Stream. There should be all sorts of boat work opportunities in Newport.
And then head south again in the fall, hopefully with a keelfull of greenbacks to keep you going for a while.
Re distance, it would probably be an extra week at the most if you go to Bermuda instead of St Maarten.

I seem to remember that Tania Aebi sailed non stop from Gibraltar back to New York on the last leg of her round the world voyage in her Contessa 26, cos she was in a bit of a hurry to get back home.

Things still happen in St Maarten during the summer, but it is VERY quiet compared to the winter. Antigua even more so - English Harbour and Falmouth will be buzzing now, but in a few months time they will be literal ghost towns.

As others have said above, there should be lots of opportunities to stay in the Canaries. Or even lay the boat up there and fly somewhere if necessary if you do decide to stay there for the summer, and cross next winter.
It is a long way back, so make the most of being in Europe while you can.

 

[Bajansailor]

Re: Working in St Maarten

Chris Doyle has some good info about St Maarten at http://www.doyleguides.com/stmartin.html
Although they are French and Dutch, and hence part of the EU, I think there are regulations in place re outsiders working there - certainly these regs apply to folk from outside the EU, but possibly also from within, I am not too sure.
They are nowhere near as 'fussy' about work permits though as the former English islands - the bottom line is that the place (the Dutch side rather) would fall apart if the Authorities booted out all the yachties who are working there.
The last time I was there I only met a few native Maartens (Maartians?) as such.
Everywhere always needs good IT folk, so there could be possibilities in that field for you ashore in St Maarten.

 

[lenseman]

PM sent!

 

[Chrissie]

Hi Nick, what about getting your panels delivered to wherever you could be in four weeks time? There are enough people from round the world on this site who could advise you of a postal/delivery address.
Hows little Constellation doing? read somewhere that you had had to sell your camera, does that mean no more new pics on your website?

 

[Roach1948]

I really dont think a TEFL is the panacea it is made out to be. In Madrid, an experienced teacher will command around Euro 1,000 a month - I would suspect your looking at around the euro 800 in Seville and Andalucia - you then need to pay for the course which will be min Euro 1,000 plus accommodation. You wont get hired by doing an online course - I am sure of that. The majority of a TEFL is actually practicing teaching in a classroom environment and school look for proven experience.

 

[nickrj]

Bajansailor - Bermuda is not such a crazy idea. I looked into this yesterday just briefly in World Cruising Routes, and it is possible, but as you said, consists of a large circle.

However, the problem is the US visa. Is there a consulate/embassy there, so I can make a US visa application? This visa thing is so irritating, because I had US residency until I turned 18! I still even have a SS number!

Also, I have a free berth on Rhode Island, and family in NYC. If I arrive there with nothing, I am ok...

n

 

[TigaWave]

People still run their boats whether charter or local in the hurricane season, and I would think that for the yards where boats are hauled out there will still be work during the off season.

True the yachts that operate in the Med and Carib will be heading East, but there are plenty of other boats that will be staying.

Drop these guys a mail or phone them, they will let you know what work might be available, last time I was there they were always looking for people.

Po Box 576, English Harbour, St Johns Antigua West Indies
(268) 460-1056 | Fax (268) 460-1566 | VHF Ch. 68\12
antslipway@candw.ag
http://www.antiguaslipway.com/service.html

Most work will probably repair, maintenance, re fit I would think.

 

[nickrj]

Maybe Bermuda is the answer to my problems?

http://hamilton.usconsulate.gov/consular.html

n

 

[Roach1948]

Personally I would look to get some IT work in London and delay till next season. There are some very Australian friendly youth hostels in Earsl Court, and if you don't mind a bunk bed, you could spend £60 a week on accommodation and making over £2,000 a month as a freelance IT person. EasyJet, Monarch fly cheaply to and fro, for when you need to make a boat inspection and refitting.

Another idea would be look at the med charter scene. The season is starting now, and you might want to spend the summer with Sunsail or such in Greece or Turkey

 

[Roach1948]

I am pretty sure that you can get a visa in Bermuda - it is a popular weekend break desitination from NYC.

Anchoring is free in St. Georges, which is worth doing as the marina charges are very high - so is everything in fact, and you will need to pay for water to fill your tanks. This is one place where you will need to have good charts as island is ringed by a reef.

 

[Troutbridge]

Nick, if you can earn £2K per month freelancing in London, well I know what I'd do! After living/paying to berth the boat etc you could probably gross £1K a month in London. Not sure about tax? (well, I am actually but how you manage it is up to you) so you could be back on the boat Sept/Oct with £6 or £7K 'in the bank'. Given that things are apparently very tight at the moment, don't put yourself in a position where you arrive somewhere totally broke and have to take the first job on offer. Just my opinion of course.