First atlantic (crew) crossing

[EmmaB]

Hi all.

I am crewing across the atlantic on a 35m sailboat, as crewcook. I'm fine about the cooking and boating ....but wd appreciate any advice regarding What To Take???

I have got as far as deck shoes, waterproof and also (kindly left behind from an earlier guest) gloves. Anything else?

 

[sailbadthesinner]

Re: Me me take me..

Sorry

Bloody 'el 35m.
I would ask the skipper to start.
but 35m should allow you plenty of stuff
it probably has a washing machine so that will extend your clothes life
id take one of those travel towels that takes up no space
i think you can get them on the blacks camping web site
towels are bulky so i'd go for more travel towels than 1 big bulky one

sun block
lip salve
hat
sunnies
wet wipes (donot flush)


take a few books
but you may do the atlantic in a fortnight
how long are you over there once arrived?

ps any berths? i make a great chef's assistant. i was a huge fan of the muppetts so swedish cooking is my speciality.

Come on brain.get this over and i can go back to killing you with beer

 

[Jeremy_W]

Extras

(1) A face mask that means you're not trying to sleep off watch with the light full in your face.
(2) Ear plugs. 35m yachts can have so much electronic kit they need to run the generator full time to keep it all driving.
(3) Time. Nothing spoils a transat more than knowing you're using all your annual leave and next Monday you're due back at your desk or facing a disciplinary charge. the rest of the crew will be on Ocean Sailing Time where manana expresses a very high level of urgency !

 

[david_e]

me!

 

[BrianJ]

suggest a cook book and some spare "undies" in case it gets rough
BrianJ

 

[Gordonmc]

Take your own safety harness. There may not be enough spares for off-duty crew and you don't want to adjust a harness every time you have to go topsides. And you will be sure the webbing is sound.

 

[AndrewB]

Not as much as you might think.

Assuming you will be going on the trade wind route (i.e. south down to the tropics, then turn right), you probably won't need much more than you take on any short sailing holiday. A decent set of oilies, boots, fleeces and sweaters for the first part of the way, as you leave England. It depends rather on whether, as cook, you will be expected to stand deck watch specially at night.

Once past Biscay - a week at most - it starts to get warmer and all that can be put away - soon its T-shirt & shorts sailing. But you do have to make a decision as to whether to carry enough light clothes for maybe a 5 week passage or whether you are prepared to wash them as you go. Most places have laundrettes, which helps. On the long passage, whether you can hand-wash clothes aboard depends on the amount of fresh water the yacht carries. It's possible to wash clothes in sea water but not so good. Most of the men will hardly ever change, you could always follow suite.

A few places you may visit, Spanish yacht clubs in particular, expect a respectable dress code, so do take a couple of decent changes, otherwise fairly scruffy is acceptable. Carry some waterproof (poly) bags for storing best clothes. Some places you may anchor and dinghy ashore, and decent clothes risk getting soaked in a shore-break.

Check whether you need to take a sleeping bag. A couple of large soft fluffy towels are a great luxury.

Take plenty of books to read. Hopefully everyone aboard will do this so you'll be able to swap, also there are book exchanges at many yacht clubs.

Should you be going by the northern route - unlikely at this time of year - its a lot colder and wetter. You'll probably need two complete changes of warm gear including full sets of waterproofs, plus some extra.

As cook, presumably you are responsible for provisioning. Its a matter of tempering your crew's expectations to what you can reasonably manage when constantly rolling from side to side day after day. (As much tinned stuff as possible would be my advice, and discourage fry-ups). Wedged in the galley, you'll get bruised, and there always seems to be one spot that keeps on catching. Make sure the first aid kit has some padding.

Always carry your own knife and torch, and I'd far prefer to rely on my own lifejacket than one on board.

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Not as much as you might think.

Emmas' leaving from the med, on a 35 meter yacht. But a lot of what you say will be useful.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Take a map. On a 35m boat you'll need it to navigate your way from one end to the other!

 

[harvey]

The one thing you'll need above all else is a sense of humour! God luck.