sailing with a crew to spain

[dilly]

I'm thinking of sailing to spain next june I'd like to pick up a crew I was just wondering what is theprotocol and what am I expected to finance I anderstand I would payl the running costs in the mariner's and fuels would be done to me just wondering if all the food and return flights would be down to me iss this the nom any held would be preciated thanks david

 

[[3889]]

I'm also interested in opinions on this. I've seen crew wanted ads ranging from all travel costs and food covered to being expected to contribute pro rata to fuel and berthing expenses.
IMHO, if the skipper/ owner wants a fast delivery at a specified time then they should meet all crew costs. The more input crew members have on passage planning and schedule, the more they should contribute. I don't think crew should ever have to pay an equal share of boat costs on a delivery trip, though.

 

[Stemar]

Agree with HiAndDry. I've seen all shades from fully funded to sharing all costs - including an engine service.

To my mind, if it's a delivery trip where the only point is to get the boat from A to B, and no hesitation, deviation or repetition, then it should be towards the fully funded end. The other end of the spectrum, a shared holiday cruise should be more towards the share everything end, though I tend to think that I'd be spending the fuel anyway so, personally, I wouldn't count that unless it's purely to get the crew home on time.

As for the engine service, I did think that was out of order, but it wasn't enough to get in a fight over.

 

[chinita]

Sorry to drift from costs but do make sure they are suitable and you are all 'in tune' as much as possible.

I have never had to take crew but I have had many friends who have. Their stories are alarming. Ranging from merely discovering that someone is a vegetarian two days into the trip to having a complete psychopath on board.

I strongly suggest you set aside some time for a 'work up' passage of a few days before you commit.

 

[affinite]

Sorry to drift from costs but do make sure they are suitable and you are all 'in tune' as much as possible.

I have never had to take crew but I have had many friends who have. Their stories are alarming. Ranging from merely discovering that someone is a vegetarian two days into the trip to having a complete psychopath on board.

I strongly suggest you set aside some time for a 'work up' passage of a few days before you commit.

Wasnt that made into a film with Billy Zane and Nichole Kidman ?

I had my boat delivered to Greece by a Pro Skipper several years ago.
I paid all the skippers expenses (and fees)
Second crew member was me and I came for free
The third crew member paid his own way (including flights from Norway to the UK to start the trip)
The old addage of "you pay peanuts and you get monkeys" does resonate however as we had a Very near miss with a large freighter off Portugal when it became apparant the guy didnt have a clue about CollRegs
Chinitas point about crew compatibility/competance is an important one.

 

[chinita]

Wasnt that made into a film with Billy Zane and Nichole Kidman ?

Actually, one story could have been made into a film.

Two friends leaving Trinidad for Spain via Bermuda took on a young American chap. Two hours into the trip he announced that he wanted to be taken to Florida or he would declare, at the first port of arrival, that he had been kidnapped.

He made the mistake of taking his eyes of my friend and was quickly tossed over the side; followed by his bag.

I assume he made it back to Trinidad, but I don't know - and my friends don't care.

 

[dilly]

Sound like somthing I would do good on them

 

[Allergy]

I'm thinking of sailing to spain next june I'd like to pick up a crew I was just wondering what is theprotocol and what am I expected to finance I anderstand I would payl the running costs in the mariner's and fuels would be done to me just wondering if all the food and return flights would be down to me iss this the nom any held would be preciated thanks david

I sailed on 'Rally Portugal' in 2000 & found the company who ran it are well organise. Would recommend looking into travelling to Spain that way. Our landfall was Bayona in Spain. Hope this helps.

 

[morgandlm]

I agree with Stemar on this. I took part in a boat delivery this year from Greece to S. Med via Sardinia and Corsica. We agreed up front to share all routine costs including marina fees and fuel. The trip was indeed a boat delivery in the form of a holiday cruise. I would not have expected to pay for any repairs or maintenance en route but this was not clarified in advance. I think complete transparency up front is probably the key to avoiding disagreement.
Morgan

 

[laika]

I think complete transparency up front is probably the key to avoiding disagreement.

Yup. Whatever deal people with free will agree to is fair enough so long as the deal is well understood: It's about what both parties get out of it. Having said that it's also something of a free market so a skipper looking for crew is competing against many delivery companies. All that I know of cover food and on-board expenses for the crew. Many will also offer crew a proportion of travel expenses ranging from none to all but often a fixed amount equivalent to a budget air fare home. With a semi-reputable delivery company crew should expect the skipper to be experienced, certainly experienced enough to keep them safe and make an independent judgement call on the condition of the vessel. The downside to a delivery is that it's full-on, to a deadline in all weathers and crew are expected to clean and polish the boat at the end. To compete, the private boat owner usually needs to offer a more relaxed schedule, be more flexible about dates, or accept the headcases the reputable delivery companies turn down (although I know from experience that the disreputable ones will take anyone).

I think you'll be limiting your pool of applicants by not offering to cover all on-board food and expenses. If you're a YM instructor offering a relaxed "holiday" schedule with the promise of tuition en-route it will seriously sweeten the deal. In any case you should clearly state what people are expected to contribute, what the schedule is, the type and condition of your boat, how many crew you expect to have, whether people will get their own cabin or not and your own qualifications.

And sorry to say this, and honestly no offence intended, but think about getting someone to spell and grammar check your advert. Not because I care about how you write on this forum (that's up to you) but if I was reading with a view to shipping with you I'd have you (The OP that is, not morgandlm) down as a nutter and stay well away.

 

[MASH]

Back in the '80s I did a delivery across the Atlantic and two of the crew decided to jump ship in Bermuda and demanded tickets home which the skipper provided. He was a very experienced professional seaman and insisted that it was a legal obligation to provide this - indeed they threatened to go to the police if he didn't cough up.

Anyone know if this was or still is the case.

It strikes me as being the height of cheek to expect crew on a delivery to pay anything at all except bar bills, and that includes travel expenses. They are doing a job for you, you can't manage without them...

 

[alant]

Back in the '80s I did a delivery across the Atlantic and two of the crew decided to jump ship in Bermuda and demanded tickets home which the skipper provided. He was a very experienced professional seaman and insisted that it was a legal obligation to provide this - indeed they threatened to go to the police if he didn't cough up.

Anyone know if this was or still is the case.It strikes me as being the height of cheek to expect crew on a delivery to pay anything at all except bar bills, and that includes travel expenses. They are doing a job for you, you can't manage without them...

My understanding, is that the skipper is responsible for any 'repatriation' & also responsible for any 'debts' incurred by crew, when foreign.

A friend did a delivery with Reliance & had to fund the skipper's + own airfare back from Caribbean.

 

[LadyInBed]

It strikes me as being the height of cheek to expect crew on a delivery to pay anything at all except bar bills, and that includes travel expenses. They are doing a job for you, you can't manage without them...

I think we have two scenarios, delivery where you could well be right, and a cruise where the crew have more input to express desire to visit somewhere on route or ask to stay longer in one place than another or go into a marina rather than anchor. In this case I think its fair that all (except repair and maintenance) costs be shared. Transport to / from boat to be paid for by the crew.

 

[chinita]

And sorry to say this, and honestly no offence intended, but think about getting someone to spell and grammar check your advert. Not because I care about how you write on this forum (that's up to you) but if I was reading with a view to shipping with you I'd have you (The OP that is, not morgandlm) down as a nutter and stay well away.

Oooer!, You mean like the late, great CSail?

 

[dilly]

laike. i did not know it was a grammer and spelling lesson on here. I put that thread up on the move on my phone. if you did not want to sound rude why say it !!and i am not looking for a crew i was just asking about experience and whats expected

 

[laika]

laike. i did not know it was a grammer and spelling lesson on here. I put that thread up on the move on my phone. if you did not want to sound rude why say it !!and i am not looking for a crew i was just asking about experience and whats expected

My point was that in a free market what you have to "pay" (ie the answer to the question to which you were soliciting an answer) depends on the competition and what you are perceived to be offering. From a standard base point of on-board expenses, people will be more enthusiastic about shipping someone who comes across as calm, rational and experienced. I tried but obviously failed to make it clear that I really don't mind how you phrase your posts on here, but I think you'll get more applicants without sweetening the pot with travel expenses if you phrase your advert a little differently from how you phrase your posts.

Anyone else care to comment on that? I always accept that anything could just be my own opinion

 

[dilly]

.
I'm not looking for crew as I have already got 3 2 of which are doing mileage for there yacht masters the third is a yacht master keeping an eye on them.I understand and accept that's all running costs maintenance costs fuel costs and food costs will be down to me I was just asking the forum there views on this subject

 

[chinita]

So you have got the crew.

But you have not yet discussed the financial terms on which they are going to commit to you for several weeks or months?

You did not ask for 'views on the subject' - you asked for the protocol, slightly different.

 

[dilly]

Yes your right just asking the forum what's .normal under the circumstances

 

[AB1707]

As has been outllined above delivery companies pay the skipper, the travel and food expenses of the first mate and the deckhand contributes towards his travel costs but gets food. If you're giving people mileage and the benefit of the experience I'd negotiate with them. Personally I'd consider they could pay their flight home and shared costs for food/fuel and mooring - especially if the voyage is done in a relaxed fashion visiting interesting place on route. The most important part is everyone knowing and being happy with the arrangement. I've done several deliveries and they more often than not over run - either weather or boat repairs- so you need to have agreed how long you expect people to stay and how they'll get home if things go wrong. The more open the arrangements the less reason for any malcontent. It's a great passage to Spain so enjoy but be sensible with your weather window if you go straight across Biscay