Total novice seeking experience

citrustea

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Joined
18 Sep 2006
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UK, Portsmouth
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Sincere apologies if this is off topic. I recently moved to the south coast (Portsmouth) to gain some sailing experience. Other than local sailing schools however (who I've found to be brilliant) I'm struggling to find any way to get aboard. Do any of you have suggestions as to how I could gain some crewing experience before I buy my first sailboat?
 
Have you tried any of the crew search web sites? Googling 'crew search', 'crew wanted' etc brings up loads, including some specialising in different types and classes.

Or try a local yacht club, though I have to say when I did that some years back they seemed more interested in how much I would spend at the bar than my interest in sailing. But I did meet one disenchanted member in the aforesaid bar who turned out to need crew - we never went to the club again but I crewed for him for several years!
 
My crew have just deserted me for one reason or another, nothing to do with me acting like Captain Bligh I might add, and will not be back for a while. Check out my post on the SBC crewing forum. PM me and we can swop details and or possibilites.
 
Hi Citrustea /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
If you have used some of the local sailing schools,talk to the instructors you know and pick their brains.Maybe try to get an introduction to a Club's Sailing Secretary/Rear Commodore Racing etc,etc through them.Sailing Clubs are the way in basically.
If you can't get a "Friendly" to do some intro's,just go in to a Club and ask the guy at the end of the bar who you should talk to (and offer to buy them a pint at the same time!)
p.s. You might try asking on the Scuttlebutt forum here as well

Good hunting /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
And the ability to make jam butties when it's rough and lashing it down! Why move to Portsmouth, I'm in North Wales and would take people out, cause my crew is usually baby-sitting my kids. My fault apparently
 
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