BULA! (That’s how you say hello in Fiji)
3 years ago I quit my tech sales job in
San Francisco and escaped the rate
race with plans for a
circumnavigation. I quickly learned
Rule #1 on a
boat: plans change! I became obsessed with
Fiji, started surfing and have spent 3 seasons here so far. In the past I’ve sailed down to
New Zealand for cyclone season but this year I'm sticking around so I can surf uncrowded glassy waves a little longer.
My
boat is a modern and fast
Beneteau 423 that’s been upgraded in every way necessary so we can be “on the hook” for as long as the
food lasts.
I’m used to sailing and have even done long passages on my own but I prefer to share this lifestyle and experience with other people my age.
I spend a lot of time around the surf breaks since that’s mostly why I’m here and I have also just started to learn how to kite surf. Life on board “Carthago” is all about enjoying good
food, conversation, and staying active by hiking,
fishing, kayaking, free diving/snorkeling/spear
fishing, bonfires on uninhabited islands, etc.
So far, so good?
Some things to note:
- This is a SHARED adventure which means shared chores, expenses, and fun. We’re all equals on the boat, we vote and share our opinions, but as
captain interested in being efficient and safe, I’ll make the final decisions
- Expenses are avfixed amount per day and will cover everything on board (food,
beer,
fuel, etc.)
- Preference will be given to good cooks, surfers, kite boarders, guitar players, sailors (in that order)
- I’m looking for people around my age (25-35 basically) Please don’t be offended by this or try to convince me otherwise, my mind is fairly made up.
- Sailing experience helps but isn’t necessary. However, good attitude is a must. I’m happy to teach you the rest!
- Cleanliness, tidiness and
safety go hand in hand on a boat. And I take
safety very seriously!
- You can fly into Nadi
Airport (main
Fiji airport)
- I usually expect a 1 month commitment to start, and then we can go from there...
- I'll probably ask you to bring a bottle of
rum and your favorite drink from the Duty Free if you're flying in.
- Life on a sailboat can be tough. Sometimes you can’t get sleep because the boat doesn’t stop moving back and forth, sometimes you have to wake up in the middle of the night because the
wind picks up or the swell comes in unexpectedly and we have to change
anchorages, things break and we have to adapt quickly, there’s limited
water (you can
shower every day, but it’s a short shower),
power is limited (we live off
solar panels and a
wind generator), you need to be astute and move quickly when needed, the boat needs to be kept clean and we all share tasks on board such as
washing dishes,
cleaning, etc. I think it’s important to be upfront about this, it’s not just the glamorous Instagram shots you see, there's a tough lifestyle behind it all, but it makes it that much better!
- I don’t *need* crew but I’m looking for people I would *want* to share this adventure with. What would your contribution be to life onboard? HINT: You’ll probably get bonus points if you know/want to learn to surf/kitesurf / know your way around the
galley / play a musical instrument / are into photography/video...
I’ve spent my life savings on this boat and hundreds of hours of blood, sweat and tears to prepare and upkeep it for this ongoing adventure. Now, I want to spend time with interesting people that will add value, become friends and share memories with. If you’d like to join, please send me a message with a little bit about yourself and what you would contribute to life onboard. (Friendly
advice: A message saying “I want to sail, I want to see the world, I want to have fun, I’ve always wanted to explore islands.” probably won’t catch my attention... I like to form TEAMS and everyone needs to contribute for this to be a great experience for all!)
If you can’t join but want to follow along you can check out @sailingseabbatical on Instagram and stay in touch for future opportunities! There are lots of up to date pictures too if you want to have a better idea of what this shared experience is all about!
I look forward to hearing from you!