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Old 22-07-2014, 11:23   #1
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Ahoy There!

Hello,

My partner and I are seeking a simple lifestyle in the tropics, and were hoping to find like-minded sailors who travel between the United States and the Caribbean Islands. We hope to secure safe and inexpensive travel to BVI or Jamaica, and thought that this forum would be a good place to start inquiring.

If anyone has any experience hitch-hiking on boats, or island hopping, please share your experiences with us. We are not experienced sailors, nor can we afford expensive cruise tickets. What we are is well-rounded, college-educated individuals with a lot of different skills to offer the right person who shares our goals and values.

Do you have any experience transporting WWOOFers? Can you help us get to the islands? Please share any information with me. Thanks!
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Old 27-07-2014, 22:06   #2
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Re: Ahoy There!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bavandk View Post
What we are is well-rounded, college-educated individuals
PERFECT!!!... You should be able to get decent jobs, state side, save your money, like the rest of us and buy a ticket to where you want to go.

or

Learn to sail via sailing school or sailing club or hang out at a marina bumming weekend racing rides and hone your skills until you have something to offer an owner of a sailboat going whee you want to go.

Either way it will take a commitment from you and a little hard work.
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Old 27-07-2014, 22:19   #3
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Re: Ahoy There!

What Celestial sailor said
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Old 27-07-2014, 22:35   #4
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Re: Ahoy There!

Haha. Not wanting to rain on ur parade but I tried the sailboat hitch hiking thing. There was always some ex marine trauma specialist that played guitar and had spent 2 years cooking with chef Ramsey that applied for the same berth. I got a bunch of time in club racing at local marinas and that was about it. So...I said piss on it, I saved my money, bought a T37 and never looked back. Taught myself how to drop an anchor. Lots of sunshine and roses about crewing out there, but it isnt easy or safe considering some of the bozos who captain their own boats. As for bringing on unknown crew now....it gives me the willies as ive tried it a couple times. Now if I need crew I wait for family or good friends and train them. Just my reality.
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Old 29-07-2014, 06:39   #5
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Re: Ahoy There!

One of the things I learned quickly as a female sailor trying to do lots of weekend racing and pickup crew is to find out first how a skipper likes to run his/her boat and adapt accordingly. Explain that this is what you are doing so there is no confusion as to your knowledge or skill level otherwise the "bozos" will think you are a "bimbo" :-) :-)

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Old 29-07-2014, 07:15   #6
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Ahoy There!

So, you want crew opportunities for a couple to a specific location in hopes of finding elusive host farms in a popular location?

And because your host farm would be counting on you, you want your free boat ride to stick to a schedule, of course.

It sounds like you have done excellent research about traveling on the cheap, but perhaps the enthusiasts forgot to mention how much competition there would be.


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Old 29-07-2014, 07:41   #7
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Re: Ahoy There!

What is a WWOOfer?
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Old 23-08-2014, 07:00   #8
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Re: Ahoy There!

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Originally Posted by Celestialsailor View Post
PERFECT!!!... You should be able to get decent jobs, state side, save your money, like the rest of us and buy a ticket to where you want to go.

or

Learn to sail via sailing school or sailing club or hang out at a marina bumming weekend racing rides and hone your skills until you have something to offer an owner of a sailboat going whee you want to go.

Either way it will take a commitment from you and a little hard work.
No reason to be snarky, I am just asking a question. We do have a significant amount of money saved to put toward this trip, we are just seeking advice from others who have more experience. I am aware that the average rube would just pay their way wherever they need to go. My point is that there are other ways to get around. Hope your attitude toward this improves.
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Old 23-08-2014, 07:01   #9
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Re: Ahoy There!

Update: We made it to Jamaica, currently working with folks around the marina who have boats to find a good option for transport in the future. Thanks to all of you who provided useful advice.
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Old 23-08-2014, 07:03   #10
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Re: Ahoy There!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greenhand View Post
So, you want crew opportunities for a couple to a specific location in hopes of finding elusive host farms in a popular location?

And because your host farm would be counting on you, you want your free boat ride to stick to a schedule, of course.

It sounds like you have done excellent research about traveling on the cheap, but perhaps the enthusiasts forgot to mention how much competition there would be.


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Actually we have not encountered that much competition. Currently we are arranging a trip from Jamaica to Tortola. I appreciate everyone explaining how difficult and expensive this should be for us "bozos (?)". That being said ... It can be done.
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Old 23-08-2014, 07:05   #11
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Re: Ahoy There!

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What Celestial sailor said
Her reply was not useful at all, just negative. Do you pay thousands of dollars to travel around the caribbean? If so, you are probably making bad decisions. It cost us $82 to get to Jamaica, and we've stayed here for two weeks without spending any money. Now we have made arrangements to travel to Tortola, and the expense is not outrageous. A lot of people on this forum may have had negative experiences, but that has not been the case for me.
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Old 23-08-2014, 07:23   #12
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http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWOOF
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Old 13-09-2014, 12:31   #13
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Re: Ahoy There!

You made it. Not the way I would have done it because I like to be independent.
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Old 14-09-2014, 17:30   #14
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Re: Ahoy There!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bavandk View Post
Hello,

My partner and I are seeking a simple lifestyle in the tropics, and were hoping to find like-minded sailors who travel between the United States and the Caribbean Islands. We hope to secure safe and inexpensive travel to BVI or Jamaica, and thought that this forum would be a good place to start inquiring.

If anyone has any experience hitch-hiking on boats, or island hopping, please share your experiences with us. We are not experienced sailors, nor can we afford expensive cruise tickets. What we are is well-rounded, college-educated individuals with a lot of different skills to offer the right person who shares our goals and values.

Do you have any experience transporting WWOOFers? Can you help us get to the islands? Please share any information with me. Thanks!
Howdy and Welcome to this forum.

I read your post and ALL of the replies above.

I know something about woofing.

I also met a nice young woman who has "hitched" a ride on private airplanes to 49 states in the USA. While I thought it would be impossible for her to do it, she has really done it!

I think since you have had some success in your journey so far, and some people may not understand your methods or what "value" you bring to the equation, why not start a thread/topic here that gives more information about what you have done so far and the positives of it as you see it. This may help you (and others) in the future.

Good luck on your trip.

Sincerely,
Steady
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