Looking For A Tallship Experience For 16 Year Old Son

[Thin Line]

My son has been a fulltime liveaboard with us for nearly 4 years, he will be 16 in September and I am trying to find a Tallship experience/job where he can spread his wings a little bit. He is competent crew, in shape and extremely respectful. I just want him to have some room to grow and find himself a bit.

Ideally I would love for something in the Pacific where I grew up, but the Caribbean works as well. We are sitting in Blackpoint Bahamas doing laundry and I"m searching, but all I can come up with are UK sailing programs, short ones at that.

I mentioned an entire semester crewing and he was all for that, preferably it would be longer then most of what I've found 4-5 day programs. Any help pointing me in the general direction would be greatly appreciated!

S/V Thin Line

P.S. We aren't affluent by any means, broke pay as you go cruisers as a matter of fact. This would likely mean making significant sacrifice on our part, but I believe it would be worth it.

[CarstenWL]

I've found 4-5 day programs

Contact them anyhow. They are often looking for crew that can stay longer, normally on a 'hand for food/bunk' basis ....

I did this years (ages) back on the German TS Thor Heyerdahl on a journey from Germany - Canaric Island - Caribbean - Florida - New York and had a blast ;-)

Carsten

[Snowpetrel]

Have a look at Windeward bound in Tasmania.

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[s/v Beth]

There's a number of tall ships that ply the Puget sound every summer. You should be able to get a berth on one of them. Crews seem to be happy when I see them in anchor.

[Cormorant]

I know two people who had extraordinary experiences on the Picton Castle.

The Real Tall-Ship Learning Adventure

[Snowpetrel]

+1 to Picton castle certainly is one of the last old school sailing ships. Isn't much like her still about. It might be a tad rough for your average 16 year old?

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[Steadman Uhlich]

Picton Castle came to my mind.

But I think there are also smaller TS in New York and big schooners in New England that have short term crew spots.

Good luck! It is something I dreamed of doing when I was his age (and younger) but unfortunately did not get the time or chance yet.

Also, if he is smart and college material, you might start telling him now about the USCG Academy and the USCG Eagle.

[Benz]

There are several programs of that nature out of Woods Hole and San Francisco run by SEA (it's an acronym for something I can't remember). They do what they call a "Sea Semester" One of their boats is the Corwith Cramer; the other is the Call of the Sea (?).
Google either and you'll get plenty of info.
Ben
zartmancruising dot com

[Tellus]

...Sail Training International - Home

[belizesailor]

The ELISSA in Galveston, TX has a great sail training program for their volunteer crew. No cost, but a big commitment of time.

[GordMay]

➥ Volunteer Crew | Tall Ships Adventures

[DefinitelyMe]

I've spent about 10 months about the Picton Castle and can testify wholeheartedly to it being one of the most worthwhile experiences of my life. It's not cheap (i delivered pizzas for 8 months in order to afford the first 4 months aboard) but it's a superb investment. I also did a trans-Atlantic on Tenacious, operated by the UK-based Jubilee Sailing Trust, but would not recommend that one as a genuine tallship experience.

I guarantee that if he gets on the Picton Castle he will find it exceptionally fulfilling. My only concern would be that they may not take him at 16.

Another superb ship to try is the Dutch-flagged Europa. I'm not sure where they are at the moment but they've done a lot of stuff around South America and the Antarctic, including several Cape Horn passages. Several of my friends (from the Picton Castle) have worked on board Europa and have great things to say about it.

[Imprezza72]

Oliver Hazard Perry in Rhode Island wrong coast but maybe right fit?
Home
also a write up at:
http://www.wired.com/2015/06/oliver-hazard-perry/

[Bertybuoy]

TS Royalist is a UK based Sea Cadet Sail Training ship - brand new, just out of the box - she may well be looking for a long term volunteer on a board only basis as she's normally crewed by cadets between the ages of 12 and 18.
Not sure of her itinerary, but she regularly gets over to the French coast and is a regular in the Tall Ships race. Marine Society & Sea Cadets - Media Releases

[Cadence]

Cozy up to your Senator have your son ace the SATS and get him into the CG academy. I guess the Eagle qualities as a tall ship.