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Old 01-10-2012, 01:42   #1
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posts: 7
Couple in New Zealand

We are Abby (30) and Mike (32), a couple of about 5 years, from the UK but living at present in Christchurch, New Zealand.

We are planning to head back to the UK sometime in the first half of 2013 and would like to make as much of the journey under sail as possible. We will be leaving our jobs here whenever suits and have no fixed dates to be home for, so we’re very much open to fitting in with whatever comes our way. Ideally we would like to set sail from NZ but could easily fly to Aus or Fiji.

Sailing Experience/Skills:
We have some sailing experience, summarised below. Just as important is that we are easy going and have a good sense of humour. We found we needed the humour to get through some of the experience!
  • 1996 - Mike crossed the English Channel on an Ocean Youth Club 68ft ketch
  • 2006 – Mike spent several months sailing a Laser intensively at weekends in the Persian Gulf.
  • Autumn 2010 – Both obtained RYA Competent Crew qualifications from Plymouth Sailing School.
  • Spring 2011 – Both made 1100 mile passage from Florida to Bermuda aboard 39’ Catana catamaran with an experienced skipper. Both took night watches, handled helm and sails, assisted with repairs etc. Experienced several days of volatile weather and heavy seas, and a rig breakage!
  • Autumn 2012 – Abby worked as a volunteer on a dolphin/orca tracking project in NZ, including some sailing on a large yacht in the Bay of Islands.
  • Winter/Spring 2012: Both are actively involved with weekend racing at Naval Point Yacht Club, Lyttelton, Christchurch.
Mike has yet to suffer any significant seasickness symptoms and does not need to take medication. Mike is a willing and reasonably capable cook and also appreciates the value of a clean and tidy ship.

Abby suffers slight seasickness when things get rough but a few tablets seem to keep things under control. Abs is a better cook, and has a clean and tidy nature.


We each come equipped with lifejacket, lanyard, personal EPIRB, offshore waterproofs, appropriate clothing etc, a large rucksack and a good sense of humour.

Personal backgrounds:
You may be interested in what we do when we’re not trying to find boats to sail on!

Mike is a chartered civil engineer and is currently working as a designer for the infrastructure rebuild team in Christchurch. He has a coastal engineering degree, which gave him a good knowledge of meteorology and ocean physics, but ended up becoming a wastewater engineer (a truly glamorous profession). Whilst not a qualified mechanic or electrician he does have a lifelong history of ‘hands on’ experience with just about anything containing mechanisms or an engine. He is most happy when in a grubby hole, spanner in hand, but is also competent with more high tech electronics and computers. Mike also surfs and dives.

Abby is an environmental scientist and has been working with the Canterbury Regional Council whilst in New Zealand. Abby is an ecologist/biologist and is experienced in practical laboratory and field work. She is accustomed to working on her own initiative to solve scientific and technical problems, and is used to meeting and working with teams of people from diverse backgrounds. Abby is fun to be around, easy going and compassionate. She loves marine life and cares a lot about marine conservation.

We are both from ordinary working class families in the UK, and both went to state schools followed by the University of Plymouth where we met. We try not to take ourselves too seriously and are not too concerned with financial wealth and material things, preferring to try and live active happy healthy lifestyles whilst doing jobs that have a positive impact. We’re not scared of hard work and whilst we are both of quite slight build we are fit and healthy. Music, travelling and having fun with friends are our main common interests.

We seek a skipper with a responsible attitude to boat maintenance and passage planning, and are reluctant to crew on a vessel that is not equipped with an SSB or Satphone and of course an EPIRB in case of emergencies. We don't know exactly how seaworthy your vessel is so we see these as essential contingency provisions!

We can cover our own travel expenses, and split expenses on food, fuel and moorings etc. We can get ourselves to Auckland or Opua and can bring our old camper van if we need to stay in it for a while before departure. If help is needed overhauling before departure then we could certainly lend a hand.

We both enjoy a few glasses of wine, but happy to observe dry rules during passages. Generally sociable but know when to make ourselves scarce!
Please contact us by PM if we might be of any use to you.

Cheers

Mike & Abby
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Old 12-10-2012, 03:20   #2
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Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
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Re: Couple in New Zealand

Still looking...
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Old 20-10-2012, 00:25   #3
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Location: Sydney NSW Australia
Posts: 112
Re: Couple in New Zealand

Hi folks, you sound like a great couple to have on board, and a good fit for my boat but 12 months too early for me. I'm planning on leaving Sydney in Dec 2013, heading for Lyttleton and then onwards to the Pacific (leaving Lyttleton in Feb 2014). Eventual destination probably Singapore at this stage.

There don't appear to be many boats starting from that end of the world, though. Towards the end of the cyclone season (that means Feb/March/April) you might find a boat heading north into the tropics starting from somewhere like Bay of Islands if not further south. From there you might get a lift across to Singapore/Malaysia/Thailand or points further west from someone taking the tropics route.

Good luck, and if you decide to delay your plans for a year then get in touch.
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Old 21-10-2012, 02:56   #4
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Location: Newcastle Australia
Boat: Salar 40
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Re: Couple in New Zealand

Hi,
We are sailing from Lake Macquarie (Newcastle) on 7/11 to Lord Howe Island. The boat is a well maintained 1989 Salar 40 (Laurent Giles designed legendary 12t motor sailer). Our Partners decided to fly over and meet us there after a recent trial offshore passage encountered 5m swells and 35kt winds.
Expect to stay in the Lagoon at Lord Howe (world heritage listed marine park and southern most coral reef in Aust) for 5 days, leaving on 15/11 and return to Newcastle (Lake Macquarie) about 18/11.
Crew is myself (skipper) and 2 other experienced offshore yachtsmen (57 and 65 y.o.) One of the other current crew and myself along with 2 others did the round trip in Heather Mist 2 years ago and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
All provisions provided on the passages, own cabin s/c on the journey and when moored at the island.
Heather Mist is well set up for offshore passages with 6 man liferaft, full electronics, epirb, storm sails, harnesses etc.
Let me know asap if you are interested.

Regards,
Brian Gulley
Heather Mist

PS. Will be staying ashore nights at the island, so it would be great to have a couple stay on board and keep an eye on the boat. The landing ramp is about 1km from the moorings. They tell me diving on the reef and lagoon are excellent.
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Old 02-11-2012, 13:56   #5
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Re: Couple in New Zealand

Still available, likely to be working in Christchurch until March, we will then travel up to Opua hoping to crew on a boat departing anytime onwards from then. Happy to help with prep and overhaul work.

Cheers
Mike
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Old 30-11-2012, 22:03   #6
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Re: Couple in New Zealand

Still available, perhaps now as early as late February.
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Old 10-12-2012, 09:02   #7
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Location: Jomtien
Boat: Archambault 35
Posts: 18
Re: Couple in New Zealand

If you don't mind using Jetstar or AirAsia to get you part of the way ;-) ..
we can take you from Singapore to near Bangkok .. starting end of December or very early January .. fast light racing 35 footer .. delivery from Singapore to Jomtien
Cheers
John
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