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Old 16-04-2008, 16:22   #1
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Turn-key noobie crew (... I know)

Hello,

I had some plans to do some cruising which fell through, and my cruising friends, now on baby leave, suggested I didn't have much to lose by going to the Caribbean anyway; I did not disagree. The only downside is that I am now exactly where I did not want to be, another noob who wants to sail but does not have the means.

A few words about me. First of all I will be in St. Thomas on Monday (4/21), I am flying from my current home in Stockholm Sweden. I am an American citizen though, 25 years old, born and raised in Vermont. I am by no means an experienced sailor. I sailed Lasers and Sunfish from our summer home on Lake George (which my parents would have to pry me out of to get me to the dinner table) and have been a guest on several boats since then, but my sailing experience ends there. I have done a lot of reading, my latest book being "The new Complete Sailing Manual" by Steve Sleight (so now I can sail around my pile of books . I do have five seasons of commercial fishing experience out of Newport R.I. and later the Gulf of Alaska. I guess the most important skills I would transfer from that experience would be my ability to live and work on a boat, get along, and be exposed to just about the worst conditions the ocean has to offer. Maybe some marine diesel knowledge would be applicable, and fish cleaning skills . Professionally, I am a satellite navigation specialist working here in Sweden and very much looking forward to taking some time off to do some sailing. I am also a fairly serious armature runner, climber and (used to be) ski racer. My goal is to learn some sailing skills and have fun, that said, I am not looking to just freeload on someone else's yacht. I am very hard working, drug and smoke free and I have plenty of references (girlfriend, colleagues, roommates etc, just ask).

You can email me directly via my account here, and if you want to spend your money on international calls my number is +46703302611, otherwise I can do the calling.

Best,
Ty
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Old 16-04-2008, 18:03   #2
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Contact Omar at captain@interlinesail.com in Redhook, St. Thomas. They know everybody who private charters in St. Thomas. Many of these boats move south to places like Trinidad or Grenada in June or July for hurricane season, and they may be looking for crew.
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Old 16-04-2008, 19:32   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ttlewis View Post
Hello,

I had some plans to do some cruising which fell through, and my cruising friends, now on baby leave, suggested I didn't have much to lose by going to the Caribbean anyway; I did not disagree. The only downside is that I am now exactly where I did not want to be, another noob who wants to sail but does not have the means.

A few words about me. First of all I will be in St. Thomas on Monday (4/21), I am flying from my current home in Stockholm Sweden. I am an American citizen though, 25 years old, born and raised in Vermont. I am by no means an experienced sailor. I sailed Lasers and Sunfish from our summer home on Lake George (which my parents would have to pry me out of to get me to the dinner table) and have been a guest on several boats since then, but my sailing experience ends there. I have done a lot of reading, my latest book being "The new Complete Sailing Manual" by Steve Sleight (so now I can sail around my pile of books . I do have five seasons of commercial fishing experience out of Newport R.I. and later the Gulf of Alaska. I guess the most important skills I would transfer from that experience would be my ability to live and work on a boat, get along, and be exposed to just about the worst conditions the ocean has to offer. Maybe some marine diesel knowledge would be applicable, and fish cleaning skills . Professionally, I am a satellite navigation specialist working here in Sweden and very much looking forward to taking some time off to do some sailing. I am also a fairly serious armature runner, climber and (used to be) ski racer. My goal is to learn some sailing skills and have fun, that said, I am not looking to just freeload on someone else's yacht. I am very hard working, drug and smoke free and I have plenty of references (girlfriend, colleagues, roommates etc, just ask).

You can email me directly via my account here, and if you want to spend your money on international calls my number is +46703302611, otherwise I can do the calling.

Best,
Ty
Ty,
You already have the skills necessary to be a good crew member on a boat. Just because you don't have hundreds of days on a sailing boat does not mean that you don't have the other skills necessary to be a good crew member.

You already know how to sail....that translates to larger sailing vessels relatively easy. The other skills that you mentioned are the most important skills....getting along with others, sea time, technical skills, good moral character, willing to work hard...etc etc...are what matters most.

I think most skippers would take someone with your human skills and ethics over someone who knows how to sail well but is a jerk. I know I would.

I would consider typing out a resume of everything relating to what you have done on boats.

I would not worry about your lack of time specifically on a sailboat.

I say go for it and wish you the best.

David
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Old 21-05-2008, 12:01   #4
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Atlantic Crossing

Ty~

if you are still looking to go sailing, would you consider a crossing from the Caribbean to Spain on a fast, small [37'] catamaran? the trip would entail watchkeeping [& maybe fish cleaning? ;-] your skills seem to suit this, and i would provide provisions.

in the planning stage, so let me know.

Kevin
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Old 22-05-2008, 00:40   #5
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Hey, I have plenty of sailing lined up for quite a while now. Good luck on your journey,

/ty
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