Crew Wanted: Bahamas in and around Spring 2020

[Flying Monkey]

Ahoy and Ajoy, Old Salts, Fresh Salts, and No Salts.
Going at this again, after a year or so of delay.
Starting a fresh Thread for sanity.

Thanks for reading.
I am looking for a crew person or two to join this adventure: You know how these thing go. Usually there are many people required, different folks, on different legs, according to vacation schedules and what some would call real life.
Singles and couples are welcome.
I’d like to have 2 other people on the boat with me.
If you are interested, then please let me know a bit about yourself and the timeframe you are available.
Other folks, family and friends of mine will be joining the boat along the way, so it is also possible for you to fly in to Nassau, for example, and get on board.

Here's the general sail plan:

April 2020 - end of June 2020.
Florida to Bahamas - When Hurricanes are not blowing like h*** out there (early Spring). Then a couple weeks bouncing around the islands, shaking down, and enjoying prime island hopping time. Sailing as easy as we can make it.
Departing from Jacksonville or Fort Lauderdale Florida.
Crossing to Bahamas.
Island Hopping.

Back to the US before Hurricane Season, heading to Maryland for the Summer.

Particulars:

Boat: CSY 44 Pilothouse Ketch. She is a well equipped, heavy old lady. A bit of a pig of a sailor, some say, but big, roomy, and safe and solid. She is a comfortable, sea-kindly boat with a deep draft and 14,000 lbs of lead, they say. I have not personally measured it.
Ketch rigged.
Furling Head sail.
Hank on Stay Sail.
Main and Mizzen in Lazy Jacks.
Self Tailing winches.
Electric winch.
Electric Windlass.
Water Maker.
Solar.
Wind Gen.
Big Galley, plenty of fridge space.
VHF Radio.
SSB Radio.
Garmin Satellite Roam.
Satellite Phone.
AIS
Chart Plotter
Autopilot.
Windvane
Dinghy and outboard


$$. Captain pays for boat expenses. Folks on board share the cost of their groceries.

Land and other transportation: By future arrangement. Crew joining the boat should expect to pay for their transport to and from the boat.

Customs, Duties, and Border fees: Expect to Pay your own way, Captain could help, if needed.

Safety and Security:

We will focus on comfortable, low risk, low stress sailing. The weather and ocean will give us enough un-planned excitement to deal with and enjoy, so we will not press in to foul weather or any other risky business. This means crew should be very flexible with time schedules.

All safety gear is up to date and functional.

Smokes, Drinks, and Other:
No tobacco smoke on board, ever.
Some non-tobacco items may get burned from time to time

The Anchor light is the drinking light. No consumption under way at all. But we will have a well equipped bar and beer stock.. Two rules of boating.. never run out of beer or cookies; although, the Captain drinks very little to no beer/alcohol.

Clothing. Yes please. It’s better than sunscreen.
This is mostly for the Bahamas, and certainly most of you reading this are already aware, that many visitors to the Bahamas view clothing as an optional situation. This is not a "nudist" boat at all, but people on it may be exposed to various nudity on or off the boat. If the glorious human body offends, then consider carefully what you get yourself in to.

Otherwise, if you do not have foul weather gear, then you should expect to buy some for yourself.

Drama:
This is supposed to be a drama free boat. Believe me, there will be enough drama without we bring a bunch with us.

About the Captain:
52 Year old man. Healthy, Energetic, non-snoring, non-smoking, non-drinking (mostly), guy who likes to sail.

45 years sailing experience aboard 16-52 foot sailboats. Yep, started young, with Dear Old dad and Mom. Great Lakes, Eastern Pacific (San Diego area), Western Atlantic, Bahamas, with the majority of experience in the Bahamas, with many courses at the fictional, but very real, Hard Knocks Sailing Academy.
Skilled and experienced in all boat auxiliary power systems (motors y'all); Gas and Diesel, HVACR systems, electrical, plumbing, rigging, - there's nothing on the boat I can't fix (or throw away and replace ).
I love to snorkel and spear fish. I am a very good cook. I love to explore the local scene, meet the people and get in to the cultures of visited places, so I tend to be wandering type explorer. All day on a random beach, to me, is a good use of a day.

I have a rock solid personality, not easily ruffled, calm under pressure, and am easy going and laid back. At the same time, I a have a loud, command voice (thank you Army), and can be very intense.

I am not a doctor or anything, but I am skilled at first aid, trained in CPR, first aid, recovery, and know how to treat many conditions - I got my broken ankle healed in about half the time it should have taken this year.
I am also an excellent trainer/teacher and coach, so if you have no experience, but otherwise fit, lets talk. Don't count yourself out.

Ideal Crew qualities:
Galley friendly, coffee loving; creative cook, bold, brave, level headed, positive energy and attitude, a bit of a hippie, excellent communication abilities, in great health, non-smoking, not grossed out by fish guts, stable at sea, some experience with sailing preferred, a light packer, excellent problem solving skills, a cheerleader (and I don't mean pom poms and a short skirt, I mean a person who is excited and energetic when facing challenging tasks and not, how do you say in this country, b*tchy about it), non-snoring (I don't mean to exclude based on stuff like snoring, that you really can't help, but I have a thing with snoring, and I can't sleep if it is going on). You should otherwise be in good health.


General Timeline is end of April 2020 to end of June 2020

Thanks for reading. Let me know if interested. We have a lot to discuss.

[Wfurr]

Ahoy Flying Monkey,


I would be interested in joining you for some of June. I have a trip planned in May. I am a 67yo retiree in good health. No issues. I have been around boats and the water most of my life. I have owned 2 sailboats and raced sailboats alot in my younger years. Will be glad to contribute my share of the expenses. I love to fish and dive. Certified diver.


Let me know, Fair winds, Bill

[Flying Monkey]

Thanks for your interest. Please also send a PM.

[Wfurr]

Hello,


Tried sending a PM,but they said because I was a new member I was not to be trusted. WTF


You can contact me at ezblues2@yahoo.com


Thanks, Bill

[Roamin Rabbitt]

Hey there, located in Sarasota, and interested! Albeit, limited experience, though willing learner. Are you still looking?

[Flying Monkey]

Roamin Rabbit, et al,
Yes, I am still putting the crew together. I believe it will be an ongoing (and unending) mission, but I am prepared for it. Once on the boat, you know, it's nothing but easy living and fixing the broken stuff that disturbs the easy living with its brokeness.

Current, Adjusted plan: Early April, haul out and bottom job.
End of April (or as soon as Wind, Weather, and a fickle Poseidon allow) make way for West End, Bahamas.
Middle of June, or before the Hurricanes start to blow, make for Maryland.
I would like 1-2 other folks on board most of that time.
There will be other folks scheduled to fly in and meet the boat at various times. No worries. She is a big girl and can handle 3-5 people easily.

[chefbmoney]

This sounds like something I would do. I am looking to gain more experience sailing before buying a boat myself. I did commercial fishing in Alaska and sailing in the Great Lakes with my Grandfather as a kid. I am a chef by trade, and cooked for the crew from Seattle to Bristol Bay years ago. No sea sickness.
Now I cannot guaranty not to snore, but i can supply my own breath right strips.
I would be happy to contribute money for provisions, and would look forward to cook and do as much work as possible.
I am 41, empty nester and divorced. Looking to start my sailing career.

[c-level]

Hi Flying Monkey,

Your profile, plan, and timing seam ideal for our next adventure. I will send a PM.

Thanks,

Steve

[Flying Monkey]

Hello Hello and Ahoj,


Here is an update: 2.18.2020.


I have a crew member joining the boat June 1 through the end of the trip - July-ish, before hurricane season.
This person will most likely fly in to Nassau, Bahamas.


I can have 2 additional, or 3 at most, other folks on board after June 1. It is a pretty big boat. If you have interest, flying in at the same time would be.... convenient


For planning purposes: Plan for at least two weeks on board.
One of the worst things to have on a sail boat is a time schedule. I have found that coming on board for a week is too stressfull, and does not really give time to appreciate the islands we are there to see. I do not really like Nassau, unless I am at Paradise Island in resort mode, so the fewer trips in, the better.



Updated Time Line:

July 2020: In Maryland, fooling around on the Chesapeake.

End of June: Getting out of the way of Storms and heading to Maryland. We might go to Nassau again for an airport drop-off run. Planning to sail up and skip as much of the ICW as possible.

June: Slow island Hopping, with an eye on the Berry Islands.

June 1 - ish: A crew member is flying in to join the crew. Planning on a stop in Nassua to pick up this crew member.

May: Slow Island Hopping, where the wind takes us, but with an eye on Allens Key or something like that.

(there will be a window of time here where we are close to Nassau, if people want to fly in and join the crew).

End of April/early May: Cross Gulf Stream for Bahamas. West End.
Sailing down - wind and weather depending.

Mid April: Some maintenance. I want to replace 2 through hulls. Green Cove Springs.

Early April: I will be back on board. I will take her to a yard and have her hauled for preventive maintenance. Probably will run her up to Green Cove Springs for the haul out and "shake down" on the way. Planning on sailing up, not going by ICW, as much as possible. Out at Fort Lauderdale, back in at St Johns River, Jax.



I appreciate everyone's interest. Please stay in touch. It is going to be hard to decide who to have on board, because everyone seems like a pretty good prospect so far.



I am traveling Feb 21 - Mar 4, and I will be in one of those countries with almost no internets. Please excuse my slow or no reply during that time.



Here are some pictures of the boat. She is a deep draft 6'6", but more like 7' when loaded for bear, I think. This is a significant difference from what most of these boats were built with. Most CSY's seem to be shallow draft, 4'6" variety. This one has an extra 1,000 lbs of lead and an extra 2 feet of keel.

[norther]

Flying Monkey, i have availability for the duration of your trip if you will have me. i have great lakes sailing experience on 23'-40' boats and would love get some water sailing">blue water sailing under my belt. would be able to join you in florida.
please respond here.

[windycityxx]

This is not a "nudist" boat at all, but people on it may be exposed to various nudity on or off the boat. If the glorious human body offends, then consider carefully what you get yourself in to.

I may be interested in the whole trip.. but first.. can you clarify what exactly this means first.

Are you straight? Gay or bi?

[Flying Monkey]

Hi WindyCity,

Thanks for your request for clarification and question.

Re nudity. I mean that this boat is not specifically a nudist boat. It is a small vessel though. In the course of living on a boat, people change clothes, bathe, shower, etc, etc, and sometimes "buck naked" happens. It's not a pervy thing, it's a life on a small boat thing. I guess my comments and considerations on that issue were more for the rookie or wanna be sailor who has not spent time in close quarters with other people. For folks who are very shy or uneasy around other people, it is a thing to consider. Personally, I do not like to use sunscreen any more than is needed. I use clothing to block the sun - long sleeve shirts and pants. At the begnining of a trip, I usually let my skin slowly adjust to all that Sunshine. I'll go 15 minutes in shorts and no shirt, and then throw on sunblocking clothing. Over time, I increase the length of Sun exposure, until I can go as long as I want with no shirt on, but I wear shorts or other suitable trou.
Personally, I am not shy of nudity and am not offended by it. I enjoy nude/natural beaches.
On board with people, I believe, as with most things in life, it is best to be mindful and considerate of those around me and act accordingly.


Sexuality. Good question; although, I never thought to address it in terms of sailing/cruising. I am a straight, male.
I do not consider sexuality to be an issue of consideration for sailing, crew, or anything else in life. We are who we are.

Maybe send a PM if you would like more clarification on those subjects.

Originally Posted by windycityxx

This is not a "nudist" boat at all, but people on it may be exposed to various nudity on or off the boat. If the glorious human body offends, then consider carefully what you get yourself in to.

I may be interested in the whole trip.. but first.. can you clarify what exactly this means first.

Are you straight? Gay or bi?

[Flying Monkey]

Hello all. I am back from an amazing trip in India, and still healthy, thank God.
Sorry about the break in communication. The internets in India are .... hmm... how do you say, few and far between.

Here is an update.
There are crew positions available in May and after late June.
I would like to get this figured out as soon as practical.

Stay healthy and be well, and if you need electronics, gear, or anything, better to buy now.

[Flying Monkey]

Here are some notes on safety, liability and so forth. Someone asked about these issues in a private message, so I thought it would be a good idea to address them in public forum for others who have the same questions.

SAFETY:
On board and off, this is job 1, priority 1, A1a. As in, this sh*te is important.

In that context, everything requires risk assessment and risk management.
Please don't think this means we will have a "milk toast" trip. I am an adventurous person with a high risk tolerance. I have jumped out of airplanes, rappelled off cliffs, "insert military activity boasting and bragging here", and done it all safely, with training, and, Glory to God had no injuries or accidents. The same goes for boating - no injuries or accidents.

It does mean that we try our best to avoid being "stupid" and doing "stupid stuff".
I define "stupid" as something that could result in a catastrophic loss- like driving in a car without wearing a seatbelt. Odds are that the drive will not result in an accident, but if it does, and the seatbelt is not being used, it could result in injury/death. It is hard to recover from death. Best to avoid it. Wear the seatbelt everytime.

How does this apply to boating?
Don't sail in bad weather.
Be prepared for bad weather that can't be avoided and "reef early".
Don't drink and boat.
Swim in pairs.
Use the "ranger buddy" concept.
Don't go hide in the barn full of scythes when the masked psycho is chasing you... kind of thing

Liability.
This boat is insured and has property and casualty liability coverage for stuff and people. The insurance covers sailing in all of th Bahamas (outside of hurricane season). Sailing a boat without proper insurance coverage, especially with other people on it, would be.... you guessed it, .... a stupid thing to do.

As owner and captain of the boat, I have duties and responsibilities to operate safely and diligently, and to protect and safeguard people and property in, on, and around the vessel. I take that part of boating very seriously.

I expect people joining the boat, crew, etc to do so "at their own risk". That means you have conducted your own risk assessment and determined that it is "not stupid" for you to go sailing. I have an indemnification form for people to sign.

This boils down to 2 main points:
I will do everything I can to ensure safe operation.
Others will do everything they can to ensure safe operation.
The intersection of these two sets is Fun operation.

[SVWhalesong]

Good morning FM,

I have a couple of questions somewhat unrelated to your post. I am looking for an experienced captain who could assist me in relocating my Hunter 310 from Seattle to Florida, probably around the Sarasota area.

I am looking into two options - sailing all the way, or having it transported via ground to the most accessible location on the gulf, somewhere between Texas and the Panhandle of Florida, and then sailing from there.

My question is, have you ever done something like this and/or would you be interested in doing it again? Or, might you know someone who has/is?

Second question is, what would you charge if this is something you would consider?

I appreciate any and all assistance/advice/commentary/constructive criticism you or other experienced sailors have to offer.

Thanks in advance!
Anita