How to suspend sailmail?

[myocean]

We will not need sailmail for the coming 6 month. I think I have heard once that it is possible to suspend this service but I haven not been successful with google to learn more about it.
Can somebody help?
It would be nice as well to know what happens to emails sent to the address when the account is suspended. Is there a kind of auto response?

[El Pinguino]

I don't think you can suspend it. If you do let it lapse at the end of the year you may not get your address back when you eventually renew either.
Tells you all this in the sailmail primer

[Neptune's Gear]

You could try sending an email to Jim Coreman - you got one from him when you first started with sailmail. As it is likely your callsign is your email add for sailmail, it's unlikely you will lose it!

[El Pinguino]

From the Sailmail Primer FAQs

'
I only go cruising for a few months at a time. Can I start and stop my SailMail membership?
My modem stopped working. Can I extend my membership for the time the modem was broken?
I joined SailMail before I really needed to, can I delay the start of my membership? The dog ate my SailMail Primer and I couldn't get it to work. Can you extend my membership?
I only want to go cruising for 6 months, can I just join SailMail for 6 months?

SailMail is not a fee-for-service company like a phone company. Instead, SailMail is a Cooperative Association of cruisers that operates a network of radio stations for our own benefit. It is like a yacht club where the members share the use of the clubhouse. You cannot join and quit a yacht club on a daily basis and just be a member on the days that you want to use the clubhouse.
Memberships in the SailMail Association are only available for one year periods, and are not refundable for any reason, including changes in a member's cruising plans, or difficulties in using SailMail. See the Terms and Conditions of SailMail on this website for more detail."

[El Pinguino]

The primer is here.. SailMail Primer

[Seagypsy ketch]

Hi, looking to liveaboard next year, area Cornwall UK. Worried about mail and not having a shore address. How does sail mail work? How do I contact them?

[LJH]

Originally Posted by Seagypsy ketch

Hi, looking to liveaboard next year, area Cornwall UK. Worried about mail and not having a shore address. How does sail mail work? How do I contact them?

All you need to know is at SailMail The admin staff is also quite helpful. (See [Contact Us] on their website.)

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Seagypsy ketch

Hi, looking to liveaboard next year, area Cornwall UK. Worried about mail and not having a shore address. How does sail mail work? How do I contact them?

This sorta sounds like you are talking about "snail mail" (post office stuff).Sail Mail is a HF radio based means of sending and receiving e-mail messages.

Jim

[JAYEN1]

I have had no trouble suspending my sailmail account. I just sent an email to them. They were very helpful.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by JAYEN1

I have had no trouble suspending my sailmail account. I just sent an email to them. They were very helpful.

Was that at the end of the year/billing period or mid year?

If it was mid year then it is 100% the opposite to what they say in their sailmail primer.

I've also found them very helpful but have always just been guided by the primer re this issue.

[JAYEN1]

I'm reasonably sure it was at the time of my renewal.
I'm also going to suspend my account this next time as well, as I will be spending most of my time in Fiji where internet access is quite good and also the data and voice charges are reasonable.
I also have access to Winlink, if needed.
I suspect that with the new generation of reliable sat communication hardware,(software and fee structure) such as the 'GO' equipment,(as promoted by predict wind), sailmail will be become less relevant.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by JAYEN1

I'm reasonably sure it was at the time of my renewal.
I'm also going to suspend my account this next time as well, as I will be spending most of my time in Fiji where internet access is quite good and also the data and voice charges are reasonable.....

Ah, that makes more sense... I think that trying to suspend mid year and then restarting a few months later is probably the big no-no. People would be wanting 4 weeks sailmail and then a 4 month rest etc...
It would be interesting to hear how the OP has fared.