Greetings from Sweden

[Jonathantogo]

Hello everyone!

My name is Jonathan and I live in Sweden. I've been planning for a long time to travel to Brazil but that got put on hold when corona came. Recently I've been curios how it would be to sail to Brazil from Europe instead of flying and then I found this forum. I've always wanted to do a long sailing-trip but to be honest I have zero experience of sailing.

Do you think it's too ambitious or is it possible?

I have some hope to do this trip in the beginning of next year, if someone is going there I would love to talk.

Thanks and best regards,
Jonathan

[Dockhead]

It's a long way, and you cross the hurricane belts, so has to be done in the right season. Not too late across the Bay of Biscay, and not too early leaving the Canaries, so you will have a couple months at least to wait. It will a good chunk out of a year to get there from Sweden.



It's not all that difficult a trip -- mostly trade wind sailing in mild latitudes and mostly with the prevailing winds -- but it's a long ocean crossing so requiring skills and knowledge, and the boat needs to be properly prepared and equpped. You should by all means do it with someone who has done an ocean crossing before. And what kind of boat will you have to do it with?

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Johnathan.

Crew Positions: Wanted & Available ➥ https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f30/

[boatman61]

DH I think he's looking for openings to crew..
If I was him I would post on the Crew Forum here and on Crewseekers.. Ideally he wants boats heading South from Sweden to the Med or Canaries then join a boat heading across to the Caribe in the ARC.. boats sailing Europe to Brazil direct are few and far between but once in the Caribe he could hop on a plane to Brazil.
Then again once in Las Palmas he could drop lucky and find that rare boat.
List all attributes, good humour, adaptable and quick learner, cooking skills if any and anything else that may be of use, mechanics, electrical skills..
It would be a grand adventure.

[Jonathantogo]

Thanks for replying.

I thought more about starting the journey from somewhere else, say Canaries Island, than Sweden. But good know that it's possible if you're lucky enough to join a experienced crew. I haven't thought about what kind of boat to be honest. But I'm very curios and will look around for more info.

Have you done a trip across the Atlantic?

[Jonathantogo]

Thanks for the info boatman61.

As you said, I'm thinking more of joining a experienced crew. Help out in any way I can with cooking etc. and pay for my own equipment and food if needed. But it's not often you say that people sail to Brazil from Europe? To be clear, I'm flexible from where to start the journey. Did not really have Sweden in mind as a starting point.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Jonathantogo

Thanks for replying.

I thought more about starting the journey from somewhere else, say Canaries Island, than Sweden. But good know that it's possible if you're lucky enough to join a experienced crew. I haven't thought about what kind of boat to be honest. But I'm very curios and will look around for more info.

Have you done a trip across the Atlantic?

I have done quite a few, however my preference is from West to East.. its much more fun.
So far I' ve been lucky and avoided the boredom and discomfort of the 3000nm run before the wind, even if it is easier..

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Jonathantogo

Thanks for replying.

I thought more about starting the journey from somewhere else, say Canaries Island, than Sweden. But good know that it's possible if you're lucky enough to join a experienced crew. I haven't thought about what kind of boat to be honest. But I'm very curios and will look around for more info.

Have you done a trip across the Atlantic?

OK, now I understand the question better.


Boatman61 has given you the best answer.


You could sail from Sweden to the UK if you want -- there are a fair number of boats doing that in the autumn. My own boat will be doing that around September.


Then, there are usually a few boats going from the UK to the Canaries -- you might find a ride from someone.


Or, you can fly to the Canaries and start there. That will certainly be more efficient if your goal is to get to Brazil.



Boatie's idea about going to the Caribbean first is a good one -- there are a lot of boats going across in December every year from the Canaries, both ARC participants and others. Crew places for that passage are rather sought-after and you may be asked to make a significant contribution to expenses beyond the usual food, fuel and berthing. But you'll have better odds than finding a boat across to the Carib than going directly from the Canaries to Brazil, even though that's the direct route, because hundreds of boats make the trip to the Carib every November-December.



From the Caribbean, you'll need to be patient but you should eventually find someone to go with down to Brazil.


Boatie gave good advice about how to find a place -- CF crewing section, and Crewseekers.


It's a minus that you don't have sailing skills (take some lessons) but eager, energetic, hard working, pleasant people can be in demand even without much skill. Standing watch is an important job, and can be done with fairly brief instruction. Someone able to cook without getting seasick is always in demand. Note that in most cases you will be expected to share basic expenses like food, fuel, and berthing.



Good luck!

[jtsailjt]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Boatie gave good advice about how to find a place -- CF crewing section, and Crewseekers.


It's a minus that you don't have sailing skills (take some lessons) but eager, energetic, hard working, pleasant people can be in demand even without much skill. Standing watch is an important job, and can be done with fairly brief instruction. Someone able to cook without getting seasick is always in demand. Note that in most cases you will be expected to share basic expenses like food, fuel, and berthing.



Good luck!

As DH said, if you’ve got a pleasant, positive personality and aren’t lazy, and especially if you can cook without getting seasick, once you establish that reputation, plenty of people will want you on their boat, and Boatman gave you good advice about how to get started.

But I’ve never even heard of crew being asked to pay for either fuel or berthing or any other boat expense other than for food/drink. DH, when you have crew aboard do you really expect them to pay for fuel and then to contribute to paying for a slip at your destination? On my boat I consider that my sole responsibility and when I’ve crewed on other boats I’ve never been asked to pay for any of that except for food, and usually the owner has even paid for the lions share of that. On my boats I’ve always paid for almost all the food but gratefully accept any contributions (cash or a favorite dish they prepare) from crew. The way I look at it is, compared to the total cost of ownership of the boat, the cost of food for crew is very minor. Since I’m not paying for crew, and most crew I’ve used are airline pilots who can fly home for free, I figure that just paying for the food for people who help me get my boat where I want it is a real convenience and a bargain.

[boatman61]

Hi Jtsailit.. there are folk who try to use crew to subsidize their lifestyle..
I have seen skippers asking for up to $25/day contribution toward expenses on trips..
If you take on 3 crew for a 21 day passage from Las Palmas to the Caribe thats $1600 at least if they get on and get off just as you cast off and tie up. SeaB&B..

[Jonathantogo]

Thanks everyone for all the great advices!

I will look around the crewing-section and crewseekers etc.
I've never felt seasick before so hopefully that won't be a problem. But what do I know, maybe there's a big difference when you're on a smaller boat for a longer period?

It sounds like the best route is the Canaries to the Caribbean (if not directly to Brazil but then I need to be lucky) and then continue to Brazil.

I will start looking for some beginners lessons so I can learn the basics, feels good to have some knowledge at least.

You have all helped me feel very inspired, thank you!

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by jtsailjt

. . . But I’ve never even heard of crew being asked to pay for either fuel or berthing or any other boat expense other than for food/drink. DH, when you have crew aboard do you really expect them to pay for fuel and then to contribute to paying for a slip at your destination? . ..

It depends on the type of passage.



When it's a cruise or shared adventure of some kind, with fun the main purpose rather than getting from point A to point B, then my experience is that most boats expect for everyone to chip in for all the variable expenses -- food, fuel and berthing. I think that's a specific category in Crewseeker -- "shared expenses". If it's a delivery then normally everything is provided for the crew. If it's the ARC, owners take even thousands of dollars from crew. So there are all kinds of different situations.

[jtsailjt]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

It depends on the type of passage.



When it's a cruise or shared adventure of some kind, with fun the main purpose rather than getting from point A to point B, then my experience is that most boats expect for everyone to chip in for all the variable expenses -- food, fuel and berthing. I think that's a specific category in Crewseeker -- "shared expenses". If it's a delivery then normally everything is provided for the crew. If it's the ARC, owners take even thousands of dollars from crew. So there are all kinds of different situations.

I suppose that situations like that exist but I've always been either working crew (both paid and unpaid) or the skipper of my own boat so have never been exposed to it. I assumed you were in a similar situation so that's why I asked you if YOU ever charge crew for fuel or to help pay other boat expenses other than food. But lawyerly habits die hard and you seemed to have sidestepped that question by turning it into a question about "most boats." Of course if you consider divulging that to be an invasion of your privacy, I'd understand if you just said that.

Even with someone as inexperienced as Jonathan, if i were wanting to do an ocean passage and couldn't round up friends who were free to go when I wanted to, I'd interview him and explain what was expected and if I had a good feel for him as a person and thought he'd fit in with other crew, I'd offer for him to come along as unpaid crew, but I certainly wouldn't expect him to get out his wallet except to pay for any additional food/drink that he wanted that I didn't have onboard. Like I said before, I don't require crew to pay for food but I don't turn down donations either and most crew I've had seem to want to pitch in to some degree. I don't know what the crew placement organizations say, but I've got to think there are lots of owners out there who think like I do and are grateful enough for the help and don't expect any financial contribution from people helping them get their boat from where it is to where they want it.

In a similar situation back when I was in my early 30's, I once had a college kid from my neighborhood whose parents had moved away ask if he could rent one of my empty bedrooms for the summer since I was single at the time and had a big house. I told him I didn't rent out rooms. But overnight I thought about it and realized he was a good kid so decided I should try to help him out so called him back and said he could stay there for the summer but couldn't pay rent and of course he was delighted. Then I told him the reason for no rent was so I could evict him with no notice if it didn't work out for me. It worked out perfectly and he stayed there for 3 summers ( I was usually on my boat during that time) and we had no problems and he turned into my dive buddy and one of my best friends and I was in his wedding and we are still are in regular contact. I like to share but I consider both my home and my boat to be part of my personal space and anybody who's invited in/aboard is ever charged a penny.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by jtsailjt

I suppose that situations like that exist but I've always been either working crew (both paid and unpaid) or the skipper of my own boat so have never been exposed to it. I assumed you were in a similar situation so that's why I asked you if YOU ever charge crew for fuel or to help pay other boat expenses other than food. But lawyerly habits die hard and you seemed to have sidestepped that question by turning it into a question about "most boats." Of course if you consider divulging that to be an invasion of your privacy, I'd understand if you just said that.

. .

Well, I don't mind answering.

I do occasionally invite strangers to come along, for example on my frequent biannual treks from Cowes to Finland and back, which I like to turn into a month-long "long-distance cruise", as I like to call it. Strangers pay full share of all expenses -- food, fuel and berthing. I get a fair number of "mile builders" -- people working towards an RYA qualification that need certified sea miles. Such people actually pay sometimes much more than just expenses, but in my book that's a charter, which is illegal, so I wouldn't do that. But I have friends who take mile-builders and adventurers for different passages and they take a fixed sum which exceeds the direct expenses -- I have advised them to be careful with that, but they have gotten away with it so far.

With friends it's a different situation -- some people I invite as my guests and I spoil them and pay for everything and try to make a great treat out of it -- that's one of the joys of owning a boat. That's usually non-sailing friends or business associates, or business associates even if they do sail, and in that case I write off the expenses as a business expense. With others, especially sailing friends, it's more of a shared adventure and they chip in according to their own desires and ideas -- most will at least buy most of the food, some take turns with berthing and other costs. With my most regular group of sailing friends, we have kind of settled into -- they never let me pay for any food, or participate in any restaurant expenses, and I don't let them pay for any of the berthing or fuel. Like that.

When I'm on my friends' boats (which I LOVE -- so nice not to be responsible for everything -- how much better do I sleep not being the skipper) I offer to pay a share of everything, 100% of food and drink, then take turns with berthing, chip in for fuel. Also a sacred obligation of guest crew -- I always ask to see the repair list, and devote some part of the cruise to fixing something on board my friend's boat. Some refuse my participation in berthing and fuel, but most do not. No one objects to my buying food and taking the skipper out for dinner. Only exception is my friend's 100 foot motor yacht which I spent Christmas and New Year's on last year -- there of course you can't even fathom the expense structure, so you just don't ask. The same guy who owns that vessel usually spends a couple of weeks on my boat in the summer -- I have started refusing all his contributions to my expenses.

So in a word -- it's somewhat complicated. There are different ways to do it, and probably no one right way.

[jtsailjt]

DH thanks for the more complete explanation. My situation is much like your sailing with friends where you assume you’ll be paying for everything but they usually want to and do chip in for some food or to help fix something, etc. I’ve never taken on any “mile builders” that I expected to contribute to berthing or fuel. All my crew have been people who are friends or recommended by friends and I’d feel really awkward about asking them for money to operate my boat just as I’d not ask houseguests to help pay my electricity bill. But I can understand where it might seem almost appropriate on a migration that strangers asked me to help crew on for their own reasons that have nothing to do with a friendship between us. I feel fortunate that I have quite a few military and airline pilot or retired airline pilot friends who make good crew and neither they nor I need to worry about buying them an airline ticket home. They are all very savvy travelers and can easily get from anywhere to anywhere else without incurring any big expense and this makes them more willing to crew on one way trips. I feel like I’d be spending the same money on fuel or berthing if they weren’t aboard and the price of $20 or so per day for food in exchange for their assistance in doing something that would be way more fatiguing and less enjoyable if I had to do it myself is a good deal for me with the added bonus that I get to catch up with and share something I enjoy with old friends.

I like your idea of offering to fix something. I’ve never formally asked that question but I’m such an inveterate tinkerer and have had almost everything on my boats break at least once that when I think back I have almost always ended up fixing something whenever I’ve been a guest on other boats. It just naturally seems to happen but by asking the question right up front that would be a good way to find out which little issue was really bugging your host that he’d most appreciate some help with. I think I’ll adopt that.