Sailboat hitchhiking generally is a distinctive and rewarding technique to journey the world. Shut your eyes and picture the open sea, the wind powering up the sails, dolphins enjoying within the bow waves, and probably the most unimaginable sunsets.
When searching for an expertise of a lifetime, this has acquired to be up there with probably the most adventurous. Furthermore, as you’re about to seek out out, it isn’t as laborious to make it occur as you may assume.
Visitor publish by Emily Nancolas from Two Get Misplaced
What’s sailboat hitchhiking?
Sailboat hitchhiking is just like hitching a trip in a automotive.
It’s a technique to journey the oceans with out truly proudly owning a ship of your individual. It’s additionally probably the most environmentally pleasant methods to get round.
Nonetheless, there are a couple of variations between hitchhiking on land and at sea. Though you may get fortunate and discover a sailor keen to take you from A to B at no cost, it’s much more probably that you simply’ll be contributing to the journey ultimately.
Typically skippers are searching for monetary contributions and typically they need assistance crusing the boat. Different skippers can be pleased with a ability share association, however in any case, you’ll have to be ready to deliver one thing to the desk.
It isn’t fairly so simple as standing on the facet of a pontoon and sticking your thumb out. You’re going to want to place in just a little extra legwork to discover a trip on a sailboat. Let’s dive into the way to efficiently hitchhike on a sailboat beneath!
Discovering a trip on a sailboat
So how do you go about discovering a sailboat to take you around the globe? Fortunately, the web has made this activity an entire lot simpler. Gone are the times when you would need to camp out for days on finish close to a marina and stroll across the pontoons begging for a raise (though when you’ve got time in your arms that is nonetheless an possibility). Today, all you want is just a little know-how and a good WiFi connection.
There are an entire lot of internet sites on the market that join crew seekers and sailboat house owners. Most of them require you to finish a brief bio detailing any expertise and necessities. Then, you’re free to look via the ‘adverts’ from skippers searching for folks to assist them out, and other people can contact you again with affords.
This isn’t an exhaustive checklist of all of the web sites on the market connecting skippers and crew. Nonetheless, these are the preferred and due to this fact those that see the very best site visitors (and provide one of the best possibilities of discovering a raise!).
You need to be conscious that none of those web sites take accountability for vetting their purchasers. It will likely be as much as you to discover a skipper you’re feeling snug with, they usually received’t come to your rescue if something goes mistaken throughout the course of. Learn on to seek out out extra about staying secure whereas hitching a trip on a sailboat.
Prime ideas for locating the right sailboat trip for you
Though there are normally loads of folks searching for crew members, there are additionally loads of folks trying to find boats. You’ll want to stand out as a lot as attainable to draw the correct boat for you. See it as making use of for a job, what are you able to provide, and what are you hoping to achieve?
Be truthful
Discovering the correct boat for you is essential. Should you exaggerate your expertise, you may end up doing an evening watch while you’ve by no means finished one earlier than, or off on a race boat with no concept the way to work a winch. Even when you’ve got no crusing expertise, there are many expertise you possibly can provide up.
Promote your self
What’s your set of expertise?
Are you able to communicate three languages? Play an instrument? Are you cheerful washing dishes or scrubbing the deck? Do you’re taking directions properly? Are you a certified dive teacher or nice with youngsters?
Each skipper is searching for one thing completely different from their crew, so ensure you point out your passions or skills. Some skippers desire their crew to haven’t any expertise in any respect in terms of crusing to allow them to educate them to do issues their approach. Others will want you to have the ability to sail the boat by yourself.
Simply ensure you can provide one thing in return on your lodging and expertise.
Be clear about what you hope to get out of the expertise
Crusing is an exhilarating mixture of unimaginable highs and typically scary lows. Earlier than you resolve whether or not hitchhiking on a sailboat is the correct approach so that you can journey the world you must perform some research. Discover out what it’s prefer to reside on a sailboat, what to pack for a sailing trip, and browse up on some primary security at sea recommendation.
When you’re certain that is the correct mode of transport for you, set clear expectations for what you hope to get from crusing. Would you prefer to study to sail? Or are you cheerful cooking, cleansing, and soaking within the sea views?
Are you hoping to succeed in a sure vacation spot by a sure date? If that’s the case, ensure you talk this. Crusing schedules should be versatile and are climate dependent.
Should you’re ready to contribute in the direction of prices, you’ll be a extra standard crew alternative. Be sure to agree with the skipper on what you’ll be paying for earlier than committing to the journey. At a minimal, you must count on to cowl food and drinks prices, however many skippers will ask for a contribution in the direction of marina charges and basic upkeep. Ask for the determine they take into account beforehand so that you’re all on the identical web page.
Checklist essential particulars
There are some things you’ll positively wish to point out when making use of to hitchhike on somebody’s sailboat. Do not forget that crusing doubtlessly means days away from shore and that you simply’ll be dwelling in a small house with restricted storage.
The skipper wants to make sure your wants could be met on their boat, which could imply they received’t take vegetarians on board or keep away from individuals who haven’t been on a ship earlier than.
- Whether or not you’ve got been on a sailboat earlier than
- Should you can swim
- Whether or not you’ve got any of your individual gear
- Should you get seasick/can handle your seasickness
- Languages you’re fluent in
- Any dietary necessities
- Any allergic reactions/medical necessities
Sailboat hitchhiking locations
When searching for a sailboat to hitch a trip on, it’s essential to do not forget that solely sure months of the 12 months are suited to sure routes and passages. Should you strive searching for a trip throughout the Atlantic from Europe to the Caribbean in July for instance, you’re impossible to seek out one. Should you do, you’ll be risking horrible climate situations in your passage over.
Having just a little data about crusing seasons earlier than you begin your search will aid you out rather a lot. Right here’s a tough information on the place to goal to discover a sail at completely different occasions of the 12 months.
- Crusing round Europe – Might to September. Understand that the crusing season is shorter in Ireland than round Greece or Italy for example.
- Crossing the Atlantic (Europe to the Caribbean) – November to February
- Cruising the Caribbean – December to April
- The USA:
East Coast – December to February and March to June
West Coast – September to January
Southeast – Might to July and November to February
- South Pacific – Might to October
- Australia – November to March
Important packing ideas for sailboat hitchhiking
Packing for a crusing journey is just a little completely different from packing for a standard backpacking journey or vacation. You need to contemplate this stuff earlier than hitching a raise on a sailboat:
Delicate baggage bag solely. The house on a sailboat may be very restricted. Take a small backpack that may be saved away simply, and is straightforward to hold on and off the boat. Onerous suitcases are very impractical.
Carry your individual sailing jacket. Chances are high you’ll expertise some hostile climate when you’re out crusing, and a good crusing jacket that matches you is a necessary piece of crusing gear.
Pack a pair of sensible crusing footwear. These ought to be skid-proof, research, snug, and non-staining.
Having your individual lifejacket will stand you in higher stead! If skippers know you’re bringing your individual lifejacket, will probably be clear you already know what to anticipate on board. That’s additional factors in the direction of getting picked if there’s any competitors for the trip.
Take seasickness tablets with you. If you already know you get seasick, and even for those who don’t assume you do, seasickness tablets are a necessary merchandise to pack. Should you get unwell whereas crusing, there’ll probably be no turning again, so that you’ll be feeling unwell till you attain the shore. Taking tablets is without doubt one of the handiest methods to maintain seasickness at bay!
Take important objects solely. Touring with a motorbike, skis, surfboard, or another massive merchandise is a giant ask. Sailboats are small, and they’re weight delicate. Don’t be stunned in case your baggage holds you again when searching for a sailboat raise.
Staying secure when hitching a trip
An important consideration when sailboat hitchhiking is your individual security. Lots of of individuals have a constructive expertise crewing on sailboats each single 12 months, however there are some things you are able to do to assist guarantee you’ve got an exquisite time onboard.
Take your time when selecting a sailboat. You don’t want to go off on the primary sailboat that’s provided to you. You need to get to know the skipper properly earlier than leaving with them, whether or not that’s nose to nose or on web calls. If there’s something you don’t really feel snug with, you possibly can politely decline the journey at any time.
It’s a good suggestion to be cautious of on-line adverts with out filled-in profiles or anybody looking for a women-only crew.
Plan a brief passage to start out with. Ensure that your first sail isn’t a multi-day passage, the place there can be no alternatives so that you can depart the boat. Head out on a day sail so you possibly can ensure you get alongside underneath strain, can observe directions, and get to know the boat.
Examine security gear earlier than leaving the dockside. You wish to make certain the boat has sufficient security gear on board, similar to a liferaft, factors to clip in, hearth extinguishers, an EPIRB, and that the boat feels properly maintained and seaworthy. Carry your individual good high quality life jacket and heat climate gear.
Sailboat Hitchhiking Abstract
Crusing is without doubt one of the most unimaginable methods to journey. Opting to hitchhike on another person’s boat is the right possibility for anybody wanting journey, an eco-friendly type of journey, and tales to inform for a few years to come back.
Disclosure
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