ManuelCruises

Med to Australia

We - a group of keen sailors - plan to sail from the Mediterranean to Australia from November 2011 through February 2013. At the moment, we still have a few berths available. In 2014, we will sail back, from Australia to the Mediterranean.

The trip is private and for known people who have been sailing with me before only. The trip is on fair cost sharing basis for the very expensive yacht maintenance costs, which is shared equally between all on board, therefore the more people on board, the cheaper it will be. We plant to spend most of the time sailing in the Pacific.

Please read on for more information:

Introduction

Ah...sailing! With fresh breezes, blue waters, bright sunshine, the thrill of adventure, and perhaps, most importantly, the camaraderie of keen sailors, there is nothing quite like a sailing adventure!

Sailing from the Mediterranean to Australia

From November 2011 through February 2013, we plan to sail from the Mediterranean to Australia (where I plan to continue my studies).

• We will start sailing at the Canary Islands in November, cross the Atlantic with the trade winds, pass the Panama canal, and then proceed towards Australia through the Pacific. As I hope to arrive on the Pacific in early 2012, we will have more than a year sailing on the Pacific. The actual route and where to stop is still negotiable, but great lengths of it will be non-stop and ocean passages.
• Due to the unpredictably of weather conditions & due to the possibility of storms, it is impossible to plan an exact itinerary. But there will be "staging points" whereupon crew can embark & disembark. Please note that you might need to wait a considerable time when joining the yacht once the trip has started.
• Please note that once you have been accepted as a crew member, your participation as agreed upon is criticial. This means that unless approved by the Skipper (or agreed upon initially), you cannot change your plans or when or where to join or leave the yacht.
• A sailing meeting (if possible over a longer duration) in advance is absolutely inevitable. Sailing novices / beginners may acquire the necessary experience aboard s/y Settima BEFORE casting off to Australia.
• I will steer clear of ports & marinas, whenever possible, to avoid having to pay expensive mooring fees.
• Covering long distances using the force of the wind only, without using the engine, makes sailing both an very exciting but also very challenging experience, which requires a lot of patience. I will use the engine very rarely and only when really necessary, so please be prepared to stay at sea for a considerable time.
• The trip will be on cost sharing basis. A contribution to the maintenance & operational costs of the yacht is requested, and your share towards this cost will depend on the number of crew onboard. A Boat Kitty contribution is requested from each Crewmember for their weekly share for expenses such as food, water, diesel and occasional port, mooring or custom fees etc. Costs such as air/land travel to and from the yacht, food & drinks ashore are the sole responsibility of each Crewmember.
• I sail rain or shine. As soon as there is sufficient wind and the sea conditions are right, I weigh anchor. If there is no wind or the weather is bad, I am prepared to stay at anchor, to swim or to tour the local attractions onshore, but generally, with weather permitting, I start sailing from the early moment I rise from my berth. I only stop sailing when the weather no longer permits safe passage (or when the sun sets, in case I am not sailing "non-stop", i.e. 24h a day to cover long distances). I only want to take advantage of every possible moment to sail!
  So, in accordance with my sailing philosophy - I am pleased to offer you a transocean sailing adventure - but not a swimming, sightseeing or drinking party holiday.

Crew qualifications

Do you have the "right stuff" to participate? Carefully read the following list of what I look for in a great sailing companion. I am certainly interested in you, if:

• You really love sailing, preferring to sail from "dawn to dusk", and you are not interested in stopping every 2 hours to swim, to explore every meter of the coastline or to spend days "parked" at anchor;
• You don't mind being at sea for long passages during the day and night;
• You enjoy living on a sailboat for weeks or even months;
• You are friendly & have a sense of humour; and you are reliable & dependable (and would not withdraw your commitment without a just & serious reason);
• You are an uncomplicated sailor who doesn't mind "roughing it" by living with (and in!) saltwater; having very limited access to fresh water; eating simple food fare and sharing close-quarters with limited privacy;
• You don't need to visit marinas and ports or to keep 24 hour internet contact with friends and family;
• You are not looking for a Skipper or other Crewmembers to "serve you" by providing you with meals, drinks & entertainment;
• You are willing to assist the Skipper with all aspects of sailing the boat, such as setting the sails, tacking, jibing, anchoring and with sharing the duties of "helming" (steering) or "being on watch" over long distances, for great lengths of time;
• You are also willing to share the other, less glamourous, duties such as cooking & meal preparation, cleaning dishes, etc., (Attention Guys: Nothing will upset the onboard women more than your assumption that they are going to handle all the galley (i.e. kitchen) chores. Likewise, don't assume that the women can't handle their share of the deck work);
• You are convinced that sharing the expenses for such a "project" is simply fair; (I am not a Skipper who looks for crew because of being unable to handle my boat alone!);
• You understand that to "check each other out" before the sailing adventure Med - Australia is very important, e.g. by joining my regular Med sailing trips;
• You are physically fit, a non-smoker, do not abuse drugs or alcohol, (and are willing to forego consummation while onboard), & are not easily prone to seasickness;
• You are willing to sign a disclaimer & assume liability for any damage you may cause;
• You are not looking for a "last-minute" holiday opportunity - this is difficult to arrange due to my scheduling, and it is quite dangerous, as we will not have had enough prior communication to be able to "check each other out";
• You and I are compatible sailors and we have similar attitudes towards sailing & the sailing lifestyle and you agree with the following list of responsibilities...

Skipper & Crew responsibilities

So, if you now believe that you possess the right qualifications and attitude to be a valued Crewmember aboard s/y Settima, then you are certainly encouraged to contact me to introduce yourself!