- 1. Traveling Differently: Crew Member on a Sailboat
- 2. A Beginner's Glossary
- 3. Everyone Has Their Place
- 4. On the Boat
- 5. How Does It Work?
- 6. Do You Need to Be an Experienced Sailor?
- 7. What Type of Boat Should You Prefer?
- 8. Sailing or Motor?
- 9. The Advantages of Sailing Boats
- 10. The Advantages of Motorboats
- 11. What Size?
- 12. The Foot
- 13. But What Foot?
- 14. But Also...
- 15. My Experience
- 16. Life On Board: What to Do on a Boat?
- 17. How Much Does It Cost?
- 18. Good to Know
- 19. Words That Must Not Be Spoken
- 20. Sites I Recommend for Listings:
- 21. To Continue Reading
Traveling Differently: Crew Member on a Sailboat
Have you ever thought about traveling by boat? I'm not talking about those enormous cruise ships that plow the Caribbean seas or the Mediterranean, but about small sailing yachts of just a few meters.
On several occasions, I've tried the crew exchange system on specialized websites, giving me a chance to get familiar with leisure sailing and to travel in a different way.
A small preface for specialists: my article includes intentional shortcuts to avoid overwhelming beginners; I hope you won't hold that against me!
A Beginner's Glossary
To wrap up, here are a few vocabulary words that will help you decipher the announcements as well as converse with your future captain.
Everyone Has Their Place
Sailors love to use their vocabulary, so here are a few words concerning the > on board a boat:
- Captain or Skipper: the head of the boat (the one who commands it, not necessarily its owner). Being a skipper requires serious experience and the ability to be autonomous in managing the boat.
- Crew Member: a member of the crew, who participates in maneuvers... according to their abilities!
On the Boat
And here are some vocabulary words concerning the boat:
- Onboard Fund: the onboard fund is a > that allows you to cover all shared expenses of life on a boat: fuel, port fees, food, drinks...
- Cockpit: outdoor space where you steer, but where you also generally have meals and take naps... It's the place where you spend most of your time on a boat (as long as the weather conditions allow).
- Saloon: the interior room of the boat that corresponds to the living area.
- Cabin: bedroom.
- Anchorage: a place where you can >, meaning to drop anchor.
- Fenders: buoys used to protect the boat, which are placed when docking - this is often the main task that inexperienced crew members have: putting on and taking off the fenders.
- Port and Starboard: just for fun, do you know which is left and which is right? One chance in two! Your answers in the comments...!
How Does It Work?
The principle is simple: on one side, there are those who own a boat and offer to welcome aspiring sailors, and on the other side are the landlubbers who want to take to the sea.
Boarding proposals vary widely, both in terms of destination and program and in terms of welcoming conditions. Some invite you to join them for a few days in the Mediterranean; others are looking for strong arms to cross the ocean for several weeks.
Do You Need to Be an Experienced Sailor?
Each captain specifies the level of experience desired in the future crew member.
In some cases, novices are accepted; in others, solid experience is necessary.
What Type of Boat Should You Prefer?
For novices, let's say there are two main considerations for choosing a boat: the size of the boat and the type: sailboat or motorboat.
Sailing or Motor?
First, know that all boats have an engine: it's mandatory for maneuvering in the harbor.
Moreover, sailors often jokingly say that in the Mediterranean, there are two types of motor boats: those with a mast and the others! The Mediterranean wind is often fickle.
So what is the best solution, with or without sails?
I don't think there's a single right answer. The style of travel will be different, because, in addition to the specifics of the boat, there are often differences in the captain and their travel style.
The Advantages of Sailing Boats
- More Stable: Sailboats have a mast and a keel, which gives them better stability and prevents them from capsizing. Thanks to this, these boats can anchor in a cove for the night without fear of swells, where motorboats often head back to port. Thus, at dusk, the coves empty, becoming calmer, and it's in a welcomed tranquility that one can enjoy the sunset over the sea.
- The Feeling of Freedom: That feeling when you turn off the engine and sail solely by the power of the wind is exhilarating! The sensation of speed is incredible, even though we might be only going at 11 knots... or 20 km/h!
The Advantages of Motorboats
- Faster: Motor boats are much faster than sailboats. For the same distance, they will take an average of three times less time!
- Closer to Beaches: These boats, having no keel, can get much closer to beaches (some retractable keel sailboats can do the same).
- Pleasant Cockpit: These boats are often very well arranged in terms of the cockpit, and let's be clear, when on vacation on a boat, the interior of the vessel is only used for cooking and sleeping.
- Fewer Bruises: You're less likely to bump into everything on a motorboat than on a sailboat. At the end of each vacation on a sailboat, I lose count of the number of bruises that color my legs and feet! The steps and edges on a sailboat are real traps, especially with the rolling motion, and a sailboat's interior is often more cramped, especially with the mast going through the salon.
What Size?
Here too, there is no ideal answer. The size of the boat affects several factors: its stability, autonomy in water and fuel, speed, and the number of people it can accommodate...
The Foot
The length of a boat is not measured in meters; that would be too simple. And our marine friends like to have their own vocabulary so that no one pierces the mysteries of their community!
Thus, boat sizes will be displayed in feet on advertisement sites.
One foot is roughly equivalent to... a human foot, or 30 cm (I bet you're measuring your foot right now!). Primarily used by the Anglo-Saxon culture, the foot is one of the oldest units of measurement in human history.
But What Foot?
The criteria for choosing will vary based on destination and program. But generally speaking, I avoid vessels of less than 33 feet (10 m) for 4 people (which is often the minimum number of passengers).
The larger the boat, the more weight is distributed and the faster it will sail; it will also have more options for storing water and fuel, hence greater autonomy so that it doesn't have to dock every night... which larger boats tend to avoid, since docking space costs are based on size (from 10 meters on, prices rise quickly).
But Also...
Aside from these size and type criteria, there are many other specifications! Being on an old boat with a hippie vibe or the latest sporty model will be a different experience (I know from experience!).
The number of hulls also matters. The boats we've mentioned so far were monohulls, but traveling in multihulls (like a catamaran) is also possible. You will find travel agencies on the internet that offer cruises on > in the Caribbean, and they are often luxury catamarans. Catamarans accommodate at least 8 people; they are like true apartments on water. Their elevated appearance earns them the nickname of 4x4 of the seas. Like motorboats, these boats can also get much closer to shores, even beaching on the sand.
Finally, be mindful of the number of people who will be onboard the boat. You will be living closely with this crew for the duration of your stay: you'll form a united social entity within a restricted living space. Of course, you will likely set foot on land from time to time, but this will depend on your sailing schedule. For example, I always ask if any crew members smoke; I can't stand it.
Also, check the number of cabins (bedrooms) and available berths: if the boat accommodates more people than the physically available spots, you risk spending your holidays like sardines. When I inquire, I never hesitate to ask for a double cabin for my partner and me, because spending two weeks in the salon, hello intimacy!
My Experience
I've used this system several times, which allowed me to discover the southern coast of Sicily or Ibiza in a completely different way than on foot and with a backpack.
The pace and style of the cruise depend on each crew. The first day is often an opportunity to stock up on food for the boat since you won't be able to step ashore every day. Don't be shy, and clearly state what you like to eat; this is the chance of a lifetime!
Oftentimes, captains, more out of preference than for economy, avoid sleeping every night in a port. The only times we've done so were to embark or disembark crew members, refuel or shop, or because the weather was too bad.
During preliminary contacts, feel free to ask all your questions about the program and sailing style. Is it more about distance or cruising? More about coves or ports? Are hikes or cultural visits planned or possible...?
Life On Board: What to Do on a Boat?
You can take the opportunity to learn a few >, such as knots: there are enough to keep you busy throughout the journey!
If you ask the captain, they will certainly let you take the helm: it's very simple, as the critical moments on a boat, similar to an airplane, are those of maneuvering in and out of the harbor.
Life on board is marked by meals, which everyone participates in (cooking, dishes) and happy hour, a key moment of the day!
You will also have plenty of chances to swim when anchored, but some will also let you dip in while the boat is at sea. There's a very clever system for that: the rope! Even though the boat isn't going fast, it requires quite a bit of arm strength: be careful not to let go!
Vacations on a boat are also an opportunity to read, sunbathe, and take time for yourself...
One of my favorite spots on a sailboat is the bow, where I sit with my legs hanging off the edge and my gaze lost out to sea ahead. The view is stunning: all the sea just for me! I take this time to scan the horizon in search of dolphins, listen to my music, and meditate.
How Much Does It Cost?
The cost of this kind of vacation depends on the arrangement adopted by the captain. Some ads only require a contribution to the onboard fund (but they often only take experienced people onboard).
Most of the time, a fixed price is also requested per night, which can vary widely (generally around €20/night).
At the end of the stay, the tradition (and good manners) dictates that the crew helps clean the boat.
If you disembark before the end of the trip, you will probably only need to clean the deck. However, at the end of the stay, it's a thorough cleaning: the boat is scrubbed from top to bottom at the end of the sailing season.
Good to Know
Words That Must Not Be Spoken
One final specification about marine vocabulary: there are two words you must absolutely never say:
- Rope: There are no > on a boat, as each one has a specific name. A little tip if you're in doubt: the catch-all term tolerated on board is >.
- Rabbit: The marine world is still full of superstitions. If women are now tolerated on board (despite a persistent machismo), the captain will often take a swig of whisky before heading out to sea, not forgetting to pour some overboard for good luck! In the same spirit, the word > is not tolerated, as it's considered bad luck. Even if you're not superstitious, a good tip to avoid getting on your captain's bad side: avoid it! If necessary, talk about hares instead!
Sites I Recommend for Listings:
- Vogavecmoi.com: A very good site; the people I've contacted through its ads have always been clear, correct, polite, welcoming, and pleasant. In short, perfect! The only downside: you need to register to access the listings, but it's not a burden and guarantees a > community on the other side: http://www.vogavecmoi.com/
- Crew Exchange: I've visited this site to look for a boarding proposal, though it didn't work out, perhaps due to the whims of the Internet, with responses received quicker than others... Some listings appear on several different platforms. http://www.bourse-aux-equipiers.com
- Le Routard: THE famous site everyone knows, but one that is less known for its > section, which includes more than just sailing offers, like sharing a bit of > together, or traveling in a camper.
And there are many more you can find with a few clicks online.
And you, have you ever attempted this kind of adventure? Or are you thinking about it?
To Continue Reading
- Our holidays on a small boat: Croatia differently? A week on board a sailboat Peniche on the Canal du Midi: mystery along the water Houseboat holidays on a canal: tips and feedback
- Our travels on a large boat: by ferry in the fjords of Chilean Patagonia in Antarctica from Patagonia: first journal (1/5): in the fjords of Patagonia (2/5): Cape Horn and Drake Passage (3/5): finally the white continent
- Travel differently: between trend and commitment