Crew Wanted Mexico/Panama/Cartegena

[charlesAtSea]

Hello,
Sailing crew wanted Baja to Cartegena
February 2013

Experienced skipper, sixties, seeks energetic, agreeable person(s) any age or gender to crew on a passage from Baja California to Panama and beyond. Destination would be the beautiful, friendly, historic city of Cartegena, Columbia.

Our passage will take us down the Gold Coast of Mexico (which we have sailed many times) with likely stopovers at La Cruz (Puerto Vallarta), Barra de Navidad and Ziahuatanejo.

We will continue as part of the El Salvadore Cruisers Rally https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6R-...MUE/edit?pli=1
to the Bahia del Sol estuary for a stopover (and possible overland visits to Mayan ruins.) We next head toward a Panama Canal transit, San Blas Island hopping and terminate at Cartegena, Columbia. I expect the trip to last 3-4 months. I will accept crew applications for the entire voyage, or legs of at least two weeks or more.

Some sailing experience is desirable but not essential. A willing, congenial disposition is far more important. Your primary job is to stand watches. Beyond that, I can teach you everything you need to know to be a productive member of a sailing crew. This is not a paid position; crew will contribute toward their share of food and fuel. Figure per Diem USD 5 minimum 10 maximum.

The vessel is a Robert Perry designed Tayana 37, sleeps 6, cutter rigged, with a sea kindly motion, built to survive extreme offshore conditions. Our faithful Shamwari
Her displacement is 13 tons with 8000 lb. keel for ballast. (Think 4 Toyotas strapped under her for stability!) The skipper has sailed since the age of 8, cruised the Mexican Coast Acapulco to San Francisco for ten years, has crossed the Pacific and sailed small boats in lakes, rivers and the Atlantic Ocean. We carry liferaft, EPIRB, shortwave (ham/SS radio, radar, backup vane steering, emergency tiller, and I will get you back safely.

Departure is February 1. Please respond by email with at telephone number if possible. You have several options: join us immediately in La Paz, Mexico. Or, one week later in Puerto Vallarta or somewhat later down the coast. I will also consider applications for the El Salvadore to Panama legs.

If you have every hoped or dreamed for a Pacific sailing getaway, the one-way air ticket to Mexico will be the best $200 you ever spent. Lowest cost is fly into "Cabo" (SJD) and take the Ecobaja van for $25 to La Paz. EcoBajaTours

Here is a 2009 passage. Mexico 2009 My daughers in these pictures will sadly probably not be aboard for most of our passage. My wife may join us for short periods, her work permitting.

To apply, please send a brief, three sentence description of yourself and experience. If we find good fit to bring you aboard, I will ask a deposit which is non-refundable once we have sailed, as the prospects for finding the right replacements underway is slim. When you arrive in La Paz you will have an opportunity to inspect the boat, ask me any additional questions, and if you for any reason do not want to join the crew, I will refund your deposit in full and shake hands, no problem.

Thanks for reading this long post.

Cheers,
Charles Lane
Master, SV Shamwari

[mglaser]

greetings Charles,

I grew up on the gulf coast sailing and scuba diving the gulf and Caribbean sea with my father and brothers. In my 23 years i have lived and spent months at a time surfing, diving, and exploring, (and of coarse working) the Caribbean, Central America, South America, the southern part of the African continent, and all over our United States. I am currently working as Chef in San Diego and have plans to make my way to Valparaiso Chile to teach English, and I could not think of a better way to start my journey than the crew position your offering.

Kindest Regards,

Matt Glaser
813 382 1295
Mglaser@tulane.edu

*I have years of travel and living experience in close quarters with fellow applicant Brian Starnes (usernames B Starnes) which have included living together for several years in New Orleans, a tiny cabin in Lake Tahoe, and out of a car over 10,000 miles across the U.S. So we can offer a tried and true team that can maintaine an amiable disposition in close quarters and in demanding travel situations.

[nickpapa]

Hi Skipper,
I am a sailor needing more time at sea. I have owned sailboats in the past and am experienced in sailing, navigation and repairs! I am retired (technology director F50o) and able to stay for longer periods. I visited the canal in Panama last summer and would love to cross it on a sailing yacht. I am familiar with the T37 having sailed next to them in Long Island Sound a number of times. I am in excellent health, easy going, non smoker and very moderate drinker (wine). Thanks for your consideration, Nick.

[dobrodaddy]

Hello Charles,
I have five years sailing experience sailing my Rawson 30 in the Channel Islands and this year south to the Sea of Cortez, where she's on the hard in Guaymas. I also crewed on a schooner from Newport Beach to San Francisco with Redbopeep, a moderator on this sight and her husband Dave. I've been working the past six months and a good sailing trip before I start working on my boat would be great!
Cheers,
Chris Kennedy

dobrodaddy1@yahoo.com

[Ivy Rocket]

Big Christmas greetings to you from 2 Aussies in Africa - Kylie & Chris.
We love the photos you've posted & your rally plans & would be super delighted to help - so much that we'll gladly fly from Johannesburg to be there!
Chris is a fitter-machinist by trade and Kylie has a background in enviro ed & journalism.
We are at the end of a one year stint in Namibia - and on our way to Mozambique. We're both Australians who have been exploring/camping and working/volunteering in Africa - - now that film production work has finished we are packing up and heading wherever the wind blows us. We are both friendly, out-going people who are VERY ready for an off-shore adventure after 11 months in the Namib desert! We are both physically fit & very keen to visit your part of the world and explore the sea and Mayan ruins.
We did our off-shore YachtMasters in Australia and have shared a few weeks sailing along the NSW east coast of Australia prior to relocating to Namibia earlier this year.
Kylie has done a couple of Bass Strait crossings (Burnie to Adelaide and Hobart to Sydney) as well. Neither of us get seasick and don't freak out in bad weather, we're both food-nutters who enjoy being in the galley but won't pike out on cleaning the head either. And we love a good laugh
Hope to hear from you soon, Chris & Kylie
ivyrocket@gmail.com

[JTaucher]

Hi Charles,

My boyfriend and I are looking for a sailing trip this February. We are both wildland firefighters and have work off until mid March. I have sea experience working on a commercial salmon boat in the Prince William Sound as a skiff driver and cork layer, and Chris has a larger skiff boat off his land in Brazil. Neither of us have sailing experience, but we are very helpful and like to work. Chris is 40 and I am 34, we have been together for a year and a half. Both of us have been exploring the world for over 10 years and want to take on a new adventure.

I hope this holiday season finds you well.

Jamie Taucher
Home
(928) 399-0075

[Mikeadams]

Hi Charles,
I am currently in El Salvador and I am interested in a crew position for your El Salvador to Columbia leg. I am a 31 year old Master Inland waters 50 GT coast guard licensed captain. I have a positive attitude and a strong will to succeed. I operate a fishing guide service in Alaska and am available until early April. I have no sailing experience and my boating experience is biased towards inland waters and smaller vessels. However I am eager to learn to sail and I bring a positive attitude, years of fishing experience, lots of time on the water, a friendly disposition and a willingness to learn. I would be happy to meet you in Bahia del Sol.
Please let me know how your trip is shaping up and if crew a position is still available.
Mike Adams
bluewagon82@yahoo.com

[Alohastar]

Hello Charles
I am pleased to ask for your consideration to offer me position as watch keeper at my own daily expense as appropriate $5 to $10 and receive opportunity to be a productive member of a sailing crew from Baja to Cartagena.

I am 72 years of age and have not lost my mature outlook. I am reasonably fit managing the ups and downs of managing running repairs on own vehicle and leisure caravan. I am dexterous at handy work in a non-noise mechanical environment, besides climbing the mast these are the only reservation I would stand back from.

I have spent service time at crash rescue and had gained experience with air sea rescue when stationed with marine craft units. After getting out of service I immigrated to Africa where I was employed as specialist cast iron welder and worked in the steel fabrication, construction and mining industry, I was selected for a time to teach metallurgy. In later years I became self-employed as freelance consultant, estimator and qualified gas pipeline welding inspector. I gave all that up in 1983 when I bought my first computer and thereon entered the computer business until I retired 2002. My intention then was ownership and sail my own yacht. This was not to happen, however I have gained RYA coastal navigation and radio operator’s proficiency certificates.

I have visited Colombia twice in the last couple of years and have plans to return there at the end of this year. With the right opportunity this visit could be postponed for a month or so instead of flying could sail there and land at Cartagena crewing with you and gain experiences to be one step closer to purchasing my first yacht.

I would be willing to come to Baja a couple of weeks to a month before the sail date of 1 February 2014 so as to we get to know each other. I am willing to lend a hand at preparing your yacht shipshape for the voyage.

I have basic fluency at understanding Spanish
Look forward to your early reply
Best regards
Martin

[charlesAtSea]

Thanks for the inquiry, this is a pretty old thread, boat in SF now, may be heading south end of October again, will keep you on crew mailing.

Charles

[alicejaffe]

if you have any plans to travel again in October or later i'm a 21 UCSB grad looking to crew for the next 6mos-year, would love to hear about your past travels and join the next ride, please keep me in mind
-Alice
goemailalice@gmail.com

[Mikeandginie]

Hi Charles, I'll be sailing in the Grenadines for part of February; however, I'd love an opportunity to join you after that for 2-3 weeks. I'm particularly interested in the Panama canal transit but will happily join you for any segment where help is needed. I'm 55 and have Cruising and coastal navigation certifications in Canada. I'm a pilot by profession, healthy, fit and not averse to hard work. Very best regards,

Mike

[zeitgeist]

Originally Posted by charlesAtSea

To apply, please send a brief, three sentence description of yourself and experience.

Male, 36, Northern Californian, bulk of experience Thailand to Egypt 2009.

Amiable, professional firefighter, PADI Rescue Diver, USA Emergency Medical Technician-Basic.

I know you have already left for your trip and I was fighting fires all summer while you were sailing but your post has shown me a bit of your character and I would very much like to be in contact, sail with and learn from you on a future voyage.

-----------------------
contact at bearpalomo on the yahoo server. (email address not spelled out as phishing programs hunt for them to send spam)