Us To Oz. Help?

[majimm]

Hi everyone!

I have become super-passionate about the idea of returning to my homeland of Australia from North America (I am currently in the Canadian Rockies) by sea. I am a a man of the water having grown up on the Aus East Coast and have surfed and fished all my life. I am also a PADI qualified diver and love spearfishing on snorkel. I have been on boats but have no experience sailing, something I really want to change! Can anyone please give me some ideas of the likelihood of my dreams becoming reality? I am not sure which part of the year sailboats will leave North America for Aus but I am flexible. I am so keen to learn and am a hardworker but not a rich man (I am not looking for pay, only experience). Any info to help me out would be so great.

Thanks

Marty

[JeanneP]

First, check out the tips and hints at the beginning of the crewfinder, which will help you determine timing, and other issues. A quick answer is,

most cruising boats heading across the Pacific will leave the west coast US around April, May.

They will take anywhere from two to three years to get to Australia - it is a rare boat that wants to zoom across the Pacific in one season.

Check out some of the other crewfinder posts on this forum, and then perhaps look through the other forums withing Cruiser Log. A whole lot has already been written, you should check that information out first. That will make it easier for us to answer your questions and will give you enough knowledge to know what you still need to know.

Good Luck.

J

[delatbabel]

I know several folks who have taken on extra crew for a crossing over the Pacific, and some who have successfully found crew spots (via commercial crew finder sites). It does appear to be the one ocean crossing (east to west) where many boats who are otherwise single or double handed will often be willing to take an extra crew or two. I think there is a high probability you will find a spot if you look.

Otherwise JeanneP's advice is correct. Expect the crossing to take 2-3 years. It's a beautiful journey with many interesting places to explore along the way and shouldn't be rushed. Parts of it can be hard work especially outside of the trade wind zones, but it's a very rewarding journey.

You may also want to check for boats leaving the Carribean an/or the Mexican coast. One guy here reports he found a boat leaving the Panama region, one of the crew who had previously agreed to make the crossing had to be taken off the boat for medical reasons, and he was able to join the boat for a passage as far as Auckland.

[amigosurfmexico]

There is a fleet of boats that sail together from San Diego down Baja and end up in Banderas Bay Puerto Vallarta called the Baja Ja Ja,,,from there many böats sail on to Australia. Check in latitude38.com for dates and more information.

[sunshine]

HI marty

I sailed from uk to new zealand a few years ago, I dont see a problem for you. plenty of boats looking for crew. I dont know about west coast of usa, but if you went to panama probably more chance as all boats from europe, east coast and a lot of west coast boats have to come here. boats usually leave panama between april and june and if going to new zealand have to arrive by end of Nov because of the weather. When I did it the boats all did it in the same year as nowhere to leave boats in Pacific and to avoid hurrican season. maybe i'll see you in Panama as I'm thinking of doing it again this year.
I am a diver myself, lucky you living on east coast of Aus.
good luck

Kim

[anthonyedlin]

have you set sail and found your crew to Aust
I am currently in N.Z looking to sail to Aust